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Information about
Mandu |
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Perched
along the Vindhya ranges at an altitude of 2,000 feet,
Mandu, with its natural defenses, was originally the
fort capital of the Parmar rulers of Malwa. Towards
the end of the 13th century, it came under the sway of
the Sultans of Malwa, the first of whom named it
Shadiabad - 'city of joy'. And indeed the pervading
spirit of Mandu was of gaiety; and its rulers built
exquisite palaces like the Jahaz and Hindola Mahals,
ornamental canals, baths and pavilions, as graceful
and refined as those times of peace and plenty.
Each of Mandu's structures is an architectural gem;
some are outstanding like the massive Jami Masjid and
Hoshang Shah's tomb, which provided inspiration to the
master builders of the Taj Mahal centuries later. |
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Mandu is a
celebration in stone, of life and joy, of the love of
the poet-prince Baz Bahadur for his beautiful consort,
Rani Roopmati. The balladeers of Malwa still sing of
the romance of these royal lovers, and high up on the
crest of a hill, Roopmati's Pavilion still gazes down
at Baz Bahadur's Palace, a magnificent expression of
Afghan architecture.
Under Mughal rule, Mandu was a pleasure resort, its
lakes and palaces the scenes of splendid and
extravagant festivities. And the glory of Mandu lives
on, in legends and songs, chronicled for posterity. |
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What to see |
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The Darwazas
The 45
km parapet of walls that encircle Mandu are punctuated
by 12 gateways. Most notable of these is Delhi Darwaza,
the main entrance to the fortress city, for which the
approach is through a series of gateways well fortified
with walled enclosures and strengthened by bastions such
as the Alamgir and Bhangi Darwaza, through which the
present road passes. Rampol Darwaza, Jehangir Gate and
Tarapur Gate are some of the other main gateways. |
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Jahaz Mahal
This 120 mt long "ship palace" built between the
two artificial lakes, Munj Talao and Kapur Talao
is an elegant two storeyed palace. Probably it was
built by Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din-Khilji for his large
harem. With its open pavilions, balconies
overhanging the water and open terrace, Jahaz
Mahal is an imaginative recreation in stone of a
royal pleasure craft. Viewed on moonlit nights
from the adjoining Taveli Mahal, the silhouette of
the building, with the tiny domes and turrets of
the pavilion gracefully perched on the terrace,
presents an unforgettable spectacle. |
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Hindola Mahal
An
audience hall, also belonging to Ghiyas-ud-din's
reign, it derives its name of "swinging palace"
from its sloping sidewalls. Superb and innovative
techniques are also evident in its ornamental
facade, delicate trellis work in sand-stone and
beautifully moulded columns.
To the West of Hindola Mahal there are several
unidentified buildings which still bear traces of
their past grandeur. Amidst these is an
elaborately constructed well called Champa Baoli
which is connected with underground vaulted rooms
where arrangements for cold and hot water were
made.
Other places of interest in this enclave are
Dilawar Khan's |
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Mosque,
the Nahar Jharokha (tiger
balcony), Taveli Mahal, the two large wells called
the Ujali (bright) and Andheri (dark) Baolis and
Gada Shah's Shop and House, all worth a visit. |
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Hoshang Shah's Tomb
India's first marble edifice, it is one of the
most refined examples of Afghan architecture. Its
unique features are the magnificently proportioned
dome, marble lattice work of remarkable delicacy
and porticoed courts and towers to mark the four
corners of the rectangle. Shah Jehan sent four of
his great architects to study the design of and
draw inspiration from the Tomb. Among them was
Ustad Hamid, who was also associated with the
construction of Taj Mahal. |
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Jami Masjid
Inspired by the great
mosque of Damascus, the Jami Masjid was
conceived on a grand scale, with a high
plinth and a huge domed porch projecting in
the centre, the background dominated by
similar imposing domes with the intervening
space filled up by innumerable domes. One is
struck by the huge proportions and the stern
simplicity of its construction. The great
court of the mosque is enclosed on all sides
by huge colonnades with a rich and pleasing
variety in the arrangement of arches,
pillars, number of bays, and in the rows of
domes above. |
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Rewa Kund
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Rewa Kund
A reservoir, built by Baz Bahadur with an aqueduct
to provide Roopmati's palace with water. Today,
the pool is revered as a sacred spot.
Baz Bahadur's Palace
Built by Baz Bahadur in the
early 16th century, the palace's unique features
are its spacious courtyards surrounded by halls
and high terraces which afford a superb view of
the surrounding countryside.
Roopmati's Pavilion
The pavilion was originally built as an army
observation post. From its hilltop perch, this
graceful structure with its two pavilions was a
retreat of the lovely queen, from where she could
see Baz Bahadur's palace and the Narmada flowing
through the Nimar plains far below. |
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Other Monuments |
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There are other
monuments in Mandu which do not fall in any group but which
merit special attention.
Nilkanth
This sacred
Shiva shrine is sited in a magnificent setting, at the very
edge of a steep gorge. In its tree- shaded courtyard, a sacred
pond is fed by a stream, and pilgrims still gather to worship
here.
Nilkanth Mahal
Belonging to the
Mughal era and close to the Nilkanth shrine, this palace was
constructed by the Mughal governor, Shah Badgah Khan for
Emperor Akbar's Hindu wife. On the walls here are some
inscriptions of the time of Akbar referring to the futility of
earthly pomp and glory.
Hathi Mahal,
Darya
Khan's Tomb,
Dai ka
Mahal,
Dai ki
Chhotti Behan Ka Mahal,
Malik
Mughit's
Mosque
and
Jali Mahal
are some of the
other fascinating monuments. There is also the
Echo
Point,
the 'Delphic Oracle' of Mandu. A shout from here reverberates
far below and is heard clearly back.
The Lohani
Caves
and
Temple Ruins,
not far from the royal enclave area also merit a visit due to
their
association with Mandu's history and monuments.
Sunset Point,
in front of the caves affords a panoramic view of the
surrounding countryside. |
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How to Reach |
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By Air
Nearest airport is at Indore (99 km), connected with Mumbai,
Delhi and Bhopal.
By Rail
Convenient railheads are Ratlam (124 km ) on the Mumbai-Delhi
main line and Indore (99 km).
By Road
Regular bus services connect Mandu with Indore, Dhar, Mhow,
Ratlam, Ujjain and Bhopal. |
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Best
Season |
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July to
March. |
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