HINDOLA MAHAL, MANDU

The Hindola Mahal (In English: “Swinging Palace”), is a large meeting hall, or durbar, in the ancient Indian city of Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. Today the Hindola Mahal is a tourist destination in the ruined city.

The Hindola Mahal might have been constructed during the reign of Hoshang Shah about 1425 C.E. but may date to the end of the 15th century during the reign of Ghiyas al-Din. It is one of a set buildings making up the royal palace complex at Mandu, which consists of the Jahaz Mahal, the Hindola Mahal, the Tawili Mahal, and the Nahar Jharokha. The Hindola Mahal may have been used as an audience chamber.

The palace attraction is a "T"- shaped building, with a main hall and a transverse projection at the North. There are six arched openings on both sides of the hall having windows on top, filled with beautiful tracery work providing path to light and air to come in. Side walls are further strengthened with massive slopes to counteract the force of the lofty arches which once supported the huge ceiling at the top. Its "T"- shaped projection was later added to provide a well-guarded approach for the king. The Interior of Hindola Mahal is planned like a cross formed by the main passage leading to the hall and by another passage crossing it at right angles in the mid passages. Mix of the materials used at different parts of the building suggests that the architectural additions are done at various intervals of time.

YACHT CLUB AT MIDDLE OF UPPER LAKE

Yacht Club is made in 19^th century by Nawab Sultan Jaha Begam. In 19th century many nawabs was enjoying the hospitality of Yacht Club. 

The Yacht Club is located in water about 100 feet away from the edge of municipal Pump House near Van Vihar Road. Now the pillar of Yacht Club is only visible in the Badha Talab. Half immersed pillar in the talab awake the curiosity of tourists. Five decades ago from today, the place was buzzing with Tourists. The nawab’s special guests came here to enjoy the boating of Yacht club. But there is no charm now as before.

HOSHANG SHAH’S TOMB, MANDU

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.

Entrance Fee- Citizens of India Rs. 5/- per head
US $ 2 or Indian Rs. 100/- per head
(Free entry to children up to 15 years)

MINTO HALL, BHOPAL

Nawab Sultanjahan Begum constructed the Minto Hall of Bhopal in the year 1909, keeping in mind the requirement of a guesthouse near the Raj Bhawan (then called the Lal kothi). The main architect was A. C. Rovan, the main contractors were Armstrong, R. A. Dhondi and Sayyed Ali. A fund of rupees three lakhs was spent over a period of 24 years on this construction. However soon the Minto hall was converted to an army cantonment, which was followed by a period of the hall being used as a convention center. Later a Hotel Lake View was established in the vicinity of Minto Hall during the era of Nawab Hamidullah Khan. For some time offices of the Inspector General of Police, Defense services and Civil services were also established in Minto Hall. 

Abida Sultan, the heir apparent, discovered and refined the new game of roller skates hockey on the floors of Minto hall. In the year 1946 Minto Hall was converted to a college called the Hamidia College, which later moved to its own building. After independence of India the Vidhan Sabha of Madhya Pradesh was established at Minto Hall. The Vidhan Sabha has been since moved to a new building in the year 1996. Since then Minto hall has been lying mainly unused, occasionally being the venue of some exhibition. 

During the year 2005, the central government decided to establish a International Convention Centre hub in view of attracting investment to Bhopal. Bhopal has many plus points which we must leverage -natural beauty, nearness to a major historical site like Sanchi and a hill-station like Pachmarhi. If 'heritage value' can be combined with a 'scenic location', a Convention Centre becomes unbeatable. Minto Hall, the old Vidhan Sabha building on the lakeshore, was chosen for the purpose. The Indian trade promotion organization (ITPO) visited Bhopal for an on-the-spot assessment of Minto Hall for this Convention Centre. Linked with this Convention Centre, we also propose to develop exhibition pavilions, so that major Trade Fairs can take place in Bhopal. A competition was organized for the architecture by EPCO for Government of Madhya Pradesh. The Small Scale Industry of Madhya Pradesh has been appointed the nodal agency for the construction of this convention center. A Five star hotel is also to be constructed, for which two sites has been proposed to Indian trade promotion organization (ITPO) - one in the vicinity of the Minto Hall and another at the Hotel Ashoka Lake View. The ITPO will visit both the locations soon and a venue would be decided upon. A fund of one crore and thirty-four lakhs has been released by the central government for this project as the first installment of the project.

SOFIA MASJID, BHOPAL

One of the old masjid in Bhopal established by Mughal Empire in 16^th century.

Location- Near Koh-e-Fiza, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

THE NAWAB'S OF BHOPAL

The Nawabs of Bhopal were the Muslim rulers of the princely state of Bhopal, now part of the modern state of Madhya Pradesh, in India. The last Nawab was Hamidullah Khan, who acceded his state to India in 1947. The Nawabs of Bhopal ruled the princely state – Bhopal before the Indian independence. During the medieval period and during the British rule in India, the Nawabs were the supreme authority of Bhopal.

 

Contrary to the popular notion, the most illustrious Bhopal Nawabs were women. According to historical findings, the first among the Nawabs of Bhopal was “Nawab Dost Muhammed Khan” - the man who rebuilt the city founded by Raja Bhoj.

 

The female Nawabs were also known as the Begums, their official title being Nawab Begum of Bhopal. The terms “Begum of Bhopal” may in theory also refer to the wives of male Nawabs of Bhopal; however, in practice such ladies are only rarely referred to by that title. The era of female Nawabs started with Begum Nawab Qudsia Begum. Born in 1801, she married Nawab Nazar Mohammed Khan in the year 1817. Qudsia Begum took the 'scepter' in her hand when her husband was killed in 1819. She proved herself as an able ruler and at the same time groomed her daughter Sikander. Nawab Sikander Jahan Begum succeeded Qudsia and kept the good work intact. She was a woman with strong will power. She was generous and kind hearted. Nawab Shah Jahan Begum was the next ruler. She was an intellectual woman and did not hesitate to protest against British highhandedness.

• Nawabs Rules in Bhopal

S. No.	Name of the Bhopal Nawabs	Ruled Time
1.	Nawab Dost Muhammad Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1723-1728
2.	Nawab Sultan Muhammad Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1728-1742.
3.	Nawab Faiz Muhammad Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1742-1777
4.	Nawab Hayat Muhammad Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1777-1807
5.	Nawab Ghaus Muhammad Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1807-1826
6.	Nawab Muiz Muhammad Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1826-1837.
7.	Nawab Jahangir Muhammad Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1837-1844.
8.	Al-Haj Nawab Sir Hafiz Muhammad Hamidullah Khan Bahadur	Ruled from 1926-1947

• Nawab’s Begum Rules in Bhopal

S. No.	Name of the Bhopal Nawab’s Begum	Ruled Time
1.	Qudsia Begum, Regent of Bhopal	Ruled from 1819-1837
2.	Nawab Sikandar Begum	Ruled from 1860-1868
3.	Begum Sultan Shah Jehan	Ruled from 1844-1860 and 1868-1901
4.	Begum Kaikhusrau Jahan	Ruled from 1901-1926
5.	Begum Sajida Sultan	Ruled from 1961-1995

 

BHOPAL GATE, (MARTYR'S MEMORIAL)

TAJ MAHAL, BHOPAL

Taj Mahal (Palace) of Bhopal was built by Shah Jahan Begum in (1868 – 1901) the daughter of Nawab Jehangir Mohammad Khan and Sikandar Jahan Begum of Bhopal. Taj Mahal is situated near the famous Taj ul Masajid of Bhopal.

Shah Jehan Begum wanted the same glory for herself as Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. So, she named this palace the ‘Taj Mahal’. Its construction was started in 1871 and was completed in thirteen years in 1874 for a cost of Three million Rupees. Interestingly, in 1949, this palace served as a shelter to thousands of riot victims and migrants of India Pakistan partition from Sindh and Punjab for many years.

The palace has 120 rooms and eight large halls. The large entrance of this six storied building and the main lobby are huge and spacious in order to accommodated horse driven carriages inside the palace. The ‘Sawan Bhado’ pavilion in the main courtyard of the palace is an attempted remake of a similar pavilion in the Shalimar Bagh in Kashmir. Here, artificial nozzles with underground water supply were mounted inside walls for spraying cold water in hot summer afternoons.

ISLAMNAGAR, BHOPAL

Islamnagar was a Rajput town, called Jagdishpur until taken by an Afgan (Dost Mohammad Khan) in 1715. He founded the Bhopal State with Islamnagar as its capital. Fortifications were built within them are a palace, gardens and a charming village. Islamnagar is 11 km away on the Bhopal- Berasia road. 

Islamnagar was the palace of Bhopal's Afghan rulers and was built by Dost Mohammed Khan. Formal gardens surround the palace and the pavilion. The latter a synthesis of Hindu and Islamic decorative art, has columns lavishly embellished with floral motifs. Other monuments to see are the Hamam of the Chaman Mahal and the double-storied Rani Mahal.

RAMPARTS OF FATEHGARH FORT, BHOPAL, MADHYA PRADESH

Ramparts of Fatehgarh fort, Bhopal was architecture of the fort is largely Indian. (Begums of Bhopal’ by Shaheryar Khan). It is said that the Fatehgarh fort was built by Dost Mohhamad Khan in 1722. (‘The Royal Journey of Bhopal’ by SyedAkhtar Hussain’). Under the pressure of Dost Mohammad Khan to marry him,Rani Kamlapati committed suicide in 1723. (‘Banganga Se Halali’ by NiranjanVerma). There is no evidence of her giving up Bhopal until her death. Dost Mohammad Khan died in 1726.

Queen Kamlapati of Bhopal made the mostfatal mistake of hiring Dost Mohammad Khan for avenging the death of her husband. After killing her enemies, Khan killed her trusted bodyguards and left her with no options, but suicide. After her death, he renamed her fort ‘Fatehgarh’. However he renamed the fort on the name of his wife, a Rajput girl called Fateh Bibi. Fatehgarh Fort is the largest of living heritage sites in Bhopal.

A very large part of the fort is now in use by Kasturba Gandhi Medical College Bhopal. The residential quarters of the fort, including the royal balcony overlooking the upper lake and the city are used as a rest house and fort medical college. The main gate of the fort is adjacent to the Hamidia hospital and is used as a medical store now.