Burhanpur is a district in the southern part of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It was carved out of Khandwa (East Nimar) district in 2003 and has its administrative headquarters in the city of Burhanpur, a historic urban centre on the banks of the river Tapti (Tapi). The district lies in the Nimar region and shares its southern boundary with Maharashtra, making it one of the southernmost districts of Madhya Pradesh.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
| Region | Nimar |
| Headquarters | Burhanpur |
| Formation | 15 August 2003 (separated from Khandwa district) |
| Division | Indore division |
| Major river | Tapti (Tapi) |
| Official language | Hindi |
The district occupies a part of the Tapti valley, with the Satpura range running through its terrain. The Tapti flows from east to west through the district and is the principal river. The southern fringe of the district touches the state border with Maharashtra, while it is bounded by Khandwa district to the north and east. The landscape combines fertile riverine plains suitable for irrigated agriculture with hilly, forested tracts in the Satpura uplands.
Burhanpur district falls under the Indore revenue division of Madhya Pradesh. The district is administered by a District Collector and Magistrate, with a Superintendent of Police heading the district police. For administrative purposes the district is organised into tehsils, including Burhanpur, Nepanagar and Khaknar, and contains community development blocks that oversee rural administration. Burhanpur Municipal Corporation governs the principal city, while Nepanagar and Shahpur are among the other notable urban centres.
The district is represented in the Lok Sabha through the Khandwa parliamentary constituency. At the state level it includes the Burhanpur and Nepanagar Vidhan Sabha constituencies.
The town of Burhanpur, which lends its name to the district, was historically a major centre of the Faruqi dynasty of Khandesh, founded in the late 14th century, and later an important Mughal provincial capital in the Deccan. Under Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, Burhanpur served as a strategic base for Mughal campaigns into the Deccan and as a flourishing trade and textile town on the route between northern India and the south. The famed Ahukhana and the tomb complexes around the city are associated with this Mughal phase, and Mumtaz Mahal, the consort of Shah Jahan, died at Burhanpur in 1631.
The area later passed under the control of the Marathas and eventually became part of the dominions held by the Holkars and the British Central Provinces administrative arrangements. After Indian independence and the reorganisation of states, the territory was incorporated into Madhya Pradesh and lay within Khandwa (East Nimar) district until Burhanpur was constituted as a separate district in 2003.
The district's economy combines agriculture, agro-based industry and manufacturing. Banana cultivation along the Tapti valley is a particularly prominent feature, and Burhanpur is among the leading banana-producing belts in Madhya Pradesh. Other important crops include cotton, sugarcane, wheat, jowar and pulses. The textile tradition of Burhanpur city, especially handloom and powerloom weaving, has historic roots; the area is also known for zari and traditional cloth. Nepanagar is the site of a long-established newsprint mill, historically associated with the Nepa Limited public sector unit, which has shaped the local industrial profile.
The population of the district is predominantly Hindi-speaking, with Urdu, Marathi and tribal languages also spoken. The district has a notable Muslim population concentrated in Burhanpur city, reflecting its long Mughal and Faruqi heritage, alongside a significant tribal population in the Satpura belt. Religious and cultural sites associated with Sufi traditions, Sikh history and Jain pilgrimage coexist in the district. The Gurudwara Badi Sangat in Burhanpur commemorates the visit of Guru Nanak and Guru Hargobind, while sites such as the Jama Masjid, Shahi Qila and Asirgarh Fort attract heritage interest.
Asirgarh, a hill fort located in the district, was historically known as the "Key to the Deccan" because it commanded the principal route between northern India and the Deccan plateau. It was a major stronghold under the Faruqis and was famously captured by Akbar in 1601, completing