The sarees of Maheshwar
A town on the Narmada, where Maheshwari saris in cotton and silk were first woven at the request of Ahilyabai Holkar.
Motifs of Maheshwar
Woven here
Best time: October to March.
Maheshwar is an old town on the bank of the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh. It is linked with the ruler Ahilyabai Holkar, who is remembered for building temples and ghats and for supporting weavers. The Maheshwari sari is named for the town.
What is woven here
The Maheshwari sari is woven in cotton, in silk, and in a mix of the two. It is light and often has a reversible border with a pattern of small bands. Common designs are checks, stripes and small flowers, and the ends are decorated with simple motifs. The saris are used for daily wear, formal wear and weddings.
The craft and its people
Weaving has been in the town for a long time. In the twentieth century it was revived with the help of a trust that supported local weavers, and today many weavers are organised in cooperatives and societies. The work is done on handlooms, and women now take part as weavers as well as in other roles.
Seeing it
Visitors can see weavers at their looms and can buy at the town's weaving centres. The fort and ghats of Maheshwar on the Narmada are the other main sights. The nearby Mandu is a well known historic place a few hours away.
A trail idea for Maheshwar
- Weaving centres See Maheshwari cotton and silk on looms and ask about the reversible border.
- Ahilya Fort and the ghats A fort on the Narmada with stone steps to the river, a good place to spend the evening.
- Narmada riverbank A walk along the water at dusk to see boats and temples.
Written by the EveryPallu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Maheshwar" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and workshops change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.