Burhanpur
Introduction
Burhanpur is a village in Kotma tehsil, part of Kotma block in Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh. It sits within the administrative framework of a tehsil and block that connect it to the wider district, so your sense of the place comes from its setting in rural Madhya Pradesh rather than from any urban amenities.
This is a small settlement, and the source material describes it only in administrative terms. Plan accordingly: expect a quiet village environment and treat Burhanpur as a stop defined by its place in Anuppur district rather than by visitor attractions.
Before you go
Burhanpur rewards travellers who arrive knowing a little of its past. The city's story stretches back to pre-historic times, with excavations here unearthing artifacts from those early ages, and it later served as an important city under the Rashtrakuta rulers. It was founded in 1388 by Malik Nasir Khan of the Farooqi dynasty and named after the Sufi saint Shaikh Burhan-Ud-Din, before becoming the capital of the Khandesh dynasty, whose king Miran Adil Khan II built a significant number of forts here.
Under Mughal rule the city became the capital of the Khandesh province, and it remained a favoured administrative base for Mughal figures: Jahangir's son Parviz chose it as his headquarters for the Deccan region, and Shah Jahan spent considerable time here after being expelled following Jahangir's death. Later the city was attacked and looted by Sambhaji, then passed to the Marathas under Peshwa Baji Rao, and eventually to the Holkars, the Scindias and the British. Knowing this sequence of rulers will help you make sense of the forts and monuments you encounter.
Getting there
Burhanpur has no airport of its own, so you'll fly into one of the nearby cities and cover the rest of the journey by road or rail. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur is the more distant option, while Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport in Indore is the closer of the two and the more convenient gateway for most travellers.
By rail, Burhanpur Station is the only railway station in the city, and trains arrive and leave it regularly, making the train a straightforward way to reach Burhanpur directly.
Getting around
Burhanpur has no metro or tram, so getting around means mixing walking, auto rickshaws, local buses and taxis, with the railway station and intercity buses handling longer trips. Auto rickshaws are the easiest way to move between sights such as Shahi Qila, Dargah-e-Hakimi, Jama Masjid and the Tomb of Shah Nawaz Khan, and they are plentiful near the major attractions and around the train and bus stations. Local city buses connect the major parts of the city; they are inexpensive and frequent, but geared toward daily commuters rather than sightseeing. Local taxis are also available within the city.
Walking works well for the central parts of the city, particularly around Gandhi Chowk, where the Jama Masjid is centrally located, and for short hops between nearby sights; roads are generally paved and connected to the national highway network, so surfaces are usually manageable on foot. Some of the most notable attractions sit outside the immediate centre, however: Asirgarh Fort is on the Burhanpur-Khandwa Highway, and the Tomb of Shah Nawaz Khan lies north of the city on the banks of the Utavali River, so plan on an auto rickshaw, taxi or bus for these rather than walking. For travel beyond the city, private intercity buses link Burhanpur with Indore, Bhopal and Betul in both AC and non-AC versions; ask at the bus stand or your accommodation about current services and where to buy your ticket. Burhanpur Railway Station (station code BAU) is the only railway station in the city and the main arrival point if you come by train, with waiting areas, food stalls and ticket counters where you can buy your ticket before you travel. Self-drive and car rentals can be arranged from nearby major cities such as Indore, Bhopal, Mumbai and Nashik, and bike and scooter rentals may be possible depending on private rental availability, so it is worth asking locally if you would prefer to ride yourself.
Where to stay
Burhanpur has very little published accommodation information, so plan your stay with care. Book ahead where you can, and confirm your arrangements directly before you travel rather than relying on arrival.
Food & drink
The source material for Burhanpur contains no information on where or what to eat or drink, so there is nothing to describe in this section.What to see and do
Burhanpur's principal sight is the Dargah-E-Hakimi, the tomb complex of the Dawoodi Bohra saint Syedi Abdul Qadir Hakimuddin, who is buried here. Pilgrims come from around the world to visit his grave, and the complex takes in mosques, gardens and accommodation for visitors. Autos and Dargah buses run to the site from the railway station, so it is straightforward to reach without your own transport. Beyond the dargah, the source lists nothing further to see or do in the city, so plan your time around the tomb complex rather than expecting a packed itinerary of sights.Three days in Burhanpur
Day one: Arrive in Burhanpur and get your bearings in this historic city of Madhya Pradesh, once the seat of the Farooqi rulers of Khandesh under Malik Nasir Khan and later a Mughal stronghold. Take in the Sufi heritage associated with Shaikh Burhan ud-Din, and let the layers of Rashtrakuta, Farooqi and Mughal history set the tone for your stay.
Day two: Continue exploring Burhanpur's Mughal legacy, recalling figures such as Miran Adil Khan II, Jahangir, Parviz and Shah Jahan, whose Deccan campaigns were tied to the city. Later history brings Sambhaji, the Marathas under Peshwa Baji Rao, the Holkars and Scindias, and the British, so pace yourself and take the city in slowly.
Day three: Plan your onward journey. Knowing your options helps: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur and Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport in Indore serve the wider region, while Burhanpur Station and auto services cover local connections. Use the morning to revisit anything you missed before you leave.