“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”
– Miriam Beard
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| Dhuniwale samadhi mandhir |
Khandwa is a ancient town in the Nimaad region of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Khandwa District, formerly known as East Nimar District.
It is identified with the Kognabanda of the Greek geographer Ptolemy and is traditionally said to have been surrounded by the Khandava forests that were described in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata.
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| Khandwa Railway Station |
Khandwa is an ancient town, with many places of worship. The tourists can find a lot of Hindu and Jain temples. In the 12th century ce the city was an important seat of Jaina worship.
This is a centre of faith and worship. Khandwa is famous for its local saints known as Dada Dhuniwaale (Swami Keshvanandji Maharaj), and Chhotte Dadaji (Swami Hariharanandji). A fair is held on Guru Purnima at this place and thousands of the devotees attend the fair from all over the nation.
STORY BEHIND THE NAME OF KHANDWA:
The name of the city is derived from "Khandav Van", which literally means Khandav Forests. When Lord Ram was on his "Vanwas" his wife ask him for water to drink for the purpose he shooted arrows from his bows in four different direction thus forming four kunds in different regions.
About Dada Dhuniwale
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| Dada Dhuniwale |
Dada Dhuniwale (also known as Bade Dadaji Maharaj or Swami Keshvanandji Maharaj) is remembered amongst the holy saints like the Shirdi Saibaba.
Dadaji a great wandering saint, who always sat before the holy fire (called "dhuni" ) so remembered as "Dada Dhuniwale" ( Dada means Grandfather in Hindi). People used to call him Dhuniwale baba. Now there is a samadhi of Dhunewale baba in Khandwa where people still throng in large numbers to worship him.
"Dada Darbar" (The Court of Dadaji) is located at his Samadhi (burial) place. Millions of the devotees are there in all parts of India and abroad and on "Guru Purnima" attends the fair at this place. There are about 27 dham (places of worship, prayer and other religious activities) in India in the name of Dadaji. Dhuni (the holy fire ) has been continuously burning at the place since his time. His samadhi mandhir is located in the Khandwa city and about 3 KM south to the bus/railway stations.
About Chhote Dadaji
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| Chhote Dadaji |
Bhanvarlal from Didwana village of Rajsthan state of India was from a rich family and was came to meet the Dadaji. After that he never left him and surrendered beneath his holy feet forever with full dedication. He is remembered as "Chhote Dadaji" (Swami Hariharanandji). He was the successor of Dada Dhuniwale (Swami Keshvanandji Maharaj) after his samadhi. He took samadhi at Allahabad after illness in 1942.
Chhote Dadaji Samadhi place is just adjoining to the Samadhi place of Bade Dadaji Satguruji Maharaj (Dada Dhuniwale) in the same temple premises and that temple was built by Chhote Dadaji Maharaj in a tin shed, thereafter it was converted into a RCC structure. It has been known that an order was given by Chhote Dadaji to his deciples that a 84 pillers structure white marble stone temple had to be constructed on both the Samadhies and that structure had to be built as per the lay out drawn by his deciple Kishan Mistri.
PLACES TO SEE AROUND KHANDWA:
Omkareshwar is an important tourist spot, about 75 km from Khandwa. Other attractions are Nepa Newsprint Paper Mill, the Asirgarh Fort and Burhanpur. Khandwa is also famous as the birthplace of famous Bollywood singer and actor Kishore Kumar.
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| My family members at Khandwa |
HOW TO REACH KHANDWA?
- Khandwa is a major railway junction, with daily connections to major cities in India.
- It also has an airport "The Khandwa airport " (IATA: VAKD), which is rarely used for occasional aircraft landings.
- Apart from this airport, the nearest airport is at Indore.
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| I am with my cousin Sai Surendra at Akola Station |
MY ITINERARY:
- I had visit Khandwa along with my family.
- We went by rail from my home town Kavali to Akola, which is nearest place to Khandwa. We start by Navjeevan Express at 12:30PM and reach Akola after 18 hours journey i.e., we reach Akola after next day morning 6:00 AM.
- From Akola we went Khandwa by another train, which is start at 8:00 AM at Akola.
- We reach Khandwa by 1:00 PM and reach Dada Dhuniwaale samadhi mandhir by auto.
- We stay at Dada Dhuniwaale's ashram guest houses.
JAI SHREE DADAJI
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