It was once a city of joy
A. SRIVATHSAN
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Mandu was the capital of the Malwa sultans.
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AUTIFUL MONUMENTS: Now in ruins. PHOTO: SARVESH
Almost everyone knows that the Taj Mahal epitomises love, but there is yet another place which is celebrated for its association with the tales of love and sacrifice. The town of Mandu and its beautiful monuments recall the legendary romance between the Sultan Baz Bahadur and the singer Roopmati. Legend has it that Baz Bahadur during one of his hunting trips met and fell in love with the beautiful Roopmati. Her condition for marriage was that she would live within sight of her favourite river — the Narmada. This was not a difficult condition to fulfil. He built a beautiful palace, a pavilion to look at the river and a series of aqueducts to bring the water from the river to the tank inside the palace. However, this romance did not have a happy ending. Akbar's general, Adham Khan, tried to capture Mandu and Roopmati. When Baz Bahadur lost the battle, Roopmati killed herself. But the legend of love lives on as does the architecture that embodies that spirit.
Capital city
Mandu was the capital of the Malwa sultans and extensively developed during the period of Hoshang Shah in the 15th century. It is one of the largest fortified cities in India with a circumference of approximately 25 miles. Many think it was initially a retreat palace built by the famous King Bhoja, a kind of Renaissance man — master of many things. Samaranganasutradhara, the well-known text on traditional architecture, is credited to him. The legend of Vikram Charita, which is about the famous throne of King Vikramaditya and the 32 quizzing statuettes, extols both the qualities of an ideal king and narrates how Bhoja tried to achieve it. Dhar a town near Mandu, was Bhoja's capital and Bhojsala was the renowned seat of learning. Mandu became a part of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century. In the 18th century, Dhar found favour with the Marathas and Mandu was abandoned.
Jammi Masjid, Hoshang Shah's tomb Asharfi Mahal and Hindola Mahal speak for the architectural achievements of the Mandu kings. Jahaz Mahal built between two water bodies is one of the highlights of Mandu. Many of these palaces were extensively repaired during Jahangir's time. The grandeur and beauty of the city and its monuments won Abd al-Karim, Jahangir's architect, the title "Ma'mur Khan". It is no wonder the city was called Shadiabad or the city of joy.
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