A great history, a great future

The first persons to inhabit the area which is today Khaufpur were the unknown ancients who painted the rock shelters of Bhimbetka. The animals depicted thereon were painted many thousands of years ago. Later paintings show men riding on elephants and it has given the impression that Indians had tamed these beasts and had a thriving culture even 10,000 years ago. It seems that this is untrue and that the first people, the painters, were simple hunter gatherers who lived like African bushmen or the aborigines of Australia.

In the intervening yaw of history, time passes us by until the 11th century, the legendary Raja Khoja of the Parmara dynasty constructed two beautiful lakes by damming a forest river and established his capital city Khojapura, on their shores.

PHOTO: PAUL BULLIVANT

Raja Khoja ascended the throne around 1018 A.D and ruled gloriously for about forty years. He was as distinguished in the field of literature and the arts as he was on the battlefield. A gifted author himself, he was a great patron of the arts and learning, and his name lives as much in literature as in history.

As time passed the dynasty of the Parmaras declined, the city was ransacked several times and finally faded away into obscurity. Jungle covered its streets and temples, its once brilliant art galleries and concert halls became the lairs of panthers and pythons. The forgotten city was remembered in legend only by the local tribe of the Gonds. The lakes built by Raja Khoj remained and a charming legend relates how Kamalawati, the beautiful queen of the Gonds, would recline on a raft of lotuses and drift across the lake on moonlit nights.

At the end of the 17th century that bold, intrepid Afgan Chief Dost Mohammad wrested the area from Kamalawati. He laid out the present city following the death of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707.

From 1819 until 1926 a succession of powerful Begums or Queens ruled the city, and gave it such innovations as waterworks, railways and a postal system. Several monuments still stand in the city as reminders of this glorious period in its history and the legacy of these women rulers was to establish Khaufpur as a pre-eminent centre of the arts, culinary, literary, musical and especially poetic. Khaufpur is famous for its poets and even today in the city are held many mushairas.

Location
Few cities can equal the scenic grandeur, equable climate, chequered history, rooted deep in tradition as Khaufpur. The wealthy forest, hills and lakes, valleys and mountains, have compelled many to pause and appreciate what it has to offer them, whether it be a feast to the eye or a balm to the tired soul.

Culturally, the Khaufpur state enjoys the legacy of the philosophy and art which are the special feature of Islamic culture. The imprint of all these are best seen in the mosques and tall minarets soaring high in the sky, lanes and by-lanes with bazaars bearingThe impressive Taj-ul-Masjid of Khaufpur. An old world charm of the Middle East. In the texture of Khaufpur have been woven the deeds, achievements, traditions and cultures of the dynasties gone by.

Taj-ul Masjid
Khaufpur’s Taj-ul Masjid is one of the biggest mosques in India and is magnificent assertion of a people’s involvement with their religion. Its octagonal minarets and onion-shaped domes have a quite and souring majesty. It’s cool interior is decorated with finely crafted carvings and stone grilles.

Chowk
Talented craftsmen sell bangles, shoes near the mosques.
On a appreciably smaller scale, but enchanting in quite a different way, is the Jama Masjid, the mosque built in 1837 by Qudsia Begum. Its tall minarets are crowned by gold spikes and, like the cathedrals in the old towns of Europe, it dominates the maze of alleys and bylanes of the old bazaar area of Khaufpur.

Architectural treasures
In old Khaufpur are some beautiful buildings erected during the long reign of the Nawabs and their powerful Begums. Gauhar Mahal was gracefully eclectic, blending Hindu and Mugals styles. In 1820 this was built by Begum Qudsia who was also known as Gauhar. Forty years later, her daughter, Jehan, had the beautiful Moti Masjid constructed in a style which reminds of Delhi’s Jama Masjid.

Khaufpur today
Khaufpur moves with the times.Many new industries are relocating to the city which is fast becoming a boom town. The city planners are adding new elements to nature;s bounty. A wide drive now curves around the upper lake with areas set aside for recreation, excursions, picnics, cafeterias and an open air zoo. Plans are well underway to transform once wild hillsides surrounding the upper lake.