Mandu

Located in the Vindhya mountains in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, this medieval hill fort is at its most picturesque during the monsoon. Mandu rose to prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries, under the Afghan ruler Dilawar Khan, his successors, Hoshang Shah and Baz Bahadur, and later, the Mughals.
The city’s major monuments are divided into three broad clusters. The Royal Enclave contains several palaces, Mandu’s first mosque, and water bodies such as a ‘hammam’ or Turkish bath, a ‘baoli’ or step well, and lakes. The two-storey Jahaz Mahal or the ‘ship palace’ is located between two artificial lakes, Munj Talao and Kapur Tao. It was probably built by Sultan Ghiyasuddin Khilji for his large harem. It has open pavilions, balconies overlooking the lakes, and an open terrace.

History-lovers should also check out the 15th-century Jami Masjid, whose grand architecture was inspired by the great mosque of Damascus. Located next to the mosque, Hoshang Shah’s tomb is considered to be the first marble building in India, and preceded the magnificent marble edifices built by the Mughals in Agra.
Finally, for a bit of local romance, head to Rewa Kund. Its cluster of monuments is testimony to the love affair between Maharaja Baz Bahadur and a Hindu singer Rupmati. This area gets its name from a reservoir called Rewa Kund, which was built by Bahadur to supply water to Roopmati’s palace. Her quarters, known as Roopmati’s Pavillion, overlook the Narmada valley and Bahadur’s palace.