Chapter 12 — Maheshwar

Chapter 12 of the Class 4 English NCERT textbook (Santoor), "Maheshwar", is a dialogue-based lesson in which two children, Aarav and Ananya, learn about the historic Maheshwar Fort from their Chachi (paternal aunt). Set in Madhya Pradesh on the banks of the Narmada River, the chapter introduces Queen Ahilya Bai of the Holkar family, the fort's famous overhanging balconies, its red stones from Gujarat and Rajasthan, and the renowned Maheshwari sarees. Download the PDF and explore the chapter summary and Q&A below.

• Queen Ahilya Bai and the Maheshwar Fort — Queen Ahilya Bai of the Holkar family built the Maheshwar Fort on a hill on the banks of the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh. The fort is famous for its overhanging balconies that seem to float in the air and was constructed using special red stones brought from Gujarat and Rajasthan. A 13-feet tall statue of Queen Ahilya Bai stands in front of the palace as a symbol of her guardianship over the land. The fort is also known as Ahilya Fort and overlooks both the town of Maheshwar and the Narmada River.
• Queen Ahilya Bai as a Ruler — Queen Ahilya Bai ruled with kindness and wisdom, and her people loved her deeply. She protected her subjects and ordered the building of temples, schools, and wells for their welfare. She belonged to the great Holkar family, who ruled over the kingdom of Maheshwar. Her legacy is remembered through the grand fort and the statue that still stands at the palace entrance today.
• Maheshwari Sarees — A Living Craft Tradition — The people of Maheshwar are famous for weaving Maheshwari sarees, which are made from a blend of cotton and silk. Originally woven in pure silk, cotton yarn was later introduced, giving the sarees their unique reversible borders and pallus. They are traditionally made in colours such as peacock blue, bright yellow, forest green, and an Indian red dye called Aal. Today, Maheshwari sarees are available in both national and international markets.
• Language Activities in the Chapter — The chapter includes vocabulary exercises where students identify words with similar meanings and find the 'odd one out' in word groups. A key phonics activity teaches children about the silent letter 'g' in words such as 'design', 'sign', 'light', and 'night'. Students also practise using Articles (a, an, the) through a story-based fill-in-the-blanks exercise. A speaking activity asks children to research a historical place near their home and present it to the class.

1. 01Maheshwar Fort was built by Queen Ahilya Bai of the Holkar family on the banks of the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh.
2. 02The fort is located about 95 kilometres from Indore and is also called Ahilya Fort.
3. 03The fort is famous for its overhanging balconies that seem to float in the air.
4. 04Special red stones from Gujarat and Rajasthan were used to build the fort.
5. 05A 13-feet tall statue of Queen Ahilya Bai stands in front of the palace.
6. 06Queen Ahilya Bai built temples, schools, and wells for the welfare of her people.
7. 07Maheshwari sarees are woven from cotton and silk and are known for their reversible borders and traditional colours like peacock blue and forest green.
8. 08The chapter teaches a phonics concept: the silent letter 'g' in words like 'design', 'sign', and 'night'.