Where to go if we can't get hotel in Mandu

Thanks for the recco, I'd not noticed this thread before

I stayed in a nice place here, but forget the name. Perhaps the Residency or so? (The Presidency? The President? I really don't remember.) It is right by the bus stand (station, and a pretty busy and active one); the cheaper front rooms face it, so are very noisy (traveling pretty much anywhere in this region, I can still hear the amplified sound of "Indore-Indore-Indore-Indore!!!," so announcing buses leaving to there ). Pricier A/C rooms are at the back. It's a large building with much glass in its facade, I think, and pink, if I recall.

There must be other hotels here. At the time (early 2009) I had me a really large and nicely-furnished double (front) room to myself, for very little money, can't have been more than Rs. 350 or so, this will most likely have gone up. They had discontinued their bar & restaurant, but it still did room service, good food btw, or so I found. Friendly keepers, too.

Dhar doesn't have a whole lot to do, but its fort is nice, and there's the lesser-known remains of a madrasah or somesuch, ask around for this. Just outside of town is an attractive small temple on a little hilltop. It is otherwise a nice little town to stroll around in for a couple of days and minus the tourists, I must have been the only whitey there.

Note btw Dhar while just some 45 kms. from Mandu I think is still an hour or so by bus from there, could have been longer even; roads in these parts are often just really terrible. I think the connection from Indore is said to be not so bad, never took it (wonder if it wouldn't pass by Dhar?)

Nope, I can't, and I don't even know that temple's name. (Prakaant, is it either of the ones you mentioned?) You conceivably might find a phone number on the web, but I guess it's just a rock up & ask thing, that's certainly what I did.

The panchayat's Rest House is right by the bus stand, such as it is (it's mostly just where the buses stop ), its sign is in Hindi but those words are in English (if, of course, it's still the same. I stayed here on that same trip.) They have just a few rooms, so could well be full; it is indeed simple and basic, but cosy and most affordable. Friendly folks again. I reckon at that time I'll have paid some Rs. 150 or so for again a small double to myself, enough room to move around, btw. Most hotel prices I know of in India have really gone up since btw, often considerably.

The temple, indeed also by the bus stand -- by a little square here, such as it is, the Rest House would now be across the street, almost on the corner there, and by indeed a cornershop --, has lots of rooms I think (kind of like a large courtyard surrounded by them, from what I've seen. Might include some dorms, I can't tell), so I'd say except for perhaps some major festival going on, there should be a good chance of finding a bed here. Prices here are similar, rooms looked again basic and somewhat spartan but comfortable and spotlessly clean. When I spoke to them, they said not even my smoking (tobacco) or drinking would have been a problem to stay there (but so I was already staying at the Rest House, we just had a chat).

Other than these two, I see it often said Mandu would have a lack of rooms, but while hotels may not be abundant, you'd think it should normally be possible to find a bed here. But maybe I wasn't there in much of any season, it was never very busy. Many visitors appear to be daytrippers, too. I do have a feeling there may be some overpriced options here for what you get.

That MP Tourism place that's a little out of the way of things, on the way to the southern monuments, I'd say it would be good to have your own transport. It's not far and bicycles are on rent in the village, but the way there is just slightly hilly, tough going on those Indian pushbikes. If there'd even be rickshaws or so running, no idea, didn't need them so can't say.

Ah, note also at that time at least, Mandu had no ATM, not even a bank: bring enough cash, to save yourself from having to arduously backtrack to Dhar again etc. The nearest bank and with its usual limited opening hours would be in Nalcha, halfway on the way to Dhar. The nearest ATM that I'm aware of, indeed in Dhar itself. If needs be, there are private operators in Mandu to take your foreign cash or whatever, but it can be a hassle, and they may not be there when you need them.

I am sure about both the accommodations as I have stayed at both the places, though I do not have contact details (as the stay was in pre-IM era)! Now I have made a habit of taking phone numbers of the place visited and/or of some importance!

BTW, The road between Mandu-Dhar-Indore has much improved.

When you get off the bus at mandu the Hindu temple is there you cant miss it, go inside and ask for a room its that easy. It really is the best place to stay in mandu, the other place is a few km away and expensive. Good luck and enjoy.

Now, the service (MP Tourism Indore to Mandu AC bus) has been discontinued for lack of clientele!

Now, anybody willing to visit Mandu will have to catch private buses from Gangwal Bus stand. The buses go via Dhar.

So in Dhar, I can now confirm:

Royal Residency, Bus Stand, Dhar, tel. 07292-403786/222491, mobile 94250-52366.

This was in early 2009, whether they're open still I can't even say.