For hotelier Yeshwant Holkar, simple things evoke the feeling of indulgence: the familiarity of a regular haunt, a warm welcome to one’s usual table, the comfort of a martini just the way you like it—without effort, without suggestion. This implied connection is what illuminates the legacy he is carrying forward today. Starting out with an investment career overseas, Holkar returned home to take the baton of generational heritage that influenced much of Central India’s cultural progression.
Since then, the descendant of the 18th-century Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar has led the expansion of Ahilya Experiences with the establishment of properties in Maheshwar and Goa. He is continuing his parents’ efforts to preserve and promote the Maheshwari handloom tradition as a board member of non-profits Rehwa Society, and WomenWeave. And to research and document the rich legacy and traditions of the Holkar family, he has founded the Holkar Cultural Center in Maheshwar. Through all this work, his benchmark for preserving Indian luxury is informed by a connection to the past as well as an eye on the contemporary. “Think Indore in the '30s, Jaipur in the '40s, and the work that organisations like the Chanakya School of Craft, Mumbai, are doing today,” he says.
Introducing the first advisory board for Robb Report India, the RR Circle brings together leading voices across luxury to guide, curate, and define the future of experiences in India.
