Khandawa has a total population of 2,00,738 and ranks 89th in term of Hindi speakers. Major employment in Khandwa is in Agriculture sector and in the Government sector, Out of entire workforce 80% are employed in Agriculture sector, 19% in the government sector and remaining 1% Household workers. Khandwa is a good agricultural belt because of the rivers Narmada, Kherkhali, Choti Tawa, Shiva and Tapti. It produces cotton on a large scale. From the recent researches in the beds/tributaries of Narmada revealed traces of Paleolithic men in East Nimar District. Omkar mandate, a rocky island on the bank of Narmada river, about 47 miles from Khandawa, is said to have been conquered by the Haihaya king Mahismant, a scion of Yadu family, who had named the same as mahishmati. During the rise of Buddhism, East Nimar region was included in Avanti kingdom Under Chand Pradyota Mahesana, which was later added to the growing empire of Magadha by Sishunaga. From the early second century BCE to late 15th-century CE., the Nimar region underwent many rulers from many dynasties, which include Mauryas, Sungas, Early Satvahanas, Kardamakas, Abhiras, Vakatakas, Guptas, Kalachuris, Vardhans, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Parmaras, Faruqi dynasty etc. Khandawa doesnt have a full-fledged Mughal history but it was too close from Burhanpur which was a major centre of Mughals. From the mid 18th century CE this region came under the rule of British.
