PLACES TO VISIT: Nearby Places

Near By Sight Seeing

·  Omkareshwar Mandhata is located on the bank of Narmada River, approx. 75 Kms. from Khandwa on Indore - Khandwa Highway. This is a holy place for Hindu and Jain Sects. Mamaleshwar, one among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Hindu sect and Siddhawar Kut of Jain sect are located at this place. Millions of the pilgrims of both sects & foreigners visit the place every year. Other sites are the caves of Adi Guru Shankaracharya (The great ancient saint of Advait philosophy of Hindu sect.) are located at this place. The name "Omkareshwar" is due to the shape of the island.

·  NarmadaNagar near Punasa has a key location in Indira Sagar Project of Narmada Valley Development Authority, on the bank of River Narmada. The place is about 61 kms from the District H.Q. Khandwa. Huge water reservoir, upcoming forest area and natural beauty has made this place beautiful, it has the honour of having the largest artificial lake of Asia.

·   Maheshwar was a glorious city at the dawn of Indian civilization when it was Mahishmati, capital of king Kartivarjun. This temple town on the banks of the river Narmada finds mention in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Revived to its ancient position of importance by the Holkar queen Rani Ahilyabai of Indore. Maheshwar's temples and mighty fort-complex stand in quiet beauty, mirrored in the river below. It is about 110 kms from Khandwa. Today, Maheshwar is also known for its distinctive  handwoven sarees called Maheshwari.

 

                 Excursions:

1.  Mandleshwar: This town is situated on the banks of river Narmada, at a distance of about 5 km from Maheshwar. The town was founded by Mandana Mishra, and has a stone fort constructed by Mohammedan rulers. It also has a fine flight of 123 steps leading down to the river and expanding below into a wide ghat. Tukoji Rao Holkar II built a palace here. It was also the headquarters of the Nimar Agency and Cantonment under the British from 1819 to 1864. The town is an important retail marketing and trade centre. 
2.   Oon: 18 km from Khargone, Oon was a flourishing place 1000 years ago. About a dozen temples, both Hindu and Jain lie clustering here and represent an architecture patronised by the Parmara kings of Malwa. The carvings on the temples are quite similar to those in Khajuraho. An important place for Jain pilgrimage.
3.  Bawangaja: 10 km from Barwani, tehsil headquarters of Khargone distt., the Bawangaja temples are 170 km from Indore. The 72ft high Jain statue here has been hewn in the rock. It belongs to the early 15th century. Bawangaja is an important Jain pilgrim centre. 

·  Burhanpur 69 kms from Khandwa, the later - medieval fort and palace at Burhanpur were built by Meer Adil Shah Farooqi. The fort was known for its exquisite Persian bath-houses with coloured tiles and glass work. They are a fine example of Iranian architecture.

·  Asirgarh 49 kms from Khandwa, the impregnable fort at Asirgarh served as a barrier to invaders from the North from entering Gujarat, Deccan and Marathwada. The fort was built by Usa and Ahir and is situated atop a hill with a palace. Visit the 10th century Shiva Temple nearby.

·        Mandu(190 kms from Khandwa) Perched along the Vindhya ranges at an altitude of 2,000 feet, Mandu, with its natural defenses, was originally the fort capital of the Parmar rulers of Malwa. Towards the end of the 13th century, it came under the sway of the Sultans of Malwa, the first of whom named it Shadiabad - 'city of joy'. And indeed the pervading spirit of Mandu was of gaiety; and its rulers built exquisite palaces like the Jahaz and Hindola Mahals, ornamental canals, baths and pavilions, as graceful and refined as those times of peace and plenty.

          

·    Modern Ujjain (185 kms from Khandwa) is situated on the banks of the river Shipra, regarded since times immemorial as sacred. The belief in the sacredness of Shipra, has its origins in the ancient Hindu mythological tale of churning of the Ocean by the Gods and the Demons, with Vasuki, the serpent as the rope. The ocean bed first yielded fourteen gems, then Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, and finally the coveted vessel of Nectar. Then began the wild scramble for immortality with the demons chasing the Gods across the skies, and in the process, a few drops were spilt, and fell at Hardwar, Nasik, Prayag, and Ujjayini. Hence the sanctity of the waters of the Shipra.

·  Pachmarhi (300 kms from Khandwa) is Madhya Pradesh's most verdant jewel, a place where nature has found exquisite expression in myriad enchanting ways.Green shades embrace the mountains, and everywhere is heard the gentle murmur of flowing water. Bridle paths lead into tranquil forest glades, groves of wild bamboo and jamun, dense sal forests and delicate bamboo thickets.Complementing the magnificence of nature are the works of man; Pachmarhi is also an archaeological treasure-house. In cave shelters in the Mahadeo Hills is an astonishing richness in rock paintings. Most of these have been placed in the period 500-800 AD, but the earliest paintings are an estimated 10,000 years old.