Mandu Afghan palace ruins. Left shows water passageway into rooftop swimming pool. Photos: Elena

Mandu is definitely in the middle of nowhere, in the sense of not being near anywhere one would ever be likely to be, while traveling in India! It is a popular place for Indians to visit during the monsoon season, when it's lovely and cool. Mandu occupies an entire hilltop that was once a fort. The only way to get here is by a long, 6 hour + tedious bus ride from the city of Indore. Or hire a driver and car from Indore.

Long before the Afghans overran India, Mandu was built by Hindu princes. Completion of the hilltop fort involved a century of moving large rocks from many miles away. When the Afghans conquered Mandu they rebuilt with the already existing buildings serving as their stone supply. Little that was Hindu architecture is left. Presently there are Afghan and Mogul ruins.

The palace above is believed to have been for women. A swimming pool on the roof has unusual design details for the water inlet. There are also some fascinating steam rooms/ sauna buildings. Mandu is in ruins, it is very lovely to visit and there are some reasonably nice places to stay, especially lower end guest houses.

After the Afghans left the Moguls also rebuilt Mandu, once again, leaving a few of the Afghan buildings intact. There are some interesting examples of Mogul architecture in Mandu. One lovely and intricately carved (less ancient) Hindu marble temple is in town and is still in use.

Gypsy tribes live on the Mandu hilltop plateau. Photos below.