Maheshwar, which was once referred to as the Mahishmati in the ancient period, is located on the banks of Narmada River. The ancient city of Maheshwar or Mahishmati was once the capital of kingdom of great king Kartivarjun. This great city finds has been referred to on several occasions in the epic mythological literary creations, Mahabharata and Ramayana. Maheshwar owes its renovated beauty and glory to Rani Ahilyabai, the great Holkar queen. Cotton and handloom saris with blend of silk are some of the things that have made the city even more renowned nowadays.
There are several routes and means of transport that could be followed if one wishes to reach Maheshwar. Indore is the biggest city that is in close proximity to Maheshwar. Thus to reach Maheshwar one can take a flight to Indore, which is linked to all the major cities of the country. In addition to this Indore is an important part of the country’s railways. The roadways are also pretty good connecting Maheshwar to Indore and then Indore to Bhopal and Ujjain. Having reached Indore one can very easily reach Maheshwar through taxis or buses because Indore is at miniscule distance of about 97 kms.
Even though reaching Maheshwar can be a bit tiresome since it is not a direct journey but once you reach Maheshwar a tour to its famous attractions will definitely make this journey worthwhile. There are many popular tourist attractions in Maheshwar. One of the most popular sites in Maheshwar is The Fort, which is a very important ancient monument. This palace has been converted into a museum that showcases royal belongings and artefacts. There are many popular temples in Maheshwar like Rajarajeswara, Vithaleswara and the Kaleshwara temple. Navdatoli, an archaeological site found in 1950, must definitely be visited as it showcases many interesting pieces of pottery and microliths. In addition to these the tourists also enjoy the beauty of the serene Narmada banks, the beautiful Maheshwar temple and Rajagaddi and Rajawada, which showcases historical items and belongings of the Holkar dynasty in addition to beautiful statue of Rani Ahilyabai.
One should definitely visit Maheshwar if one wishes to get a feel of the rich cultural heritage of India.