In the pre-independence era, Marathwada was under the rule of the Nizam, so the administrative system there was completely different. The center for collecting revenue in this area was in the form of a fortress (Gadhi). Apart from this, some of the noble chieftains as well as the landlords also built fortifications around the mansion (wada) for their own protection. Due to this, while wandering around Marathwada, we get to see numerous of these fort like fortresses. One such ruined fortress can be found on a small hill on the banks of the Kelna River at Takli village near Jafarabad. With the passage of time, this fortress has largely collapsed and only a bastion, riverside ramparts of the fortress remain. There are many villages called Takli in Maharashtra and there are two villages in Jalna district one in Bhokardan taluka and one in Jafarabad taluka. ... Importantly, both these villages are located on the banks of the Kelna River on the Bhokardan-Jafarabad route. The village we are visiting now is known as Takli Jafarabad as it is near Jafarabad and in the same taluka. Takli Jafarabad village is 4 kms from Jafarabad taluka via Savarkheda. Since both Jafarabad and Bhokardan were important cities in the medieval period, it was natural that trade would flourish in both these cities. Due to scarcity of water in Marathwada, the trade and military travel between these two cities used to take place along the Kelna River. Therefore, this fortress must have been built as a protective fort to keep a watch on the banks of the Kelna River. Immediately after crossing the river and entering Takli village, a small road turns right. Where this road ends, the only remaining bastion and stone ramparts of the fortress can be seen on the right side. The rest of the ramparts of the fortress remain on the river side and one has to go to the river to see it. Although the locals do not know anything about the fortress, they say that it is from the Nizam period and earlier this fortress had four bastions. Since this part of Marathwada was under the control of the Nizam and the use of the fortress was stopped during the Nizam period, the history of the fortress is not known. This fortress is known as the fort of Markaz as a family because Markaz lived in the fort before its collapse. 15 minutes are enough to see the fortress as there are not many remains here.
© Suresh Nimbalkar