Mandu – The ship that never sailed

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Floating over it’s own reflection, the Jahaz Mahal in Mandu looks like a ship that’s about to sail. However, for centuries this ship made of stone and mortar never did. Instead, it stood floating over the twin lakes, bearing a silent witness to Mandu’s long, rich and varied history.
The city of Mandu is adorned with spell-binding Afghan architecture surrounded by baobab trees, native to Africa. The grand palaces are still alive with royal romance while the gateways (darwazas) speak of a history of imperial conquests. A walk through Mandu will leave you awe-struck, the way you used to be listening to stories from grandparents.

Additional Info

Duration: 10 hours
Starts: Indore, India
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours



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Floating over it’s own reflection, the Jahaz Mahal in Mandu looks like a ship that’s about to sail. However, for centuries this ship made of stone and mortar never did. Instead, it stood floating over the twin lakes, bearing a silent witness to Mandu’s long, rich and varied history.
The city of Mandu is adorned with spell-binding Afghan architecture surrounded by baobab trees, native to Africa. The grand palaces are still alive with royal romance while the gateways (darwazas) speak of a history of imperial conquests. A walk through Mandu will leave you awe-struck, the way you used to be listening to stories from grandparents.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Ship Palace (Jahaz Mahal), Mandu India

This 120 metre long ‘ ship palace’ built between the two artificial lakes, Munj Talao and Kapur. Talao, is an elegant two-storeyed palace. Probably it was built by Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din Khilji for his large harem. With its open pavilions, balconies overhanging the water and open terrace, Jahaz Mahal is an imaginative recreation in stone of a royal pleasure craft. Viewed on moonlit nights from the adjoining Taveli Mahal, the silhouette of the building, with the tiny domes and turrets of the pavilion gracefully perched on the terrace, presents an unforgettable spectacle.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Hindola Mahal (Swing Palace), Sulibardi, Mandu India

An audience hall also belonging to Ghiyas-ud-din’s reign, it derives the name of ‘Swinging Palace’ from its sloping sidewalls. Superb and innovative techniques are also evident in its ornamental facade, delicate trellis work in sandstone and beautifully moulded columns. To the west of Hindola Mahal there are several unidentified buildings which still bear traces of their past grandeur. Amidst these is an elaborately constructed well called Champa Baoli which is connected with underground vaulted rooms where arrangements for cold and hot water were made. Other places of interest in this enclave are Dilawar Khan’s Mosque, the Nahar Jharokha (tiger balcony), Taveli Mahal, the two large wells called the Ujali (bright) and Andheri (dark) Baolis and Gada Shah’s Shop and House, all worth a visit

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Jami Masjid, Near Hathi Mahal, Mandu 454020 India

Inspired by the great mosque of Damascus, the Jami Masjid, was conceived on a grand scale, with a high plinth and a huge domed porch projecting in the centre, the background dominated by similar imposing domes with the intervening space filled up by innumerable domes. One is struck by the hugeness of the building’s proportions and the mosque is enclosed on all sides by huge colonnades with a rich and pleasing variety in the arrangement of arches, pillars, number of bays, and in the rows of domes above.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Rewa Kund, Near Baz Bahadur Palace, Mandu India

A reservoir built by Baz Bahadur with an aqueduct to provide Roopmati’s palace with water. Today the pool is revered as a sacred spot.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Baz Bahadur’s Palace, Just Below Rupmati’s Pavilion, Mandu 454020 India

Built by Baz Bahadur in the early 16th century, the palace’s unique features are its spacious courtyard surrounded by halls and high terraces which afford a superb view of the surrounding countryside.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Rani Roopmati Pavillion, Near Baz Bahadur Palace, Mandu 454020 India

The pavilion was originally built as an army observation post. From its hilltop perch, this graceful structure with its two pavilions was a retreat of the lovely queen, from where she could see Baz Bahadur’s Palace and the Narmada flowing through the Nimar plains far.

Duration: 30 minutes



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