8AM- After breakfast we checkout from Indore and travel 97 KMs to reach Mandu. We will next visit one of India’s largest mosques, the Jami Masjid. It was inspired by the Umayyad Mosque, the Great Mosque of Damascus. It is a magnificent specimen of architecture with Jali work and painted enamels and embellished with beautiful domes and arches. We visit the Royal Enclosure. Jahaz Mahal or the Ship Palace was built by Ghiyasuddin to house the 15000 women in his harem. The structure resembles a ship and in hits hey days was a splendid Palace with big halls, cenotaphs on the upper floors and Turkish baths. India’s first marble mausoleum, Hoshang Shah’s tomb beckons us. It is said that this tomb as well as the other monuments of the same period from Mandu influenced later Mughal architecture at Agra and Delhi. Ashrafi Mahal or the palace of gold coins is actually a Madrassa or a place of learning Islamic education. There was a 7-storied tower built here to celebrate the victory of Mahmud Shah Khilji over Rana Khumba of Mewar. Only 1 storey has survived the ravage of time and we can see that. We will next visit 2 romantic monuments that made Mandu most famous! Baz Bahadur Palace was built in 1509 by the last Afghan sultan of Malwa, Baz Bahadur. The 2 storied Palace has magnificent arches at the entrance. During its hey days an aqueduct used to run through the arches into the Palace courtyard. The terrace is adorned with elevated dome pavilions. Roopmati Pavilion is a magnificent expression of Afghan architecture in sandstone. The original intent of this structure was to act as an observation post for the royal army. After the couple fell in love, it was transformed with extensions to enable Roopmati to worship the river Narmada for the well being of her love.

We will drive back to Indore to visit the Lalbagh Palace. This is the former residence of the Holkars, the royal family of Indore. The Palace is extravagant with Italian marble columns, chandeliers, Persian carpets, Belgium stained glass windows, Greek reliefs, Italian paintings, and stuffed tigers hunted by the Holkars. Before catching our flight we will visit Rajwada, the magnificent Palace built by Holkars of the Maratha Empire. This seven storied structure was built in 1747 A.D. by founder of Holkar dynasty -Malhar Rao Holkar..