Watch this video and don't hesitate to read the commentary on the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Malwa, the Ahiya Palace and the banks of the Narmada river in Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh in India.
This film was made on the basis of photos and videos taken during the trip India - Kumbh Mela 2016 in Ujjain • Madhya Pradesh • Maharashtra • Goa (EN)
Reading the text below will help you better understand the historical context of the sites shown in this video.
Maheshwar
About a hundred kilometers from Indore, on the banks of the Narmada river, there is a small town of about 30,000 inhabitants. On the scale of India, Maheswhar is therefore a very small town.
It was however the capital of Malwa. Malwa is a synonym for the old state of Madhya Bharat, created at the time of India's independence in 1947, before its merger with Madhya Pradesh in 1956. It was also around this time that the status of capital was kidnapped in favor of Indore.
It was not, however, the first time that Maheshwar had the honor of being a capital. Queen Ahilya Bai had already made it the capital of the state of Holkar at the end of the 18th century. But it was not the first time that the status of capital was transferred to Indore either. It had already happened in 1818 ...
It is from this time that the textile tradition of Maheswhar dates back, whose quality of saree making still attracts many customers today. Maheswar had also become a center of literature and art during the reign of this sovereign.
This queen also built the magnificent palace which is located on the banks of the Narmada river in Maheshwar, the Ahilya palace, or Fort Ahilya.
Maheshwar Fort: Ahilya Palace
Ahilya Bai built her magnificent palace within the walls of Mughal fortifications dating from the 16th century. In fact, in this enclosure are several interwoven constructions.
At the foot of the fortress are various temples and places of prayer. Several linga (or lingam), phallic symbols of Shiva are found on the bank of the river. Often accompanied by a small sacred cow statue.
Spoken comments in the film:
Small stop on the road to Mandu, Maheshwar is a small town that is really worth the detour. Maheshwar is a small town in the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India, which has less than 40,000 inhabitants. It is located along the Narmada River which is one of the 7 sacred rivers of India. This relatively unknown city was the capital of the Holgar dynasty which ruled the Mahata Empire until the 19th century.
Music:
- YouTube video library - Beijaflor
- YouTube video library - Island Coconuts
• Disclaimer: As traditional music is often subject to copyright (claimed by major music distribution groups), the musical illustration of this film "Maheshwar • Madhya Pradesh, India (EN)" does not use typical music of India but is borrowed from a collection of royalty-free music. Despite the painstaking care given to the musical choices in this film, some people may regret this choice, but it is the price to pay for not incurring unnecessary lawsuits. This decision was difficult to take, but it's the only viable solution, unfortunately. •


Narmada river

lingas on the ghats

the fort
