About Maheshwar

Country: India | State: Madhya Pradesh

Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days

Nearest City to Maheshwar: Indore (90 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Maheshwar: October to March

Peak Season: November to February

At a distance of 40 km from Mandu, 65 km from Omkareshwar, 90 km from Indore, 115 km from Khandwa, 143 km from Ujjain, 279 km from Bhopal, 300 km from Vadodara, 350 km from Nashik, 377 km from Surat, 394 km from Ahmedabad, 441 km from Udaipur, 465 km from Nagpur, 530 km from Mumbai, 539 km from Pune, and 558 km from Jabalpur, Maheshwar is a temple town located in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh. Situated on the banks of river Narmada, it is one of the popular places to visit in India and among the must-include places in Madhya Pradesh tour packages.

Maheshwar is largely referred to as the temple town of Madhya Pradesh. The town is famous as the place ruled by the legendary Maratha Malwa queen Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar. Akbar built a fort here after he came into power in the year 1601. Maharani Ahilya Bai took over as the queen of the Holkar Dynasty in the 18th century and she transformed this riverside town into a peaceful and prosperous land when the rest of India was facing an uneasy time. Later, she built many temples and buildings that are the prime attractions of Maheshwar tour packages. It was the capital of the Malwa during the Maratha Holkar reign till 1818 when the capital was shifted to Indore by Malhar Rao Holkar III.

Dates back to more than 4000 years back, the history of Maheshwar finds a mention in Mahabharat and Ramayana as well, and was known as 'Mahishmati'. This city has been the capital of the Haiyavanshi king Sahasrarjun, who had defeated Ravana. According to mythology, King Sahasrarjun who was a husband of 500 wives had stopped Narmada River with his 1000 arms and made a play area for his wives. While they were all enjoying themselves, Ravana flew by in his Pushpak Vimana. Downstream, when he saw the dry river bed, he made a Shivalinga out of the sand and began to pray. When Sahasrajuna's wives were done playing and they stepped out of the river bed, he let the waters flow. The Shivlinga has washed away and that arose a war between both of them. But when the king got the victory, he kept ten lamps on the heads of Ravana and one on his hand. Now, one can see 11 lamps in the Sahasrarjun Temple to keep the event lively.

Situated on the banks of river Narmada, Maheshwar appeals to both, the pilgrim as well as the tourist in you. The town possesses a treasure trove of beautiful temples, gorgeous ghats, and forts. Rajeshwar temple is the main. Narmada Ghat, Peshwa Ghat, Ahilya Ghat, Kaleshwara Temple, Rajarajeshwara Temple, Akhileshwara Temple, Vithaleshwara Temple, and Maheshwar Fort are some of the top places to visit in Maheshwar. Besides, the town is famous for its handloom sarees which are popularly known as Maheshwari Sarees, and locally manufactured brass utensils.

Nimar Utsav is one of the major events held every year at Maheshwar around Kartik Purnima (November). Organized and celebrated on the banks of the holy river Narmada, the festivities comprise music, dance, and drama. Also, an annual Sacred River Festival, featuring classical music performances, is held at Ahilya Fort every year in February. Apart, Maha Shivratri is also an important festival where thousands of women from surrounding villages spend the night on the Ghats, drumming, and singing, before bathing in the river and worshiping the multitude of Shivalinga's there.

Devi Ahilyabhai Holkar Airport, Indore is the nearest airport which is about 92 km from Maheshwar. It has well-connected flights from Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Goa, Nagpur, and Raipur. Indore Junction Railway Station is the nearest railhead which is 90 km from Maheshwar that has well-connected trains from Jodhpur, Bangalore, Bhopal, Ratlam, Allahabad, Gwalior, Jhansi, Bhind, Chandigarh, Pune, Bikaner, Puri, Dehradun, Rewa, New Delhi, Amritsar, Khajuraho, Bareilly, Jaipur, Jabalpur, Nagpur, Kochuveli, and Gandhi Dham. One can then take a taxi or bus from Indore to reach Maheshwar. Maheshwar Bus Station is well-connected by buses with major cities of Madhya Pradesh like Indore, Barwaha, Dhar, Dhamnod, and Khandwa.

Ranging from budget to medium, there are few accommodations available in Maheshwar which helps the tourists to stay and explore the nearby places.

The best time to visit Maheshwar is from October-March when the weather is pleasant and suitable for sightseeing. The temperature in Maheshwar during the summer months could go up to 45°C, hence it is not advisable to visit. The monsoon season has a decent amount of rainfall which shall not be a problem.

...read more

Other Info
Internet Availability: Average
STD Code: 07283
Languages Spoken: Hindi, Marathi, Awadhi, Nimadi & English
Major Festivals: Nimar Utsav, Maha Shivratri & Sacred River Festival
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Maheshwar

By Air

Nearest Airport: Indore - Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport (92 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Indore Junction (90 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Maheshwar Bus Stand (0 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Maheshwar

#1 of 19 Places to Visit in Maheshwar

At a distance of 1.5 km from Maheshwar Bus Station, Maheshwar Fort is an ancient fort located in the town of Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh. Situated on the banks of River Narmada, it is one of the major places of heritage in Madhya Pradesh, and among the prime tourist places in Maheshwar.

Popular called Holkar Fort, Maheshwar Fort was built in the 18th century AD by the Holkar Dynasty. It was once the residence of the famous queen of Malwa, Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar, hence the fort is also known as Ahilya Fort or the Queen's Fort. Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar ruled Maheshwar from 1765 to 1796 and built Ahilya Wada, her residence, offices, and darbaar audience hall, within the fort. In 2000, Prince Richard Holkar, her descendant, and son of the last Maharaja of Indore converted his home in Ahilya Wada into a heritage hotel known around the world as the Ahilya .....

...read more

#2 of 19 Places to Visit in Maheshwar

At a distance of 1.5 km from Maheshwar Bus Station, Ahilyeshwar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh. Situated in the Maheshwar Fort Complex, it is one of the popular religious places to visit as part of Maheshwar tour packages.

Maheshwar Fort houses several temples dedicated to different incarnations of Lord Shiva. The most number of Shiva temples in Maheshwar rename the town as 'Gupt Kashi'. Ahilyeshwar Temple is one of those temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in Maheshwar. Lies on the banks of the sacred Narmada river, it is one of the biggest and oldest temples in Maheshwar.

Built-in Maratha and North Indian Style, this temple is testimony to the architectural skills of the Maratha workmen. It took 34 years to build this temple with a cost of 1.5 crore Indian rupees. The sanctum santorum has a Lord Shiva statue with Nandi. The premise of this temple showcases extremely beautiful carvings .....

...read more

#3 of 19 Places to Visit in Maheshwar

At a distance of 1.5 km from Maheshwar Bus Station, Shri Raj Rajeshwar Temple is an old Hindu temple located in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh. Situated near Ahilyeshwar Temple, it is one of the beautiful and best places to visit in Maheshwar.

It is said that there are more than 100 temples in Maheshwar. Most temples are spread along the right bank of the river near Maheshwar ghat and the vicinity of the Holkar Fort. Shri Raj Rajeshwar Temple is one such temple situated close to the Ahilyeshwar Temple and boasts of very rich and intricate architecture. In this temple, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Rajarajeshwara Swamy. The Raj Rajeshwar Mandir is believed to be the trance place of Somvanshiya Sahastrarjun Kartviry Arjun.

Also called Rawaneshwar Temple or Sahasrajun Temple, the temple displays brilliant architectural design on the walls and the ceiling inside the sanctum sanctorum. The temple is known .....

...read more

#4 of 19 Places to Visit in Maheshwar

At a distance of 1.5 km from Maheshwar Bus Station, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the popular religious Hindu temples located in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh. Situated in the fort complex, it is one of the old and among the renowned temples of Maheshwar.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is another renowned Shiva temple situated on the sacred land of Maheshwar. Built by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar in 1786 as the Gupta Kashi, near to her Maheshwar Palace. She commissioned this temple after building the Kashi Vishwanathnath Temple in Varanasi. It is across the ghat steps from Swar Ashram at the farthest end of the Easternmost Narmada Ghat.

The temple displays astounding architectural beauty and is said to be modeled on the temple at Kashi. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses a large Shiva Lingam. Built on a terrace overlooking Narmada, the mandapa of the temple houses an exquisitely carved Nandi. It is believed that once devotees offer prayer to the holy shivalinga .....

...read more

#5 of 19 Places to Visit in Maheshwar

At a distance of 6 km from Maheshwar Bus Station, Ek Mukhi Datta Temple is a newly constructed Hindu temple located in Sahastradhara, Jalkoti, Maheshwar. Situated on the banks of river Narmada, it is one of the must include places in Maheshwar holiday packages.

Also called Shiva Datta Dham, Ek Mukhi Datta Temple is dedicated to Lord Dattatreya. This temple is constructed in 30 acres of area. The temple is situated at the bank of the historical Narmada River in its most serious, calm, adventured, and horrible form. This temple has admirable architecture and fantastic history. The main highlight of this temple is the attractive idols of Lord Ek Mukhi Datta, Maa Narmada, and Lord Ganesha.

Sadguru Shri Narayan Maharaj of Shri Kshetra Narayanpur (Anna) and his disciple are building 'Char Datta Dhams' in four different directions in India, of which 2 Dhams have already been completed. Shiva Datta Dham, Jalkoti is the first of .....

...read more

#6 of 19 Places to Visit in Maheshwar

At a distance of 7 km from Maheshwar Bus Station, Sahastradhara Waterfall is a wonderful waterfall located in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh. Situated in Jalkoti, it is one of the popular waterfalls in Madhya Pradesh, and among the must-visit Maheshwar tourist places.

Sahastradhara literally means a thousand streams. Narmada river flows over a rocky patch here and so the main flow breaks down into many streams. With sunlight falling over the streams, it creates a silvery and gleaming river. Visitors won't see this sight in the monsoon as the river will have a lot more water to break down. Hence, winter is the best season to visit the waterfall where one gets totally engrossed in the mesmerizing play of the streams of Maa Narmada.

Besides, there are numerous streams of crystal clear water, and it is very pleasant to sit by the side of the .....

...read more

#7 of 19 Places to Visit in Maheshwar

At a distance of 1.5 km from Maheshwar Bus Station, Rehwa Society is a non-profit foundation located in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh. Situated within the Maheshwar Fort, it is one of the must-visit Maheshwar tourist places.

Rehwa Society is a non-profit organization that works for the welfare of weavers in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh. The weaving history at Maheshwar dates back to Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar and she brought in weavers from Surat in Gujarat and Mandu, Madhya Pradesh, and established them at Maheshwar to weave special nine-yard saris (Navvari saris) for the ladies of the royal household, and turban fabric.

Established in 1979 by Richard and Sally Holkar, the Rehwa Society started with the objective of reviving the ancient hand-weaving craft of Maheshwar, and giving employment to women. Using a grant from the Indian Central Welfare Board, they started with eight looms and eight women weavers from the local Meru community. The society has expanded to 250 weavers over .....

...read more

#8 of 19 Places to Visit in Maheshwar

At a distance of 2 km from Maheshwar Bus Station, Baneshwar is an ancient temple located in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh. Situated on an island between the fast flow of the Narmada River, it is one of the sacred places to visit in Maheshwar.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Baneshwar Temple is believed to have been commissioned in the 5th century and later renovated by Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar. Locals say that Ahilyabai used to come in the early hours of the morning in a special boat to worship Lord Shiva. The temple is a single-room structure built in stone. The triangular walls of the temple are a fine example of an ancient technique that protects the temples from sharp currents. Though it is highly simplistic in design, the ethereal beauty and mysticism of this island temple take your breath away.

Legend has it that this temple has existed since the Dwapura Yuga. According to Hindu mythology, Banasura .....

...read more

#9 of 19 Places to Visit in Maheshwar

At a distance of 1.5 km from Maheshwar Bus Stand, Maheshwar Ghat is a river ghat situated in the pilgrimage town of Maheshwar. Located on the banks of the holy Narmada River, it is one of the popular places to visit as part of the Maheshwar tour.

Also known as Ahilya Ghat, Maheshwar Ghat is situated right below the Maheshwar Fort or Holkar Fort. It was built by the Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar. The architecture of the ghat is a mixture of Maratha, Rajput, and Mughal architectural styles. The Narmada Ghat here is lined up with many small temples and chhatris that one can see from the top of Ahilya Fort. One can see small and big Shivalinga's all along the ghat.

Maheshwar Ghat is very clean and well kept. The ghat is safe to walk and take photos of Maheshwar Fort. The Narmada River flows beside hence you can sit and watch it for hours. There is also a beautiful shiva temple on the banks of the river. This is a picturesque location .....

...read more

#10 of 19 Places to Visit in Maheshwar

At a distance of 2 km from Maheshwar Bus Station, Kaleshwar Temple is an old Hindu temple located in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the many temples in Maheshwar, and among the must-include places in Maheshwar packages.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the ancient temple of Kaleshwar Mahadev is located at the eastern coast of the confluence of Maheshwari and Narmada rivers. This confluence site is considered a KALAGNI pilgrimage. The construction of the temple is calculated from the 9th-10th century. It is known from a rock inscription that this temple was renovated in 1622 by Devdas Mandloi, one of the representatives of Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Tourists can witness wonderful vertical projections enhancing the upward-pointing spiral domes of the temple. The carvings are beautiful and the guides insist on showing you the world's longest snake, which is a carved panel with a single snake motif turned and twisted. The Kaleshwar .....

...read more