Khandesh, Historical region in western Maharashtra and Gujarat, India.
Khandesh extends through the Tapti River valley, bounded by the Satpura Range to the north and the Ajanta hills to the south. Fields of cotton, bananas, and soybeans shape the landscape, while roads run through gently rolling terrain.
After time under the Delhi Sultanate, the region became independent from 1382 as the Khandesh Sultanate under Malik Raja. This independence lasted over a century and shaped local administration until conquest by the Mughal empire.
The region gave its name to a local dialect known as Khandeshi, which many speakers still use today. Markets and villages echo with this speech form alongside Marathi, showing the linguistic identity of the area.
The area is best explored by private vehicle, since many smaller places lie away from main roads. Cities like Dhule and Jalgaon serve as starting points for drives through fields and to more remote villages.
The territory now covers the three districts of Jalgaon, Dhule, and Nandurbar, which together hold several wildlife sanctuaries. These reserves protect strips of dry forest and grassland where visitors occasionally spot deer and birds.
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