The Malwa Sultanate was a late medieval kingdom in the Malwa region, covering the present day Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and south-eastern Rajasthan from 1401 to 1562. It was founded by Dilawar Khan, who following Timur's invasion and the disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate, in 1401, made Malwa an independent realm.
Hoshang Shah's Tomb in Mandu
Preparation of Samosa for Ghiyath al-Din, Sultan of Malwa, at Mandu
An illustration from the manuscript of the Nimat Nama
Malwa is a historical region of west-central India occupying a plateau of volcanic origin. Geologically, the Malwa Plateau generally refers to the volcanic upland north of the Vindhya Range. Politically and administratively, it is also synonymous with the former state of Madhya Bharat which was later merged with Madhya Pradesh. At present the historical Malwa region includes districts of western Madhya Pradesh and parts of south-eastern Rajasthan. Sometimes the definition of Malwa is extended to include the Nimar region south of the Vindhyas.
Ceramic goblet of the Malwa culture from Navdatoli, Malwa, 1300 BCE.
Coin showing Karttikeya and Lakshmi (Ujjain, c. 150–75 BC)
Rani Roopmati Pavilion at Mandu, built by Miyan Bayezid Baz Bahadur (1555–62)
Sculpture of a Holkar courtier from Fort Ahilya.