A History Lover's Guide To Osmanabad

Osmanabad is no stranger to tourists (or should I say pilgrims?) who come in huge numbers to visit the famous Tulja Bhavani Temple in Tuljapur. While the temple is definitely the most visited site here, Osmanabad has quite a few places of historical importance. A couple of years ago, as a student of archaeology at the Centre of Extra-Mural Studies, Mumbai University, I travelled to Osmanabad with my professor for a field trip. Part of the Deccan region, Osmanabad has seen kingdoms right from the Satavahana dynasty of ancient India to the early Islamic rulers of the Adil Shahi period. The distinctive style of art and architecture of every period surfaces in its various monuments, each a marvel in itself.

- Shirin Mehrotra

Our field tour began with stopping at a village gateway—Hapsingyachi Ves, built at the entrance of Paranda village, which served as a toll booth. In southern Maharashtra, every large village had an entrance gate which was a clearing house for all sorts of information and for the government to keep an eye on what goods were moving in and out of the village; travellers would stop here and tell tales of distant lands. The economy of most medieval empires was structured around such toll gates. Like most places of historical importance, there’s a legend attached to this one too; the most common one being of the thief who lived inside the gate for 40 years.

The Magnificent Land Forts Of Marathwada

The first day of the archaeology trip to Osmanabad was spent at the Paranda Fort. The medieval fort is said to have been built around the late 15th century by Mahmud Gawan, the wazir of the Bahamani Sultanate. The fort has been under the Bahamanis, Marathas, Mughals and Nizams over a period of time. The fort is surrounded by a moat, and apart from being one of the best defence forts, it houses one of the most magnificent cannons in India which is a sister of the famous Malik-e-Maidan cannon kept in the Bijapur fort.

A short distance away from Paranda, stands another architectural gem of the Bahamani period. Jamiya Masjid in Kati Gaon in Tuljapur taluka is a 16th century mosque, built in memory of a husband during the regime of Burhan Shah.

A plaque inside the mosque reveals that the foundation stone was laid by the wife of Yakub in Hijri 1012 (Gregorian calendar year 1590). The mihrab (that indicates the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca) with its intricate design is undoubtedly the most beautiful part of the mosque. The arcs and dome along with the shrine showcase the beauty of Mughal architecture.