Mandu Madhya Pradesh

Mandu city is a ruined city located in the Dhar district in the Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh state, central India. With Geographical Coordinates 22°20′7″N 75°24′57″E, Mandi or Mandavgarh is situated at an elevation of 633 meters (2079 feet) and extends for 13 km along the crest of the Vindhya Range, overlooking the valley of the Narmada River to the south and the plateau of Malwa to the north which acted as natural defenses to this place.

Mandu was originally known as the fortified city in 6th Century. It was later named Mandhavgarh in the 10th or 11th century by the rulers of the Parmara kingdom. In the year 1261, capital of the Parmaras was transferred from Dhar to Mandu. In 1305, the Parmars were captured by the Khiljis. Allauddin Khilji named the city as Shadiabad, meaning the ‘City of Joy and happiness’.

 Mandavagarh, popularly known as Mandu is presently about 35 km from Dhar. In the 11th century, Mandu was the sub division of the Tarangagadh or Taranga kingdom. This fortress town on a rocky outcrop about 100 km from Indore is celebrated for its fine architecture. Mandavgarh is famous for its amazing fort which is 82 km in perimeter and is considered to be the biggest in India. It contains the ruins of palaces, ornamented canals, baths, pavilions etc. The fort was once the monsoons retreat of the Mughal emperors. Mandu was built in keeping with the regional style of Islamic architecture. The city is full of battered walls, bold but ascetic masonry and the prominent use of colour, of which only traces now remain, are the distinguishing features of this style. There are fading glazed patterns, tiles and inlay work of semi-precious stones now can be seen in bad condition which serve as reminders of lost glory. The fortifications of Mandu, built from debris and rocks, originally extended 59.5 km in circumference around the plateau. Kakra Khoh, the canyon that surrounds the hilltop, can be crossed via a causeway with steps providing ample scope for defense movement. Within this boundary wall are two more fortified enclosures to protect the royal palaces. One of them circles the Royal Enclave and another protects the palace of Baz Bahadur.

The way to the complex is from the north through a series of gates: the Alamgiri Gate, Bhangi Gate and Kamani Gate. After the Bhangi Gate the road branches odd to the Delhi Gate and Gadi Gate. The Delhi Gate built in 1405-07 is the main entrance to the fort. It is a steep path that bends sharply into a long gateway with low steps for elephants. It ends to guardrooms. The city has over 40 monuments. The buildings of Mandu can be divided into six distinct groups. Starting from the Delhi Gate, they are: the Royal Enclave, the group around the village, the Sagar Talao group, the Rewa Kund group, the group between the Sagar Talao and the village, and finally, a group of miscellaneous monuments.

Mandu is about 35 km from Dhar and is about 90 km from Indore.

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