Ahilyabai Holkar

Ahilyabai Holkar

Ahilyabai Holkar was the hereditary noble sardar of the Maratha Empire, India. She moved the seat of her fiefdom to Maheshwar south of Indore. She built hundreds of temples and Dharmashalas throughout India. Her husband was killed during the siege of Kumher in 1754.

About Ahilyabai Holkar in brief

Summary Ahilyabai HolkarAhilyabai Holkar was the hereditary noble sardar of the Maratha Empire, India. She moved the seat of her fiefdom to Maheshwar south of Indore on the Narmada River. She built hundreds of temples and Dharmashalas throughout India. Her husband was killed during the siege of Kumher in 1754. She tried to protect her land from plundering invaders. She personally led armies into battle. She led them in person, with four bows and quivers of arrows to the corners of her favourite corners of the country. She was a great pioneer and builder of Hindu temples. She also built roads and bridges for the development of the region. She died in 1767, but her legacy lives on in the form of the Ahilya Bai Museum in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. She is survived by her son Malerao and daughter Muktabai, who were born in 1745 and 1748, respectively, and her grandson Male Rao Holkar, who died in 1815. She had two sons with Khanderao, who was killed in the battle of Kumbher.

Her daughter married Yashwantrao, a brave but poor man, after he succeeded in defeating the dacoits. Her son Male Rao became the ruler ofindore in 1766, but he too died within few months on 5 April 1767. In 1765, Ahily Abai became ruler of Indores after the death of her son withKhanderao. She ruled in a most enlightened manner, reinstating a Brahmin who had opposed her. AhilyAbai was also the head of the military head of Malwa, head of military matters, and head of Tukojirao Holkar as head of her military militia. She married her daughter to a brave and poor man after he defeated the Dacoit dacoit. She gave birth to two sons, one of whom was mentally unwell and died of his illness in 1765. She later had two more children with Malarao, the other of whom died of an unknown illness in 1816. Her last child was a daughter with Malerio, who also died in the same year. She then had a son with Malhar Rao, who later died of a heart attack.