ROYAL ENCLAVE

This set of monuments is located in the west of the city.

Taveli Mahal. These are the former stables of the palace. Today, the first floor rooms contain a small museum displaying ^11th century Hindu sculptures and texts from the Quran carved in stone.

Jahaz Mahal. This splendid pink sandstone building built between the Munja and Kapur reservoirs is said to have been constructed by Sultan Ghiyath ud-Din in the ^15th century to house his harem of 15,000 virgins. You can admire the sumptuous pools on the upper floor with the water supply channels forming arabesques in the floor. Some say that the building resembles a ship, surely by its dimensions (120 meters long by 15 wide), but they probably never went to sea.

Hindola Mahal. This palace with sloping walls was meant to give the illusion that the building was swaying... with some illicit substances perhaps. It served as an audience hall for Sultan Ghiyath ud-Din. The block forming the bar of a T was added later. Women could gather upstairs and watch the hearings through the open windows.

Royal Palace and Champa Baodi. At the entrance to the palace is a large stepped well, the Champa Baodi, so called because the water smelled as sweet as champak flowers. One can access the bottom of the well by the vaulted galleries which are located at the entry of the site. The visit continues with the access to the royal palace, equipped with many basins and gutters that let water flow throughout the building. Do not miss the hammam which is on its right side. The roofs of each room are perforated with stars and octagons to let the light through. The sultan could take hot or cold baths here and there was even a floor heated sauna.

Dilwar Khan Masjid. This mosque is located behind the hammam, going back towards Nahar Jarokha. Built in 1405 by Dilwar Khan, it is the oldest Islamic building in Mandu. At that time, Hindu architecture was still very present, as the pillars of the prayer hall testify.

Jal Mahal. Another palace where the basins are numerous and denote the importance of water at that time.

House of Gadah Shah. The house of a powerful merchant, who had the good graces of the sultan, as shown by the location of his house, as well as its size. Inside, you can still see some frescoes on the very damaged ceilings. Behind his house, at the end of the field (outside the enclave), is his store.