The Khandava Forest or Khandava Vana (Sanskrit: खाण्डव वन, IAST: Khāṇḍava Vana) or Khandavaprastha (Sanskrit: खाण्डवप्रस्थ; IAST: Khāṇḍavaprastha) is a forest mentioned in the epic Mahābhārata.[1][2] It lay to the west of Yamuna river. The Pandavas are described to have cleared this forest to construct their capital city called Indraprastha. This forest was earlier inhabited by Nāgas led by a king named Takṣaka.[3]
Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa are stated to have cleared this forest by setting it afire. The inhabitants of this forest were displaced. This was the root cause of the enmity of the Nāga Takshaka towards the Kuru kings who ruled from Indraprastha and Hastinapura.[3]
... the five Pandava brethren of the Mahabharata burned out the snake-king Takshaka from his primeval Khandava forest ...
... I adore thee also, to obtain the ear-rings, O Takshaka, who formerly dwelt in Kurukshetra and the forest of Khandava! ... And Takshaka, surprised beyond measure and terrified by the heat of the fire, hastily came out ...