The ancient hill fort of Mandu, with inscriptional evidence dating back to AD 555 is situated only 35 km away from the district headquarters, Dhar. The rock cut caves, namely, Lohani and Sat Kothari, are the earliest and rarer type of architecture amongst the over 60 structural monuments. The important ones are located in three groups, known as,1) Royal Complex 2) Hoshangh Shahs Tomb 3) Roopmati’s Pavilion. The monuments that the visitor must see at

1) Roopmati Pavalion

Roopmati Pavalion is located on the lofty hill to the south beyond the palace of Baz Bahadur stands. A closer examination of the building shows that it had under gone different phases of construction in different periods spread over 15th to 17th centuries AD. The original structure, as will be clearly seen from the east, consisted of a low but massive hall with two rooms at both ends. The walls have a sharp slope towards the base and the arches are rather heavy in proportion to their spans. The parapet above the walls also belonged to the original structure.

This part of the building without the pavilions above thus belongs to the earliest stage and seems to have been built originally for maintaining an effective military watch over any possible enemy movement on this side of the fort, which falls down here abruptly to a depth of 365.8 m towards the distinctly visible Nimar plains below.The remaining part of the building was built along the western side of the plinth of the original block on the slope of the hill, so as to form a basement which has two prolonged projections, in the form of corridors, one going towards the west and the other, in the opposite direction, along the northern side of the block, towards the east. The corridors in the basement have a number of arched openings across their width to support the celings. The western projection contains a large cistern in which rain water was collected during the monsoon through a channel running from the roof to the reservoir below.

2) Baz Bahadur’s Palace

Situated on the slope of a hill in the midst of a picturesque natural setting the main gateway of this palace is approached by forty broad steps with landings at intervals. The passage through the gateway accommodates rooms for the quards on both sides with a vaulted ceiling above.

The passage further leads to the outer court of the palace with its main doorway in front. The main palace consists of a spacious open court with halls and rooms on all the four sides and a beautiful cistern in its middle. Beyond the colonnade on the northern side at its centre projects an octagonal pavilion with arched opening overlooking was once what a beautiful garden, traces of which are still seen.

On the terrace are seen two beautiful baradaris from where one can have enchanting view of the surrounding country. There is an inscription in Persian over the main entrance which assigns its constriction to Sultan Nasir Shah in AH 914 (AD 1508-9).

Open from Sunrise to Sunset

Entrance Fee:

Citizens of India and visitors of SAARC (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar) – Rs. 25 per head.

Others:
Indian Rs. 300/- per head

(Free entry to children up to 15 years)