Khooni Bhandara in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, is on UNESCO’s Tentative List, highlighting its remarkable Mughal-era underground water management system and exceptional engineering significance.

BulletsIn

• Khooni Bhandara is an underground Mughal-era water management system located in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, comprising eight interconnected waterworks constructed in 1615.
• The system was designed under the supervision of Persian geologist Tabkutul Arz during the reign of Emperor Jahangir to address Burhanpur’s growing water requirements.
• Inspired by the Persian qanat technique, the network captures groundwater through underground channels and transports it using gravity without external energy.
• The Khooni Bhandara network includes 103 vertical kundis connected through a 3.9-kilometre underground marble tunnel, enabling continuous water distribution across the historic city.
• UNESCO’s Tentative List nomination highlights the site under Cultural Criteria (ii), (iii), and (iv) for intercultural exchange, historic water management traditions, and engineering excellence.
• Even today, the restored system supplies nearly 1.8 million litres of water daily, demonstrating the sustainability and long-term functionality of centuries-old infrastructure.
• The site is protected by the Madhya Pradesh Directorate of Archaeology, while local authorities continue conservation and restoration efforts to preserve this engineering masterpiece.