
Mandhata, also called Omkareshwar or Shivapuri and ancient
Mahishmati
Mahishmati () was an ancient city and the capital of Haihayas in the present-day central India on the banks of Narmada River (in Madhya Pradesh), although its exact location is uncertain. The city may have flourished as late as until 13th centu ...
, capital of
Avanti Mahajanpada is a
riverine island in the
Narmada River
The Narmada River, previously also known as ''Narbada'' or anglicised as ''Nerbudda'', is the 5th longest river in India and overall the longest west-flowing river in the country. It is also the largest flowing river in the state of Madhya Prade ...
in
Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is situated on the southern part of the island. Omkareshwar Mandhata is located on the Mandhata hill on the banks of the
Narmada
The Narmada River, previously also known as ''Narbada'' or anglicised as ''Nerbudda'', is the 5th longest river in India and overall the longest west-flowing river in the country. It is also the largest flowing river in the state of Madhya Prade ...
.

The name "Omkareshwar" is due to the shape of the island, which appears to be
Om. It is about long and wide. Local tradition reveals that
King Mandhata paid homage to
Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ÉɦaËd̪eËÊ‹Éh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
here and made this holy place his capital.
This place is situated at a distance of about 10 km from
Omkareshwar Road railway station on
Akola–Ratlam rail line.
[Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p. 115]
References
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Narmada River
River islands of India
Khandwa district
Landforms of Madhya Pradesh
Villages in Khandwa district