Khandava Forest
Khandava Forest or Khandavprastha was an ancient forest mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. It lay to the west of Yamuna river, in modern-day Delhi territory. Pandavas cleared this forest to construct their capital city called Indraprastha. This forest was earlier inhabited by Naga tribes led by a king named Takshaka. Arjuna and Krishna cleared this forest by setting up a fire. The inhabitants of this forest were displaced. This was the root cause of the enmity of the Naga Takshaka towards the Kuru kings who ruled from Indraprastha and Hastinapura.
The Mahabharata states that Indra was the protecting deity of Khandava forest, which is why the region was known as Indraprastha. When the forest was being burned, Indra attacked Arjuna with his bolt, injuring him. But Arjuna defeated all gods, Gandharvas and demons in that fierce battle and burnt the entire forest.
Chhapadeshwar Mahadev Mandir in Kharkhoda, Haryana was the part of Khandav Van.
Khanda village in Kharkhoda tehsil of Sonipat district in Haryana state was named after the Khandava Forest.
