Burhanpur

Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, India: Asirgarh fortress

Burhanpur, city, southwestern Madhya Pradesh state, central India. It lies just north of the Tapti River, about 35 miles (55 km) south of Khandwa.

Burhanpur was founded in 1399 by Naṣīr Khan, the first independent prince of the Fārūqī dynasty of Khandesh, and it was annexed by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1601. The city, with its wall and massive gates, served as the Deccan headquarters of the Mughals until Aurangzeb moved the capital to Aurangabad in 1636. Burhanpur was for many years the scene of conflicts between the Marathas and Mughals and was seized in 1803 by Major General Arthur Wellesley, later 1st duke of Wellington. It was restored to the Sindhias in 1805 and ceded to the British in 1861.

Burhanpur developed an extensive trade in muslin, gold and silver brocade, and lace, which declined during the 18th century, though such industries still continue on a small scale. Now a major rail junction, it is also a centre of cotton textile manufacturing and of trade. Its colleges are affiliated with the University of Sagar. Buildings of historic interest include the ruined citadel and palace Bādshāhī Qalʿah (c. 1400), the Mosque of the Lady (c. 1585), and the Jāmiʿ Masjid, or Great Mosque (1588). Nearby points of interest include the historic Asirgarh fortress to the northeast and the Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary to the west. Pop. (2001) 193,725; (2011) 210,886.