Location : Google Maps (about 100 Km from Indore, Madhya Pradesh)
What words of mine can describe the beauty of the grass and of the flowers? They clothe each hill and dale, each slope and plain. I know of no place so pleasant in climate and so pretty in scenery as Mandu in the rainy season. : The Jahangirnama - Memoirs of Jahangir, Emperor of India.
This fortress town on a rocky outcrop about 100 km (62 mi) from Indore is celebrated for its architecture. ... It was an important military outpost and its military past can be gauged by the circuit of the battlemented wall, which is nearly 37 km (23 mi) and is punctuated by 12 gateways. The wall encloses a large number of palaces, mosques, Jain temples of 14th century and other buildings. The oldest mosque dates from 1405; the finest is the Jama Masjid or great mosque, a notable example of Pashtun architecture. The marble-domed tomb of this ruler is also magnificent. Wiki
Mandu or Mandav literally meaning the City of Joy is a small town in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India, now best known for a fort built by Baaz Bahadur in the memory of his queen Rani Roopmati. Between 1401 and 1561 it was the an important citadel of a Muslim rulers of central and north India. The citadel was abandoned more than 400 years ago, and it's now a town city but also home to a large ruins site more than 10 km long and 15 km wide. ... Wikivoyage
In 1305, Mandu came under the rule of the Sultanate of Delhi. Following the sacking of Delhi by the armies of Timur in 1398, the central authority of the Delhi Sultanate collapsed. Dilawar Khan Ghuri, the then governor of Malwa, declared his independence. He shifted the capital of Malwa from Dhar to Mandu, renaming it ‘Shaadiabad’ or ‘City of Joy’. It would remain the seat of the Malwa Sultanate till its capture by the Mughal armies in 1562. Magic of Mandu
M.P. Tourism UNESCO : Group of Monuments at Mandu Mandu, India Mandu - City of Joy The Magic of Mandu (PDF) Love, War and History: A Tale of Mandu City Magic of Mandu Mandu Destination Brochure (PDF)
Note : The links below have plenty of pics and few vids, so data-heavy !
Delhi Darwaja, Guardhouse/Watchtower, Gadi Darwaja, Chisti Khan Mahal, Kamani Darwaja, Bhangi Darwaja, Alamgir Darwaja, Sat Kothadi, Andha & Andhi Ka Mahal, Small Gate and Bastion, Jali Mahal (No. 2) and few sites nearby
Sopi Mosque & Tank, Unidentified Tomb, Foota Mandir, Madan Kui Sarai, Gada Shah Home and Shop, Andheri Baoli, Ujala Baoli.
Jama Masjid, Hoshang Shah's Tomb, Ashrafi Mahal, Tripolia Darwaja, Suparshwanath Jain Mandir, Three Deep Stambhas, Bodiya Mahal, Lal Mahal, Ram Pol, Chaturbhuj Ram Mandir, Sat Sau Sirhi.
Jama Masjid & Hoshang Shah's Tomb is a ticketed site, Rs 20 as of 2023.
Jahaz Mahal, Taveli Mahal, Hindola Mahal, Palace & Champa Baoli, Jal Mahal, Hammam, Palace near Hammam, Dilawar Khan Masjid, Nahar Jharoka, Gada Shah Palace, Ancient Baoli (stepwell), Hathi Pol.
This is a ticketed site, Rs 25 as of 2023.
Unknown Pillar, Lohani Caves & Lohani Gate, Sunset Point, Two Unknown Pillars & GB's Sunset Point, Chhapan Mahal, Ek Khamba Mahal, Tomb and Mosque, Chorkot, Nagaria Mahal & Mosque, Nilkanth, Sonegarh Fort & Darwaja, Tarapur Gate, Dharma Mahal, Teen Gumbad Masjid, Budhi Mandu.
Sarai Kothari, Panch Devali, Darya Khan Masjid, Darya Khan Tomb, Somvati Kund, Lal Sarai, Roja (Khadija Bibi) ki Makbara, Hathi Paga Mahal.
Jali Mahal, Unidentified Tomb, Dai Ka Mahal, Lal Baug, Dai Ki Choti Bahen Ka Mahal, Ardh Gumbad, Caravan Sarai, Malik Muguth Masjid, Echo Point
Rewa Kund, Baz Bahadur Mahal, Rupamati Mahal, Bhagvaniya Gate, Daknia Mahal, Sumarawala Mahal, Jamnya Mahal, Jahangirpur Gate,.
Baz Bahadur Mahal & Rupamati Mahal are ticketed sites, Rs 25 as of 2023.
From Indore Railway Station walk to the road/flyover near Sarwate Bus Stand . From the flyover take a auto, maybe shared, to Gangwal Bus Stand (shared auto cost me Rs 15, took 10 minutes). At Gangwal Bus Stand there are plenty of private buses going to Dhar (cost me Rs 80, took one and half hour). Request the bus driver to drop you off before the Dhar Bus Stand - at the junction of the highway going to Mandu (somewhere here). You should get a private bus going to Mandu at this place (cost me Rs 50, took one hour). Mandu bus stop is next to Jami Masjid .
Refer to the blue line in the pic on the left.
Mandu is one of very few places with plenty of baobab trees.
The town is known for its abundance of baobab trees, estimated to be around 1,000 in number, situated in the periphery of Mandu. ... Historically, the Bhil tribe has been responsible for preserving these trees. For centuries, baobab trees have been a source of livelihood for the tribal population in the Mandu district of Madhya Pradesh. Local shopkeepers, who are mostly members of the Bhil tribe, sell fruit pods of the baobab tree as souvenirs to tourists. Source
This is what I would suggest:
Start at Delhi Darwaja (1, see pic) - the entrance to Mandu.
Visit Jami Masjid & Hoshang Shah Tomb (2) and then Jahaz Mahal & Hindola Mahal (3) .
Proceed to the Baz Bahadur Palace & Rupamati Palace (5), with an optional halt at the Darya Khan Group (4) and/or Sagar Talav Group (4).
This is Mandu, don't expect fine dining ;-)
Or night life, Or pubs. Or clubs. I'm uncertain whether alcohol is available. (Edit : I noticed two shops selling alcohol on the road between Delhi Darwaja and Jami Masjid)
There are few restaurants near Jami Masjid.
Shri Dadaji Restaurant, Gurukripa and Hotel Shivani Resort are OK.
Apart from hitchhiking to a couple of places, I walked to every site in Mandu ... and really enjoyed it.
Autos/Cabs/Guides are available near Jami Masjid. The hotel you are staying at should be able to arrange for a car with/without a guide.
Ideally, of course, you would have your own vehicle.
It's possible to hire a bicycle from a stall near Jami Masjid (Rs 250 a day). I cycled to Lal Mahal. Lousy road. The other roads are quite good, btw.
A guide book by the Archaeological Survey of India is available for just Rs 20 at the ticket counter of the Jahaz Mahal (Royal) Group. Recommended.
Mandu: Travel Guide by Eicher Goodearth Ltd is available on Amazon.
Mandu the city of joy by Yazdani G.(1929) can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Worth a look. Interesting read.
Dhar and Mandu by C E Luard (1912) is available to download from ASI Bhopal.
Travel Guide Mandu video (coming soon) :
travel_guide_mandu.mp4You can improve the visibility of this site by linking to it so that it shows up in web searches.
Travel Guide Orchha Travel Guide Bijapur
Last updated 10 Mar 2024