BEST OF MANDU (FROM INDORE)

At a distance of 5 km from Mandu Bus Stand, Baz Bahadur Palace is another ancient palace located in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. A part of the Rewa Kund Group of Monuments, it is one of the famous tourist places in Mandu.

Baz Bahadur Palace is situated on the hill slope to the east of Rewa Kund and is set amid picturesque greenery. As per the Persian inscription on the entrance arch, it was built in 1508 by Nasir-ud-Din, the Sultan of Malwa. Incidentally, Nasir-ud-Din Shah Khilji is credited with designing this aesthetic structure which underwent repairs and renovations during the period of Baz Bahadur. The King became fond of this palace because of his eternal romance with the accomplished singer Roopmati who used to visit the nearby Rewa Kund.

With the blend of Rajput and Mughal style of architecture, the main gateway to the palace is approached by 40 broad steps. Tall, sleek arches welcome the visitors .....

At a distance of 5 km from Mandu Bus Stand, Roopmati Pavilion is an old observation post located in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. Situated on the southern side of the Baz Bahadur Palace, it is one of the must-include places in Mandu holiday packages.

Constructed during the 16th century, Roopmati Pavilion is a part of the Rewa Kund Group of monuments in Mandu. It is perched regally on the edge of a 365m precipice overlooking the Nimar Valley. It is amongst the many monuments and palaces that adorn the historical city of Mandu famous for the legendary tragic love story of Prince Baz Bahadur and Roopmati. The structure was originally built as an army observation post and was later transformed into the abode of Roopmati.

According to legend, Roopmati was a Hindu singer and shepherdess with whom Sultan Baz Bahadur, the Muslim ruler of Malwa fell in love. She agreed to marry him and became the Queen of Malwa. Mughal Akbar decided to conquer .....

At a distance of 2 km from Mandu, the Sagar Talao Group of monuments is a group of ancient ruins located in the historical city of Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. Situated on the way to Rani Roopmati Pavilion, it is one of the best places to visit as part of Mandu tour packages.

The monuments of Mandu have been classified into different groups based on location. Aghyat Mahal, Dai Ka Mahal, Dai ki Choti Behn ka Mahal, Caravan Sarai, and Malik Mugith's Mosque are collectively referred to as the Sagar Talao Group of monuments. Sagar Talab is the largest lake in the entire citadel of Mandu and is bordered by many popular monuments on its eastern, northern, and southern banks. This picturesque lake though having a perennial water supply is particularly enchanting during the rains when it fills to the brim. Boating is arranged by MP Tourism here.

Malik Mugith's Mosque is the first monument one can come across this group. Malik Mughith, the .....

At a distance of 3 km from Mandu Road, Nilkanth Mahadev Mandir is an ancient Hindu shrine located in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. Situated near Sagar Lake, it is one of the best Mandu places to visit.

Nilkanth Mahadev Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is situated at the very edge of a steep gorge. The temple was built of red stone in Islamic style and resembled more of a palace or a meeting court. Apparently, it was originally a Shiva Temple which was demolished and a pleasure house was constructed by one of the governors of Akbar. After the fall of the Mughals, Lord Shiva made his way back into his original home.

The sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses Shivaling slightly below ground level and can be reached by a metal ladder. Water from the natural stream flows from behind the 'Shiva Linga' and collects in a tank in front of the temple. There were other idols in the adjoining rooms. About 60 .....

At a distance of 1 km from Mandu Bus Stand, Chappan Mahal Museum is an archaeological museum situated in the historical town of Mandu. It is one of the must-visit Mandu sightseeing places.

Chappan Mahal Museum is situated inside the Chhappan Mahal, a forgotten mausoleum constructed in the sixteenth century AD. It embodies the last and most mature phase of Mandu's medieval architecture. In 1899 (Vikram Era 1956), the Puar rulers of Dhar started the restoration work of this monument to give relief to the drought-affected population. In memory of Vikram Era fifty-six (Chhappan in Hindi), this monument has come to be called Chhappan Mahal since then. In 1989, the wife of the erstwhile deceased Puar ruler of Dhar, Anandji Rao Puar IV, Ms. Mrinalinidevi Puar donated this property to the collector for setting up a museum. Exactly 100 years later in 1999 ( Vikram Samvat 2056), a museum was inaugurated here.

Chappan .....

At a distance of 500 m from Mandu Bus Stand, Suparshvnath Swetamber Jain Mandir is a holy place located in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. Situated near Jami Masjid, it is one of the best religious places to visit in Mandu.

Amidst ancient architectural marvels inspired by Islamic methods, stands Suparshvnath Swetamber Jain Mandir in Mandu. Dedicated to Shri Suparshwanath Bhagwan, it is a modern-day structure boasting silver, gold, and marble statues of Jain Tirthankaras. There is a 3 feet high white stone idol of Shri Suparshwanath Bhagwan in the padmasana posture in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

The temple complex also has a theme park Jain museum which is inspired by Shatrunjaya, the hilltop temple complex at Palitana in Gujarat. The place is well maintained and also an ideal place to visit with friends and family. Besides, a trust called the Shri Jain Shwetambar Teerth Pedhi manages this temple, along with the nearby Dharamshala and bhojanshala.

Timings: 5.30 AM .....

At a distance of 500 m from Mandu Bus Stand, Jama Masjid or Jami Masjid is an old mosque that belongs to the Central Group or the village Group of Monuments in Mandu. Situated opposite Ashrafi Mahal, it is one of the wonderful and among the most visited Mandu tourist places.

Located in the center of Mandu Bazar and adjacent to Hoshang Shah's Tomb, the mosque is believed to have been built during the reign of Hoshang Shah and completed during the reign of Mahmud Khilji in 1454. The doorway has an inscription written on it which indicates that the mosque was modelled on the mosque of Damascus. The mosque was once a place for thousands of worshipers is now nothing but bears history.

Built-in Mughal style of architecture, the Jami Masjid was conceived on a grand scale. The eastern side is the main entrance of the mosque, which has a domed entrance hall and a wide flight of steps. In addition, there .....

At a distance of 500 m from Mandu Road, Hoshang Shah Tomb is a mausoleum located in the Village Group of Monuments in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. Situated beside Jama Masjid, it is one of the wonderful heritage places to visit as part of the Mandu tour.

Hoshang Shah Tomb is the mausoleum of Sultan Hoshang Shah Ghori, the first formally appointed Sultan of the Malwa Sultanate of Central India. This edifice is a part of the Village Group or the Central Group of Monuments in Mandu. Stands in a courtyard to the west of the Jami Masjid, the construction of this cenotaph was started by Hoshang Shah and was completed by Muhamad Khilji in about 1440 CE. The tomb was constructed entirely with white marble and is considered to be the first marble mausoleum in India. Legends have it that the construction of the Taj Mahal was inspired by this tomb.

Built-in Afghan style of architecture, the tomb is a square structure on a plinth crowned by .....

At a distance of 500 m from Mandu Bus Stand, Ashrafi Mahal is an ancient structure located in the center of Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. Situated opposite Jama Masjid, it is one of the wonderful heritage places to visit as part of Mandu sightseeing packages.

Known as the 'Palace of Gold Coins,' Ashrafi Mahal is a part of the Village Group or the Central Group of Monuments in Mandu. Initially, it was constructed as a Madrasa, an Islamic School of learning, by Mahmud Khilji, the successor of Hoshang Shah. As you wander in the ruined compound, you will see rows of cells and long corridors, cornered with four tall towers which make the mahal entirely look like a school building.

The madrassa courtyard was subsequently filled in to create a terrace 27' high on which the royal mausoleum of Mahmud Khilji could be built. The terrace was approached by a grand flight of steps projecting from the front on top of which a pillared portico was .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Mandu Bus Stand, Jahaz Mahal is an ancient palace located inside the Mandu Fort in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. Also called Ship Palace, it is one of the prime places to visit as part of Mandu tour packages.

A part of the Royal Group of Monuments, Jahaz Mahal was built in the 15th century by Emperor Mohammed Shah's son Ghiyas-ud-din who had a vast harem of about 15000 women. This double-storeyed structure was constructed to accommodate the royal women. Here, the Sultan's consorts enjoyed a life of luxuries and pleasures. However, Jahaz Mahal lost its original splendor after Ghiyas-ud-din Khilji's death. This double-storeyed palace is encircled by twin ponds Munj and Kapur that give an impression to the spectators that it seems to be floating gently above the surface of the water and hence it is also named as Ship Palace. Here 'Jahaz' refers to a ship and 'Mahal' refers to a palace.

Emulating the appearance .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Mandu Bus Stand, Hindola Mahal is an ancient palace located inside the Mandu Fort in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. Situated just beside Jahaz Mahal, it is one of the top heritage places near Indore, and among the prime places to visit in Mandu.

Hindola Mahal is one of the buildings making up the royal palace complex at Mandu, which consists of the Jahaz Mahal, the Hindola Mahal, the Taveli Mahal, and the Nahar Jharokha. The Hindola Mahal might have been constructed in 1425 during the reign of Hoshang Shah but may date to the end of the 15th century during the reign of Ghiyas-ud-din. This palace was majorly used by Mughals for leisure.

Also known as Swinging Palace, it is one of the beautiful structures and the whole structure gives the impression of being on a swing because of the slanting walls and arches. A sample of the Malwa style of architecture, this T-shaped building .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Mandu Bus Stand, Champa Baoli is an ancient stepwell located inside the Mandu Fort in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. Situated to the northwest of Jahaz Mahal, it is one of the best places to visit in Mandu.

Champa Baoli is a construction that stands in the midst of the Jahaz Mahal complex depicting the past. A part of the Royal Group of Monuments, it is an extensively constructed stepwell that was very much inspired by the styles of the Turkish bath. This place was named Champa Baoli because the aroma of the waters was believed to resemble that of the Champa flower. The place is a must-visit for all tourists roaming in Mandu.

It is an epitome of Mughal architecture. The vaulted rooms or Taikhanas were well connected to keep the bath remained cool during extreme high temperatures. The structures of the chambers in the cellars built inside this stepwell are like a maze. Lower ground levels have very narrow passages to go to. One of them is connected to .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Mandu Road, Taveli Mahal is an old palace located in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. Situated to the south of the Jahaz Mahal, it is one of the must-visit Mandu tourist places.

Facing Kapur Lake, Taveli Mahal was used as a stable and a guardhouse during the Mughal rule. The name Taveli is a corrupted form of 'Tavela' which literally means 'Stable'. The ground floor of the building was used for the stables while the apartments in the two upper storeys were used to house the guards.

Now, it houses a museum of Archaeological Survey of India and houses various artifacts found at Mandu, including 11th- and 12th-century sculptures and 15th-century stone slabs with Persian inscriptions in Naskh script. The terrace affords a splendid view of the surrounding area and the ruins.

Timings: 7 AM - 6.30 PM

Entry: Rs. 25 for Indians & Rs. 100 for Foreigners, Rs. 25 for Video

At a distance of 5 km from Mandu Bus Stand, Kakda Kho Water Fall is a seasonal waterfall located in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. Situated on Mandav - Dhar Road, it is one of the wonderful places to visit in Mandu.

Situated at an altitude of about 633 m, Mandu is separated from the main plateau of Malwa by a deep gorge called Kakda Kho. This deep gorge is the venue for the stunning Kakda Kho Waterfall and is the first scenic spot where almost all the tourists will stop to see the stunning ruins of Mandu. It cascades down from a height of about 250 to 300 feet. The waterfall looks stunning in the monsoon season, and there is no water during summer.

Kakda Kho Valley and Falls is located on the main road of Mandu. The government has built a fence over the waterfalls so that no accidents happen. There is a viewpoint just a short distance away from the waterfall, from where one can get a beautiful view of the valley. To reach this viewpoint, one has to cross the waterfall. There were .....

At a distance of 1 km from Mandu Bus Stand, Lohani Caves are rock-cut caves and temples situated in the historical town of Mandu. Situated near Jama Masjid, it is one of the popular places to visit in Mandu.

The rock-cut Lohani Caves are believed to have been excavated in about the 11th or 12th century and are the oldest monolith shrines in the city of Mandav. The locals are not sure of the history of these caves but they do know that it was disputed. These caves are completely void of inscriptions and carvings and are said to have been inhabited by humans since the pre-Muslim eras, more precisely the Shiva Yogis.

There are 4-5 caves, that look like shell-shaped rooms. A waterfall flows near these caves, due to which this place becomes even more delightful. A storage tank cut into the rock served as a water source and forms the entrance to the caves. The archaeological department found 80 statues of Hindu Gods and Goddesses like Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu, and Lakshmi from this .....