Gwalior City Travel Guide -
Madhya Pradesh
General Information Of
Gwalior
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Area 289.85 sq km
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Population 8,30,720
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Altitude 212 metres above
sea level
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Languages Hindi and
English
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Best Time to Visit
October-March
STD code 0751
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Introduction to city Gwalior - In
Madhya Pradesh
With its stimulating ambience and undeniable aura of romance,
Gwalior is one of the most impressive cities in India for the
sensitive holidaymakers. There is an interesting story of how
the city derived its name. According to legends, Suraj Sen, a
prince of the Kachhwaha clan of the 8th century, lost his way
while venturing in the jungle and reached an isolated hill
wandering around. There he met a venerable old man, Sage Gwalipa.
Thirsty and tired, he asked for some water and the sage led him
to a pond. To his astonishment, the prince after drinking the
water found that not only his thirst but his disease of leprosy
has also been cured. He asked the sage if he could do anything
in return and the sage told him to fortify the hill. The hill
was fortified and named Gwalior, and the city that developed
around it gradually acquired the name.
Gwalior was always an important city because of its strategic
location on the Agra-Deccan main route. Hence many dynasties
tried to claim this land including the mighty Mughals and
Marathas. Before them, the city was the stronghold of the Huns
from Central Asia, the Kachhwaha Rajputs, the Pratihars, the
Slave Dynasty of Delhi Sultanate, and the Tomars—of whom the
most important king was Raja Man Singh (1486-1517). The Marathas
under Madho Rao Scindia, the last dynasty to rule the city
before Independence, restored Gwalior to its former glory. The
imposing Jai Vilas Palace, situated below the hilltop Gwalior
fort, is proof of the Scindia sway over the city.
Sightseeing : Places to visit in
destination - Gwalior
The city of Gwalior has many monuments that were built by the
erstwhile Tomar and Scindia rulers. The majestic
Gwalior fort
is one of the largest forts in India. There are various chattris
or cenotaphs commemorating the Scindia rulers who ruled the
region till India’s independence. The Man Mandir Palace
and the Gujari Mahal are two other interesting sights in
Gwalior. The Sas-Bahu Temples are 11th-century temples of
Lord Vishnu while Teli-ka-Mandir is a 300-metre-high
Vishnu temple of the 9th century. Some other important
attractions of Gwalior are Suraj Kund, Tansen Memorial, the
tomb of Mohammad Ghaus, Kala Vithika, Surya Mandir, and
Scindia Museum
Gwalior Sightseeing : Places
to visit in destination Gwalior
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Places to visit in the city Gwalior |
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GWALIOR FORT - Gwalior
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The foundation of the Gwalior Fort was laid by Raja Suraj
Sen on the advise of Sage Gwalipa some 1,000 years ago on
a hill where he was supposedly cured of his leprosy. The
Gwalior Fort occupies the whole of the enormous rock it
sits on. Some estimates claim that it is the largest
structure of its kind in the world. The outer wall of the
fort stands 3.2 km (2 miles) in length and 35 m in height.
A steep road winds upwards to the fort. On both sides of
the road, cut deep into the rock and towering over the
proceedings, are scores of Jain statues. Some of these are
two or three storeys high and carved, in some cases, more
than 2 m into the rock surface. |
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GUJARI MAHAL AND
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM - Gwalior
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If Man Mandir reflects Man Singh/’s aesthetic
sensibilities, Gujari Mahal speaks of his love for his
ninth Gujar wife, Mrignayni, for whom he built a special
palace outside the fort. It is now a museum and houses a
very extensive collection of stone carvings, many of them
rare and exquisite. The courage and beauty of Mrignayni
and her love with Raja Man Singh are now a part of popular
folk tradition. |
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MAN MANDIR PALACE - Gwalior
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Lest the unwary might sometimes suppose, the Man Mandir is
not a temple but a palace. It is the fort/’s piece de
resistance. The palace built by Man Singh Tomar between
1486 and 1516 is a delicate structure exhibiting a sense
of joy and abandon through use of colour, motif, and
design. This palace is also known as the Chitra Mandir or
the Palace of Paintings because of the tiled and painted
decorations of peacocks and other birds. 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. |
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SAS-BAHU TEMPLES - Gwalior
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Sas-Bahu temples, in another part of the fort, are not
dedicated to a mother-in-law (Sas) and daughter-in-law (Bahu)
as is sometimes supposed. 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 apparent
in the interior where, above the sculpted walls and
pillars, an elaborately carved lotus adorns the roof. |
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SURAJ KUND - Gwalior
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Built in the 15th century, references to the Suraj Kund
complex can be traced as far back as AD 425. Suraj Kund
existed much before the city of Gwalior and is considered
the place where Sage Gwalipa cured Suraj Sen of leprosy
from the waters of this pond. |
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MEMORIAL OF TANSEN -
Gwalior
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Adjacent to the tomb of Ghaus is another small white,
austere tomb. This is the memorial dedicated to Tansen, a
famed musician, and one of the nine gems of Akbar/’s
court. At this place is held the annual Tansen Sangeet
Samaroh, a world-renowned music festival, which brings
forth the essence of Gwalior and its rich heritage of
classical music. |
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TOMB OF MOHAMMAD GHAUS -
Gwalior
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At another point in the city is the tomb of Mohammad Ghaus,
a saint of the Islamic faith of the 16th century. 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. |
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TELI-KA-MANDIR - Gwalior
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Contrasting
with the predominant North Indian style of architecture is
the Teli-ka-Mandir. This temple, built in the ninth
century and Dravidian in form, is believed to be the
oldest in the fort. The sculptures are distinctly North
Indian. Some believe it was so named because it was built
in the Telengana 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.
Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, a garuda (mythical bird) can be
seen on top of the 10-metre-high doorway. |
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KALA VITHIKA - Gwalior
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Situated near the Gwalior Railway Station in the heart of
the city, Kala Vithika is a good place to venture into if
you want some information on the history and culture of
Gwalior. The museum is open on all days except Sundays and
holidays, |
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SURYA MANDIR - Gwalior
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Another important tourist attraction of the city is the
Surya Mandir (Sun Temple), a replica of the famed Sun
Temple at Konark in Orissa. The temple was built by G. D.
Birla, the famous industrialist of India. |
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SCINDIA MUSEUM - Gwalior
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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 functions as residence of the
royal 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. |
Excursions : Places nearby city -
Gwalior
While in Gwalior take some time off to visit the nearby places
that, besides being captivating in themselves, also speak a lot
about the region’s rich history. Datia (74 km) is famous
for its Bundela palaces and paintings. Another place is
Pawaya, which was known as Padmavati in ancient times.
Archaeological remains of the first and eight centuries have
been discovered here. The Dhoomeshwar Mahadeo temple,
situated 3 km away, is a fine example of Bundela architecture.
Sonagiri, Orchha, Shivpuri, Chanderi, and Tigra Dam are
some other places in the vicinity of Gwalior.
Gwalior Excursion : Places
nearby Gwalior - Madhya Pradesh
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Places to visit nearby destination - Gwalior |
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Datia |
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Situated some 74 km south-east of Gwalior, Datia is famous
for its Bundela palaces and paintings. The fortress palace
of Datia is considered as one of the finest of its type in
India. Constructed by Raja Bir Singh Deo, a Bundela
chieftain, the palace is influenced by the architectural
styles of Rajputs as well as Mughals. |
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Dhoomeshwar Mahadeo Temple
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Barely 3 km from Pawaya, the Dhoomeshwar Mahadeo Temple is
dedicated to Lord Shiva and located on the banks of the
Sindh River. The architectural style of this temple is
very much similar to the Kandariya Mahadeo Temple of
Khajuraho, though there is no evidence to prove that both
temples belong to the same period. |
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Pawaya
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Earlier known as Padmavati, the history of this small
hamlet on Gwalior-Jhansi road, 68 km from Gwalior, dates
back to 3rd century AD when it was the capital of Nag
Dynasty. Archaeological excavations have revealed ruins
that tell the story of its rich past. The main attractions
of Pawaya are the life-size statue of King Chaksha
Manibhadra and the ruined fort of the Parmar Dynasty.
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Sonagiri
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Situated around 61 km from Gwalior on Delhi-Mumbai main
line, Sonagiri (literally, the Golden Peak) is a place
sacred to Digambar Jains. This is the place where King
Nanganang Kumar achieved liberation from the cycles of
death and life along with 15 million of his followers.
There are several white Jain temples scattered around
Sonagiri. |
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Tigra Dam
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Located 23 km away from Gwalior, the Tigra Dam constructed
over the river Chambal is a famous picnic and recreation
spot |
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