Hoshang Shah Tomb - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 500 m from Mandu Road, Hoshang Shah Tomb is a mausoleum located in the Village Group of Monuments in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. Situated beside Jama Masjid, it is one of the wonderful heritage places to visit as part of the Mandu tour.

Hoshang Shah Tomb is the mausoleum of Sultan Hoshang Shah Ghori, the first formally appointed Sultan of the Malwa Sultanate of Central India. This edifice is a part of the Village Group or the Central Group of Monuments in Mandu. Stands in a courtyard to the west of the Jami Masjid, the construction of this cenotaph was started by Hoshang Shah and was completed by Muhamad Khilji in about 1440 CE. The tomb was constructed entirely with white marble and is considered to be the first marble mausoleum in India. Legends have it that the construction of the Taj Mahal was inspired by this tomb.

Built-in Afghan style of architecture, the tomb is a square structure on a plinth crowned by a central dome with smaller domes at the corners and an overhanging cornice. The entrance to this place is through a porch with artistic openings from all three sides of the structure. Though the porch faces north, the entrance to the tomb is from the south through a doorway of exquisite proportions with simple but pleasing ornamentation.

The interior walls are ornamented with exquisite paintings and moldings in the form of miniature arches with some blue enamel background that runs through the dome's rim. The main sarcophagus of the Hoshang Shah is prepared in the shape of a casket with some receding bands and a mihrab at the top. A few other graves are also seen in the main chambers with three of them made of marble. Besides, this imposing tomb has a small crescent at the crown which is said to have been transported from Mesopotamia or Persia.

Timings: 8 AM - 6 PM

Entry: Rs. 25 for Indians & Rs. 300 for Foreigners