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| Location |
Madhya Pradesh |
| Attractions |
Gwalior Fort,
Surya Mandir, museum of the freedom fighters, Tomb
of Mohammad Ghaus |
| Best Season |
October to March |
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| NEARBY CITIES |
Shivpuri (112 km)
Chanderi (239 km)
Orchha (120 km) |
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LOCATION
The fort city of Gwalior is situated in the central
Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on the main New Delhi–Mumbai
and New Delhi–Chennai rail link. It is around
321 km from Delhi. The city extends between latitude
26°14' in the north to longitude 78°10' in
the east.
CLIMATE
The climate of Gwalior is extreme with hot summers
and cold winters. The maximum temperature during the
summer months can touch as high as 46°C, while
in the winters it can go down to below 5°C. Monsoon
starts from the first week of June and remains there
till August/September.
PAST
According to a legend, Gwalior derives its name from
a great sage Gwalipa who cured a chief of the Kachwaha
clan suffering from leprosy.
Gwalior’s strategic position between north and
south India made it an important possession and was
captured by several ruling houses. The first historical
holders of the city were the Huns. Between 11th to
14th century ad, Gwalior came under the influence
of Kachwaha Rajputs, the Pratiharas, Qutub-ud-din
Aibak, and Iltutmish, and remained under Muslim possession
until 1398. Under the Tomars, whose most important
king was Man Singh (1486–1517), Gwalior rose
to prominence. Gwalior was finally surrendered to
Ibrahim Lodhi in 1518. Held in succession by the Mughals,
Jats, Marathas and the British, Gwalior was finally
handed over to Jiyaji Rao Scindia at a formal durbar
in 1885. The Scindias were the last ruling family
of Gwalior and are still influential in the political
arena of India.
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| FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
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Tansen
Music Festival is held every winter in the months
of November/December. The festival is a major
cultural event, drawing prominent performers and
music lovers from all parts of the country. |
| |
| SHOPPING |
Gwalior can
be a good place to purchase famous Chanderi Saris.
The handicrafts shops at Gwalior have a good collection
of artifacts and stone carvings. |
| |
| FACTS &
FIGURES |
Ppulation :
8,30,720
Languages :
Hindi & English
STD
code : 0751 |
|
Today, the city is also famous
for the educational institutions like Indian Institute
of Information Technology and Management, Indian Institute
of Travel and Tourism Management, Scindia School,
and Laxmibai National Institute of Physical Education
attracting students from every nook and corner of
the country.
PRIME ATTRACTIONS
The mighty Gwalior Fort
was built in the 15th century by Raja Mansingh Tomar
on a hilltop that overlooks the city. The outer wall
of the fort stands two miles in length and 35 m in
height. A steep road winds upwards to the fort, flanked
by statues of the Jain Tirthankaras, carved into the
rock face.
Man Mandir is the Fort’s piece de resistance.
The palace built by Man Singh Tomar is a delicate
structure exhibiting a sense of joy and abandon through
use of color, motif, and design. There are chambers
for affairs of state as well as those for relaxation,
adorned appropriately and ornately with carved animals,
flowers, and the human form.
If Man Mandir reflects Man Singh’s aesthetic
sensibilities, Gujari Mahal speaks
of his love. The courage and beauty of Mrignayani
and her love with Raja Mansingh are now a part of
popular folk tradition. The palace has been now converted
in a museum and houses very good collection of Jain
and Hindu artifacts.
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Contrasting with the predominant
north Indian style of architecture is the Teli-ka-Mandir.
This temple is believed to the oldest in the Fort, built
in the ninth century and Dravidian in form. The sculptures
are distinctly north Indian. Some believed it was so
named because it was built in the Telangana style; others
say this was because it was built by telis (oil merchants).
A more recent study ascribes it to Telap Raj, a prime
minister of the region.
The Sas-Bahu temples, in
another part of the Fort, are not, as people believe,
dedicated to a mother-in-law (Sas) and daughter-in-law
(Bahu). Sas-Bahu is the name traditionally given to
two adjoining temples of different sizes. The larger
of the two is profusely sculpted with graceful figures
and intricate patterns. This is more apparent in the
interior where, above the sculpted walls and pillars,
an elaborately carved lotus adorns the roof.
The chhatris, memorials to former Scindia rulers, are
executed in the typical Bundelkhandi style with conical
spires and heavily carved exteriors.
At another point in the city is the
tomb of Mohammad Ghaus. Although of little importance
from a historical perspective, the sheer beauty of the
tomb is breathtaking. The stone carving for which the
skilled artisans of Gwalior were justly famous is apparent
in the huge panels of lacy screen work, which combine
with an interesting architectural design to create a
delicate, ethereal appeal.
Adjacent is a small white, austere tomb. This is the
memorial to Tansen, a famed musician, and one of the
nine gems of the Mughal emperor Akbar’s court.
Much of modern Gwalior is associated with the Scindias
who were prolific builders. The Jai Vilas Palace at
Lashkar is an opulent Italianate structure, set in carefully
laid lawns. Part of the palace is used as a residence
for the family while the other has been converted into
a museum that effectively documents a more leisurely
and princely lifestyle. The museum exhibits, consisting
of collections of the Scindia family, include such things
as chandeliers weighing several tons, a silver toy train
whose wagons were used as serving dishes, and a glass
cradle from Italy used for the Lord Krishna at Janmashtami.
Other important tourist attractions in the city are
Surya Mandir (sun temple), a replica of the famed Konark
Sun Temple in Orissa, Baija Taal cultural complex, museum
of the freedom fighters, and Kala Vithika. |
| EXCURSION |
Shivpuri (112 km) on
the Agra–Bombay Road is famous for its Madhav
National Park and the Chhatris (memorials to former
rulers).
Chanderi (239 km) is a
well-preserved medieval town famed for the craft of
sari weaving, with beautiful structures executed in
the Bundelkhandi style.
Orchha (120 km), former
capital of the Bundela Rajputs, has interesting palaces
and temples.
Other interesting places include Datia
(69 km), Marwar (122 km), and Pawaya (68 km).
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| WHERE TO STAY |
Gwalior, being a major tourist destination and a
vibrant modern Indian city, has a good variety of
accommodation to chose from. At the top end are the
heritage hotels, which have been converted from the
palaces of bygone era. There are also mid-range and
economy hotels that provide good services and peaceful
environment.
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| HOW TO REACH |
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Air:
Gwalior is connected by Indian Airlines to Bombay, Bhopal,
Indore, and Delhi. The services are operational three
days a week.
Rail:
Gwalior is on the main Delhi–Bombay and Delhi–Madras
rail link. Among major trains, the Taj and Shatabdi
Express connect Gwalior with Delhi and Agra.
Road:
Regular bus service connects Gwalior with Agra (118
km), Mathura, Jaipur (350 km), Delhi (321 km), Lucknow,
Bhopal (423 km), Chanderi (239 km), Indore (486 km),
Jhansi (101 km), Khajuraho (275 km), Ujjain (455 km),
and Shivpuri (114 km).
The most common and cheapest way of moving around the
city is the six-seater auto-rickshaws.
Taxis are also available so are mini buses.
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