History of Khandwa
Khandwa which is part of the Nimar region has lots of historical accounts to narrate. Situated in the valleys of River Narmada, Kherkhali , Choti Tawa & Shiva it derives its name from the Khandav forests found in this region. It is surrounded by Narmada in North, Satpura Range & Burhanpur district in the South. Khandwa lies in the Basin of Tapti River. The Fortress of Asirgarh commands the pass popularly known as “Key to Deccan “which forms the main route connecting the Northern & Southern India including Khandwa , Burhanpur and Satpura. Legendary actor and singers like Ashok Kumar & Kishore Kumar belonged to Khandwa. Other famous personalities like Bhagmantrao Mandloi, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, the great Hindi Poet Pandit Makhanlal Chaturvedi & Saint Singaji are a native of this place. Saint Singaji has large following and a fair is held every year on Sharad Purnima at his Samadhi place Piplia Singaji.Ancient History of Khandwa
Omkar Mandhata is a rocky island about 47 miles north-west of Khandwa on the river Narmada was conquered by Haihaya King Mahishmant. It is said that Lord Shri Ram visited Khandwa during “Vanvas” along with Mata Sita and brother Laxman. He causterized an arrow and drew water which became a well and from then it is said that the well never went dry. Many tributaries of Narmada have been found with the traces of Paleolithic men in East Nimar district which was included in the Avanti kingdom during the rise of Buddhism. Later it was passed on to various other kingdoms under different rulers as Magadha by Shishunaga, Mauryas, Sungas, Early Satvahanas, Abhiras, Vakatakas, Imperial Guptas, Kalchuris, Vardhanas under Harsha Vardhana, Rashtrakutas, Faruki Dynasty, etc.Medieval History of Khandwa
Burhanpur to the South of Khandwa has an important story to tell during the 1617 A.D. During this period prince Khurram was the Governor of the Deccan and was bestowed by the title of Shah by Jahangir and later Shah Jahan on 12 Oct 1617 AD following a peaceful victory. Shahjahan ascended the throne after the death of Jahangir in 1627, when there was an advent of trouble in Decean. Shahjahan stayed at Burhanpur Balapur fort for a couple of years following the birth of his fourteenth child and led a few military operations against Ahmadnagar, Golkunda and Byapur. Mumtaz Mahal , the favourite queen of Shahjahan died on 7th June 1631 at Burhanpur. Shahjahan sad & alone left Burhanpur appointing Mahabat Khan as the Viceroy of Deccan on 6th March 1632 taking away the remains of the body of Mumtaz Mahal to Agra (who was earlier buried in garden of Zainabad across river Tapti).From 16th Century to 18th Century Khandwa was under the Mughal rule and in the mid-18th Century, the region came under British rule. The Marathas had to surrender Khandwa to Britishers in the year 1818. Then happened the armed rebellion of 1857. Tantya Tope passed through East Nimar district burning all the government buildings & police stations in this freedom struggle of 1857. B ut unfortunately the rebellion was crushed only to see the advent of new era within hundred years.