Overview
The rich past and significant history make Burhanpur a fabulous destination that tourists love visiting, especially the historians and art lovers, who like to explore the magnificent splendor of Mughals in the city. Located at the Tapti River bank, around 340 km southwest of Bhopal, Burhanpur is a beautiful city well-known for its magnificent structures and historical remains that draws people from different parts of the country. This city is named after Sheikh Burhan-ud-din, who was a popular medieval Sufi Saint and is ruled by Mughals, who constructed many wonderful monuments here.
There are several tourist attractions in Burhanpur, built during the reign of Shah Jahan, the great Mughal Emperor, and the most popular of them is Shahi Qila, a majestic palace in Burhanpur. Though many of its parts are in ruins today, yet a lot of tourists visit this place to explore the ancient beauty of the structure and to see its amazing works of sculpture and exquisite carvings. Shahi Qila, which is also one of the most popular places to visit in Burhanpur, is known for an existence of Hamam or the royal bath, which is believed to be built for Shah Jaha's wife, Begum Mumtaz Mahal, to enjoy luxurious bathing.
The city was ruled by the Peshwa Bajiroa for a couple of years, until handed over to the British in 1818. Several monuments and royal structures were built during this time to establish the power of the Marathas in the city. The Dargah-e-Hakimi and AsirGarh Fort are two other places that pulls a large number of tourists to this city and increases the chances of tourism in Burhanpur. Also, the fame of Burhanpur largely depends on pilgrimage for Bohra Muslims as well as for Sikhs as the city has an equal number of mosques and Gurudwaras.
Burhanpur District organizes many fairs and festivals that reflect a diverse culture in the city. If you are planning a trip to Burhanpur in the months between October to March, you can witness festivals like Navratri Garba, Devi Utsav, Diwali, Balaji Mela, Guru Gobind Singhji Utsav, etc. With a number of mosques, tombs, Gurudwaras, forts, and gardens, in the city, Burhanpur makes sure that it offers tourists the best of holidaying experience.
Interesting facts
- Burhanpur was founded by Malik Nasir Khan in 1388 and was named after the medieval Sufi saint, Burhan-ud-Din
- Burhanpur is also known as ‘Gateway of South’ and it became an independent district on August 15, 2003
- Shah Jahan was a regular visitor at Burhanpur and he even constructed forts and other historic buildings here
- Shah Jahan believed to have made several additions to the Shahi Qila in Burhanpur and out of many paintings in the Qila, one depicts a monument, which is said to be the inspiration for the glorious Taj Mahal
- Burhanpur is a land of several cultures; the people here celebrate every festival, including Diwali, Durga Puja, Eid, Guru Gobind Singhji Prakash Utsav, Moharrum, and many more, with great fervor
- Burhanpur was captured by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1600
Things to Do and See in Burhanpur
- Visit the most popular attraction of Burhanpur ‘Shahi Qila’ to see the great artwork of Shah Jahan, who made additions to this palace for his loving wife Mumtaz
- Tourists can attend fairs and festivals like Navratri Garba, Navratri Utsav, Diwal & Goli celebration, Moharrum, Bohara’s-Urs-dargah-e-hakimi, Baragdi, Kabir Saheb Beejak teaching classes, etc. on their tour to Burhanpur
- Bohra Muslims, who are here on pilgrimage can visit the Lal Kila, and the Dargah-e-Hakimi, built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar
- Visit Asirgarh Fort, which is one of the most important forts of the historical period and was used to regulate southern part of India. There is a mosque, and a Lord Shiva temple inside this magnificent fort
- The attractions like Faurkhi Mausoleum, Shahanwaz Khan’s Mausoleum, Begum Shahsuza’s Mausoleum, Black Mosque, and Akbari Sarai are worth visiting in Burhanpur
- Tourists can also visit Burhanpur Gurudwara, which is believed to be 400 years old. It is located on the bank of Tapti River and contain religious books ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ and weapons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji
- If you are keen for shopping in Burhanpur, visit the local markets here to buy ‘Kalabattu-jari’ (gold-silver thread work on cloth) and ‘Malmal,’ that are manufactured here
Where to Stay in Burhanpur
Accommodation facilities in Burhanpur are limited to a few budget hotels and guest houses, maintained by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department. The city has a less number of hotels as most of the tourists, who visit this place, prefer to stay in nearby big cities like Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, and Gwalior. However, we have sorted out a list of some good accommodation options that can offer you a comfortable stay in a pocket friendly manner.
- Tapti Retreat
- Hotel Madhuvan
- Hotel Check In
- JagJivan Hotel
- Hotel Panchvati
- Hotel Amber and Holiday Resort
- Hotel Ambika Residency
- Hotel Shreemaya
Weather in Burhanpur
Summer: 32°C to 45°C
Winter: 8°C to 29°C
How to Reach
By Air: The nearest airport is at Indore city, which is around 210 kms from Burhanpur. It has good connectivity to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Raipur, Nagpur, etc. Tourists can get direct bus service or taxis from this airport to travel to Burhanpur.
By Rail: Burhanpur has its own railway station, which is well connected to Mumbai, Delhi, Allahbad, Agra, Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Bhopal
By Road: Burhanpur is very close to the Maharashtra state border, and therefore it has good connectivity through road. There are frequent bus services from Indore to Burhanpur and also to other parts of the state like Bhusawal, Jalgoan, Aurangabad, and more.
Best Time to Visit
Burhanpur is basically famous for historical monuments and buildings, therefore it can be visited at any time of the year. But, if you really want to enjoy a good weather and stroll the entire city in a pleasurable atmosphere, then winter is the best time to visit Burhanpur. Climate from October to March is perfect to visit Burhanpur.
