Hindola Mahal, Mandu

The Hindola Mahal, or Swinging Palace, is a great durbar hall in the ruined city of Mandu and part of the royal palace group alongside the Jahaz Mahal, Nahar Jharokha and Tawili Mahal. It may have been built under Hoshang Shah around 1425, or towards the end of the 15th century under Ghiyas-al-Din, and probably served as an audience chamber.

The building is T-shaped. Its main hall measures 30 by 18 m and rises 12 m, with side walls 3 m thick, braced by massive buttresses leaning at more than 77 degrees; these give the impression of swaying and explain the name. Five ogee arches once carried the flat roof, and each long side has six recessed arches with doors and stone lattice windows. The later crossbar has two storeys. Plain, bold and sparingly decorated, the hall is a striking example of Malwa architecture, and a smaller near-copy stands in Warangal fort.