MANDU FACTS

Also known as Mandavgad

Mandu city is situated at an
elevation of 2079 feet and
extends for 13 km along
Vindhya Range, overlooking the
plateau of Malwa to the north
and the valley of the Narmada
River to the south. These acted
as natural defences.
The wall encompassing mandu
has 12 Gates or darwaazas

Mohammed Khalji went on to

rule for the next 33 years.

He was succeeded by his son,

Ghiyas-ud-din in 1469 and ruled
for the next 31 years. Ghiyasud-din was a pleasure seeker
and devoted himself to women
and song. He had a large harem
and built the Jahaz Mahal for
housing the women, numbering
thousands, of his harem.
Ghiyas-ud-din was poisoned,
aged 80, by Nasir-ud-din, his
own son.

In 1526, Mahmud II the sixth

Khalji ruler made no resistance
against the invading Bahadur
Shah of Gujarat who conquered
Mandu March 28, 1531.

In 1530 Humayun, the second

Mughal Emperor, succeeded
Babur. Humayun attacked and
defeated Bahadur Shah. Thus
in 1534 Mandu came under
Humayun's rule..

Ten more years of feuds and

invasions followed and in the
end Baz Bahadur emerge in the
top spot.

1561 - Mughal forces of Akbar

led by Adham Khan, enter the
fort of Baz Bahadur of Malwa
and defeat Baz Bahadur, while
Rani Roopmati view the scene
from the terrace of the fort. One
of the reasons for Adham
Khan's attack seems to be his
love for Rani Roopmati. Rani

History

Gained prominence during 10th

& 11th Cen under the Rajput
Parmara rulers. Founded as a
fortress retreat by Raja Bhoj.
Thee caves are called
Varshavas (Varsha + Awaas),
means place to stay during the
rainy season.
Snatched by Khiljis in 1305.
Earlier known by "Shadiabad"
meaning the city of happiness,
by then ruler Allauddin Khilji.
In 1401, as the Mughals
captured Delhi, the Afghan
Dilawar Khan, governor of
Malwa, set up his own little
kingdom and the Ghuri dynasty
was established. And thus
began Mandu's golden age.

His son, Hoshang Shah shifted

the capital from Dhar to Mandu
and raised it to its greatest
splendor.

Hoshang Shah means -"Ruler of

a good choice"
Hoshang Shah was a dare devil.
Angry that the ruler of Orissa
refused to give him elephants,
he travelled to Orissa disguised
as a horse merchant along with
a 1000 men. When the Oriya
ruler came to inspect the
horses, he was abducted and
held hostage. The ransom was
a 100 of the best Oriya
elephants and safe passage
back to Mandu. Both of which
were granted. Hoshang Shah

returned to Mandu, a hero. He

went on to rule Malwa for 27
years.
Hoshang's son, Mohammed III
was the last ruler of Ghuri
dynasty ruled for just one year.
He was poisoned by the
militaristic Mohammed Khilji,
who established the Khilji
dynasty.

Roopmati poisoned herself to

death on hearing the news of
fall of Mandu.

Baz Bahadur fled to Khandesh.

Akbar, soon recalled Adham
Khan and made over command
to Pir Muhammad. Baz Bahadur
remained a fugutive at a
number of courts till he
surrenedered in November,
1570 to Akbar at Nagaur. He
joined Akbar's service.

Mandu was taken by the

Marathas in 1732 by Peshwa
Baji Rao I.

Constructed during the reign of

Mahmud Shah Khalji and
commissioned by Ghiyas al-Din

Hindola Mahal

Jehaz Mahal

meaning Swing palace

So named due to its sloping
side walls.
Might have been constructed
during the reign of Hoshang
Shah
The Hindola Mahal may have
been used as an audience
chamber.
T shaped plan, though the cross
bar was added later
The highly inclined buttresses
neutralize the outward force of
five massive ogee arches that
supported the large flat roof

Hoshang Shahs Tomb

Commonly known as Ship

palace
Situated between two artificial
lakes( Munj Talao to the west
and Kapur Talao to the East)
Two storied
Tughlaqid architecture
So named as it appears as a
ship floating in water.
Served as a harem for the
sultan during the reign of
Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din-Khilji.

India's first marble structure

One of the most refined
examples of Afghan
architecture.
It served as a inspiration for the
construction of Taj Mahal
Shah Jahan was so impressed
with it and sent 4 architects to

study the tomb. They left an

inscription near the doorway,
paying homage to the
architects of the tomb.
The interiors of the tomb are
illuminated by light filtering
through Jali lattice work.

width of the palace, and sits

between the courtyard, pool
and arched pavilion on the
north and the lesser rooms to
the south.

Rani Roopmati Pavillion

Baz Bahadurs palace

A large sandstone structure

originally built as an army
observation post is known
today as Roopmati's Pavilion.
Rani Roopmati - the love
interest of Baaz Bahadur lived
here and is said to have gazed
at the Baz Bahadur's Palace situated below and also at
Narmada river, flowing through
the Nimar plains far below, a
river which the queen revered.

Jami masjid

Built by Baz Bahadur

Famous for its large courtyards
encompassed by large halls and
high terraces.
It is situated below Roopmati's
Pavilion and can be seen from
the pavilion.
Baz Bahadur's palace has one
incredible space: a music
gallery. This room stretches the

Inspired by the great mosque of

Damascus, this humongous
structure is striking in both its
simplicity and architectural
style-with large courtyards and
grand entrances.
Pashtun architecture
Construction started by
Hoshang Shah

Ashrafi Mahal

Madrasaa opposite Jami masjid

Much of the internal structure is

in ruins.

A selection Rani Rupmati's

verses
These verses attributed to Rani
Rupmati are taken from "The lady of
the Lotus" by Ahmad-ul-Umri and
translated into English by L. M. Crump
This verse talks about the wisdom of
using one's wealth:
Some men good fortune turns to evil ways
Other retain the good of simple days.
Some give and win more than the gift has
cost
To others gifts are so much money lost.
some use their wealth for ends both wise
and just;
And others only to indulge their lust.
Wealth may thus praises earn beyond all
words
Or be less worth than yesterday's stale
curds.

And here' s something quite radical for

a royal lady of the 15th century!
Some men are liars:
Some men are true:
Some pay their debts:
Some never do:
Some wives wear the dhoti*:
Some husbands skirts wear:
Some twirl their moustaches,
And some never dare.