Mandu or Mandavgarh in Madhya Pradesh may be a deserted town that was once home to the Mughals. With a gleam of Afghani architecture in sort of lavish palaces and delightful lakes, stood tall back in time and now exhibit crumbling walls of an equivalent. Declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Mandu sits over a plateau and is enclosed by walls and has twelve gateways. Due to its geographical location the place demonstrates an exceptional natural defence and hence was a military outpost within the older times. Dotted with palaces, mosques, tombs and gardens Mandu may be a fine example of the rich heritage of India.
Roopmati’s Pavilion is one among the foremost romantic palaces of the bygone days that talk the romantic history of Baz Bahadur and his beloved Roopmati. Overlooking the Narmada River and therefore the Nimar plains and gazing at the Baz Bahadur Mahal, this place was first built for the military as a lookout. Rani Roopmati had an affinity towards this place and hence it’s named after her. The grandeur is built with arched structures and had undergone various phases of construction during the entire Mughal reign. The palace also has a cistern that is useful for rain water harvesting. Roopmati Palace is hottest tourist attraction of Mandu.
Jahaz Mahal may be a rectangular edifice that stands between the lakes of Kapur and Munj giving an illusion of a ship. The construction of this place has been a dilemma because it shows architectural artistry of various rulers. The palace may be a two-storied building that was made so on allow the wester to stay the palace cool during the summer months. Jahaz Mahal was also used as a harem, a residential place for the Ruler’s wives and feminine servants. The palace is made with colorful stones for enhancing the sweetness of the structure.
Nilkanth Mahal gets its name from being within the vicinity of the Nilkanth Shrine. The shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This palace was built by a Mughal governor during Akbar’s rule and was especially constructed for his wife who was a Hindu. The main room of the palace is now an area of worship by the Hindus because it contains images of Lord Shiva and a Trishul. The walls of the palace have inscriptions from the reign of Akbar and hence discuss the fantastic Mughal period that was witnessed by the Nilkanth Mahal.
Entitled to be India’s first marble structure, Hoshang Shah’s Tomb is an inventive marvel of the Afghan architecture. With beautiful marble lattice that’s renowned for its complexity, the oblong towers and large courts are an example of a well-planned architecture. The dome of the tomb is perfectly defined and captivates the eye of its visitor. This tomb was so impressive during its own time that it also served as an idea for the Majestic Taj Mahal. The casketed sarcophagus of Hoshang Shah is that the centre of attraction. Some others have also been buried under an equivalent dome of which only three of them are in marble. The tomb may be a reflection of the Indo-Islamic architecture.