Khandwa (खंडवा) is a district in southwestern Madhya Pradesh, India, in the Nimar region. Its administrative headquarters is Khandwa city, an important railway centre. The district is known for agriculture, its cultural links with the Narmada valley, and Omkareshwar, a major Hindu pilgrimage destination on the Narmada River.
Hindi and Nimadi are widely spoken, and local life reflects Nimar’s farming traditions, festivals and diverse communities. Cotton, soybean and wheat support the agricultural economy, alongside trade, services and power generation. Notable places include Omkareshwar’s Jyotirlinga temple and the Indira Sagar reservoir near Punasa. Khandwa city is also closely associated with singer and actor Kishore Kumar, who was born there.
Common civic concerns include reliable drinking water, irrigation, farm incomes, roads, sanitation and access to healthcare and education. Residents also have a stake in employment opportunities, urban drainage, public transport, and managing the environmental and livelihood impacts of large reservoirs and growing pilgrimage activity.