A hidden jewel in the heart of India, it is a World Heritage site. Read on to know why you should visit Mandu.

Mandu, a beautiful city that resides in the landlocked central part of India. It is situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India and is known for its epitome of architectural beauty. Mandu stands as a testament of love between Prince Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati. It is home to several architectural attractions like baths, canals and pavilions, as well as the biggest fort of India stands here. The sultanate architecture that is built on this land dates back to the 14th century, while some attractions are certified as UNESCO World Heritage structures, making Mandu a cultural heritage city.

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How to reach Mandu

To reach Mandu, Indore stands as a nodal junction. The nearest railway station, airport and all major highways are connected to Indore, and you can reach Mandu from Indore in 3 hours which is about 100 kilometres away. You can even take a detour and visit Maheshwar on the way to Mandu. You can visit the saree stalls in Maheshwar, and buy those signature Maheshwar sarees.

Tourist Attractions in Mandu

The tourist attractions in Mandu are divided into three groups for the convenience of tourists. The three groups include – The Royal Enclave group, The Village group and The Rewa Kund group.

1. The Royal Enclave Group

The Royal Enclave group includes structures that give Mandu the tag of the cultural heritage city. They are – Jahaz Mahal, Taveli Mahal, Hindola Mahal and Champa Baoli. All of these structures are grouped in one place, so when you visit the place you have to pay minimal entry tickets and you get to visit all of these places.

Jahaz Mahal is a long and narrow structure that stands between lake Munj and Kapur, thus giving the illusion that it is in the middle of one lake. This is a 15th century built a structure by Sultan Ghiyas-Ud-Din Khilji and its main purpose was to accommodate his 15,000 women.

Taveli Mahal is a small structure that was originally a haven to all Mughal emperors, but now it has been converted into a gallery for Archaeological Survey of India. This gallery has a lot of books and booklets regarding the recent excavations carried out and the main architectural beauties around the state of Madhya Pradesh. The gallery also showcases some of the most beautiful stone carvings or stone idols that were excavated.

Hindola Mahal, which literally means Swinging Palace, was a courtroom of Sultan Ghiyas-Ud-Din Khilj.

Champa Baoli is a stepwell bath which was majorly influenced by Turkish architecture. This bath is well connected to the vaulted rooms or Taikhanas, that it keeps them cool no matter how hot the temperature outside is.

2. The Rewa Kund Group

The Rewa Kund is a group of two structures which makes Mandu famous for its love story of Prince Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati.

Baz Bahadur’s Palace is a wide architectural structure, and even though being construction by the Sultanate you can see the large influence of Rajasthani trends on its architecture.

Rani Roopmati’s Pavilion is a magnificent piece of architecture that stands tall on the bank of river Narmada. This structure stands as a symbol of love by Baz Bahadur for Rani Roopmati, with this splendour panoramic views of river Narmada from the top.

3. The Village Group

The Village group includes Jami Masjid and Hoshang Shah’s tomb. Both of these structures include intricate marble work in the interior, and the outside is a wide brown-stone architecture. Both of these structures are even though known for its architectural beauty, you can find tranquillity when you go to worship here. The crescent on the top of Hoshang Shah’s tomb is believed to be imported from Persia.

Accommodation in Mandu

Madhya Pradesh’s Tourism department has one of the best hotels with good services for you. MP Tourism also has a hotel in Mandu, named “Malwa Retreat”. They have scenic views to the rooms and is in a pretty secluded area from all the buzz of tourists so, that you can truly disconnect and have a pleasant stay.

Mandu’s delicacy

Mandu is known for Baboa tree in its flora and fauna. The famous delicacy from Mandu is ‘Imli ki Kadhi’, and you can find many such delicacies in Mandu like ‘bhutte ki kees’, ‘mawa-bati’ and ‘khoprapak’. The two restaurants who can serve you best specialities around Mandu are Shivani restaurant and Yatrika.