Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh in central India is about 90 kms from Indore is a town on the banks of river Narmada was the capital of the Malwa during the Maratha Holkar rule till 6 January 1818, when the capital was shifted to Indore. In the 18th century AD , Maheshwar served as the capital of Maratha Queen Ahilya Devi Holkar who constructed her palace , fort , numerous temples and ghats ( steps on river banks ).

Maheshwar has the reputation as of Varanasi of central India because of its numerous old temples and rituals including arti ( puja ) at the ghats of Narmada river.