JALGAON, Maharashtra

Main Attraction: Parola Fort

Parola fort was built in 1727 and the size of the fort is 160 to 130-sqmeters. It is believed that the fort belongs to the father of the Great Rani of Jhansi, Laxmibai. Hence, Parola is believed to be the native of Rani Laxmibai.

Brief History

Much of the early history of the region now known as Jalgaon district is still obscure. It is the eastern part of what was formerly called Khandesh. The early name of Khandesh was Rasika. In 10-12th century A.D; it constituted a part of Seuna- desa under the Yadavas and later with the advent of Muslims it came to be known as Khaandesh-the country of Khans. In about the fifth century A.D. a portion of Khandesh seems to have been ruled by the Vakatakas. 

The main branch of this family was matrimonially connected with the Imperial Gupta dynasty and were a powerful force in Vidarbha. It is, however, the Vastagulma branch of the family which seems to have dominated the southern portion of Khandesh from their capital at Vatsagulma (modern Vasim, district-Akola). Their inscriptions are the first authentic records in the history of Jalgaon. It may incidentally be noted that some copper-plate grants of certain rulers named Svamidasa, Bhulunda and Rudradasa, dated in their regnal years, are believed to have flourished between A.D. 316-367. Two of these plates are issued from Valkha, which is identified as Vaghil, near Chalisgaon. Their contribution though useful for the reconstruction of the history of Khandesh is still problematical.

On 13th March 1795, the Nizam was defeated at Kharda by Marathas. By the treaty that followed, the Nizam had to cede his Khandesh possessions to the Peshwa. A considerable portion of Khandesh was possessed by the Holkar family, having been divided among the Peshwa. Sindia and Holkar. The part left to the Peshwa was formed into a separate subha. This subha “included Gaulana, Khandesh proper, Meiwar, Bejagur, Pallnemaur, Hindia”.

The present Jalgoan district formed a part of erstwhile Khandesh district. In 1906, the erstwhile Khandesh district was divided into two districts called West Khandesh and East Khandesh with their headquarters at Dhule and Jalgaon respectively.