Burhanpur - Southern Gate Of India
The city is the witness of many historical events. Being the seat of Viceroys, the city was greatly extended and embellished. Burhanpur was internationally famous for its fine cloth manufacturing, Gold-wire drawing and other allied industries and crafts.
Burhanpur has many historical monuments like :
1. Shahi Quila,
2. Gurudwara,
3. Dargah-e-hakimi,
4.Jama Masjid,
5.Ahu Khana,
6. Rajghat,
7. Biwi ki Masjid,
8. Badshahi quila,
9. Tombs of Nasir Khan,
10.Raja ki Chhatri &
11.Khooni Bhandar.
The place is also counted in the pilgrimage of Sikhkha sect.
The handloom industry of the city has a remarkable place in the household industries and has a glorious past.
How to Reach Burhanpur
One can reach Burhanpur by taking any of the following modes of transport.
By Road
Burhanpur falls on NH3. Nearest major cities Indore (180 km) Madhya Pradesh, Jalgaon (approx. 100 km) Maharashtra are connected with good road links.
By Train
Burhanpur falls on Mumbai Itarasi route of central railway. Adequate trains are there to reach the city.
By Air
Nearest airport is at Indore. Indore is 180 Kms from Burhanpur. Indore has flights to all the major cities in India. It is considerably convenient to come to Burhanpur via Indore
Since Burhanpur is situated on the National Highway, it will be best to drive down from Indore in a bus or a hired car or taxi. The nearest town is Khandwa.
Shahi Qila standing on the banks of river Tapti is a remarkable structure. The six storeyed structure rises over 175 feet from the river beds and housed over 4,00,000 soldiers. The palaces Diwan-i-Aam and Diwan-i-Khas were built on the terrace of the structure. The Raj Ghat was used as a base for the boats used by the members of the royal family.
Shahi (Royal) Hammam : The Royal Hamam is situated in the Faruqui fort. It was constructed by Shah-Jahan, The Mughal Emperor.In the middle of the monument there is a octagonal bath-place. The bath-place was connected with the water system of Khuni Bhandara. Colorful Mughal Paintings can be seen on the ceiling of the monument.
Motil Mahal : Moti mahal, the burial place of Moti Begam, beloved of Shah gJahan is to the left of the fort and situated at the bank of Pandhar River.
Royal Hamam
The Royal Hamam is situated in the Faruqui fort. It was constructed by Shah-Jahan, The Mughal Emperor.
In the middle of the monument there is a octagonal bath-place. The bath-place was connected with the water system of Khuni Bhandara. Colorful Mughal Paintings can be seen on the ceiling of the monument.
The most dramatic of Deaths in Burhanpur was that of Mumtaz Mahal in 1631. She was initially buries in the king;s hunting lodge on the other side of the river from Burhanpur. Ahukhana, as the building is better known, stands to this day and perhaps as fate would have it, is the favourite haunts of the city’s love-lorn couples
Ahukhana
Ahukhana is located in front of shahi Quila at the other bank of river Tapti in Zainabad. The place was Royal leisure pavilions during the Mughal time.
Body of Mumtaj Mahal was buried at this place for six months. This is a very good example of Mughal architecture.
AsirGarh
A celebrated hill fort in the Burhanpur tehsil about 30 miles ( 48 KMs.) South of Khandwa and 14 miles (22.4 KMs) north of Burhanpur on Burhanpur-Khandwa road. It is 259 Meters high from the base & 701 Meters above sea level. This is referred as the "Gateway to southern India" in the medieval history.
It is consisting of three separate lines of constructions namely Asirgarh proper(Upper most part), Kamargarh and Malaygarh. Jami masjid & a Shiva temple are another architecture inside the fort. Asha devi mandir of Hindu Goddess Asha-devi is located on the hills of this village.In the vicinity of Asirgarh,there is a tomb of Shah Nomani Asiri, a saint, a believer of Sufism.
Moti mahal, the burial place of Moti Begam, beloved of Shah Jahan is to the left of the fort and situated at the bank of Pandhar River.
Khuni Bhandara
Mughal rulers had constructed 8 system of water works with a vision of supplying pure water to the city. This natural system had supplied water to Burhanpur city.
These water works are specimen of unparalleled construction technique and may be counted as glorious relics of the Mughal engineering ingenuity and skill which entailed enormous expenditure.
This was constructed in the reign of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.
Rajghat
Rajghat is a auspicious bank of sacred river Tapti. Several Hindu temples of Shiva & Vaishnav are located here. The foot prints of various Hindu saints at this place are of religious importance. Lal Deval Temple of the place is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Faruqui fort is also located near the place.
