The famous Tourist Places in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh include Khandwa Town, Indira Sagar Tourist Complex, hanuvantiya and Omkareshwar Mandhata.
About Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh
- Location: Khandwa is a city located in the Nimar region of Madhya Pradesh, India. It lies on the northern bank of the Narmada River.
- Historical Significance: Khandwa has a rich historical background and was an important center during the rule of various dynasties, including the Marathas and the Mughals.
- Cultural Heritage: The city boasts a vibrant cultural heritage, with influences from different eras evident in its architecture, art, music, and festivals.
- Narmada River: The Narmada River flows through Khandwa, adding to the city’s scenic beauty and providing a source of water for various activities.
- Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga: Khandwa is close to Omkareshwar, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas (shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva) in India. It attracts a significant number of pilgrims and devotees.
- Ismat Chughtai: Khandwa is the birthplace of renowned Urdu writer and feminist, Ismat Chughtai, who made significant contributions to literature.
- Agriculture and Industries: The economy of Khandwa is primarily based on agriculture, with the cultivation of crops like wheat, soybean, cotton, and oilseeds. The city also has some small-scale industries.
- Connectivity: Khandwa is well-connected to other parts of Madhya Pradesh and neighboring states through road and rail networks.
- Festivals: The city celebrates various festivals with enthusiasm, including Diwali, Holi, Navratri, and Ganesh Chaturthi.
- Ghanta Ghar: The iconic Ghanta Ghar (clock tower) is a prominent landmark in Khandwa, representing the city’s history and heritage.
- Patalpani Waterfall: A popular tourist attraction near Khandwa is the Patalpani Waterfall, offering a picturesque sight during the monsoon season.
- Local Cuisine: Khandwa is known for its delectable local cuisine, including traditional dishes like poha, bhutte ka kees, and kusli.
Tourist Places in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh
Khandwa Town
- District Headquarters: Khandwa is the proud headquarters of the East Nimar district in Madhya Pradesh, India.
- Historical Importance: The town’s strategic location on the map of India has attracted visits from prominent Indian personalities throughout history.
- Important Rail Junction: During the British Government era, Khandwa served as a crucial rail junction, connecting northern, eastern, southern, and western rail routes. It provided direct rail connectivity to Delhi (North), Bombay (now Mumbai) and Baroda (West), and Calcutta through Bhusawal Junction.
- Visited by Great Personalities: Owing to its railway significance, Khandwa witnessed visits from notable personalities like Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Lokmanya Tilak, and many others during their all India tours.
- Industrial Potential: The town’s location, easy availability of resources, and favorable socio-economic factors make it a promising industrial region.
- Ancient Kunds: Khandwa is home to several ancient kunds, which are traditional water reservoirs or stepwells.
- English Architecture: The town boasts examples of English architecture from its colonial past, reflecting its historical significance.
- Religious Places: Khandwa has numerous religious places of worship, making it culturally rich and spiritually significant.
- Transportation Hub: Even today, Khandwa remains an essential transportation hub, connecting various regions in Madhya Pradesh.
- Economic Activities: Besides its industrial potential, the town’s economy is supported by agriculture, trade, and commerce.
- Cultural Heritage: Khandwa preserves its cultural heritage through traditional festivals, local cuisine, and folk art forms.
- Tourism: The historical and cultural attractions in Khandwa, along with its natural beauty, make it a potential destination for tourists exploring the heart of India.
Indira Sagar Tourist Complex, hanuvantiya
Hanumantiya Island:
- Water Tourism Destination: Hanumantiya Island is a newly introduced water tourism destination in Madhya Pradesh, promoted and developed by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation.
- Location: The island is located close to Khandwa town in Western Madhya Pradesh.
- Name Origin: The name “Hanumantiya” is derived from a local village with the same name, situated in the Punasa Tehsil of Khandwa district.
- Water Tourism Development: The state tourism department recognized the region’s potential for water tourism and decided to develop it. They established a boat club, accommodation facility, and ensured good road connectivity.
- Accommodation Facility: Hanumantiya offers accommodation options, with the “Hanuwantiya Tourist Complex,” managed by MPSTDC, being the primary hotel available for tourists.
- Boating and Cruise Rides: Visitors to Hanumantiya can enjoy boating and cruise rides on the backwater of Indira Sagar Dam.
- Tourism Potential: The backwater of Indira Sagar Dam forms a vast lake with enormous potential for tourism development, making Hanumantiya an attractive destination.
Indira Sagar Dam:
- Multipurpose Dam Project: Indira Sagar Dam is a significant multipurpose dam project in Madhya Pradesh, located on the Narmada River, which flows from Central India to Western India.
- Construction Timeline: The foundation stone for the project was laid in 1984 by the Prime Minister of India, and the main-dam construction commenced in 1992. It was completed in 2003 and is now operational.
- Reservoir Size: The dam’s reservoir is one of India’s largest, with a holding capacity of 12.22 billion cubic meters.
Tourism Opportunities:
- Backwater Tourism: The backwater of Indira Sagar Dam offers ample opportunities for tourism development, leading to the establishment of Hanumantiya Island as a water tourism destination.
- Accommodation and Boating: Hanumantiya Island provides accommodation, dining options, and boating facilities for tourists.
- Nature Tourism: The surrounding area of the dam is ideal for nature tourism, including birdwatching and sighting various mammals.
- Location Advantage: The proximity of Hanumantiya Island to Indore Tourist Circuit, Maheshwar, and Omkareshwar makes it feasible to include in tour plans.
Omkareshwar Mandhata
- Location: Omkareshwar temple is located on an Om-shaped island in the Narmada River, near Mandhata, Madhya Pradesh, India.
- Mamaleshwar Temple: The Mamaleshwar temple, also known as Amareshwar, is situated on the south coast of the Omkareshwar island.
- Equal Status: Both Omkareshwar and Mamaleshwar temples are considered of equal status and importance.
- Jyotirlingas: Both temples house Shivlingas that are revered as Jyotirlingas, making them sacred and significant in Hindu beliefs.
- Historical Significance: This is a very ancient holy place for Hindus, holding immense religious and historical importance.
- Distance from Khandwa: Omkareshwar temple is situated approximately 75 km from Khandwa and is accessible via the Indore-Khandwa Highway.
- Multireligious Pilgrimage: The area attracts millions of devotees from both Hindu and Jain religions, as well as foreign visitors, making it a multicultural pilgrimage site.
- Sidhdhawar Kut: Apart from the Jyotirlingas, Omkareshwar also houses the Sidhdhawar Kut, an important Jain pilgrimage site.
- Guru Govind Ji Cave: The cave of Govind Ji, the Guru of Adiguru Shankaracharya, adds to the religious significance of the region.
- Ruins of Siddhnath Temple: The area also contains the ruins of the grand temple of Siddhnath, representing the historical heritage of the place.
- Gauri Somnath Temple: Another prominent temple in the vicinity is the Gauri Somnath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Gauri.
- Rinkmukteshwar Temple: The Rinkmukteshwar Temple is another religious site located in the area, further enhancing its religious appeal.
Disclosure : Source of Information about the Tourist Places in Khandwa is https://khandwa.nic.in/
