About Khandwa

Khandwa City is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India with its name derived from "Khandav Van", literally meaning Khandav Forests. Situated in the Nimar region of MP, the city is the administrative headquarters of Khandwa District, earlier known as East Nimar District. A small city it is slowly developing into a well- developed place with people of all religions living here, thus giving it a cosmopolitan flavour. During the British rule it was considered as the main commercial centre of Nimaad region with a booming trade. Khandwa City is a major railway junction of the region, the point where the Malwa line which connects Indore with Deccan meets the main east-west line from Mumbai to Kolkata. The city is thus well connected by Rail, Air and Road, thus making it easily accessible from all parts of the world.

Khandwa – Past & Present

The city has a rich history famous for its places of worship like Hindu & Jain temples, with pilgrims flocking from war and wide to pay homage to the deities. During the 12th century AD, Khandwa city was the main center of Jainism. Khandwa holds a special place in the India’s Freedom Struggle with many renowned freedom fighters like Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Lokmanya Tilak and many other famous personalities visiting the place. Today due to strategic location, easy availability of natural resources, well-developed infrastructure and abundant manpower Khandwa is fast developing into a good Industrial region. The place is becoming a dynamic city with lots of potential in terms of economic & financial growth. Khandwa is renowned for several ancient kunds, English architecture and religious places which draws a number of tourists to the place. Read More.......

Geography and Climate of Khandwa

Khandwa is situated to the South West and falls under Indore Division of Madhya Pradesh. Bounded on the east by the Betul and Hoshangabad District and Burhanpur District on the south, West Nimar District on the west and on the north by Dewas District. Khandwa is blessed with a natural beauty which makes it an interesting place to visit. Located at an altitude of 313 metres (1026 feet) above sea level, it lies at 21.83°N 76.33°E. The temperatures range from 25°C to 42°C in summers and from 10° C to 20° C in winters with December and January being quiet cold. Overall the climate of the District is pleasant and healthy. Khandwa falls in the drier part of India with average annual rainfall being 980.75 mm /year. The monsoon season starts in June and extends up to October with the northern part of Khandwa receiving more rainfall than the southern part of the district.

Art and Culture of Khandwa

The Art and Culture of Khandwa have been influenced cross-culturally by waves of Hinduism and Jainism with some impact of Muslim rulers also. Believers of all major religions from Hinduism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity reside in the city, showcasing the integration of unity in diversity. Traditional folk music and dances are popular among the residents here, especially on special occasions and festivals. People celebrate the festivals with lots of enthusiasm & tradition some of the popular ones being Holi, Diwali, Dusherra, Id and Christmas. Kathi is a famous folk dance form of the region, with Ramleela and Gammat (Play) being the favourite pastimes of the rural population.Famous natives of Khandwa include personalities like Makhanlal Chaturvedi, Dada Darbar Khandwa, Ashok Kumar, Shaan, Amit Kumar and Saroo Brierley.

Agriculture & Industry in Khandwa

The district of Khandwa in the state of MP is famous for its locally grown crops of cotton, wheat (Khandwa 2), soyabean and a variety of other fruits & vegetables. The wheat variety Khandwa2 is quiet popular and in demand across the nation due to its aroma, quality & colour. At one time Khandwa was the only city in Central India which cultivated cannabis (ganja) which has since been banned. Located close to Khandwa is Asia's prestigious hydro power project Indira Sagar Pariyojna which has ushered in development and infrastructure in this region of MP. Nepa Paper Mills located in Khandwa holds the reputation of being the largest paper mill of its time. Mansingka Oil Mills and Nimar Textiles are some of the other Industrial names which Khandwa is famous for. The majority of population earn their livelihood through agriculture with the farmers slowly adopting modern methods & techniques to increase yield per hectare.

Tourism in Khandwa

Khandwa in Central India is an ancient city with many places of historical importance which are a living example of its rich tradition & history. Khandwa is famous for its four Kunds which are located in four different directions of the city and are known as Padam Kund, Bheem Kund, Suraj Kund and Rameshwar Kund. The Collector Office, Girls Degree College and Ghantaghar buildings built during the British rule are some of the monuments which display the English architecture of that era. Khandwa district also has religious places like Dada Dhuni Wale ki Samadhi, Turja Bhavani Temple, Nav-chandi Devi Dham, etc. which attract devotees from all parts of the world. The easy availability of road, railway & airline services help the tourists to reach the attractions of Khandwa comfortably as per their convenience. Read More........

Shopping in Khandwa

Khandwa is rapidly turning into a modern city with the opening of many new shopping centers, fast food joints & cinema halls. The city has something to offer to everyone be it local artifacts to modern items. The tourists must check out the narrow alleys of the streets & bazaars of Khandwa that are a treasure of souvenirs. Bombay Bazaar & Sarafa Bazaar, Budhwara Bazar are some of the popular markets of Khandwa where one can shop to one’s heart content. A number of eating joints and restaurants present in Khandwa offer delicious food which you can relish during your shopping spree.

Transportation in Khandwa

A well- developed transportation system works as the backbone for growth oriented development and making the city easily reachable. Khandwa is well- connected to other parts of the country by rail & road. One can choose from the different modes of transport available as per as their budget. Buses of the State Road Transport Corporation and private buses ply regularly and connect Khandwa to the nearby cities. The road network covers nearly 2328.45 Kms with main highways being the Mortakka -Khandwa, Khandwa -Burhanpur, Burhanpur - Mumbai, Burhanpur - Amravati, Khandwa – Harsud and Ujjain-Indore-Aurangabad. Rail also forms an important part of the transportation network with Khandwa being connected by Delhi-Mumbai Broad Gauge Railway Line and Purna (Maharashtra State) – Jaipur (Rajasthan State) Meter Gauge Line of Indian Railways.


Khandwa Airport (IATA: IN-0061, ICAO: VADK) is located on Nagchun Road about 3 kms north-west of the town of Khandwa but it is not operational as of now and does not have any scheduled flights. The nearest airports connecting to Khandwa to rest of the world are Bhopal and Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport, Indore, India which is nearly 137 kms away. Auto rickshaws, bicycles, buses and cycle rickshaws form the major mode of local transport to travel within the city which is both affordable & easily available.

Khandwa at a glance

State: Madhya Pradesh
Administrative Division: Indore
Municipal Area: 6,206 km2 (2,396 sq mi)
Languages Spoken: Hindi, English and Nimadi, a Bhil language
Altitude: 313 metres (1026 feet) above sea level
Winter Temperature: 10 °C to 20 °C
Summer Temperature: 25 °C to 42 ° C
Best Time to Visit: October to March
STD Code: 0733