Hoshang Shah’s Tomb built in the
15th century (c 1440), this was the first tomb built entirely out of marble. The province of Malwa, in modern Madhya Pradesh, had as its capital
the ancient Hindu city of Dhar, about 24 miles north of Mandu, till it was
conquered by the Delhi Sultanate – by Ala-ud-din Khilji in 1305 A.D. - and a
governor installed in place.
The tomb of
Hoshang Shah was the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan was so impressed
with it, that he sent 4 of his architects to study the tomb. They left an
inscription near the doorway, paying homage to the architects of the tomb.
This tomb
considered as the first marble construction of Afghan culture in the Indian
subcontinent region in earlier period. As with all conquests,
among the first state buildings to come up were mosques, built with pillars
taken from Hindu temples, very similar to the Qu’wwat-ul-Islam mosque at the
Qutb, Delhi. Hoshang Shah, second King of Malwa, ruled for 27
years. His tomb is in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. He had a fine eye for
architecture. There are beautiful specimens of Muslim architecture in Mandu.
Location- Mandu, Madhya
Pradesh, India.
US $ 2 or Indian Rs. 100/- per head
(Free entry to children up to 15 years)