Bhokardan, located in Jalna district, is a historical town and the headquarters of its taluka. According to local legend, the town's name is a corrupted form of "Bhogvardhan Raja." Situated on the banks of the Kelna River, along the Sillod–Jafarabad road, Bhokardan lies 20 km from Sillod and 64 km from Aurangabad, on the Ajanta route. Documents published before 1980 mention ruined fortifications surrounding the old town, but as of 2023, no remains of the fort are visible during explorations. Within the old part of Bhokardan, one can see a Nizam-era mansion known as “Lal Gadhi.” Since this region of Marathwada was under the rule of the Nizam of Hyderabad until India’s independence, the mansion was used to collect revenue from surrounding villages. ... Currently, the mansion is occupied by Nandkumar Deshpande, who mentions that his ancestors purchased it from the Lad family during the Nizam period. Over time, the name “Lad Gadhi” evolved into “Lal Gadhi.” The front of the mansion features an ornately carved stone archway flanked by two hexagonal bastions. The lower portions of the bastions are built from dressed stone, while the upper sections are constructed with bricks. One of the bastions is partially collapsed. The inner compound of the mansion spans about half an acre and contains a two-storey residence. This structure was privately built by a merchant for personal use and does not have any specific historical significance. A visit to the mansion takes about 10 minutes. Bhokardan was historically located along the ancient trade route between Ujjain and Paithan. It is mentioned in ancient literature, including the Markandeya Puran, and in various inscriptions. In ancient times, it was a janapada (region), which later became an administrative province. Inscriptions at Sanchi and Bharhut mention that residents of Bhogvardhan donated to the construction of the stupas there. Another inscription mentions that Shankargan, a Kalchuri king from Mahishmati, donated land in a village within the Bhogvardhan province to a Brahmin. On the banks of the Kelna River, there is a Shaiva cave complex with seven chambers and a hall, likely dating to the 8th–9th centuries CE, though the town's history after that remains largely unknown. Excavations conducted in 1973–74 under the guidance of Shankar Bha. Dev and R. Shankar Gupte unearthed remains from the pre-Satavahana, Satavahana, and post-Satavahana periods. During the later Satavahana period, Bhokardan flourished due to India’s trade with Roman civilization. At that time, the town was an important stop on the ancient trade route connecting Ujjain and Paithan, as well as other significant cities like Junnar, Karla, Kanheri, and Kalyan. After the decline of the Satavahana dynasty, Bhokardan trade with Rome diminished, much like Paithan, and the town gradually lost its prominence and wealth. However, in the medieval period, it once again gained importance. During the Peshwa era, since Marathwada was under the Nizam’s control, Bhokardan remained part of the Hyderabad state.
© Suresh Nimbalkar