A stay at Ahilya Fort is an experience straight out of the 18th century. Situated high above the banks of the sacred Narmada River, Ahilya Fort was the capital of one of India's celebrated women rulers-Ahilya Bai Holkar. Her fortress has been converted into a guest residence of discrete charm, where guests can appreciate surroundings, which have not changed since Ahilya Bai. Her Wada palace is simple and elegant; built in 1766, it is a typical example of the Maratha architecture of the period. The rooms retain the feeling of the epoch, while bringing guests modern conveniences, which ensure a comfortable stay.
Nature & Kind Factor
The objective of this conservation project is to ensure the longevity of Maheshwar's fort and restore the important buildings of AhilyaBai Holkar's 18th century capital.The conservation project is privately funded, and works through the Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Memorial Charitable Trust and the property's owner, The Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Charities (Khasgi) Trust.The projected cost of the first part of this program is in the range of us$100,000, of which approximately $50,000 has already been spent. Supporters are private individuals and corporate bodies, both within and outside India.
Our conservation program started some five years ago with serious repairs to the 16th century fort wall. Carried out under the supervision of conservation architect, Ravindra Gundu Rao, the first works repaired seriuous cracks and undercutting of the fort's stone and lime mortar walls.Our conservation work is now focusing on AhilyaBai's temporal buildings.These buildings date from between the mid 18-th century to the early 19th, and are of wooden pillar-and-beam supporting structures filled with lime, mud and bricks. Wall re-construction, timber replacement, roof tiling, replastering and flooring are undertaken using traditional techniques such as original lime mortar, and authentic materials such as recuperated wood from demolished period houses. Where necessary modern techniques such as epoxy wood reconstruction,injection termite proofing, and metal wall anchoring are used.We expect to have this phase completed by the end of 2004.
Future projects include, a museum devoted to Devi AhilyaBai and her works, temple repairs and conservation,further fort wall repair and re-construction, and safeguarding of Maheshwar's ghats from under-cutting by the Narmada River.These projects have a budget of approximately $us500,000, and will require national and international institutional support.
