Monday, January 19, 2009

Rupmati's abode in Mandu - lessons in history and romance

Mandu is a hill-fort near Dhar in Madhya Pradesh, central India. The hill is a part of the main Deccan plateau, but is separated from the rest of Malwa region by a very deep ravine. This area boasts of not only architectural delights, but also for preserving pre-historic 'records' -dinosaur eggs that were found a few years ago
You'll need lots of time to cover the 48 monuments that are 'on display', dating from medieval times.
One set of structures are the Rewa Kund, Baz Bahadur's palace, and Rani Rupmati's pavilions. (numbers 34, 35, and 36 in the list below).Rewa Kund
Baz Bahadur reigned at Malwa during Akbar's times. Our guide recounted not only the history behind each structure, but also tales of the romance between a poet-prince and his beautiful poet-musician queen Rupmati. We happily only half-listened to the guide's monotone - one is easily mesmerised by the views from Rupmati's pavilions. It was from here that the queen sought daily darshan of the river Narmada in the distance (on clear days the river can be seen winding its way in the plains below).




Views from inside Rupmati's pavilions
DKV has described the spot so well. Read Rupmati Pavilion in Mandu: The most Romantic Spot in India?
My World Tuesday Issue XIV - For glimpses of more worlds from around the globe, visit That's My World for a rich experience - a real virtual world tour!

21 comments:

  1. What a beautiful, evocative place in that gorgeous landscape.

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  2. Thanks for the input! Havent been there so thanks for showing! :)

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  3. The architecture is awesome! Love the arches!

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  4. Thank you for showing your world, which is fascinating!

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  5. I love the view through the arches best. Looks like a wonderful place to visit.

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  6. i so enjoy your posts...this one so interesting and informative.
    thank you for sharing it with all of us.

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  7. What an interesting place to visit. Perhaps that will be in my future. In the meantime, thanks for sharing your world.

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  8. What a beautiful place. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. India is replete with history and historical places. I'll keep tuning in here for more.

    My entry is at http://ewok1993.wordpress.com

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  10. Interesting article. Keep it up!

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  11. Thank you for a lovely tour. This is a new place for me, even as it is part of your world.

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  12. Looks like an amazing place, I would love to see that in person but your photos are the next best thing. Great shots.

    Cheers!
    Regina In Pictures

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  13. Great post and photo's!
    Thanks for sharing your part of the world with us.
    Thank you for commenting on my blog too!!
    Take care

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  14. Swarna: What wonderful photos from your area of India. I enjoyed your trip.

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  15. I do so love your historic sites and the way you present them. Just wonderful.

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  16. great job on presenting this beautiful historic site. i definitely would enjoy my time if ever i be given a chance to go there.

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  17. I love the arches! So beautiful! Why is it that architects insist on dull and rectangular when building homes?

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  18. Great post and photos. Thanks for sharing.

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  19. That is so beautifull.
    Nice to come and visit your part of the world. :biggrin:
    So completly different from mine.:

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  20. The ambience is well captured. Can understand the romance of poet-prince and Queen Rupmati. Please do listen to the full stories of guides and enlighten us.

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