Mandu is situated in Madhya Pradesh in Central India. Once called City of Joy, Mandu, is now a ruined city. Its geographical coordinates are 8° 6` 0" north and 10° 58` 0" West. It is renowned for its Islamic architecture. Other objects of interest are the enclosed lakes, marble palaces, gold-topped temples, and other buildings.
Mandu is said to have been founded in the 6th century. When the Mongols invaded India, in 1401, the Malwa kingdom got its freedom from the rulers of Delhi through the Afghan leader, Dilawar Khan. During his son, Hoshang Shah`s reign, the capital shifted from Dhar to Mandu and thence started the golden age of Mandu and its architectural legacy continued for over a century. The city reached its summit under Hoshang Shah (1405–34) and the marble domed tomb and the Great Mosque of Hoshang Shah are notable examples of Pashtun architecture. Finally in 1561, Mandu was under the control of the Mughals.
PLACES OF INTEREST IN MANDU
Mandu is flooded with places of tourist interest and is specially noted for its Islamic architectural buildings and monuments. Mandu is a fort hill top and is hovering in the rugged terrains of the Vindhya mountain range. The place is embedded with architectural gems such as palaces, mosques and mausoleums. The style of these buildings, with their moderate decorations is the functional style of the 15th century. The Jahaz Mahal is the most delicately designed building in Mandu and a tourist"s favorite. Water has a close association with this palace. It has pavilions extending onto the lakefront. The palace looks like a ship floating on the pond and is hence named Jahaj Mahal. The Hindola Mahal palace is a T-shaped palace and a noteworthy monument in Mandu. The Jami Masjid in Mandu is a famous mosque. It has been constructed in the Arab style and is the biggest mosque in Mandu. The tomb of Hoshang Shah is on the west side of the precincts of the Friday Mosque and is a major crowd puller. The mosque of Malik Mughis is one of the oldest mosque in Mandu and hence a major tourist attraction. The whole edifice is built on a high plinth, below which are arcades and rooms. There is a big caravan sarai in front of the mosque. The beautiful Dai-Ki-Chhoti-Behan-Ka–Mahal is to the south of caravan sarai and has four entrance arches which are just decorative. The Rupmati Palace or Rani Roopmati Pavalion is also a popular spot and is located on top of a hill. The double-storeyed edifice has two pavilions on the terrace, facing each other.
There are also some other places of interest in Mandu such as the Nilkanth temple which is a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Hathi Mahal and the Jali Mahal are also fascinating monuments of Mandu. The place still reverberate the elegance and exquisiteness of the royal era and abounds in historical monuments that have gracefully aged with time. These architectural remnants sprinkled throughout the magnificently potholed scenery of the mountains form its major tourist attractions.
How to Reach Mandu
The nearest airport is at Indore, which is at a distance of ninety-nine kilometers from Mandu. Regular flights are available which connects Indore with Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Gwalior and Bhopal. The nearest railway station from Mandu is at Indore, which is a branch route. The railway station at Ratlam, which is one hundred and twenty four kilometers away from Mandu, is more convenient for outside visitors because it is on the Mumbai Delhi line. Mandu is connected with other cities in the region by a good road network. There are direct buses from Indore via Dhar District. Mandu is also connected with Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh by direct buses.
Mandu experiences an extreme type of climate and the best time to visit this place is during the monsoon that is from the month of July to September. The surrounding during this time is lush green and the monuments are reflected in the water of the lakes, which enhance the exquisiteness of the place. There are excellent accommodation facilities in and around Mandu.
