After the Maratha conquest of region, Harda replaced it as the most important town in the area, and Handia was reduced to the status of a village.

During the Mughal period, Handia was a sarkar (subdivision) comprising 23 mahals (smaller divisions), including Harda.

[3] In 1742, Marathas led by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao captured the area, and displaced the Muslim governor of the Handia sarkar.

[1] The British East India Company invaded the area during the Third Anglo-Maratha War and took control of the local fortress for a brief period.

The English author Carnaticus, writing in 1820, states:[4] Hindia was formerly a town of considerable note, but now only bears the ruinous and decayed vestiges of its ancient extent and splendour.Even after the Maratha defeat in the war, the Scindias retained control of the Harda-Handia tract.