NCERT Class 4 English Santoor Chapter 12 Maheshwar PDF Download

Chapter 12: Maheshwar

Let us Read

It was a pleasant evening. Aarav and Ananya were sitting with their Chachi. They saw a picture of a fort in the newspaper.

Aarav: Chachi! Do you know the name of this fort? It looks so grand.

Chachi: (with a twinkle in her eye) Come here! Sit down. Well, the fort in the picture is the majestic Maheshwar. It was built long ago by Queen Ahilya Bai. This fort is famous for its overhanging balconies.

Aarav: (excited) A queen and her fort? Overhanging balconies?

Ananya: That is exciting! A real queen built the Maheshwar Fort?

Chachi: (smiling) Yes, dear! Queen Ahilya Bai ruled over Maheshwar, a place in Madhya Pradesh.

* Chachi: Paternal aunt

This place is just 95 kilometres away from Indore. She was a warrior queen who ordered to build a strong and beautiful fort on the banks of the Narmada River. This Queen had the fortress built on a hill, and from there, she could see her entire kingdom of Maheshwar. This fort is also known as Ahilya Fort.

Aarav: What was Queen Ahilya like as a ruler?

Chachi: She belonged to the great Holkar family, who ruled the kingdom. She protected her people and built temples, schools, and wells. The fort she built has overhanging balconies that seem to float in the air. She ruled with kindness and wisdom and people loved her. A 13-feet tall statue of Queen Ahilya Bai stands even today in front of the palace, like a guardian watching over her land.

Aarav and Ananya: (together) Tell us more about the fort, Chachi.

Chachi: (smiling) Ah, yes. The fort is known for its unique style of construction and grand staircases. It was made of special red stones brought from Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Ananya: (fascinated) Can we go there, Chachi? Can we see it?

Chachi: Why not? You will enjoy visiting the fort. You know, the fort is on a hill, overlooking the town of Maheshwar on one side and the Narmada River on the other. There are many beautifully designed temples near the fort.

Ananya: (excitedly) And what else, Chachi? Is there more?

Chachi: Yes, there's something special you will love! The people of Maheshwar are known for weaving the famous Maheshwari sarees. They are made from cotton and silk, and the designs are so unique.

Aarav: (enthusiastic) So, the fort has overhanging balconies, statues, and temples! It seems like an interesting place to visit.

Ananya: Let us visit Maheshwar one day.

Chachi: Why not? Let's plan a visit soon. The fort is waiting for you to discover its secrets. One day, we shall explore it together.

Teacher's Note

Notice how Chachi uses descriptive words like "majestic", "grand", and "unique" to make Maheshwar Fort sound exciting and real to Aarav and Ananya. When you read or write, try using vivid adjectives to help your reader picture what you are describing - it makes the story come alive!

New Words

fort majestic overhanging balconies ruler unique

Let us Think

A. Answer the following.

1. Who was Ahilya Bai?
2. Where is Maheshwar Fort located? What makes its location special?
3. What materials were used to build Maheshwar Fort, and where did they come from?
4. What does the statue of Queen Ahilya Bai in front of the palace represent?

B. Think and discuss.

1. Aarav and Ananya get excited about visiting Maheshwar Fort. What do you think makes historical places like this interesting?
2. If you were Aarav or Ananya, what part of the fort would you be most excited to see - the overhanging balconies, the statue, or the temples? Why?

Let us Learn

A. The words "smiling", "grinning", and "laughing" have similar meanings.

Example:

• happy, joyful, cheerful
• brave, bold, fearless

Given below are sets of words that have similar meaning along with a word that does not fit the group. Circle the odd one out.

1. sad, unhappy, tearful, thrilled
2. talk, discuss, kind, speak
3. noisy, quiet, silent, calm
4. cotton, wooden, silk, woollen

Teacher's Note

When you find the word that doesn't belong, think about what the other words have in common. For example, "happy", "joyful", and "cheerful" are all positive feelings, so "sad" would be the odd one out. Ask yourself: Do these words mean similar things, or does one have a completely different meaning?

Key Points

• Queen Ahilya Bai was a warrior queen who ruled Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh and ordered the construction of the famous Ahilya Fort on the banks of the Narmada River.
• The Maheshwar Fort is known for its unique architectural features, including overhanging balconies, grand staircases, and special red stones brought from Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• Queen Ahilya Bai was loved by her people because she ruled with kindness and wisdom, and she built temples, schools, and wells to serve her kingdom.
• Maheshwar is famous not only for its historical fort but also for its traditional Maheshwari sarees made from cotton and silk with unique designs.

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