A little bit about Maihar first
Thanks to a good friend of mine who happens to be an Artist, I discovered this treasure trove of a place in the heartland of India, Madhya Pradesh. This artist friend of mine went to Art Ichol, Maihar for an Art Residency. Maihar is a small town in the Satna district in Madhya Pradesh. Maihar is situated at about 161 km from Jabalpur and 136 km from Khajuraho. Maihar is known for the temple of the revered Goddess Sharda situated on the Trikuta Hill, she is also known as the Maihar Devi.
How to reach Maihar from Delhi?
Maihar is about 783 km from New Delhi, the capital of India. It takes 14 hours by train to Maihar from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi. I travelled by Mahakoshal express which was 6-7 hours late on both sides due to foggy conditions in North Indian Winters. The train is the most convenient way to reach Maihar if one has time on hand and the love for Indian Railways journeys. There is no airport in Maihar. One has to travel from Jabalpur or Khajuraho which are the nearest places to Maihar which has Domestic Airports well connected to most cities in India.
Where did I stay?
I stayed at the beautiful Sunderson House in Maihar. This heritage haveli is 100 years old, home of Smt. Ambica Beri Sunderson. Ambica Beri is an Art connoisseur, a philanthropist, recipient of the prestigious President of India’s Nari Shakti Award in 2017. She owns and manages various properties like the Famous Art Ichol and the Writer’s Retreat in Maihar which are like creative retreats for artists, writers and sculptors. Art luminaries from all over the world get invited there.
Places I visited in and around Maihar
Art Ichol – It is an Art Museum displaying Art pieces, big and small, modern and heritage, simple and intricate by various Artists from all over the World, who have visited and stayed there. There is a fee of INR 50 for entry. There are mud huts constructed by the local Ichol village women, a luxurious tent, a rustic cafe, and staying quarters for Artists and workers. There is a small historic tomb situated right in the middle of this huge property giving the place the artistic vibe it deserves.
Mukundpur White Tiger Zoo – This zoo is situated at a driving distance of 66 km from Maihar town. It has various wild animals like bears, sambhars, spotted deers, 2 lions and the world famous and majestic the Whiter Tiger. There are about 4 of them here. Do you know, the origin of White Tiger is from the erstwhile kingly state of Rewa in Madhya Pradesh? Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa took it upon himself to conserve and breed the progeny of the first White Tiger named ‘ MOHAN ’. It is from here that White Tigers spread to various zoos and sanctuaries of India and the World.
Writer’s Retreat by Art Ichol – This is another beautiful property situated beside the River Tamsa in Maihar. Smt. Ambica Beri created this space to encourage creative writing by giving the visiting writers a serene and picturesque environment to work in. The property has manicured lawns, fruit trees, and a red brick two storey cottage. One really feels a sense of calm while leisurely sitting beside river bank here. One can hear the chirping of various birds and bees. This place would surely inspire writers and poets to be their creative best.
Maihar Devi Temple – Situated on the Trikuta hill, this goddess is the revered mother deity of Maihar and surrounding towns and villages. She has a lot of devotees amongst the locals and the tourists. One can reach this temple at the top of the hill by climbing 1000 steps or by using the Cable Car Service which charges INR 120 each. This temple gets huge numbers of devotees during the ‘ Navaratris ‘ – the nine day Goddess festivities followed twice a year in North India. One can see the entire town of Maihar from this height.
Baba Allauddin Khan House – Maihar is the home to the celebrated and gifted Indian Sarod player Allauddin Khan. He was a multi-instrumentalist, composer and one of the most noted music teachers of the 20th century in Indian Classical Music. He had been a teacher to Pandit Ravi Shankar besides other famous musicians. His house is converted into a Museum and his grave monument is also situated here. In his abode in Maihar one can see his pictures, certificates, his musical instruments, description of his life history and other memorabilia.
If you do not want to travel the beaten track of other popular places in Madhya Pradesh, Maihar is a must visit. Maihar will quench the Art and History enthusiast in you. Madhya Pradesh is huge, there is something for every type of traveler here. The roads in Madhya Pradesh are at their best right now. Must visit places in Madhya Pradesh are Sanchi Stupa, Temples in Khajuraho – a world heritage site, Bhandhavgarh National Park and the Kanha National Park.
Check out the Website of Madhya Pradesh Tourism for more info.
Also check out the Website of ART Ichol.
Check out my dear friend Anuradha’s Website for some intelligent Industry Consultancy : Dry Waters
Read on my Travels to The Land of the Terracotta Temples in West Bengal.
How do you get to Maihar?
The main railway station in the city is Maihar Railway Station. The city is also well connected by road, with NH 7 making it easy for visitors to reach here by road. Nearest airports to the city are located at Jabalpur and Khajuraho. You can also travel to Maihar by airways, as per your comfort and budget.
Established by the Rajputs in the 18th century and a princely state of the British Rule in the 19th century, Maihar is a city in Madhya Pradesh. It is best known for the famous temple of Maa Sharda Devi, situated on the top of the Trikoota Hills, which can be reached after climbing 1,063 steps.
The ideal time to Maihar is between the months of July and March, however, depending on what you want to do.
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