| FACTS
& FIGURES
Languages : Hindi and
English
Best time to visit : July to September
STD Code : 07292
LOCATION
Mandu is situated in the central Indian
state of Madhya Pradesh. It is around 283 km away from
the capital city Bhopal.
CLIMATE
Mandu enjoys an extreme climate. The
best season to visit this place is during the monsoon,
that is, from July to September. While other places
in Madhya Pradesh and most of the north and peninsular
India are closed for tourism during monsoon, Mandu is
more of a monsoon resort than anything else. The natural
surroundings are in full bloom during this time.
PAST
Mandu was founded as a fortress and retreat in the 10th
century by Raja Bhoj. It was conquered by the Muslim
rulers of Delhi in 1304. After the victory of Mughals
in the early 16th century on Delhi, Mandu came under
the administration of Afghan Dilawar Khan, the Governor
of Malwa.
Hoshang Shah, son of Dilawar Khan, transferred his
capital to Mandu. Until 1561, it remained under the
Afghans when Akbar defeated Baz Bahadur, one of the
Afghan chieftains ruling a part of central India. Baz
Bahadur fled Mandu instead of facing the Mughal army.
During the administration of Marathas, the capital of
Malwa was shifted back to Dhar and Mandu became a ghost
city for some time.
SITES TO VISIT
For convenience, the buildings of Mandu
can be divided in three groups: the Royal Enclave Group,
the Village Group, and the Rewa Kund Group.
Royal Enclave Group
Jahaz Mahal (or the Ship Palace) is
probably the most famous building in Mandu. This ship-like
structure was constructed by Ghiyas-ud-din, son of Mohammed
Shah, for his harem. According to the legends, this
harem was home to 15,000 maidens. There are two lakes
on the east and west side of the palace that create
a perfect illusion of a ship with its rectangular shape.
Taveli Mahal is located just south of Jahaz Mahal and
now houses the antiquity gallery of the Archeological
Survey of India.
Hindola Mahal (or Swing Palace) was a pleasure dome
that gives the impression that the inward slopes of
the walls are swaying.
Champa Baoli is an interesting step-well on the north
edge of the tank situated there. It was a popular hot-weather
retreat and featured cool wells and bathrooms.
Village Group
Jama Masjid is a huge mosque built in
1454 dominating the village of Mandu and is considered
the finest example of Afghan architecture in India.
Hoshang's Tomb is located immediately behind the mosque
and reputed to be the oldest marble structure in India.
The tomb was constructed in 1435 and depicts typical
Hindu influences including carved marble lattice screens
(jali). It is said that Shahjahan sent his architects
to study this double-domed structure before constructing
Taj Mahal.
Ashrafi Mahal was originally built as a madarsa (a
Muslim religious school), but later extended to become
Mohammed Shah's tomb. Now only the ruins of this building
are visible.
The Jain Temple is a complex of numerous buildings.
There is also a Jain museum in the complex.
Rewa Kund Group
Baz Bahadur was the legendary king featuring
in many folk stories of India for his love with Rupmati.
He was the last independent king of Malwa. His palace
was constructed in 1509 beside Rewa Kund. The palace
displays a curious mix of Rajasthani and Mughal style
of architecture. There was a water lift at the northern
end of the tank to supply water to the tank.
Rupmati's Pavilion is situated on the very edge of
Mandu Fort. It is a very romantic building, a perfect
setting for fairytale romance. Nevertheless, unfortunately,
the love story of Baz Bahadur and Rupmati had a tragic
end. It is said that Akbar attacked Mandu for the sake
of Rupmati and Baz Bahadur fled Mandu leaving Rupmati
to poison herself.
There are some other monuments in Mandu like Darya
Khan's Tomb, Hathi Mahal, and Neelkanth Palace that
can be visited.
SITES NEARBY
Bagh Caves is around 50 km off Mandu
on the road between Indore and Vadodra in Gujarat. These
Buddhist caves date from AD 400 to 700 and were in a
poor condition until few years back when the restoration
work began. There are some government guesthouses and
dak bungalows nearby.
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over
the Malwa region with much fun and gaiety. The festival
is celebrated during September/October. The celebrations
provide a window to the rich and colorful cultural heritage
of the region.
The Malwa Festival is organized in Mandu by Madhya
Pradesh Tourism Department. The traditional art and
cultural heritage of the region are displayed during
this festival.
HOW TO REACH
By Air
The nearest airhead is Indore, 99 km away from
Mandu. Regular flights connect Indore with Delhi, Mumbai,
Gwalior, and Bhopal.
By Rail
Ratlam is the nearest railhead (124 km) on
the Delhi-Mumbai main line. There are many trains linking
Ratlam to other important cities of India.
By Road
Mandu is connected with other cities in the
region by a good road network. There are direct buses
from Indore via Dhar. Mandu is also connected with Bhopal,
the capital of Madhya Pradesh by direct buses.
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