Places of Interest
¤ Main Attractions
Mandu, as the cliché goes, is a celebration in stone of life
and joy, of the love of the poet-prince Baz Bahadur for his beautiful
consort, Rani Roopmati. The entire area is strewn with exquisite
palaces, ornamental canals, baths and pavilions that seem to have
popped out of a fairytale romance if you visit Mandu during the rains.
But before we go into details about each monument, let’s look at
the style of architecture.
¤ Mandu Followed The Islamic Architecture
Mandu was built in keeping with the provincial style of Islamic
architecture than can only be seen in one other place, Dhar. This
style steered clear of elaborate ornamentation, favouring simplicity,
mass and power.
Battered or buttressed walls, bold but austere masonry and the
prominent use of colour, of which only traces now remain, are the
distinguishing features of this style. Fading glazed patterns, tiles
and inlay work of semi-precious stones in disrepair serve as reminders
of lost glory.
¤ The Mandu Palace
The fortifications of Mandu, built from rubble and boulders,
originally extended 59.5km in circumference around the plateau. Kakra
Khoh, the ravine that surrounds the hilltop, can be crossed via a
causeway with steps providing ample scope for defence 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 main approach 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.
¤ Delhi Gate
The Delhi Gate built in 1405-7 is the main entrance to the fort. It
is a steep path that bends sharply into a long gateway with low steps
for elephants. Beyond the gates are guardrooms.
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.
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