The Royal Group is the largest and the most scattered of all the group of monuments in Mandu. It contains some of the most visited structures of Mandu like the Jahaz Mahal, Hindol Mahal and the Royal Palace. This place is ticketed, btw ( just Rs 25, as of 2023).
Location : Google Maps
Dating from the 15th century, this is the most famous building in Mandu. Built on a narrow strip of land between Munja and Kapoor tanks, with an upper terrace like a ship’s bridge (use your imagination), it’s far longer (120m) than it is wide (15m). The pleasure-loving sultan Ghiyas-ud-din Khilji, who is said to have had a harem of 15,000 maidens, constructed its lookouts, scalloped arches, airy rooms and beautiful pleasure pools. Source
Later it also served as the residence of Noor Jahan, the favourite queen of Mughal Emperor Jahangir. The southern end of the double - storied building has a stairs leading directly to the terrace. The northern end of the terrace contains a swimming pool of floral design there is a similar pool just below it on the first floor. The terrace has two domed pavilion on the southern and northern end of the long Jahaz Mahal. The northern pavilion is not at the very end of the terrace but just south of the swimming pool. The pavilions still contain blue and yellow tiles. Source
Made for the purpose of an assembly hall, the plan of the ground floor consists of three large halls, with corridors in between and narrow rooms at the extreme ends, and a beautiful cistern beyond the northern room surrounded by a colonnade on its three sides. The pavilions on the ends are larger in dimensions and are divided into three compartments, the central one having domical roof a little higher than the pyramidal roofs of the side compartments. There are two projecting pavilions on the sides. The room at the northern end of Jahaz Mahal has a beautiful water-cistern surrounded by a colonnade on its three sides. Source
From Jal Mahal at sunset.
jahaz_mahal_mandu.mp4Location : Google Maps
Just north of Ghiyas’ stately pleasure dome is the Hindola Mahal, so-called because the slope of its walls sort of resembles that of the ropes of a swing. Thought to have been a royal reception hall, it's often ascribed to Hoshang Shah, though some writers attribute it to Ghiyas-ud-Din. Either way it's an impressive and eye-catching design. Source
Hindola Mahal or the ‘Swing Palace’ was the Durbar Hall of the Malwa Sultans. It gets its peculiar name from its slanting walls which give it an illusion of being a swing. Interestingly, an exact copy of this palace is found in Warangal in Telangana, around 850 km away! It was possibly constructed by the same architect. Source
Location : Google Maps
The three storied structure of Taveli Mahal stands at the right of entrance to the Royal Complex. The ground floor probably served as a stable and the upper two floors were residence of cavalrymen and horse caretakers.The building is south of Kapoor Talao and south - east of Jahaz Mahal. The first floor houses a Archeological Survey of India (ASI) Museum. The top floor and the terrace are not accessible to tourist. However on request the security guard does allow tourist to the terrace which provides great view of the Kapoor Talao and Jahaz Mahal. Source
These former stables now house a small Archaeological Museum with artefacts found at Mandu, including 11th- and 12th-century sculptures and 15th-century stone slabs with Persian inscriptions in Naskh script. Source
Location : Google Maps
West of the Hindola and north of Munj Talao is the royal palace. It is in ruins. At the entrance of the royal palace is the Champa Bawdi (Bawdi means step well), it is relatively in good condition. Subterranean passage connects the base of the well to a series of vaulted rooms, thus keeping them cool during the scorching summer. Source
Location : Google Maps
Jal Mahal, or water palace, is one of the most enchanting structures of the, City of Joy, Mandu. It is located on the north west corner of the Manju Talao and the furthest structure in the Royal Complex. Due to its remote locations it is often skipped by tourist but sadly they miss out on an interesting site of Mandu. A narrow passage connects the remaining portion of the Royal Complex to the Jal Mahal. The passage passes over the water of Manju Talao and there are three pairs of narrow flight of stairs leading down to the water on both sides. Once the favourite of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, the palace is complete with fountains, swimming pools, water passages and arched gateways, Source
This palace on an island-like spit of land at the corner of Munja Tank is thought to have been a private retreat for noble couples. It has several step-wells and pools in which they could disport. Source
Location : Google Maps
North of the Champa Bawdi is the hammam (cold and hot water bath) complex, star- and crescent-shaped holes in the domed roof allow natural light to filter inside the dark interiors of the hammam. Source
This Hammam or bathhouse, is made on the lines of Turkish baths. There are two separate water channels, one for hot and one for cold, which merge into one after some distance and connect to the bath. The impressive feature is its ceiling, in which beautiful stars are cut through for light to pass through. Source
Location : Google Maps (not pinned, west of Hammam)
Location : Google Maps
The Dilwara Khan's Mosque, built in 1405, is the oldest Islamic structure of Mandu. It is at the northern end of the Royal enclave and is the only religious structure in the Royal enclave. Source
Built by Dilawar Khan in 1405, this is Mandu’s earliest Islamic building. It was built mainly with material from earlier Hindu temples – particularly obvious in the pillars and ceilings of the roofed western end. Source
Location : Google Maps
Nahar Jharokha, literally meaning tiger window, is a palace that is north of Hindol Mahal. The palace is in total ruins and the roof has long collapsed. Although in ruins several windows of the palace have survived but the tiger head window, after which the palace is named, can no longer be traced. Source
Location : Google Maps
This was the dwelling of a powerful merchant chieftain whose 'shop', on the main road outside the Royal Enclave, is even more impressive. Source
It is a two-storey building, the ground floor has arched openings and side apartments and the upper storey consisting of a hall and two side rooms. In the center of the hall is a fountain, the surplus water from which is channelled out through a network of channels and spouts carved into the heads of an elephant and tiger respectively. This animal head is a peculiar feature of Hindu art, so this building might be associated with Medini Ray, a Rajputa chief under Sultan of Mandu. Source
A pic you may not see anywhere else, the rear.😉
Location : Google Maps
Location : Google Maps
The northern gate of the royal premises is known as Hathi Pol Darwaza. The gate has two pedestals on both sides which have elephant statues on them. This is where the gate gets its name from. The elephant statues have no trunks or upper torso, only the lower body. On top of both sides of the wall, canons were kept on a foundation of turrets. There were small rooms here for mercenaries. The road below the gate is covered with the ceiling. It is said that this gate was built around or after the 16th century and that Mughal ruler . Source
Unidentified structure across the road.
Last updated 28 Oct 2023