Dhar - District of Madhya Pradesh

Mandu is a celebration in stone of life and joy, of the love of the poet-prince Baz Bahadur for his beautiful wife, Rani Roopmati. The balladeers of Malwa still sing of the romance of royal lovers. High up on the crest of a hill, Roopmati's pavilion still gazes down at Baz's palace, a magnificient expression of Afghan architecture. Perched along the Vindhyan ranges at an altitude of about 2000 feet, Mandu, with its natural defences, was originially the fort capital of the Parmar rulers of Malwa. Towards the end of 13th century, it came under the Sultans of Malwa, first of whom renamed it Shadiabad - the city of joy. Its rulers built exquisite palaces like the Jahaz and Hindola Mahals, ornamental canals, baths and pavilions. Each of Mandu's structure is an architectural gem. some are outstanding like Jami Masjid, and Hoshang Shah's Tomb, which provided inspiration for the master builders of world famous Taj Mahal centuries later. Under Mughal rule, Mandu was a pleasure resort, its lakes and palaces the scene of splendid and extravagant festivities. The glory of Mandu lives on, in its palaces and mosques, in legends and songs.

How to reach ?

Air - the nearest airport is Indore, about 100 km away which is connected to Delhi, Bombay, Gwalior, and Bhopal.

Rail - convenient railhead is Ratlam (124 km) and Indore (94 km) on the Delhi-Bombay mainline.

Road - regular bus service connect Mandu with Indore, Dhar, Mhow, Ratlam, Ujjain, and Bhopal.

Hotel/Rest House/ Dharamshala	Facilities	Rates (Rs)		Phone No.
Hotel/Rest House/ Dharamshala	Facilities	Single	Family	Phone No.
Tourist cottages (MPT)	A/B/G/V/S	350-750	450-850	263235
Travellers lodge (MPT)	A/B/G/V	290	390	263221
Hotel Roopmati	A/B/G/V/S	330-550	425-750	263270/ 263279
Taveli Mahal Rest House (ASI)	A/B	Reservation By		263225
SADA Rest House	A/B	Reservation By SADA		-
PWD Rest House	A/B	Reservation By Collectorate Dhar		-
Forest Rest House	A/B	Reservation By Collectorate Dhar		-
Jain Dharamshala	A/B	Reservation By Jain Dharamshala Mandav		263229
Jhira Bagh Palace jhiraplc@vsnl.com http://travel. vsnl.com/ jhirabaghpalace DHAR.	A/B/G/V/S	2100-2500	2650- 3650	235097/ 232580

The 45 km parapet of walls that encircle Mandu are punctuated by 12 gateways. Most notable of these is Delhi Darwaza, the main entrance to the fortress city, for which the approach is through a series of gateways well fortified with walled enclosures and strengthened by bastions such as the Alamgir and Bhangi Darwaza, through which the present road passes. Rampol Darwaza, Jehangir Gate and Tarapur Gate are some of the other main gateways.

This 120 mt 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.

An audience hall, also belonging to Ghiyas-ud-din's reign, it derives its name of "swinging palace" from its sloping sidewalls. Superb and innovative techniques are also evident in its ornamental facade, delicate trellis work in sand-stone 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.

India's first marble edifice, it is one of the most refined examples of Afghan architecture. Its unique features are the magnificently proportioned dome, marble lattice work of remarkable delicacy and porticoed courts and towers to mark the four corners of the rectangle.

Shah Jehan sent four of his great architects to study the design of and draw inspiration from the Tomb. Among them was Ustad Hamid, who was also associated with the construction of Taj Mahal.

Inspired by the great mosque of Damascus, the Jami Masjid was conceived on a grand scale, with a high plinth and a huge domedporch 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 huge proportions and the stern simplicity of its construction.

The great court of 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.

A museum hosting archaeological antiquties as well as tribal cultural artefacts with a reference unit and arrangement for night lighting is being setup in Chhapan Mahal, Mandu, is being setup in consultation with the State Archaeological Department.

Chhappan Mahal is a forgotten mausoleum constructed in sixteenth century AD. It embodies the last and most mature phase of Mandu's medieival architecture. In Hindu calendar Vikram Era 1956 (AD 1899) the Puar rulers of Dhar started the restoration work of this monument to give relief to the drought-affected population. In memory of Vikram Era fifty-six (Chhappan in Hindi), this monument has come to be called Chhappan Mahal.In Ad 1989,the wife of the erstwhile deceased Puar ruler of Dhar, Anandji Rao Puar IV, and the Chancellor of Maharaja Sayaji Rao University of Baroda, Ms. Mrinalinidevi Puar donated this property to the Collector for setting up a museum. Exactly 100 years after the historic Vikram Era 1956, in Vikram Era 2056 (AD 1999)

District Archaeology Association and State Archaeology Department took the initiative for setting up this museum. Before the setting up of this museum, this monument was restored to its original form with labour working night and day over six months. In the four galleries of the museum, Drishyika, Mandapika, Aranyika and Poorvika, an attempt has been made to represent the invaluable historical heritage of Dhar district dating from stone age to the twentieth century. This heritage includes the one and a half millennium old Bagh cave frescos, stone age relics, Bhil culture, the glory of King Bhoj and Dharanagari, the acme of the Sultans of Malwa, the immortal love of Roopmati and Baaz Bahadur and the martyrdom of Rana Bakhtawar Singh.

In 1933 Shri Raghunath Krishna Fadke was came to Dhar from Mumbai. He is a well Known Murtikar. He was called here by Dhar Maharaja to prepare some Murti's in Chhatri of Maharaja. Shri Fadke had established his studio On Khanderao Tekri Which was called as FADKE STUDIO later On. Shri Fadke was given PADMASHRI for his famous Murti "Tatwa Chintana" in 1961. In 1971 he was also awarded with Doctorate. He was died in 1972. Statues Made by him were established at Dhar, Indore, Dewas, Ujjain, Mumbai. Presently also several statues made by him & his successors were plased at FADKE STUDIO. This Statues gives the feeling that as if they were real & will Start to talk with us.Nearly 25,000 people visit to FADKE STUDIO per year.

Mohankheda-Holi Jain Tirth is situated 47 Kms From Dhar On Indore-Ahemadabad Highway. This Tirth was established by Poojya Gurudev Shri Rajendra Surishwarji Maharaj Sahab around 1940. This Tirth was given New & artistic look by Acharya Dev Shri Vidhyachandra Surishwarji Maharaj Sahab. This Tirth have Shodh Shikhari Jinalaya, 16 feet heighted Bhagwan shri Adinathji's Pratima and Samadhi Mandir of Shri Rajendra Surishwarji, Shri Yatindra Surishwarji & Shri Vidhyachandra Surishwarji Maharaj Sahab.

This Tirth was wel connected by Bus From Indore, Dhar, Ujjain, Ahemadabad, Baroda, Ratlam, Bhopal, Surat. Nearest Railway Station is Meghanagar, nearly 65 Kms from Mohankheda On Mumbai-Delhi Railway Line. Mohankheda Tirth is managed by Shri Adinath Rajendra Jain Shwetamber Cheritable Trust. Telephone Nos. of Trust are 232225,234369,235348,235059,232347 & STD Code is 07296.

Village Amjhera lying in the south-east corner of Sardarpur Tahsil is about 23 km. from Sardarpur and about 40 km. to the north-west of Dhar. All the three places are connected by road on which buses ply.

The village appears to have been of some importance in old days as it has a number of temples of Shaiva and Vaishnava sects, tanks, Chhatris, satistones, wells a mosque and a fort with palaces inside.

As many as five Shaiva temples dedicated to Mahadeva, Chamunda and Ambika and two Vaishnava temples of Lakshmi-Narayana and Chhturbhujanatha are in the village.

Two tanks known as Brahma Kund and Surya Kund and located in one group near the village. A group of three cenotaphs, built in memory of former Rajput Chiefs, is also situated close to the village. Of five cenotaphs of another group two are built in stone and the rest in bricks.

Sati stones, 25 in number, are seen in one group at the locality. The date of these monuments is not known. Amjhera was the head-quarters of a Mahal under Sarkar Mandu during the reign of Akbar.

The fort of Amjhera built of rubble stones and bricks in lime was probably constructed by Raja Ram Singh Rathor of Jodhpur in the 18-19the Century A.D. The fort has three old palaces all of the same period. Of these three only the Rang-Mahal deserves mention as it contains mural paintings depicting court life. The fort was held by Raja Bakhtawar Singh in 1857. This Raja boldly revolted against the British rule whose officers caught and hanged him to death at Indore during the days of the great revolt of 1857. Thus the Raja immortalised the village Amjhera by sacrificing his life at the altar of Independence of India. Confiscating his estate the British Government made it over to the Sindhia.

This headquarters town of a tahsil of the same name lies about 50 km. north-west of Dhar, the district headquarters town with which it is connected by a road on which buses play. Badnawar might be a corrupt form of Wardhanpur or Hatnawat named after King Hastin.

The place is evidently an old one as it has yielded old monuments, the earliest of which is of the 11-12th Century A.D. and it has a magnificient Shaiva temple repaired later on. Besides this, there are three other temples of a later period including one called Udanya temple. A few images have been found here bearing dates Vikram Samvat 1219, 1229 and 1336 corresponding to A.D. 1162, 1172 and 1279, respectively. The town has an old mosque constructed in A.D. 1688 and the remains of the fortress or garhi mentioned by Abul Fazi.

During the reign of Akbar Badnawar was the headquarters of a Mahal in Ujjain Sarkar of Malwa Subah.

According to the Census of 1971 the town was populated by 9,130 persons as against 2,661 in 1901.

These remarkable and interesting rock-cut shrines and monasteries are situated in the Narmada valley among the southern slopes of the Vindhya hill in Kukshi Tahsil of Dhar District. These are about 152 km. by road from the nearest railway station Mhow, on Ajmer-Khandwa narrow gauge section of the Western Railway. Buses play on the road and taxis are available at Indore and Mhow to reach the caves. From Dhar these are about 108 km. to the south-west and from Kukshi about 18 km. to the north.

These caves belong to the Budhist faith and it is not certain as to how and when these caves began to be called Bagh Gumpha. In modern times these caves were first discovered in 1818. It seems that after the extinction of Buddhism in Central India by the 10th Century A.D. these caves remained effaced from human memory. During the intervening centuries the caves often became the abode of tigers (Bagh) and this association of tigers with the caves gave then the present name. The village situated at a distance of about 8 km. and the river flowing nearby the cave came to be known as Bagh village and Bagh river. The other view states otherwise. It believed that either the name of the river or of the village has given its name to others.

Until recently these caves were roughly assigned to the Seventh Century from the style of architecture and painting but a copper-plate grant inscription since discovered pushes back the date of at least some of them to the 4th or 5th Century A.D.

Bagh caves are mostly important and famous for its paintings. Here we can see the traces of the fully matured pictorial art of the country which have their parallels only at Ajanta in Maharashtra. Bagh caves will for ever be remembered for the famished glory of the painting which has left its shadows traces on the walls and ceilings of these caves. Their colours are faded and subject matters are disfigured. The visitor who pauses, ponders over and dives deep into significance with patience and imagination, looks upon these wall-paintings as the highest achievements in the world of art of that time.