Seven Muhammadan tombs

Thalner, the first capital of the Faruqui kings was protected by a strong fort which played a very significant role in the history of Khandesh. Situated on the banks of the Tapi and the foot of the fort is an old stone built temple dedicated to Thaleshwar. The name Thalner derived from this old temple of Thaleshwar situated on the banks of Tapi. Firozshah Tughluq granted Malik Raja Faruqi an estate on the south border of Gujarat in 1370. In 1371, he was defeated by the Gujarat king and forced to take refuge in Thalner fort. On his death in 1399 Malik left Thalner to his second son Iftikar Khan. But in 1417with the aid of the Sultan of Malwa, Nasir Khan, the elder son, wrested it from his brother. In 1498 Thalner was invaded 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 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 pain. In 1660 Tavernier mentioned it as one of the places of trade on the Surat and Burhanpur line. Besides fortifications ten Muhammadan Tombs are indicators of architectural glory once Thalner experienced. The group of ten Mahomadan Tombs is notified into two parts, the first comprises seven tombs of stone varying in size. All of them are square on plan except one build octagonal plan. The five tombs are built in black basalt and rest two are built with burnt bricks, lime mortar and lime plaster. This group represents classic architecture of Deccan Sultanate-Faruquies having common elements with Bahmani and Nizamshahi architecture of the contemporary era. The stone tombs have arched doorway finked by two arched windows. Among tombs built in bricks the central arch is an entry while flanking arches are false. Some of the tombs built in stone have ornate entry doors bedecked with floral motifs have inscriptions above and pilasters on the either side. Below dome they are also provided with decorative brackets in stone along with tapering top. The octagonal tomb has lost its roof, however arched doorways and windows are decorated with various floral medallions and miniature false arches. The local story relates them to a saint, however they are the tombs of the Faruqi kings of whom four namely Malik Raja (1396 AD), Malik Nasir (1437 AD), Miran Adil Khan (1441 AD) and Miran Mubarak Khan (1457 AD) were buried in Thalner.