Nowadays, Maheshvar is not any more that one small agglomeration of a score of thousands of people, known of the Indians for the manufacture of saris of silk and cotton whose pallu (left final) is distinguished by five bands and from the floral reasons). But she knew a prestigious past because it is generally believed that in these places was Mahishmati, a city mentioned in great épopées of Mahâbhârata and Râmâyana.
Though it is, at the 18th century, Rani (queen) Ahilya of the dynasty of Holkar (these even which reigned in Indore) was to give again all its gloss with this quoted fortunately located on northern bank (right) of Narmada, which in fact a place of pilgrimage.
In fact, the most interesting visits are on the edges of the ghâts. One will thus visit in Maheshvar:
The Palate of the Ahilya Queen which one can see only one small part and which people of the corner considers neither more nor less than one sanctuary, considering the veneration which one testifies towards this queen. Around a shaded court of beautiful trees which create a peaceful framework, one will note: old carosses, a hall where is installed a statue of Rani sitting on its throne, the writings of time, etc. In the court, pretty marble statue of the Pârvatî goddess holding her Ganesh child in his bosom.
By
sloping staircases, one will go on the ghâts, stopping with the passage to
the Ahileshvar temple. It is a temple dedicated to Shiva. In the large external
paved court, a little downwards, rises an elevated mandapa whose powerful
base decorates animal planks. Southern side, this court opens by a pretty
gallery on the river. One then penetrates in the temple itself, of which the
entry is kept by the splendid animal-vehicle of Shiva, the Nandi bull. In
a side sanctuary, out of the principal temple, that one will take guard not
to forget, one will notice several interesting marble statues (Hanuman a group
made up of the Rama god, his Sita wife and his brother Lakshmana, etc.
Once that one will be on the ghâts, one will admire the point of view on the temple of Ahilya and the staircases which one has just descended. More with the upstream on the ghâts, another temple, the temple of Rajarajeshvara is.