State PCS
The 'Jahaz Mahal' (Ship Palace) at Mandu, built between two lakes, is attributed to:
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Answer: Option D — Ghiyasuddin Khalji of Malwa
Detailed Solution
The "Jahaz Mahal" (Ship Palace) at Mandu, in Madhya Pradesh, is attributed to Sultan Ghiyasuddin Khalji of the Malwa Sultanate, who ruled from about 1469 to 1500.
About the Jahaz Mahal:
- It is a long, narrow, two-storeyed palace, about 120 metres long and 15 metres wide.
- It is built on a narrow strip of land between two artificial lakes, the Munj Talao and the Kapur Talao.
- When the lakes are full, the palace appears to float on the water, like a ship, which gives it its name.
- It has open pavilions, balconies, arched halls, terraces, and an elaborate system of water channels and pools.
- It is believed to have served as a harem (women's palace) for the Sultan, who is said to have had thousands of women in his palace, including female guards.
About Ghiyasuddin Khalji:
- He was the son of Mahmud Khalji, the founder of the Khalji dynasty of Malwa.
- He was a pleasure-loving ruler, who spent much of his reign in his palaces, leaving the administration to his sons.
About Mandu (Mandav):
- It is located in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, on a plateau in the Vindhya ranges.
- It was the capital of the Malwa Sultanate, and was called "Shadiabad" (City of Joy).
Its important monuments:
- Hoshang Shah's tomb: the first marble tomb in India, which is said to have inspired the builders of the Taj Mahal.
- The Jami Masjid.
- The Hindola Mahal (Swinging Palace), with sloping walls.
- The Rani Rupmati Pavilion and Baz Bahadur's Palace, associated with the romance of the last Sultan of Malwa, Baz Bahadur, and the singer Rupmati.
About the Malwa Sultanate:
- It was founded by Dilawar Khan Ghuri in the early 15th century.
- His son Hoshang Shah made Mandu the capital.
- The Khaljis of Malwa ruled from 1436.
- Malwa was conquered by Akbar in 1561-62.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Hoshang Shah built other monuments.
- ✗Baz Bahadur was the last Sultan.
- ✗Mahmud Khalji was the founder of the Khalji dynasty of Malwa.
Quick tip
Remember: Jahaz Mahal (Mandu) = Ghiyasuddin Khalji of Malwa (between Munj Talao and Kapur Talao); Hoshang Shah's tomb = first marble tomb in India; Mandu = Shadiabad.
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Monuments & Religious Places — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Monuments & Religious Places, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's important monuments, temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras and pilgrimage sites, who built them and when, their architectural styles, and India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Questions ask who built a monument, where it is located, or which dynasty or style it belongs to. For example, the Qutub Minar was begun by Qutbuddin Aibak, and the Sun Temple at Konark was built by the Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I. Revise the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as a list, noting the most recent additions. Practise the monuments and religious places questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.