Deccan The (Sansk. Darkshina The South), a term formerly applied to all that part of India S. of the Nerbudda river, but since the Mohammedan invasion restricted to the region between the Nerbudda and Kistnah, or between lat. 16° and 23° N., extending from the Arabian sea to the bay of Bengal, and including the provinces of Candeish, Aurungabad, Bee-der, Hyderabad, Bejapoor, Berar, Gundwanna (most of the Central Provinces), Orissa, and the Northern Circars. The general aspect of the Deccan is a triangular table land supported by the mountain walls of the Ghauts on the east and west, and by the Vindhya range on the north. The dip of the country is toward the east, all the large rivers flowing to the bay of Bengal. The principal of these are the Godavery and the Mahanuddy. The declivity of this table land facing the bay of Bengal consists of a series of terraced steeps, abrupt but not precipitous. The interior table land is mostly rolling prairie. - The first irruption of Mohammedans from the north into the Dec-can took place in 1294, under Ala ed-Din, afterward king of Delhi. He was followed by Mohammed Togluk, who about 1325 completed its subjugation.

Revolts followed, and wars for 300 years, ending in distribution and redistribution of the territory, until in 1686 it passed under the sway of the Mogul emperor Aurung-zebe. After his death it fell piecemeal into the hands of the Mahrattas, and was subsequently broken up into the feudal sovereignties which still exist in name. About the middle of the last century British influence became predominant; and by conquest and annexation, especially since 1818, the whole Deccan has come under British control, although some portions are nominally governed by native rulers.