MP Trip April 2017 Part 3: Mandavgad

The intention of this blog is to facilitate aspiring travelers to plan their trip around these areas. Hence some links and photographs are added here. This blog does not promote any shop, hotel or any other establishment mentioned here in. 

10/04/2017 To Mandu or Mandavgad

Tourist spots in Mandavgad close at sunset. Hence it is recommended to visit them in the day time. It takes 4 to 5 hours to see most of them. It is good to have a guide if you are interested in knowing the history of the places you wish to visit. Also there is book store at the entry of Jahaj Mahal where in many books are available at a very reasonable price, which explain the history of the tourist spots on Mandavgad. As such you can choose between the guide or the books.

When you start for Mandavgad from Maheshwar you again hit NH3 at the same spot you left it for Maheshwar i.e. after Dhamnod, take right on NH3 and the exit to Mandu is some 4-5 km ahead on your left is at village named Sirsodia, and it can be missed easily. So be watchful. This road is very small and has two way village traffic consisting of two wheelers, mini buses and tractors. There are many low culverts on this road so it may be dangerous to drive if water is flowing above it in monsoon.

Approximately 14 km after the exit from NH 3 and leaving aside 3 - 4 branch off roads, you come across a square on this road. This is a major square and cannot be missed. You have to turn right and start climbing up the ghat. There is a proper direction board to lead you to the mountain. It is said that people avoid driving on this road after sunset. The ghat road ahead is very very steep and has many blind turns. Thankfully it is a concrete road.

Ghat road up to Mandavgad

Once uphill, the unique and rare trees of Mandav Ki Imali i.e. tamarind of Mandav welcome you. Here is the picture of the tree clicked from inside the car. Please excuse the reflections in the wind shield!

Tree of Mandu Ki Imali i.e. Tamarind of Mandu

There are direction boards to lead you to all the tourist place on the Mandavgad.

The main tourist attractions here are Nilkantheshwar Mandir, Chaturbhuj Ram Mandir, Jahaj Mahal, Hindola Mahal, Rani Rupmati Palace, Asharfi Mahal in addition to a few more. Out of these, Roopmati Palace is seen from the road leading to the mountain.

The main attraction is Jahaj Mahal. Take a left after Hoshang Shah's tomb and then right again to Jahaj Mahal. The entry fee is INR 15 per head and additional INR 200 for video camera. Seems the management doesn't object if you shoot video on your phone or on DSLR. One has to see and experience all glory of the structures. It cannot be explained in words.

Here are some pictures.

First sight of Jahaj Mahal

This lake (dry due to summer) gives the name Jahaj Mahal

Terrace of Jahaj Mahal

Meandering path of water from the big bath tub

Queen's bath tub

First site of Hindola Mahal

Arches inside Hindola Mahal

First sight of Rupamati Mahal

Pavilion at Rupamati Palace

Chaturbhuj Ram Mandir

Archway exit of Chataurbhuj Ram Mandir in Indo Afagan architecture

Asharfi Mahal

There are only two hotels of MP Tourism up on the mountain. Malva Retreat and Malva Resort. Malva Retreat, where we stayed, consists of 10 15 rooms. Again, food quality is good but limited choice. And services time is more than that in Narmada Retreat. Guest turn-out is low in this hotel hence service time for meals more than expected. However the brighter side of this is you get freshly cooked food.

One should think twice before choosing to stay overnight at Mandavgad because it is possible to continue your stay at Narmada Retreat for visiting Mandavgad as the distance from Maheshwar to Mandavgad is about 50 60 km and one day return to Maheshwar is possible to continue your shopping for Maheshwar special Silk Sarees. However it is strongly recommended to climb down the ghat road of Mandavgad before sunset.

The next day we left Mandavgad for Hanumantiya Resort.