| Khandwa | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | India Madhya Pradesh#India |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Coordinates: | 21.82°N 76.35°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name1: | Madhya Pradesh |
| Subdivision Name2: | Khandwa |
| Government Type: | Mayor–Council |
| Governing Body: | Khandwa Municipal Corporation |
| Leader Party: | BJP |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Amrita Amar Yadav[1] |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Elevation M: | 309 |
| Population Total: | 200,738 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Language |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Hindi[3] |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code Type: | PIN |
| Postal Code: | 450001,450051 |
| Area Code: | +91 - 733 |
| Area Code Type: | Telephone code |
| Registration Plate: | MP-12 |
Khandwa is a city and a nagar nigam in the Nimar region of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Khandwa district, formerly known as East Nimar District.
Khandwa is a major railway junction; the Malwa line connecting Indore with the Deccan meets the main east–west line from Mumbai to Kolkata.[4]
The name of the city is derived from "Khandav Van", which literally means Khandav Forests.
Recent explorations in the beds/tributaries of Narmada have revealed traces of the Paleolithic men in the East Nimar district. Omkar Mandhata, a rocky island on the bank of the Narmada river, about 47 miles north-west of Khandwa, is said to have been conquered by the Haihaya king Mahishmant, who had named the same as Mahishmati.[5]
During the rise of Buddhism, the East Nimar region was included in the Avanti Kingdom under Chand Pradyota Mahesana, which was later added to the growing empire of Magadha by Shishunaga. From the early 2nd century BCE to late 15th century CE, the Nimar Region (earlier a part of Khandesh) was ruled by many dynasties, which include Mauryas, Shungas, Early Satvahanas, Kardamakas, and Abhiras (Ahir Gavli).[6] Vakatakas, Imperial Guptas, Kalchuris,[7] Vardhanas (of Harsha Vardhana fame), Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras, Faruki Dynasty.[8]
See also: List of cities in Madhya Pradesh. Khandwa is located at .[9] It has an average elevation of 313 metres (1026 feet).
As of the 2011 Census of India, Khandwa had a population of 200,738, of which 102,901 were males and 97,837 were females. Population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 24,801. The total number of literates in Khandwa was 151,545, which constituted 75.5% of the population with male literacy of 78.9% and female literacy of 71.9%. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population of Khandwa was 86.1%, of which male literacy rate was 90.4% and female literacy rate was 81.7%. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population was 27,430 and 8,139 respectively. There were 39002 households in Khandwa in 2011.[10]
Hindi is the most spoken language. Nimadi is the local dialect. Urdu, Marathi and Sindhi are also common.[11]
The nearest commercial airport is Indore. It also has an airstrip which is rarely used for occasional aircraft landings, located on Nagchun Road.
Khandwa has a major railway junction located on the Jabalpur-Bhusaval section of Howrah–Prayagraj–Mumbai line.