Ahilya Fort

Overlooking the sacred Narmada River, Ahilya Fort in Maheshwar is a jewel of India’s royal heritage. From 1765 to 1796, Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, a revered and visionary ruler, governed from Ahilya Fort. She established Ahilya Wada within the fort, including her personal residence, administrative offices, and the gaadi darbaar, where she oversaw state affairs.

In 2000, Prince Richard Holkar, her descendant and son of the last Maharaja of Indore, converted his ancestral home in Ahilya Wada into a guest residence. The Ahilya Fort Hotel has restored key sites, including Ahilyabai’s gaadi darbaar, preserving the fort’s architectural. Renowned for promoting sustainable tourism, the hotel uses local produce and keeps Maheshwar’s traditions alive through cultural initiatives. Today, guests can experience Maheshwar’s history while exploring the Holkar family’s 250-year legacy of patronage toward its people.

Aside from its rich history, Ahilya Fort takes pride in its sustainability initiatives:

Sustainable Farming
Ahilya Fort has prioritized organic, chemical-free practices for over two decades, including drip irrigation, water harvesting, vermiculture, composting, and biodynamic fertilizers, to support environmental sustainability.

Eco-Friendly Water Practices
Ahilya Fort is a wastewater-free property. Using a flower-based DEWATS system, all effluent is treated and reused for gardens. The hotel also promotes plastic-free drinking water, uses natural mosquito spray, recycled oils in diyas, and avoids disposable toiletries in the rooms.

Solar Power
Solar panels at Ahilya Fort supply 65% of the property’s energy, reducing environmental impact.

Bee Program
Ten boxes of apis trigona stingless bees support the fort’s gardens and orchards, providing holy honey and boosting agricultural yields by 30–60%.

Ahilya Fort showcases a blend of Maratha, Rajput, and Mughal architectural styles, with intricate stone carvings, symmetrical layouts, ornate pillars, and features such as Rajasthani-style jharokhas (enclosed balconies) and pillared verandahs. The Ahilya Fort Hotel blends 18th-century charm with luxury across 19 unique rooms in six historic buildings.

The gardens, designed by Prince Richard, include an organic bageecha supplying fresh produce to the kitchen. Children can explore Baccha Bagh, where teachers from the Ahilya School guide them in arts, crafts, storytelling, and gardening. The property features a walled pool, with a nearby petanque court using 18th-century cannon balls. Guests can also visit the Hidden Museum inside the fort, which displays relics, weapons, and artifacts from the Holkar dynasty. Wheelchair-accessible rooms are available for guests with mobility needs.

Distinct courtyards at Ahilya Fort reflect its royal heritage and varied functions. Lingarchan hosted daily blessings by 101 royal priests; Poshak Wada stored important Holkar artifacts; Darbaar Wada’s first floor held Ahilyabai’s living quarters, with offices and the hall of audience below; Naqarra Bagh housed the naqqara drums used to open and close the fort gates; Badam Chowk, a principal courtyard, is surrounded by the family’s Ganesh temple on one side and a 200-year-old neem tree on the other.

Dining at Ahilya Fort feels like eating in Prince Richard Holkar’s home. There are no restaurant or big menu, he creates a daily fixed menu, often from his cookbook Cooking of the Maharajas. Special diet menus are available on request.

Meals can be served in different spots around the Fort. Breakfast is on the mandap sitout overlooking the Narmada or in the garden cottage. Lunch is usually light, made with fresh produce from the hotel’s garden. Evenings start with refreshments at the mandap, followed by a traditional thaali dinner with regional specialties and a Holkar twist.

Wellness activities in the property include Hatha yoga on the southwestern turret and traditional Nimadi massages in Lingarchan. Meanwhile, the young ones can enjoy the Baccha Bagh, the menagerie, and garden activities led by Ahilya School teachers. Guests can also relax at the hotel’s pool or visit the Ahilya Organic Farm, see their meals grow, and take a self-guided village walk through Naodatodi and Bothu. Evenings can be made unforgettable with candlelight dinners at Boleya Chhatri or al fresco picnics in Mandu.

Every February, Ahilya Fort hosts the Sacred River Festival by the Narmada. It’s four days of singing, music, and dance and is put together by the Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Charitable Memorial Trust and Ms. Mary McFadden.

A short walk from the hotel takes you to the Rehwa Society, founded by the Holkars in the late 1970s to revive the town’s hand-weaving craft and provide employment to women. The adjoining Ahilya School educates weavers’ children, and both can be visited together in a morning. 

Each day begins with the Lingarchan Puja, a centuries-old ritual performed by 11 Brahmins who offer prayers for the Holkar State. The family also supports pilgrims undertaking the Narmada Parikrama, providing rations and lodging along the 2,600 km spiritual journey.

A short drive takes guests to the romantic ruins of Mandu, including the option of a private Royal Baz Bahadur picnic. Nearby, Omkareshwar features one of India’s most revered Shiva temples, which can be combined with a visit to Baji Rao Samadhi, perched above the Narmada. On the river, guests can enjoy sunset boating to Baneshwar Temple, leisurely 2½-hour floats, or moonlit river walks accompanied by local musicians.