NCERT Solutions for Class 4th English Chapter 12 Maheshwar — Let us Read
Book page 125–128 Updated on2026-09-19
Q1.
Let us Read — Maheshwar. Read the conversation between Aarav, Ananya and their Chachi.
Answer
This chapter is not a story told by one person. It is a conversation, so read it like a play. One of you reads Aarav, one reads Ananya, and one reads Chachi. The words in brackets, like (excited), tell you how to say the line.
Who is who: Aarav and Ananya are a brother and a sister. Chachi is their paternal aunt — the book gives this meaning in a footnote on page 125.
The talk, step by step:
Page 125. It was a pleasant evening. The two children were sitting with their Chachi and saw a picture of a fort in the newspaper. Aarav asked its name. Chachi said it was the majestic Maheshwar, built long ago by Queen Ahilya Bai, famous for its overhanging balconies. Maheshwar is a place in Madhya Pradesh.
Page 126. Maheshwar is just 95 kilometres away from Indore. Ahilya Bai was a warrior queen. She ordered a strong and beautiful fort to be built on the banks of the Narmada River. She had it built on a hill, so that she could see her entire kingdom. The fort is also known as Ahilya Fort. She belonged to the great Holkar family. She protected her people and built temples, schools and wells.
Page 127. She ruled with kindness and wisdom, and people loved her. A 13-feet tall statue of her still stands in front of the palace, like a guardian watching over her land. The fort is known for its unique style of construction and its grand staircases, and was made of special red stones brought from Gujarat and Rajasthan. It overlooks the town on one side and the river on the other, with many beautifully designed temples near it. The people of Maheshwar weave the famous Maheshwari sarees from cotton and silk.
Page 128. Aarav says the place seems interesting. Ananya wants to visit. Chachi says, “The fort is waiting for you to discover its secrets. One day, we shall explore it together.”
The picture on pages 126–127 — what it shows: The book prints a big painting across both pages. A long fort of reddish-brown stone stands high above a wide river. Wide stone steps come down from the fort right to the water. Small boats in pink, yellow and blue are tied at the bottom of the steps. Behind the fort wall stand temple towers with carved spires, and green trees grow on the high wall. In the top corner the book prints a close-up of one balcony on its own. The balcony hangs out from the wall with nothing under it, and it has carved pillars, small arched openings and two rounded domes on top.
A short description of the painting on pages 126–127, because the book prints it in full colour.
Why an “overhanging” balcony is special: A normal balcony has a pillar or a wall holding it up from below. These balconies stick right out of the wall with nothing under them. That is why the book says they “seem to float in the air”.
Tip for reading aloud: Aarav and Ananya are excited, so read their lines a little faster and higher. Chachi is telling and explaining, so read her lines slowly and clearly.