Incredible India
7 Things to Do in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh's Monsoon Capital
A fortified plateau town that once seated the independent Malwa Sultanate, Mandu spreads its palaces, tombs and mosques across a hilltop that turns green and fills its lakes each monsoon.
Sep 23, 2026 · BigTravel.in
Mandu, a fortified plateau town in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district, was the seat of the independent Malwa Sultanate through the 15th and early 16th centuries, and its ruins today span palaces, mosques and tombs spread across a hilltop roughly 20 kilometres wide. Much of the town empties out for most of the year but fills for the monsoon, when the plateau's lakes and ravines turn green, giving Mandu its local reputation as Madhya Pradesh's rainy-season getaway. Here are seven things to do, each with a direct map link.
1. Jahaz Mahal (Ship Palace)
Built between two artificial lakes, Munj Talao and Kapur Talao, this long, narrow palace appears to float on water when both tanks are full, an effect most visible during and just after the monsoon. It is thought to have served as a pleasure palace and harem quarters for the Sultanate court.
2. Hoshang Shah's Tomb
Regarded as India's first marble mausoleum, this domed tomb was built for Hoshang Shah, the Sultanate's second ruler, and is said to have been studied by the architects Shah Jahan later sent to plan the Taj Mahal.
3. Rani Roopmati Pavilion
Perched on the plateau's southern rim, this pavilion was built so its namesake, a singer said to have married the Sultanate's last independent ruler, could see the Narmada river far below while she prayed. The views over the valley remain Mandu's best.
4. Baz Bahadur's Palace
Built below the Roopmati pavilion, this palace blends Rajput and Mughal architectural styles around a series of courtyards and a large open tank, and is closely linked in local telling to Baz Bahadur, the last independent ruler of Malwa before the Sultanate fell to the Mughals.
5. Jami Masjid
Built in an Afghan style modelled on the Great Mosque of Damascus, this large mosque was begun under Hoshang Shah and completed by his successor Mahmud Khilji, and remains one of the plateau's largest standing structures.
6. Nilkanth Mahal
A small Mughal-era palace built over the remains of an earlier Shiva shrine, with a water channel still cut into its floor to catch a natural spring, later used as a retreat during the Mughal period.
7. Ashrafi Mahal
Originally built as a madrasa, this complex was later expanded with a victory tower and a tomb, though much of the structure has since collapsed; what remains still gives a sense of the Sultanate's ambitions at its height.
Traveller tips
- Indore is the nearest major city and airport, roughly a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Mandu.
- The monsoon months, July to September, are Mandu's most popular season, when the plateau's lakes fill and the ruins turn green.
- Most of Mandu's monuments are spread across the plateau; a rented scooter or auto for the day covers the distances more easily than walking.
- Carry water and sun protection outside monsoon season, since the plateau offers little shade between monuments.
Where this is
Mandu, Madhya Pradesh