Almost across the center of the Indian peninsula stretches the great natural barrier of Vindhya Mountains. Southwards of it lies a vast rocky plateau, its slopes covered with dense forests and intersected by precipitous gorges, which made it almost inaccessible to invaders. An Alexandrian merchant, who visited Broach in around 100 AD described the Deccan in his days : “Consisted of desert regions and vast mountains, swarming with wild beasts of every description – leopard, tigers, elephants, huge snakes, hyenas, and monkeys of various kinds”. The Chinese pilgrim Fa Hein, three centuries later spoke about Deccan to be precipitous and dangerous.

The geography of this area was a strong barrier to many foreigners who invaded India. But in 1294, someone managed to cross it. It was Ala-ud-din, the Mohammedan Sultan of Delhi. He swept across the Narmada and the last Hindu monarchy of the Deccan was blotted out after a brief fruitless struggle. For the next two centuries, Deccan was ruled by the Mohammedan rulers. It was divided into two principalities of Bijapur and Ahmednagar. Bijapur was an established state but Ahmednagar had to invite Mughal interference to protect itself.

The Mohammedan courts offered patronage to the adventurers. Mughals divided the state into smaller districts and the districts were let out in Jaghir or fief, to the Maratha nobles. Bhosle was one such Maratha family, who was provided with Jaghir.

Lakhaji Jadavrao of Sinkhed claimed descent from the famous medieval rajas of Devgiri. Lakhaji was a feudatory in the service of the Nizamshahi government of Ahmednagar.