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 Burhanpur
is a hidden jewel in the annals of medieval Indian Architecture. Today a
small town in Madhya Pradesh, barely 20 kms from the Maharashtra Border,
its history is one battle, conquest and change, interspersed with burst
of peace that allowed for a rich aesthetic to flourish. Burhanpur was
founded in 1400 AD by the Faruqi King, Nasir Khan, on the northwestern
banks of the Tapti. The Faruqis ruled Burhanpur for the next two
centuries. In 1600, the Mughal Emperor Akbar captured Burhanpur, and for
a century thereafter, until Aurangzeb's death in 1707, it remained
integral to Mughal ambitions in the Deccan. The governor of the city was
invariably an individual of elevated rank, often a Mughal prince.
Asirgarh Fort, on the outskirts of the town, was known as Dakkhan ka
Darwaza or the Gateway of the Deccan.
Burhanpur remains a city of great architectural
importance, but its fame rests largely as a piligrimage for Bohra
Muslims as well as for Sikhs.
Shah Jahan & Mumtaz Mahal in Burhanpur: Across the Tapti
from Burhanpur is one of its most well known monuments, the Akhukhana,
literally "deer park, which was used as a hunting ground during Faruqi
and Mughal rule. This is also where Shah Jahan,s most beloved queen,
Mumtaz mahal was buried. She died in Burhanpur in 1631 while giving
birth to their 14th child, princess Gauhara. The queen's body rested
here for several months until it was disinterred and travelled with the
Mughal court to Agra – there, later, to find a final home in the
glorious Taj Mahal.
Food & Beverages:
The kebabs, bhutte
ki kees, mawa-bati, khoprapak and malpua of Madhya Pradesh give you an
experience that will fill your stomach and would leave an imperishable
effect on your heart.
MUST SEE PLACES :
*JAMA MASJID
*BADSHAHI QILA
*ZENANA HAMMAM
*KUNDI BHANDARA
*DARGAH –E–HAKIMI
Excursion:
Mahal Gulara : Beautifully
located on the banks of the Badi Utaoli river is Mahal Gulara, a Mughal
pleasure retreat 21 Kms from Burhanpur on Amaravati Road when, as a
prince, Shahjahan arrived to govern Burhanpur, he is said to have fallen
in love with a beautiful and talented singer named Gulara. Shah Jahan
would spend many moonlit night in this palace as she sang for him. The
prince married the singer and named the nearby village after her.
Asirgarh Fort : Perched
high on the Satpura range, just under 25 kms north of Burhanpur is
Asirgarh, one of the most magnificent forts of India, rivaling even the
great Golconda in impregnability. Initially ruled local chieftain, Asa
Aheer, the fort was captured by the Faruqis in 1400.It soon became the
region's most coveted fortification mainly for its strategic location.
Any ruler with ambitions on the Decca had to first control Asirgarh.
Indeed, Asirgarh was known as the Dakkhan Ka Darwaza or Gateway to the
Deccan.
Ichhadevi Temple : The
famous temple of lchhadevi is located 23 kms from Burhanpur. Believed to
answer any prayer made to her, the Goddess in much revered by the
locals. Though the present structure is fairly recent, the original site
is said to be over 450 years old.
Room View
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