View of the Modern Village of Mandoo and the ancient mosque Jumah Musjid

This engraving from the book The Ruins of Mandoo: The Ancient Mahommedan Capital of Malwah in Central India, 1859 illustrates features of Mandu in western Madhya Pradesh, an ancient city of historical and architectural significance.

The beautiful fortress town can be dated back to the 6th century, since when it has continually been the site of many conquests and civilisations, including those of the Paramara Dynasty, the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals. These empires left behind examples of spectacular architecture such as Jami Mosque (Jumah Musjid), Jahaz Mahal, the palace of Baz Bahadur along with a pavilion he built for his beloved queen Roopmati, the tomb of Hoshang Shah and many more.

The Jami Masjid (Jumah Musjid) in Mandu is said to be modelled after the Great Mosque at Damascus. While the construction of the mosque began under Hoshang Shah Ghauri (reigned 1405-1435), it was completed in 1454 during the reign of Mahmud Shah Khilji I (reigned 1436-1469).

Also seen are small huts along the road before the eastern entrance of the brilliant red sandstone mosque. Various cracks that appear on the dome and walls bring attention to the dilapidated condition of the structure. We only see the western boundary walls and a few domes of the inside structure. Yet, the brilliant red on the rectangular entrance with its large domed porch and the beautifully ornamented blue glazed tiles reflect the architectural brilliance of the mosque.