Ahilyabai Holkar
Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar (1725 - 1795, ruled 1767-1795) was a ruler of the Malwa kingdom, India. She was born in the village of Chaundi in the [Tahsil-JAMKHED,dis-AHMFNAGAR] region of Maharashtra. She moved the capital to Maheshwar south of Indore on the Narmada River.
Ahilyabai's husband was killed in battle in 1754. Twelve years later, her father-in-law, Malhar Rao Holkar, died. She tried to protect her kingdom from Thugs, the plunderers. She personally led armies into battle.
Rani Ahilyadevi was a great builder and patron of many Hindu temples which embellished Maheshwar and Indore. She also built temples at sacred sites outside her kingdom, from Dwarka in Gujarat east to the Kashi Vishweswar temple at Varanasi on the Ganges. Seeing the destroyed and descerated temple in Somanath, Rani Ahilyabai built a temple where Lord Shiva is still worshipped by Hindus.
Early life
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Categories
Articles to be merged since October 2006 | 1795 deaths | Hindu women | People from Maharashtra | History of Malwa | Queens regnant | Indian monarchs | Indian women in war | Women in 18th century warfare | History of Madhya Pradesh | People from Madhya Pradesh | Indore | Varanasi