Discover Barwani: Temples, Forts and Stepwells

Barwani combines historic landmarks with forts, temples and an exceptional stepwell. Its attractions are located in different named places and offer a range of points of interest: TIR-GOLA is in Barwani, fortifications in Sendhwa tell the story of their construction, and the three-storey Prachin Bawdi awaits in Jalgaon. There are also religious sites, the Narmada River near Rajghat and destinations in the surrounding area. When planning a trip, you can first decide which of these stories and places you would like to focus on.

Landmarks and scenery near Barwani

TIR-GOLA is Barwani’s historic landmark. It was built in memory of the late son of Raja Ranjit Singh. Its name and dedication give the site a specific historical connection, distinct from the construction history of the region’s forts.

The river also helps orient visitors: at Rajghat in Barwani, there is a water-conservation structure and a bridge on the Narmada. This offers a different perspective on the area from the architecture of its historic buildings. For travel to the area, Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in Indore is the nearest airport, located 150 kilometres from Barwani. National and state highways connect Barwani with other parts of Madhya Pradesh and India.

Fort history and architecture

The ancient Bhawar Garh Fort, also known as Borgarh, is considered Bhawar Garh’s main attraction. The site is in the Satpura mountain range, 16 kilometres from Sendhwa. This adds another focus for fort history in the Barwani district alongside the structures in Sendhwa.

Sendhwa Fort was built as a field fortification in the 17th to 18th century from locally quarried and dressed stone. A staircase leads to its bastions. The complex also includes a Mazar of Chand Shah Vali, the Dargah of five Peers and a Shiva temple in the Maratha style. Visitors interested in history will therefore find more than just the building’s military function.

Another architectural feature is the Prachin Bawdi, or Old Stepwell, in Jalgaon in the Pansemal tehsil. The brick stepwell has three storeys and faces east. It dates from the 17th to 18th century and is considered one of the finest stepwells in the Nimar region. Its design and orientation make it a distinct architectural point of interest alongside the forts.

Temples, pilgrimage sites and festival traditions

Beejasan is known for the temple of the goddess Beejasani, also called Durga. Beejasan is on the Agra–Mumbai National Highway, 20 kilometres from Sendhwa towards Maharashtra. In Anjad, the Veereshwar Mahadev Temple and the Nagari Mata Temple are two sites of religious interest.

Near Barwani is Bawangaja (Chool Giri), an important Jain pilgrimage centre. It is home to a statue of Lord Adinathji, described as the tallest statue in the world. Another important pilgrimage site is the temple of Bhilat Dev on Nagalwadi Hill, considered the main attraction for pilgrims. Nagalwadi is in the Satpura hill range on the border between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Visiting its temples can therefore be combined with taking in the geographical diversity of the area.

The Bhagoriya festival takes place in March, when young members of Indigenous communities choose a life partner. Daal Bati is listed as a popular dish associated with the festival. This connection between festival tradition and food is distinct from the architectural and pilgrimage history of the other destinations.

Choose a holiday rental to suit your travel interests

When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to decide which places and themes you want to focus on during your trip. If you are mainly interested in fort history, consider Bhawar Garh and Sendhwa, with their different types of fortifications and architecture. For temples and religious sites, Beejasan, Anjad, Bawangaja and Nagalwadi offer different points of interest; the Prachin Bawdi, meanwhile, adds an architectural highlight in Jalgaon. Arrange your planned visits around these interests before choosing your accommodation. This way, your search is guided by the places you actually want to discover, rather than by a simple list of attractions.

If you would like to include more places in the destination area, discover Rajpur.

Discover more destinations: Raisen, Khargone, Damoh, Chhindwara, Mandsaur, Vidisha, Bhopal.

Go to the main travel overview: Madhya Pradesh.