Nimar or Nimad is the southwestern region of Madhya Pradesh state in west-central India. This region includes sub-regions such as Khargone, Khandwa, Barwani, Burhanpur, and the southern parts of Dhar.
thumb|Location of Nimar in Madhya Pradesh
The region lies south of the Vindhya Range, and consists of two portions of the Narmada and Tapti river valleys, separated by a section of the Satpura Range, about 15 miles (24 km) in breadth. On the highest peak, about 800 ft (244 m) above the plain and 1800 ft (549 m) above sea-level, stands the fortress of Asirgarh, commanding a pass which has for centuries been the chief highway between Upper India and the Deccan.
The Nimar region is home to the Nimadi language.
History
According to historical records found in the Indore Gazetteer, Bija Gawli, also known as Bija Singh Ahir, held the position of king in Nimar during the 14th century. The Ain-i-Akbari, a significant historical document, makes reference to Khargao, a Mahal (Palace) located in Bijagarh, Nimar. As we progress into the fifteenth century, it becomes apparent that numerous Gawli or Ahir/Yadav chiefs took initiative in establishing small municipalities in southern Nimar, which notably included the Bijagarh fort. The Gazetteer firmly asserts that their dominion over these territories is an indisputable historical fact.
Later on Nimar was formed as a district of British India, in the Nerbudda Division of the Central Provinces. The administrative headquarters were at Khandwa; but the capital in Muslim times was Burhanpur. Area, 4273 mi² (11,067 km²), population (1901) 329,615. The staple crops were cotton and millet; ganja or Indian hemp was also allowed to be grown under government supervision. The Great Indian Peninsula railway ran through the district, and a branch of the Rajputana line from Indore joined it at Khandwa. There were factories for ginning and pressing cotton at Khandwa, and manufacture of gold-embroidered cloth at Burhanpur. The district contained extensive forests, and the government preserved a section known is the Punasa forest, which extended for about 120 miles (190 km) along the south bank of the Narmada, home to forests of teak (Tectona grandis), sain (Terminalia tomentosa) and anjan (Hardwickia binata) trees.