After an erratic Saturday night, the time had come to relax and unwind, mixed emotions and a relentless piece of past. So i picked up my Olive green bag wore my combat T, coupled with an old pair of jeans and toned with rustic black sneakers and to top it all my Ray Ban shaped glares, hurried into my BMW remodeled Maruti 800 with that stark red coloured ARMY, that gave me the confidence to cruise through the NH-3, to an unknown destination through the driest lands of Madhya Pradesh at 45 degrees, right when the sun too showed its up front frustration.
NH-3 looked calm and deserted to find a few trucks move at snail pace smothering the heat, while I prayed that my B Maruti W would not let me down by collapsing suddenly in vain being an exquisite vintage assembly. I cruised through crossing boards which said Mumbai 595km - the 535 km then - 495km... and now i finally stopped to quench my thirst both of water and of an unknown destination. Entered a Dhaba, finding myself out of place with men scanning me top to bottom. I simply went sat on the table looked at them and said, arre bhaiya, fauji ko pehle dekha nahi kya, and they decided to avoid anymore eye contact. After some conversation with the dhaba owner, I took to rest the simple thought of wandering on the highway through every mirage and decided to settle for the land of the living Fort abreast with Narmada - Maheshwar. Came back the same route and at Dhamnod took the diversion and drove straight through to end the journey at the majestic entrance of Ahilya bai holkar fort. She still stands with every niche and corner groomed till date hiding her age. Her curves and splendor speak volumes of her grandeur that kept me spell bound the minute i was embraced at her foot.
I decided to lay back and enjoy the day and unwind myself exploring this architectural marvel. I moved in to the first hotel at the entrance of the fort owned by the Royal family looked after by his retired driver. The hotel hugs a portion of this majestic fort and is called the Laboos Cafe. An excellent ambiance invites you into a calm and serene interior that leaves you awestruck a complete divergence from routine. The rates not very amicable but very well understood to maintain this precious property. After freshening up i moved to explore this fantasy. Every path, the sharpness of the age old architecture was preserved and notched to maintain its magnanimity. The fort has many temple with and around that routes back to centuries. The most stunning part of these temples are the authenticity of the architectural sanity that is still conserved by the Trust as also by the locals.
My next hault after all the temples was the ultimate marvelous view. The steps lead me through and through to end my exploration at the banks of the Narmada. A beauty still ripe, still fresh, still unpolluted and still a virgin. She looked aggressive, active and alive. Her presence moved everyone and enthralled people's senses and engulfed them as an enchantress. The time i reached was perfect, Sunset, and the Narmada glowed. At the horizon she wore what the sun gifted her for the night, a bright yellow light that shined like millions of diamonds. She was audaciously beautiful. and the Gods were proud of her existence that it showed and blessed Maheshwar. Every inch of this nature i breathed and refreshed my senses, touched the cold clear waters of the lively Narmada and felt as if all my worries had gone away. I prayed to her and moved back to my den. To my surprise in the evening everyone leaves the Cafe there is nothing called a reception. Only there is a caretaker who comes in the night to sleep to gaurd the property. Added advatage, i got my solitude to myself, did whatever i wanted to do, sang, danced, cried, yelled as if i was the only human left in this part of the Planet. But the serenity of the sleeping Fort let me sail through the night peaceful as she looked upon me as my gaurding angel.
The dawn broke right into my eyes and i moved out to see the rustic minutely carved stones of the Fort shine in the break of dawn, breaking into beautiful colours. The cafe was set right at the entrance of the Fort where right, left and center of the Buland Darwaza were converted into hotel rooms giving a magnificent view either of Maheswar city or the Fort itself. The magnitude was amazing. After two refreshing cups of tea I left for Raja Rajeshwar mandir the oldest in the vicinity as per locals.
I then moved out of Maheshwar bidding farewell to the beauty and vista of this magnificent architecture and glared at her ageless aura and wished to come back to see her in years to come.
My penultimate destination was Jalkoti - Sahastra dhara, the place where Narmada befalls her ecstatic vibrancy into small and big waterfalls that would look fabulous in the rains. I bid farewell to the beautiful flowing majestic waters of Narmada and concluded my trip with refreshing memories of a place that is for sure in my wish list to visit again. The virgin lands that are so very Indian and architecturally profound that you merely get lost in its wilderness.
Yes please dont forget to shop Maheshwari sarees and dress materials for your loved ones...they are awesome too.. Happy traveling...
NH-3 looked calm and deserted to find a few trucks move at snail pace smothering the heat, while I prayed that my B Maruti W would not let me down by collapsing suddenly in vain being an exquisite vintage assembly. I cruised through crossing boards which said Mumbai 595km - the 535 km then - 495km... and now i finally stopped to quench my thirst both of water and of an unknown destination. Entered a Dhaba, finding myself out of place with men scanning me top to bottom. I simply went sat on the table looked at them and said, arre bhaiya, fauji ko pehle dekha nahi kya, and they decided to avoid anymore eye contact. After some conversation with the dhaba owner, I took to rest the simple thought of wandering on the highway through every mirage and decided to settle for the land of the living Fort abreast with Narmada - Maheshwar. Came back the same route and at Dhamnod took the diversion and drove straight through to end the journey at the majestic entrance of Ahilya bai holkar fort. She still stands with every niche and corner groomed till date hiding her age. Her curves and splendor speak volumes of her grandeur that kept me spell bound the minute i was embraced at her foot.
I decided to lay back and enjoy the day and unwind myself exploring this architectural marvel. I moved in to the first hotel at the entrance of the fort owned by the Royal family looked after by his retired driver. The hotel hugs a portion of this majestic fort and is called the Laboos Cafe. An excellent ambiance invites you into a calm and serene interior that leaves you awestruck a complete divergence from routine. The rates not very amicable but very well understood to maintain this precious property. After freshening up i moved to explore this fantasy. Every path, the sharpness of the age old architecture was preserved and notched to maintain its magnanimity. The fort has many temple with and around that routes back to centuries. The most stunning part of these temples are the authenticity of the architectural sanity that is still conserved by the Trust as also by the locals.
My next hault after all the temples was the ultimate marvelous view. The steps lead me through and through to end my exploration at the banks of the Narmada. A beauty still ripe, still fresh, still unpolluted and still a virgin. She looked aggressive, active and alive. Her presence moved everyone and enthralled people's senses and engulfed them as an enchantress. The time i reached was perfect, Sunset, and the Narmada glowed. At the horizon she wore what the sun gifted her for the night, a bright yellow light that shined like millions of diamonds. She was audaciously beautiful. and the Gods were proud of her existence that it showed and blessed Maheshwar. Every inch of this nature i breathed and refreshed my senses, touched the cold clear waters of the lively Narmada and felt as if all my worries had gone away. I prayed to her and moved back to my den. To my surprise in the evening everyone leaves the Cafe there is nothing called a reception. Only there is a caretaker who comes in the night to sleep to gaurd the property. Added advatage, i got my solitude to myself, did whatever i wanted to do, sang, danced, cried, yelled as if i was the only human left in this part of the Planet. But the serenity of the sleeping Fort let me sail through the night peaceful as she looked upon me as my gaurding angel.
The dawn broke right into my eyes and i moved out to see the rustic minutely carved stones of the Fort shine in the break of dawn, breaking into beautiful colours. The cafe was set right at the entrance of the Fort where right, left and center of the Buland Darwaza were converted into hotel rooms giving a magnificent view either of Maheswar city or the Fort itself. The magnitude was amazing. After two refreshing cups of tea I left for Raja Rajeshwar mandir the oldest in the vicinity as per locals.
I then moved out of Maheshwar bidding farewell to the beauty and vista of this magnificent architecture and glared at her ageless aura and wished to come back to see her in years to come.
My penultimate destination was Jalkoti - Sahastra dhara, the place where Narmada befalls her ecstatic vibrancy into small and big waterfalls that would look fabulous in the rains. I bid farewell to the beautiful flowing majestic waters of Narmada and concluded my trip with refreshing memories of a place that is for sure in my wish list to visit again. The virgin lands that are so very Indian and architecturally profound that you merely get lost in its wilderness.
Yes please dont forget to shop Maheshwari sarees and dress materials for your loved ones...they are awesome too.. Happy traveling...
