Editing Thalner

{{short description|Village in Maharashtra}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name = Thalner (Thaleshwar)
|partof = 
|location = [[Dhule district]], [[Maharashtra]]
|image = [[File:Thalner Fort.jpg|300px]]
|caption = Thalner Fort
|map_type = India Maharashtra
|map_size = 300
|map_caption = Location within Maharashtra
|type = 
|coordinates = {{coord|21.255|74.955|type:landmark|display=inline}}
|code = 
|built =1128
|builder = [[Ahirs]], Malik Raja Faruqi
|materials = Stone, lime and lead
|height = 
|used = 
|demolished = 
|condition = dilapidated
|ownership = Government of India
|open_to_public = Yes
|controlledby = 
|garrison = 
|current_commander = 
|commanders = 
|occupants = [[Ahirs]], [[Faruqi dynasty|Faruqis]], [[Holkars]], [[British Raj|British]]
|battles = 
|events = Battle of Thalner (1818)
|image2 = 
|caption2 = 
}}

'''Thalner''' is an Shirpur Tahsil's Village, the first capital of the [[Faruqi dynasty|Faruqi]] kings, stands on the banks of the [[Tapti River|Tapi]] river, in [[Shirpur]] tehsil about 46.67&nbsp;km. (28 miles) north-east of [[Dhule]] in [[Maharashtra]] state, India. It was fortified and played a significant role in the history of [[Khandesh]]. At the foot of the fort is an old stone temple dedicated to Thaleshwar. The name ''Thalner'' probably derived from this temple. The capital was once a significant commercial centre.

==Thalner fort==
The fort had one side rising out of the [[Tapti River|Tapi]] and the three other sides were surrounded by a hollow way, varying in width from 91.44 to 137.16 metres (100 to 150 yards). The walls rose to the height of about 18.28 metres (60&nbsp;ft.) above this hollow and the interior had the same elevation. The only entrance was on the eastern side, secured by five successive gates communicating by intricate traverses, whose enclosure gradually rose to the height of the main wall. A winding ramp, interspersed in some places with steps, ascended through the gate into the terreplein of the rampart. Great ingenuity had been exercised to make this part as strong as possible, apparently under the idea that the profile of the rest rendered it secure, notwithstanding the absence of a ditch.

Today only a small portion of the walls that were on the river side is standing, the others having collapsed for the most part. Even of this wall one of the bastions was ruined by the great floods of the Tapi which took place in 1876, and a tunnel opened in which a small, well executed idol of [[Vishnu]] was found.

Situated on the banks of the Tapi and the foot of the fort is an old stone built temple dedicated to Thaleshwar. Its 1.828 X 1.828 metre vestibule contains a small ''[[Lingam|ling]]'' symbol. It is crowned by a 7.62 metre (25&nbsp;ft.) high ''[[Sikhara|shikhar]]''.

==History==
According to a local grant, in 1128, while the country for 32.18&nbsp;km (20 miles) around was ' without a light', and twenty-seven of its forts were deserted, Thalner prospered under Javaji and Govaji of the Tale sub-division of ''Gavali rajas'' or the [[Abhira dynasty|Abhira kings]].<ref name="maharasthra">{{cite book | title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers | publisher=Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State | author=Maharashtra (India) | year=1954 | pages=829|quote=In the heyday of the Gavali or Ahir kings- Thalner was at the height of its prosperity and was an important commercial ... twenty-seven of its forts were deserted, Thalner prospered underJavaji and Govaji of the Tale sub-divisiqn of Gavalis or Ahirs}}</ref> At that time, Daulatrao, son of Bajirao of [[Daulatabad, Maharashtra|Daulatabad]] came to the people of [[Khandesh]], and finding Thalner flourishing established Javaji's family as headmen of the town.

In 1370, when [[Firuz Shah Tughlaq|Firozshah Tughluq]] (1351–1388) granted [[Faruqi dynasty#Malik Raja|Malik Raja Faruqi]] an estate on the south border of [[Gujarat]], Malik chose Thalner as his headquarters. In 1371, defeated by the Gujarat king, Malik was forced to take refuge in Thalner fort. On his death in 1399 Malik left Thalner to his second son Iftikar Khan. But in 1417 with the aid of the Sultan of [[Malwa]], Nasir Khan, the elder son, wrested it from his brother. In 1498 Thalner was invaded by [[Mahmud Begada]], king of Gujarat, whose army laid waste the district and would not retire till arrears of tribute were paid.  In 1511 Mahmud Begada granted Thalner with about one-half of Khandesh to Malik Hissamuddin, a noble of his court. But in the next year, Hissamuddin was murdered and Thalner was restored to Khandesh.  In 1566 it was the scene of the defeat of the Khandesh king [[Faruqi dynasty#Miran Muhammad Shah II|Miran Muhammad Shah II]] by Changiz Khan of Gujarat.  In 1600, when it passed to Emperor [[Akbar]], Thalner was noticed as being of great strength though in a plain.  In 1660 [[Jean-Baptiste Tavernier|Tavernier]] mentioned it as one of the places of trade on the [[Surat]] and [[Burhanpur]] line.

In 1750 it was a strong fort, the centre of thirty-two little governments.  Shortly after this, it passed to the [[Peshwa]], and was by him made over to [[House of Holkar|Holkar]], who, around 1800, pledged it to the [[Nimbalkar]]s. It was recovered the following year and kept by the Holkar family until in 1818, under the terms of the [[Mandsaur Fort|Mandesar]] treaty, it was handed over to the [[British Raj|British]].

===Battle of Thalner, 1818===
[[File:Thalner 4.jpg|thumb|Tombs of British officers killed in the battle]]

[[Sendhwa|Sindva]] was a place with a much greater name for strength in the Khandesh region, but it surrendered to the British at once, hence no resistance was expected at Thalner. However, its capture proved to be one of the bloodiest incidents in the conquest of Khandesh.<ref name="Neill 1843">{{cite book |last=Neill |first=James George Smith |title=Historical Record of the Honourable East India Company's First Madras European Regiment Containing an Account of the Establishment of Independent Companies in 1645; Their Formation into a Regiment in 1748; and its Subsequent Services to 1842 |publisher=Smith, Elder and Co. |location=London |date=1843 |page= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PbpHTdTuEucC}}</ref><ref name="Blacker1821">{{cite book |last=Blacker |first=Valentine |title=Memoir of the Operations of the British Army in India: During the Mahratta War of 1817, 1818, & 1819 |publisher=Black, Kingsbury, Parbury, and Allen |location=London |date=1821 |pages=228–233 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E2JNAAAAcAAJ}}</ref><ref name="Carnaticus1820">{{cite book |author=Carnaticus |title=Summary of the Mahratta and Pindarree Campaign During 1817, 1818, and 1819, Under the Direction of the Marquis of Hastings: Chiefly Embracing the Operations of the Army of the Deckan, Under the Command of His Excellency Lieut.-Gen. Sir T. Hislop, Bart. G.C.B. with Some Particulars and Remarks |publisher=E. Williams |location=London |date=1820 |page= |url=https://archive.org/details/summarymahratta00carngoog/page/n123/mode/2up?view=theater}}</ref><ref name="AnEyeWitness1820">{{cite journal |author=An Eye-Witness |title=Storm and Fall of Talnair |journal=The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British India and Its Dependencies |volume=9 |issue=53 |publisher=Black, Kingsbury, Parbury, & Allen |location=London |date=May 1820 |pages=448–451 |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/76ef69e1018e744e/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2797}}</ref><ref name="Burton1910">{{cite book |last=Burton |first=R G |title=The Mahratta and Pindari War Compiled for General Staff, India |location=Simla |pages=|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.181195/page/n63/mode/2up}}</ref>

==Present condition==
The fort of Thalner is in a dilapidated condition. Besides the tombs of Major MacGregor and Captain Gordon, the chief objects of interest are ten [[Mohammedan|Muhammedan]] domed tombs of common country black stone and two of burnt brick. Of the whole number, one is eight cornered and the rest are square. They vary in size from eleven feet by eleven to three and a half feet square. Though more or less damaged outwardly and with the inside part of their domes partly destroyed, they are in good order. The eight-cornered tomb has some Arabic writing, but so worn as to be unreadable.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

==Tourist attractions==
In Thalner there are two temples, one dedicated to Mahadeva and the other to Khandoba's Temple. The Mahadeva temple is located at Tapi riverside, and Khandoba temple is located near the Thalner bus stand.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

==Notable personalities==
[[Lata Mangeshkar]]'s mother, affectionately called 'Mai', was from Thalner. She was the daughter of Seth Haridas Ramdas Lad, a prosperous businessman of the town.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

*{{cite web| url = http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/DHULIA/places_Thalner.html| title = Dhulia|publisher = The Gazetteers Department of Maharashtra}}

{{Forts of Khandesh}}

[[Category:Villages in Dhule district]]
[[Category:Forts in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Former capital cities in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Dhule district]]
[[Category:Ahir history]]