Mandu is located on a 21sqkm plateau. A deep and wide valley separates the plateau from the tableland in the north. To the south of Mandu the land drops steeply away to the plains. Deep ravines cut into the sides of the plateau which looks isolated and cut off from the rest of the countryside.

LOCATION

MANDU is located to the south of Indore in the western part of Madhya Pradesh on the Vindhya Mountain.

ALTITUDE

The plateau on which Mandu is located is at an altitude of 634m.

CLIMATE

Summers are hot with the temperature rising to nearly 36degC during the day. During winters the maximum temperature during the daytime rises to 22degC and the minimum touches 7degC. The area receives nearly 1050mm of rainfall.

CLOTHING

SUMMERS: Light clothes preferably natural fibres.

WINTERS: Light woolens for the day and heavy woolens for the night.

RECOMMENDED PERIOD FOR VISIT

People prefer to visit Mandu during the monsoon season because the entire surrounding countryside turns lush green and the buildings are mirrored in the full lakes. However for foreigners the best time to visit Mandu would be during the winter months (OCT-FEB).

HISTORY

MANDU, known as the "city of joy" has been witness to a long and checkered history peppered with ups and downs.

Reference to Mandu has been made in a Sanskrit inscription of 555A.D. The inscription suggests that Mandu was a fortified city even in the 6^th century. In the 10th and 11th century, it gained prominence under the Parmara rulers who named it MANDAVGARH. In the 13^th century the Parmara capital was transferred from Dhar to Mandu. In 1305 however, the Parmara dominance over Mandu ended when the Khiljis conquered it. After the eclipse of the Muslim dominance at the hands of the Mughals, the Afghan governor of Malwa, Dilawar Khan Ghauri, set up Mandu as an independent kingdom. He renamed Mandu, SHADIABAD (City of Joy).

His son Hashang Shah raised Mandu to its greatest splendor. However Hashang Shah’s son who ascended the throne after him was able to rule for only one year before being poisoned by Mohammed Shah who however enjoyed a long reign of 33 years. The reign was long but not peaceful as Malwa was constantly involved in strife with its neighbors. In 1469, Mohammed Shah's son, Ghiyas-ud-din ascended the throne and ruled for 31 years, spending most of his time on women. His son ascended the throne after poisoning his father but he died after ruling Mandu for only 10 years. Therefore Mohammed Shah’s grandson had a brief and unhappy reign and finally in 1526, Bahadur Shah of Gujrat conquered Mandu.

In 1534, Humayun defeated Bahadur Shah but as soon as Humayun left Mandu, it was taken over by an officer of the former dynasty. The fortunes of the rulers of Mandu fluctuated for some time before Baz Bahadur seized power in 1554. But in 1561 he too fled Mandu before Akbar’s troops reached the kingdom and captured it. Finally Mandu passed into the hands of the Marathas in 1732 after the Mughal hold weakened. The capital of Malwa was shifted back to Dhar and Mandu became a ghost town.

Architecturally, Mandu’s buildings are built in the Islamic style. Ornamentation is to the bare minimum. Stones salvaged from desecrated Hindu temples have been used for these buildings.

ACCESSIBILITY

AIR Nearest airport is at Indore with Indian Airlines operating flights to Bhopal, Gwalior, Jaipur, Bombay and Delhi.

TRAIN nearest railhead is Indore (99km) which is on a branch rout, while Ratlam which is 124km away is more convenient for outside visitors as it is on the Bombay-Delhi line.

ROAD BUS: Six daily buses from Mandu to Indore (via Dhar) from Indore you have to change at Dhar for Mandu.

TOURS MP tourism organizes tours to Mandu from Indore and Ujjain.

ACCOMODATION

DHARAMSHALAS There are two Dharamshalas in Mandu, one at the Jain temple and the second at the Shree Ram Mandir. However both these Dharamshalas do not allow foreign visitors to stay.

HOTEL RUPMATI this is Mandu's best hotel (offer: AC rooms, restaurants)

TOURIST COTTAGE (OFFERS: AC rooms, restaurants)

TRAVELLERS LODGE  MP Tourism runs All the above hotels and accommodation should be booked in advance at their offices in Indore.

Besides, accommodation is available at -

HOTEL MAHARAJA (JAHAZ MAHAL ROAD) this is the best budget option as the rates are very reasonable.

TOURIST REST HOUSE (opposite the Jama Masjid). Rates are reasonable but the rooms are dingy and a deposit of Rs.200 has to be made.

PLACES TO EAT

Besides the restaurants attached to the hotels, you can get reasonable priced meals at the Shree Krishna and Shivani restaurants.

TEMPLES

JAIN TEMPLES (COMPLEX)

The temples in this complex have marble status of TIRTHANKARS. The statues are decorated with gold, silver and jade (eyes). At the back of the complex, there is a life size replica of SHATRANJAYA, the hilltop complex at Palitana, Gujrat, and murals featuring Jain homilies.

The buildings of Mandu can be divided into three groups. The first group is the Royal enclave, which is in the northern part of Mandu and comprises of Mandu’s most impressive groups of temples. The village group is 2km from the northern gate and the Rewa Kunal group is at the extreme south of the fort.

ROYAL ENCLAVE GROUP

In this group there are temples. The enclosure is open from sunrise to sunset.

JAHAZ MAHAL

This is the most attractive and famous building in Mandu. It is shaped like a ship. It is 120m long and only 15m wide and is flanked by two lakes on its east and West Side giving the illusion of a ship in harbor.

The Jahaz Mahal is replete with cool rooms, beautiful pool and arches. It was built as a playground, by Ghiyas-ud-din for the members of his harem who numbered nearly 15,000.

To the south of the Jahaz Mahal, this palace now houses the Archaeological Survey of India’s Antiquity Gallery which has on display fragments of utensils and vessels, and some stone images found at the site.

HINDOLA MAHAL

This Churchlike hall is known as the 'Swing Palace' because the inward slope of the walls creates an impression that the walls are swaying. There is a wide ramp at the northern end of the building, which enabled the ruler to be conveyed upstairs by elephant.

This step well was so named because its waters smelled like the Champak flower. There are cool underground rooms (TYKHANAS) and bathroom which were obviously used as a retreat during the hot summer months.

Other buildings in the enclave are the ‘House and Shop’ of Gada Shah and the Mosque of Dilawar Khan.

VILLAGE GROUP

JAMA MASJID

Hoshang Shah started building this magnificent mosque which was completed in 1454. It is the largest and finest example of Afghan architecture in India and is patterned on the great OMAYYED MOSQUE in Damascus, Syria. (Open: Daily, timing: 830 am to 5.30pm)

HOSHANG'S TOMB

The tomb supposed to be India’s oldest marble building houses the remains of Hoshang Shah who died in 1435. There is a domed porch at the entrance. 4 smaller domes flank the squat, double arched central dome. Jali work has been done to enable light to enter the interiors. This is evidence of the Hindu influence on the architects of this mosque.

It is believed that Shah Jahan was so impressed with the design and workmanship of this tomb that he sent his architects to study it before commencing the construction of the TAJMAHAL.

Mohammed Shah to serve as a Madrasa (school), but he later decided to make it his tomb built this building. However the design was too grandiose and the capabilities of its architects restricted, as a result of which the building collapsed. What remains today is the grand stairway, which leads to the ruins of this palace.

JAIN TEMPLE

This temple is a modern temple complex. There are images of TIRTHANKARS in marble, silver and gold. The temples are richly decorated. There is also a Jain Museum, where there is a replica of SHATRUNJAYA, and a mural representing Jain homilies.

REWA KUND GROUP

This group of buildings is located about 3km south of the village group.

BAZ BAHADUR’S PALACE: This palace was constructed in 1509 in a style, which has elements both from the Mughal, and Rajasthani styles. It is located near the Rewa Kund and at the northern end of the Kund there is a water lift, which was used to supply water to this palace.

RUPMATI’S PAVILION

Rupmati’s pavilion is built on the very edge of the fort and offers a spectacular view of the Narmada River and the plains below.

According to a legend, the beauty of Roopmati, a Hindu singer who lived in the plains, and builds this pavilion for her, smote Baz Bahadur. However Akbar too heard of her beauty and decided to conquer Mandu and win her too. Baz Bahadur fled Mandu before Akbar’s forces could reach the fort and Roopmati poisoned herself.

DARYA KHAN’S TOMB & HATHI MAHAL

Darya Khan’s tomb is located between the Rewa Kund and the village Hosai. Tiles arranged in intricate patterns once decorated this tomb.

The Hathi Mahal is located near this tomb. It was so called because the pillars, which support the central dome, are so massive that they remind one of the legs of an elephant.

NIL KANTH PALACE

This palace is built at the end of one of the ravines, and has to be reached by a flight of steps going down the hillside. It was originally a Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva (God with blue throat-NIL KANTH) but the shrine was desecrated and the Mughals, in its place, built a palace, which had a waterfall running down the middle.

ADDITIONAL ATTRACTION