Jahaz Mahal, Mandu: The Ship-Liked Palace
Ancient architectures are a window to the bygone era. The Mandu Jahaz Mahal is one of the most famous monuments that have completely transformed and redefined the tourism of Mandu. This region experiences an excellent crowd for the sake of brilliant architecture and Jahaz Mahal is one of them. The palace was built during the reign of Mandu Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din Khilji. The women of the royal consortium were treated differently and the Mandu Jahaz Mahal was built to accommodate them in the second half of the 15th century. This is another reason why architecture reflects the beauty of the medieval history of Mandu.The name Jahaz means ‘ship’ and Mahal refers to ‘Palace’ which completely reflects the beauty of the ancient structure. The Mahal is further surrounded by pond and the reflection of the palace over the pond makes it look like it's floating on the surface.
Jahaz Mahal, Mandu
|
Quick Glance
Location: Mandu, Madhya Pradesh, India
Timing: 6:00 am – 7:00 pm
Entry Fee: INR 100
Video Camera: INR 25
Best Time to Visit: Suitable to visit throughout the year
Architectural Back Story
You will be mesmerized by the architecture and interior of this palace. The luminous interior of this place is completely awe-inspiring and the engineering is known as one of the unique structures from the olden days. The appearance reflects a mighty ship and the palace is an amalgamation of the Mughal, Hindu, Mesopotamian, and Afghan style of architecture.The detailing is brilliant and it has a built-in meticulous precision that follows an acoustic water supply pattern. The balconies are made in a way that it amplifies the sound and any voice radiates through the Mandu Jahaz Mahal completely. The delicate styles of carvings on the walls are a piece to look at. This structure doesn’t stand alone because it is similar to some of the other major attractions of the city.
Baz Bahadur's Palace, Roopmati Pavilion, Hindola Mahal, Jama Masjid, and Jain Temple make this palace into one of the most important tourist spots in the city.
Architecture
The magnificent architecture of this palace has made it into one of the most visited places in Mandu. Jahaz Mahal, Mandu is located in a narrow strip land between Kapur talao and Munj Talao. The structure is around 110 meters in height and around 15 meters in width. The structures stand strong with an entrance from the east which further connects the main entrance that has and recessed arches. There are around 6 arched openings protected with an overhanging cornice with continues support of stone brackets. This is how the palace got its name because on looking at the surface of the water, the palace gives the view of floating architecture. Here are some of the amazing details about this structure:• The Mandu Jahaz Mahal is rectangular in shape and it’s a three feet talk structure with thick walls.
• The superb interior of this palace is well known with three huge halls. These halls have a connection with the corridor and it consists of rooms at either end of the corridor.
• These halls and rooms were used in the olden days to house women from the royal harem. The women held an important place and were considered precious at that time, so the hidden halls with curtains and arched opening were perfect to protect privacy.
• The halls of the palace are connected by the corridor with small rooms at the end.
• The interior and exterior of the palace give an incredible view of cascades and fountains.
The Dark Well
Jahaz Mahal has a resourceful supply of water and apart from the huge water tanks; it also contains a few well inside the palace structure. The Andheri Baori (Dark well) was an important source to cool it down, and there are around 1500 people who use water in Mandu from this well.
Swimming under the Stars
This portion of the palace is incredibly beautiful, you will find two pools in the palace area, one is in the rooftop, and another on the ground floor of the palace. These places have enough seating and a perfect environment to relax under the hot sun or a pleasant evening. Rainwater is used to filling both the pools and it is open for public visits.
Nature
The nature surrounding in the Jahaz palace is incredible; however, very few things remain and stood the test of time. The palace goes through regular renovation and still stands strong reflecting a mesmerizing beauty.Important Facts about Jahaz Mahal
The palace was said to have a heated pool and many other incredible things, however, these structures declined over the years. The architect has taken a few things into account at the time of architecture. The openings of the windows, site placement, designs, wind, and water pools were all placed in perfect positions. Due to these details of the architecture even if you are not a fan of history and heritage, this place is a must-visit.How to Reach Jahaz Mahal?
Mandu is well-connected with most of the surrounding cities. Dhar in the north is around 40km (24miles) away, Indore 95km (59 miles) in the north-east, and Maheshwar in around 65km (40 miles) towards the south. There are many busses and other transportation that will easily take you to Mandu.You will love to explore this location at any time of the year. However, if you want to experience a pleasant environment, then visit during the winter months. Follow some basic travel guide to escape any unnecessary problems in Mandu.