Our Magical Mandu
Mandu ek shahar hai jo patharon mein zindagi aur khushi ka jashn hai, aur kavi-raja Baz Bahadur aur unki sundar sangini Rani Roopmati ke prem ki kahani ko amar banata hai. Vindhya ranges par 2,000 feet ki uchai par basa Mandu, Afghan aur Turkish cultural heritage ka ek sundar mishran hai.
Mandu ke har structure ek architectural gem hai, jaise ki Jami Masjid aur Hoshang Shah ka Maqbara, jo kaha jata hai ki Taj Mahal ke master builders ke liye prerna ka strot tha.
Mandu ka ek aur anokha ratan hai, jo do jilon ke beech aise dikhta hai jaise ek ship sail karne ko tayar ho. Lekin ye ship sadiyon se sirf pathar aur mortar ka bana ek silent witness raha hai Mandu ke long, rich aur varied itihaas ka.
Mandu ke grand palaces ab bhi royal romance se alive hain, aur gateways (Darwaza) imperial conquests ki kahaniyan sunate hain.
Baz Bahadur aur Roopmati ki legendary love story ne Roopmati Pavilion aur Rewa Kund ki rachna ko janm diya. Hathi Mahal aur Ashrafi Mahal ke abandoned ruins ke saath bhi interesting stories judi hui hain. Aur Bagh caves ka intriguing site aapko purani sadiyon ke beech ka safar karne ki power deta hai.
Mandu mein dekhne ke liye forts, palaces, gateways aur temples jaise kai jagah hain. Mandu ek shahar hai jo breathtaking architectural jewels se saja hua hai, aur in monuments ki gallery mein ek walk aapko spell-bound kar degi.
Mandu Ka Local Food
“Mandu ka Dal Paniya” ek must-try local delicacy hai jo medieval Malwa capital ki legacy ke sath enjoy karni chahiye.
Dal Paniya easily Mandu ke zyada restaurants aur hotels mein milti hai. Yeh maize flour, salt, sugar powder, milk aur lukewarm water se banti hai. Dough ko chhoti balls mein divide karke slightly flatten kiya jata hai, aur phir tandoor mein cook kiya jata hai, jo unhe smoky flavor deta hai. Jab ise dal ke sath khate hain, iska taste aur bhi flavorful lagta hai.
Mandu giant Baobab trees ka bhi ghar hai, jinhe Khorasani Imli kaha jata hai. Iska tangy fruit dal aur curries mein flavor badhane ke liye use hota hai. Vendors ise ripened hone ke baad February mein bechte hain.
Mandu Mein Ghoomne Ki Jagah
- Roopmati Pavilion: Hilltop par bana ye pavilion ek army observation post tha, jahan se Rani Roopmati Baz Bahadur ke palace aur Nimar plains mein behti Narmada river ko dekh sakti thi.
- Jahaz Mahal: Munj Talao aur Kapur Talao ke beech banaya gaya yeh 120-meter-long palace do-storeyed hai, jo ek royal pleasure craft ka imaginative recreation hai.
- Hindola Mahal: Is audience hall ka naam sloping sidewalls ki wajah se ‘swinging palace’ pada. Yahaan ki sandstone trellis work aur beautifully moulded columns bhi kaabil-e-tarif hain.
- Ashrafi Mahal: Mahmud Shah Khilji ne ise ek academic institution ke roop mein banvaya tha. Yahaan ek seven-storey tower tha jo Rana Khumba par jeet ka celebration tha, lekin aaj sirf ek storey bachi hai.
- Baz Bahadur Palace: Early 16th century mein bana palace, courtyards aur high terraces ke saath ek breathtaking countryside view deta hai.
- Hoshang Shah’s Tomb: Bharat ka pehla marble edifice, jo dome aur marble lattice work ke liye famous hai. Shah Jahan ke architects ne yahaan se inspiration li thi.
- Jami Masjid: Damascus ki great mosque se inspired yeh Masjid grand scale par bani hai, jo arcades aur domes ke unique design ke liye prasiddh hai.
- Darwazas: Mandu ke 45 km long walls mein 12 gateways hain, jisme Delhi Darwaza sabse important hai.
Excursions From Mandu
Mandu ke paas aur bhi kai jagah explore karne layak hain:
- Bagh Caves: 6th-century rock-cut caves, 90 km door.
- Jhabua: 140 km door ek district jo Bhagoriya festival ke liye famous hai.
- Maheshwar aur Omkareshwar: Narmada ke kinare bashe spiritual temple towns.
Mandu Festival Aur Best Time To Visit
Agar aap December mein Mandu aate hain, toh Mandu Festival ka maza le sakte hain, jo art, craft, music, food aur adventure ka 5-day celebration hai. Yahaan live concerts, glamping, hot air ballooning jaise activities hote hain.
Mandu ka best time July se March ke beech hota hai, jab temperature 14°C se 30°C ke beech rehta hai. Monsoon ke baad Mandu lush green ho jata hai, aur weather perfect hota hai.
Kaise Pahunchein Mandu?
- By Air: Sabse nearest airport Indore ka Ahilyabai Holkar Airport hai, jo Mandu se 95 km door hai.
- By Rail: Ratlam (130 km) aur Indore, dono Mandu ke nearest railheads hain.
- By Road: Mandu Indore aur Dhar se buses ke through well-connected hai. Indore se Mandu tak ka safar lagbhag 3 ghante ka hota hai.