Palace Hotel in Dhar, 20+km from Mandu

Loved this hotel - a summer palace for a local nawab - recently converted into a hotel - in the middle of nowhere.Highly recommend using it as a base for visiting Mandu, Maheshwar, Ujjain, and Omkareshwar

Hoshang's Tomb, Mandu

This tomb is believed to be the oldest marble structure in India completed about 1659. It was used as a model for the Taj Mahal.

Jama Masjid, Mandu

This mosque is based on the mosque in Damascus, Syria completed in 1454.

Darya Khan Tomb, Mandu

In this tomb, was a nice echo. The tomb and the men's and the women's mosque were all centered around a water tank. This is the only place to have a separate women's mosque.

Rani Roopmati Pavilion and Baz Bahadur Palace

According to legend, the music loving Baz Bahadur built this pavilion to lure beautiful singer Rani Roopmati to move here. His palace further down the hill side was where he would play music to serenade her. The love story has a tragic ending-- because Mogul emperor Akbar, lured by her beauty marched on the fort. Baz Bahadur fled and Rani Roopmati committed suicide by poison.

The Baobao Tree

The Baobao trees were imported from Africa by the Afghan rulers. The trees thrive in drought arid conditions because of a very long tap root. They say the fruit tastes like sweet and sour chalk. They use it in medicines and make a lemonade like drink. We have some of the seeds are thinking of making a bonsai.

Mandu continued