Ahilya Fort, in the central Indian town of Maheshwar, sits high above the sacred river Narmada. Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar ruled here from 1765 to 1796 and built Ahilya Wada, her personal residences, offices, and darbaar audience hall, within the fort.

In the year 2000, Prince Richard Holkar, her descendant and son of the last Maharaja of Indore, converted his home in Ahilya Wada into a guest residence, today known around the world as the Ahilya Fort Hotel.

The Ahilya Fort Hotel has 19 rooms of character, set in six buildings of the 18th century, with modern amenities and comforts. Guests stroll through 3 acres of courtyards, fountains, and gardens that link areas within the Wada. It is easy to find a secluded spot to read a book, sip some tea, or just watch the butterflies flutter by.

NB: Many of our rooms are accessed via a flight of 10-15 steps, however ground floor rooms are available on request.

The hotel is well located to explore the highlights of Maheshwar, including its bustling village markets and riverside complex of temples and cenotaphs.

Dinning

The day begins with breakfast on the mandap sitout overlooking the Narmada below or in our garden cottage. Lunch is generally a light western fare prepared with produce gathered that morning from our organic house garden and farm.

Guests are invited for an evening apéritif followed by a traditional thaali dinner of regional specialties, drawn from recipes of the royal kitchens of India. Prince Richard has trained the chefs and personally selects each day’s menu.

POSHAK WADA

Bulbul

This charming room, with king sized bed and ensuite bath, is named for the bulbul nightingales which sometimes nest outside its private balcony. The room also features a comfortable sitting area for lounging.

Nobut Niwas

Nobut Khan was a former senior retainer of the family, and these were his quarters.  This suite features two bedrooms, a single ensuite bathroom, living room, and a private terrace overlooking the Poshak Wada.

Champa

This room features a king sized bed, ensuite bath, and a private balcony with views onto our organic garden. Outside its southern windows is a large champa, or frangipani (plumeria rubra) tree.

Kachnar

Adjacent to Champa is Kachnar, a Princely room with two joinable single beds and an ensuite bath.  Kachnar is named for the nearby bauhinia variegata and shares its garden-facing balcony with both Champa and Gulmohar, with common doors that can be closed for privacy, if desired.

Gulmohar

Gulmohar is the third room in this row, again with a king sized bed, ensuite bath, and sitting area.  Gulmohar shares its balcony with Kachnar, with common doors that can be closed for privacy, if desired.

Gwen Niwas

Gwen Niwas, the only modern structure in the Ahilya Fort Hotel, was built in 2007 by Prince Richard for his sister Gwen, who visits occasionally from the United States. The room has a queen size bed, ensuite bath, and is connected to the charming Gwen Garden, orchard, and vegetable patch.

LINGARCHAN

Neem

Named for an old neem (azadirachta indica) tree that once towered over the courtyard, this Princely category room comfortably accommodates two guests with ensuite bathroom and a private reading alcove that has views of the river.

Imliimage

Like its sister room Neem, Imli is named for the tamarind tree that currently stands in the Lingarchan. Imli is a Princely category room with a queen sized bed and also includes the same private river facing alcove.

DARBAAR WADA

Haldi Suite

Haldi faces the eastern Wada gate and has a charming lookout accessible by a private staircase. The master bedroom has a king sized bed, and the second bedroom has two twin beds; the living room can be transformed into an additional bedroom.

Kesar

Kesar is Haldi’s sister room, also overlooking the Naqqara gate house.  This room features two single beds.

Sukh Niwas

A Princely category room with two single beds and an ensuite bath, and overlooks the Wada’s northern gate. One of the walls has been left in its original, antique state.

Rang Niwas

Rang Niwas is a Princely category room with two single beds and an ensuite bath. Unique amongst all the room are vestiges of 18th century wall paintings.