Plan your trip · Mandu
What's on in Mandu
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Mandu — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Mandu right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.
The year in Mandu
Mandu's calendar runs through most of the year, with the busiest weeks in the clear, comfortable months and a quieter stretch in the heaviest rain. Broadly, Oct – Mar and Jul – Sep is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.
Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.
Signature to Mandu
Mandu Festival
🗓️ late December–January, not every yearMusic and craft among the hilltop ruins, in the editions that have run.
Planning: It has skipped years — confirm this year's dates before planning around it. For the plateau at its greenest, come in the rains instead.
Nationwide
Diwali
🗓️ October–NovemberThe biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.
Holi
🗓️ MarchColoured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.
Navratri and Dussehra
🗓️ September–OctoberNine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.
Eid al-Fitr
🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each yearThe end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.
Makar Sankranti and Pongal
🗓️ mid-JanuaryThe harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Mandu's calendar follows the festivals of Malwa. Diwali and Holi are celebrated across the village, Mahashivratri draws worshippers to Neelkanth Mahadev, and Ram Navami is usually marked at the Ram Mandir. In the week before Holi, tribal communities across Dhar district hold Bhagoria fairs at their weekly village markets, with music, dance and colourful traditional dress.
In some winters, MP Tourism has also held the Mandu Festival, with music, crafts, local food and outdoor activities among the ruins. Festival dates change every year, and the Mandu Festival is not held every year, so check the dates before you plan your trip around an event.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Mandu
- Book your stay early for festival dates and holiday weekends, as Mandu has only a limited number of rooms.
- Carry a warm layer for winter evenings, when it gets cool on the plateau.
- Dress modestly and remove your shoes at temples during festivals.
- Ask before photographing people, especially at temples and at the Bhagoria fairs.
- Arrange transport for the day in advance, as the monument groups are several kilometres apart.
- Keep your belongings secure in crowds.
Questions
Mandu — FAQ
What are the main festivals in Mandu?
Diwali, Holi, Mahashivratri at Neelkanth Mahadev and Ram Navami at the Ram Mandir are the main festivals. The Mandu Festival, held by MP Tourism in some winters, adds music, crafts and outdoor activities, and Bhagoria fairs take place across Dhar district in the week before Holi.
When is the Mandu Festival held?
The Mandu Festival has usually been held in late December or January, over about five days. It has not taken place every year, so check with MP Tourism before you plan your trip around it.
What is the Bhagoria festival?
Bhagoria is a festival of the tribal communities of western Madhya Pradesh, held at weekly village markets in the week before Holi, usually in March. Expect music, dance, colourful dress and busy stalls. Ask locally which fairs are near Mandu, and ask before taking photos of people.
Is there a sound and light show in Mandu?
Yes. A sound and light show on Mandu's history is usually held in the evening at the Jahaz Mahal. Timings and languages can change, so check locally on the day.