MANDU,MADHYA PRADESH

MANDU/MANDWA
Mandu, called as Shahdiabad by the Moghuls or the "City of Joy" is in the Malwa region of Western Madhya Pradesh and is remembered for the love tales of the
poet-prince Baz Bahadur and the beautiful Rani Roopmati. This fortress rises 634 meters high in the Vindhya Range and is enclosed in battlements 37 km long with 12 gates. With-in this well-defended plateau is wealth of palaces, pavilions, mansions, tombs and mosques.

In the 10th century Mandu was founded as a fortress by Raja Bhoj. It was conquered by the Muslim rulers of Delhi in 1304. When in 1401, the Mughals captured Delhi, the Afghan Governor of Malwa, Dilawar Khan, set up his own little kingdom at Mandu and the Ghori 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 splendour.
It changed hands a number of times between the Moghuls, Sher Shah Suri and his sons. At various times Akbar, Jehangir and Shahjehan have stayed at Mandu. Jehangir who stayed at Mandu with his beatiful wife Nurjehan, wrote“I know of no place so pleasant in climate and so pretty in scenery as Mandu during the rains."
Mohammed Khilji, who established the Khilji dynasty at Mandu went on to rule for 33 years. He was succeeded by his son, Ghiyas-ud-din in 1469 who ruled for the next 31 years. Ghiyas-ud-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. Ten more years of feuds and invasions followed and in the end and Baz Bahadur emerged at the top spot.
Rani Roopmati was a Rajput singer in Malwa. She revered the River Narmada and it is said that only after darshan of Narmada River she will eat her food. She was so fair and delicate that the colour of the food she took was seen in her neck.
Roopmati was married to the Prince of Benaras and missed Narmada. Seeing her problem the Prince divorced her and she returned to Malwa.
Baz Bahadur, a connoisseur of arts once went out hunting, where he chanced upon Roopmati frolicking and singing with her friends. Smitten by her enchanting beauty and her mellifluous voice, he begged Roopmati to accompany him to his capital. Roopmati agreed to go to Mandu on the condition that she would live in a palace within sight of her beloved and venerated river, Narmada. Thus Roopmati Pavilion came to be built.
Since on cloudy days Narmada was not visible, she prayed to Narmada, who asked Roopmati to get a pond dug up in Mandu. At about 70 ft depth, the excavators found sand and pebbles similar to those on the banks of Narmada. This is now called Roopmati Talab.
There are two cupolas on top of the Roopmati Pavilion, one on each end in which Roopmati and Baz Bahadur would sit and sing alternately.
In 1561, Akbar's army led by Adham Khan and Pir Muhammad Khan attacked Malwa and defeated Baz Bahadur in the battle of Sarangpur on 29 March 1561. One of the reasons for Adham Khan's attack seems to be his infatuation for Rani Roopmati. Rani Roopmati poisoned herself to death on hearing the news of fall of Mandu. Baz Bahadur regained his kingdom for a short period. In 1562, Akbar sent another army led by Abdullah Khan, the Uzbeg, which finally defeated Baz Bahadur. He fled to Chittor. Baz Bahadur remained a fugitive, served at a number of courts till he surrendered in November,1570 to Akbar at Nagaur and joined Akbar's service.
26 songs/poems of Roopmati survived as a manuscript and after changing hands a number of times reached C.E. Luard and was later translated into English by L.M. Crump , in 1926, under the title, “The Lady of the Lotus: Rupmati, Queen of Mandu: A Strange Tale of Faithfulness”. This manuscript has a collection of twelve dohas, ten kavitas and three sawaiyas of Roopmati
The Mandu Fort is spread over an area of 82 km and is considered to be one of the biggest forts in India. The fort has many historical ruins which include a collection of various palaces, pavilions, gates and picturesque canals. The nearly 40 monuments within the Mandu Fort are broadly categorized into the following three Groups.

1.The Central Village Group:

Ashrafi Mahal: Ashrafi Mahal is one of the famous structures in Mandu Fort . Ashrafi Mahal is also known as the Palace of Gold Coins. Ashrafi Mahal was built by Mohammed Shah Khilji, who was the successor of Hoshang Shah, one of the Mogul Conquerors. Initially Ashrafi Mahal was built as a Muslim Religious School (Madrassa) but later it was just converted into a palace.
Jami Masjid: Jami Masjid forms one of the prominent structures of Mandu Fort. Jama Masjid is a huge mosque which was probably built in the year 1454. The architecture of Jami Masjid is a great example of Afghani Style Architecture. The modelling of Jami Masjid is said to have been inspired from the original artworks of Omayyed Mosque located in Damascus
Hoshang Shah’s Tomb: This India's first marble structure, is one of the most refined examples of Afghan architecture. Its unique features include the beautifully proportioned dome, intricate marble lattice work and courts with porticos and towers. It is said to have served as a template for the construction of Taj Mahal.

2.The Royal Enclave Group:
Hindola Mahal: Meaning Swing palace is so named due to its sloping side walls.
Champa Baoli: Champa Baoli is one of the interesting structures within the Royal Enclave with a Step-well which was used as a hot-weather retreat and features cool wells or bathrooms. Champa Baoli is called so because it was said that the waters from this well smelled like the Champak Flower. There is a hot bath reserve made at the side for the well.
Water is lifted from the pond by a waterwheel and is circulated to all buildings and the swimming pool through a network of channels.
Jahaz Mehal/Ship Palace: Situated between two artificial lakes. This two storied architectural marvel is so named as it appears as a ship floating in water
Taveli Mahal: Taveli Mahal once was a guard house and also housed stables for the Royal family.


3.The Rewa Kund Group Roopmati Pavilion: This is a large sandstone structure originally built as an army observation post but is known today as Roopmati Pavilion.
Baz Bahadur's Palace: Built by Baz Bahadur, this 16th century structure is 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.
Neelkanth Palace: Built by the Mughal governor, Shah Badgah Khan, the Neelkanth Palace was erected for the Hindu wife of Akbar the Great. The palace bears some inscriptions of the era of Akbar which preach the superiority of emancipation over earthliness. The Neelkanth Palace is located very close to the Neelkanth shrine, which is a shrine of Lord Shiva. The shrine stands at the very edge of a steep ravine. The courtyard of the shrine has countless trees and a sacred pond which is fed by a nearby stream.