• District – Dhar
• Headquarters – Dhar
• State – Madhya Pradesh

• Total – 8153
• Rural – 7921.54
• Urban – 231.46

• Population – 2185793
• Rural – 1772572
• Urban – 413221
• Male – 1112725
• Female – 1073068
• Sex Ratio (Females per 1000 males) – 964
• Density (Total, Persons per sq km) – 268

• Assembly – 7
• Loksabha – 1

• Official Website – http://www.dhar.mp.gov.in

Tourist Places :

Mandu

Mandu is home to India’s finest examples of Afghan architecture, clinging to the edges of a ravine-riddled 20-sq-km plateau overlooking the hazy plains. With-in this well-defended plateau is wealth of palaces, pleasure pavilions, mansions, tombs and mosques.

The hill range is endowed with a very attractive natural scenery, which is at its best during the rainy season, when on all sides, it is clothed in green with a number of brooks and torrents, rushing down into the ravine winding about its sides below. The beauty of which is further enhanced by about a dozen lakes and ponds interspersed on its top.

Emperor Jehangir who journeyed all the way from Delhi to spend time here wrote “I Know of no place so pleasant in climate and so pretty in scenery as Mandu during the rains.” It was called by the Muslim rulers as Shadiabad, “The City of Joy“.

Gateways

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

Jahaz Mahal

This 120 mt long “Ship Palace” built between the two artificial lakes, Munj Talab and Kapur Talab is an elegant two storeyed palace. 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.

There are some historians who believe the Jahaz Mahal was built by Sultan Giasuddin as his Harem Mahal. Whereas there are some who believe it was the summer resort of Malwa King Munjdeb.

Hindola Mahal

Sultan Ghiyasud-din Khilji built the Hindola Mahal, or the Swinging Palace. It got this name from its sloping walls which looked like the trestle supports of a swing. It was a great audience hall of the King of Mandu.

There are several unidentified buildings to the west of the Hindola Mahal 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), the two large wells the Ujali (bright) and Andheri (dark) Baolis and Gada Shah’s Shop and House, all worth a visit.

Tomb of Hoshang Shah

Retains the masculinity and majesty of the Afgan ruler. The white marble tomb is a product of mixed architectural and cultural blend of Hindu, Muslim, Afghan styles. It has a beautiful dome, marble lattice work, porticos, courts and towers.

Hoshang Shah started constructing his own tomb but it was completed by his son five years after his death in 1440.

In 1659, Sahjahan visited the tomb and was amazed by its beauty. He had sent his 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.

 

Jami Masjid

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. Its construction was started by Hoshang and completed by Mahmud Khalji in 1454 A.D

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.

 

Roopmati’s Pavillion

Roopmati Pavilion was built by Baj Bahadur. The pavilion has an Afghan style of architecture. It has two Chabutara, or high tombs. They were built in order to watch and observe movements of the enemy. However Roopmati, the beloved wife of baj Bahadur used the pavillion to worship and perform her rituals the Narmada (Mokshoda) river, flowing far away (26 km) at Nimar valley, from the 365 metre high mahal.

The ambience at the pavillion is soothing. The sunset and the moonlit night add more to the beauty