Hotel Ahilya Fort

On the banks of the sacred river Narmada, the holiest of all, in the town of Maheshwar that is one of the oldest civilisations of India (4,000 years), is the Ahilya Fort that has a section converted into a boutique hotel, or a guest residence, as the owner calls it !! It is the original fort & palace from where the legendary ruler Ahilya Bai Holkar (reign: 1765 – 1796) ruled her state & also lived !! Prince Richard Shivaji Rao Holkar, Ahilya Bai Holkar’s descendant and son of the last Holkar Maharaja, still lives here and has painfully converted this ancient monument into a fabulous guest residence (hotel) which has won several awards !! Prince Richard takes care of all guests staying here as his own personal guests and that’s why he doesn’t want it to be called a hotel !! Maheshwar is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site !!

Each of the rooms / suites / luxury tent is distinctive and comes with very warm & personalised service !! Light Western and authentic royal Indian food from Prince Richard’s cookbook – ‘Cooking of the Maharajahs’ is served here !! Most of the ingredients used here are grown/raised on the campus !! The rooms / suites / luxury tent come in an all-inclusive package, meaning you don’t pay for any of the meals and drinks !! However, all extra services and tours are chargeable !!

The exquisite and luxurious Maharajah Tent, which sits in its own private garden in a peaceful corner of the fort, has the most incredible views over the river and temples below !! It is a huge tent with a large four-poster double bed, a cosy and comfortable sitting area, and plenty of warm carpets and drapes in deep, enveloping colours !! The luxurious bathroom has a shower and bathtub !! The Maharajah Tent has a small private plunge pool in the garden – as the maharajah or the king won’t plunge in pool with commons 😉 !! There is no doubt that this tent is one of the most sought after Ahilya Fort, fit for a modern-day maharajah !!

A well-stocked library with a television & Cable/Satellite TV Channels is also there !! Traditional Maheshwari massages can also be taken at the Ahilya Fort !!

You will never be without an activity in the culturally-rich area of Maheshwar !! Whether a boat excursion on River Narmada, tour of the Ahilya Fort, endless temples, or a visit to the Maheshwari saaree-making unit of the NGO – Rehwa Society, there’s a lot to do !! Further, you can do day trip to another magnificent historic site – Mandu – from Maheshwar !! Ahilya Fort also arranges luxurious picnic lunches at some of the most beautiful spots within the monuments at Mandu !!