Burhanpur is a mid-size city in the State of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative seat of the Burhanpur District. It is situated on the north bank of the Tapti River.
The city has a Municipal Corporation, and also is one of the district headquarters of the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Burhanpur was an important city under the Rashtrakuta Dynasty during 753–982 AD. During excavations in Tapti River and Asirgarh Fort many coins, goddess idols and temples were discovered.
The antiques belonged to a prehistoric era. But, Burhanpur got its name and fame during medieval times.
In 1388, Malik Nasir Khan, the Faruqi dynasty Sultan of Khandesh discovered Burhanpur, at the behest of Shaikh Zainuddin and renamed it after a well known medieval sufi saint, Burhan-ud-Din.
Burhanpur became the capital of the Khandesh sultanate. Later, Miran Adil Khan II (reigned 1457–1501), another sultan of this dynasty built a citadel and a number of palaces in Burhanpur.During his long reign, Burhanpur was transformed to a major centre for trade and textile production.
In 1601, mughal emperor Akbar annexed the Khandesh sultanate and Burhanpur became the capital of Khandesh Subah of the mughal empire. In 1609 Jahangir appointed his second son Parviz to the governorship of the mughal provinces of the Deccan, and the prince chose Burhanpur as his headquarters as his residence.
It is a beautiful city with a lot of historical monuments existing in its expanse, primarily from the ruling times of Shah Jahan. Burhanpur was an important outpost of the Mughals. Shah Jahan spent a considerable time in this city, and helped add to the Shahi Qila. The Shahi Qila is one majestic palace in Burhanpur, located to the east of the Tapti River. Diwan-i-Aam and Diwan-i-Khas were built on the terrace of the Qila. Little of it remains today as the Qila is mostly in ruins now. However, the parts of the Palace that still stands displays amazing works of sculpture and exquisite carvings.
The main attraction at the palace is the hamam or the royal bath. It was specifically built for Shah Jahan's wife, Begum Mumtaz Mahal, so that she could enjoy a luxurious bath. It is said that she died here giving birth to her fourteenth child. Even today, the ceiling has many intricate paintings. One of these paintings depicts a monument which is said to have been the inspiration for the Taj Mahal.
There are 3 Historic Sikh Gurdwaras in Burhanpur.
Gurdwara Sri Raj Ghat Sangat Guru Nanak Sahib is also known as Gurdwara Rajghat Sangat Pahili Pathshai.
The one room Gurdwara, located along the river is dedicated to Guru Nanak. It is looked after by a Nihang Singh who lives in a similar room close by.
Gurdwara Sri Badi Sangat Sahib Burhanpur marks the site where Guru Gobind Singh, traveling to the south through Agra, Chitorh and Ujjain with Emperor Bahadur Shah, stayed in May-June 1708 on the way to Nanded. In those days an old sadhu Jeewan Das was living here on the bank of River Tapti. Previously, Jeewan Das accompanied Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji when he went to Assam.
When someone told Jeewan Das that Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji had arrived he went running barefoot to meet him. Guru Gobind Singh stayed here for some time and then went to Nanded. The Emperor went to Nagpur. Later, during the eighteenth century, Hathi Singh, son of Mata Sundri's adopted son Ajit Singh, made his home here. This Gurdwara has 16 acres of land attached to it.
The Guru Granth Sahib is seated on a marble canopied seat in the middle of a spacious high-ceiling, rectangular hall which has a gallery at mid-height on three sides. Above the hall, over the sanctum, are two floors of square rooms with a domed pavilion on top. An old Bir (hand-written copy) of Guru Granth Sahib is preserved in this Gurdwara. Its pages have beautifully drawn borders in multicolours. The Sangat can view the bir on sangrand and gurpurab days.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji came here in 1708 while travelling from Agra-Chittorh-Ujjain. From here Guru Gobind Singh sent the Sangat, that was him, back to Punjab and blessed them with happiness.
Guru Gobind Singh sent Jathedars to take care of Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Sri Damdama Sahib, Sri Harmandir Sahib, Patna and Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar. Mata Sundar Kaur, Mata Sahib Kaur and Bhai Mani Singh were sent to Delhi. Bhai Gurbaksh Singh from the family of Baba Budha Ji also returned to Punjab.
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