8 Places To Visit In Mandu, The Destination For All Architecture Enthusiasts

Mandu is famous for its rock architecture, and Roopmati's pavilion was built for Rani Roopmati, from where she could she the prince and the poet Baz Bahadur's palace. The place was also used as a military observation post and has the most breathtaking view of river Narmada. It is a must-visit, when you travel to Mandu, dripping with history, and great architectural ingenuity.

This palace is located between two artificially built lakes, Munj Talao, and Kapur Talao, and is a structure that has views of the most breathtaking kind. it is known to be built as an "imaginative recreation of Royal pleasure craft", with open balconies, and a huge pavilion area. Don't forget to indulge in local delicacies such as Dal Paniya, that are sold abundantly around the area.

Estimated to have been built in 1425, Hindola Mahal is a structure that embodies all the ingenuity of architecture of ancient times. Colloquially referred to as the 'swinging palace', it has sloping sidewalls, intricate trellis in the sandstone, and moulded columns. This becomes a must for everyone who has the teensiest bit of interest in architecture, as this marvel will surprise you with its distinct and thoughtful construction style.

A 'madrassa' in the older days, Ashrafi Mahal was built by Hoshang Shah's successor, Mahmud Shah Khilji, and faces the Jama Masjid. This space holds many tales of conquests and winners, as there was a seven-story tower adjacent to it, built when Khilji won over the Rana Khumba of Mewar, and was once known as the largest architecture structure of Mandu. Though now there are only some ruins left, you must visit this one to understand the history of Mandu.

Mandu has 12 gates in total that demarcate the area, and sort of 'contain' Mandu. All of these gates are a sight to behold, but the main one – the Delhi Darwaza, which is considered the main entrance to the city of forts – is the one that stands out. You will encounter Alamgir and Bhangi Darwaza, as you pass through the gate, and the main road is built beside them. It makes for a very scenic ride, and a romantic walk if that is more your vibe.

Known as India's first marble edifice, Hoshang Shah's tomb is magnificently adorned with marble latticework, porticoed courts, and towers to mark the four corners of the rectangle. The tomb is so famous across India, and especially in the old days, that there is a story that Shah Jahan sent four of his best architects to study it and draw inspiration for his legacy, the Taj Mahal.

In the vicinity of the famous Nilkanth shrine (the shrine of Sacred Shiva), Nilkanth Mahal belongs to the Mughal era. The structure was made for Akbar's Hindu wife, and it was designed by Shah Badgah Khan. The main attraction of the place lies in the wall inscriptions that are said to be sayings of Akbar, which are translated into his philosophy of 'futility of earthly glory'.

Not a location to visit, but Mandu holds a great five-day festival yearly, celebrating art, crafts, music, food, and offers many activities as well, like adventure sports, cycling expeditions, and glamping, hot-air ballooning, and more. The festival is conducted around the first week of December and shouldn't be a miss if you plan to visit around this time.