The elevated plateau is a scene of the most enchanting variety. Contrasting with undulating tracts shaded by trees, are dark pools nestling in the hollows and and larger lakes glistening in the sunshine, while rocky ravines slternate with sloping swards, the entire effect being almost unreal in its beauty.

And to complete the illusion, a thousand feet below are spread vast plains of the Narbada, the delicated opalescent tints of which provide an entrancing background to thewhole.

On many of the prominent positions within the broken surface of this magic landscape….crowing the heights, are arcaded pavilions and pillared kiosks, turrets and cupolas.

Mandu is a celebration in stone of life and joy, of the love of the poet - prince Baz Bahadur for hisbeautiful consort, Rani Roopmati. The balladeers of Malwa still sing of the romance of these royal lovers, and high up on the crest of a hill, Roopmati's pavilion still gazes down at Baz Bahadur's palace, a magnificent expression of Afghan architecture.

Perched along the Vindhyan ranges at an altitude of 2,000 feet, Mandu, with its natural defences, was originally the fort-capital of the Parmar rulers of Malwa.

Towards the end of the 13th century, it came under the sway of the Sultans of Malwa, the first of whom renamed it Shadiabad - the City of Joy, and indeed, the pervading spirit of Mandu was of gaiety; and its rulers built exquisite palaces like the Jahaz and Hindola Mahals, ornamental canals, baths and pavilions, as graceful and refined as those times of peace and plenty.

Each of Mandu's structures is an architectural gem; some are outstanding like the massive Jami Masjid and Hoshang Shah's Tomb, which provided inspiration for the masterbuilders of the Taj Mahal centuries leter.

Under Mughal rule Mandu was a pleasure resort, its lakes and places the scenes of splendid and extravagant festivities. And the glory of Mandu lives on, in its palaces and mosques, in legends and songs, chronicled for posterity.