A small town in Madhya Pradesh state, Maheshwar is located at 13km on Agra – Mumbai National Highway No 3. Located on the northern shore of River Narmada, Maheshwar had been the ruling capital of Malwa Sultanate. Maheshwar which means the Great God (Shiva) in Hindi is believed to be an ancient city which has been in existence since time immortal. The unspoiled beauty of the town has captured the attention of Bollywood and the town has been a part of many Hindi/Tamil movies.

Glorified with a rich history that dates back to the 18th century when Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar ruled here, the fort stands majestically above the ghats Maheshwar. This personal residence of Ahilyabai where she ruled during 1765 – 1796, is now transformed into a heritage hotel which still breaths its ancient charm and persona. Built as Ahilya Wada, this property has gained global attention as a symbol of excellent accommodation as Ahilya Fort Hotel.

The hotel carries some nice activities to engage the guests in wonderful experiences which they will always cherish after returning to their home. Sunset boating at Baneshwar Temple is a tranquil experience where you will get to witness the sun spreading its golden hues on the water and getting lost on the horizon. Such an overwhelming experience is thrilling. Sip a cup of tea and put earthen lamps (diyas) in the river.

Another activity includes a visit to the organic farm of Ahilya Fort which is spread in 15 acres of farming land. Much of the raw material which is used in the kitchen is collected from here itself. Here, the guests collect ingredients/vegetables to be cooked for the meal. Village walk, yoga, candlelight dinner, etc. are some enthralling activities exclusively designed for the guests to provide them a memorable experience.

Restored and renovated by Richard Holkar (descendant), this 18th-century fort is built with 19 rooms full of unique characters. All the rooms are now fitted with every modern luxuries and comforts to make the guests feel relaxed. A courtyard spread in an area of 3 years decorated with indoor plants, is good enough to walk around in leisure time. The vast gardens of the fort hotel are impressive where the guests can sit and spend some quality time or can sip tea, read books, etc. The romantic ambiance of the hotel, lights shimmering mild yellow hue fills the space with tranquility.

The morning breakfast served at a mandap sit-out offers a traditional king-like feeling which overlooks the Narmada River. The guests can also have breakfast in the hotel’s garden cottage. The hotel has an organic farm and garden and the ingredients used in the lunch are generally picked from there. The light western lunch is full of taste and satisfies the taste buds. The hotel also offers an evening aperitif. The menu of delicious dinner is based on the regional selection of recipes which has been in tradition in Indian royal kitchens for long. The chefs here are professionally trained specially by Prince Richard himself and the menu varies every day.

Dotted with many gardens that Prince Richard has designed himself, the fort offers several relaxation facilities. A pool inside a wall guarded garden is built in a large area with crystal-clear water where the guests can swim and unwind themselves. Next to the pool is a court where guests can enjoy playing indoor games. The special feature is 18th-century cannonballs. The traditional Nimadi massage treatment offered in the Lingaarchan area is a great option for de-stressing and immersing completely in the serenity of this ancient heritage fort.

The major city is Indore which is located at a drive of around 2 hours at a distance of 100km approx. Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport has regular flights from Mumbai and Delhi; hence one can easily reach here.