Indore is one of the largest and the most populous cities in Madhya Pradesh, and the city got its name from the famous Indreshwar temple. Indore and its outskirts provide a visual treat for all classes of travellers.
The Army town
Dr Ambedkar Nagar, commonly known as Mhow, is in Indore district, which is on the northern side of the Malva plateau. The place houses an important military station of the Indian Army apart from prominent institutions such as Army War College, infantry museum and Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, among others. In a nutshell, Mhow is a complete Army town.
It is noteworthy that scores of former military personnel have chosen Mhow as the place to spend their retired life. A pleasant climate and superlative basic facilities are attracting people to Mhow.
Most of the cities have a story to tell about their origins and the Mhow town is no different. The Janapav temple, which is adjacent to the Bercha lake, is situated near this small town. The legend goes that sage Jagadagni, one of the seven great sages, lived in Mhow. It is also believed that Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu and son of Jagadagni-Renuka couple, was born in this region. According to the lore, king Kartavirya Arjuna killed Jagadagni and Renuka and as a revenge for killing his parents, Parasurama annihilated the entire Kshatriya clan and donated the land to Brahmins.
Choral dam
One of the main attractions of Mhow is the Choral dam, which is built on Choral River, a tributary of the Narmada River. The Choral dam is roughly 17km away from Mhow town, and the Madhya Pradesh government’s Choral resort receives one to the dam. A park near the resort has tyre swings and rope ladders that are meant to give certain degree of physical activity for the visitors. One could see the reservoir, which is comparatively a small one, from the park.
The scenic Choral dam has boating facilities, including speed boats. The speed boat ride can be both exciting and exhilarating, and one could also enjoy nature’s beauty enveloping the dam.
The panoramic view of the mountain ranges and the winding roads from the vantage point on a bridge across the reservoir is breathtaking. Not many tourists visit this beautiful dam as it is yet get a prominent spot in the tourism landscape of Madhya Pradesh.
Saree of Ahilyabai
Another thing that stands for visitors to Mhow is the Maheshwari sarees, which have their roots in Maheshwar, a place in Madhya Pradesh. The origin of this unique saree can be traced back to the 18th century and is credited to Rani Ahilyabai Holkar who was part of the Holkar royal family that ruled Malva.
Ahilyabai’s Maheshwar on the banks of Narmada River played a pivotal role in transforming Indore, which was then a nondescript village, into a city.
It is believed that Rani designed the first Maheshwari saree and asked the weavers to make a 9ft long saree for the palace. The distinct weaving technique used to make the Maheshwari sarees makes them special. Earlier, supreme quality silk was used to weave these sarees but now it is made of silk and cotton. The Maheshwari sarees, which showcase the rich tradition of the region, usually have a plain body with small border and can be bought from textile shops in Mhow.
