Gwalior Tourism

Gwalior in ancient times was also known as Gopgiri since the stunning hill at the top of which Gwalior was located as referred to as Gopachal. The Gwalior fort was founded by Maharaja Suraj Sen post which this city was ruled by many different rulers. During the 6 th century it was the Naad dynasty who ruled Gwalior. Soon Gwalior became one of the most preferred places for religious practices and culture. It fell under the Naga Dynasty. It has also been found out that Gwalior was ruled by the Kushanas till the 3rd century AD , post which it was taken over by the Guptas somewhere around 476 AD and during the 5th century, it fell under the Kannauj of the Gurar Pratihara dynasty. This ruling is believed to have played a significant role in making Gwalior the city that it is today. It became the capital of Kannauj between 700 and 740 AD and to adorn the city with something really beautiful, a magnificently beautiful Sun temple was built at the fort hill in that period.

After some years, the Kachwaha ruled Gwalior and they went on to build another attraction called the Padavali Group of Monuments and also the beautiful Sahastrabahu Temple which is situated at the Fort. The advantage of this ruling was beautiful structures and monuments like these. Another noted history about Gwalior is that during 1195 and 1196 Gwalior saw invasion of Muhammmad of Ghor who had already planned to take over the Fort. However all his efforts and plans turned futile since he couldn’t take over the unconquerable Gwalior fort owing to the skilled and brave Parihars. Later lltutmish took control over Gwalior in 1231 after a long effort and fight of 11 months and from there on Gwalior was ruled under the Muslim rule approximately till the 13th century and in 1375 it was then ruled by Raja Veer Singh who also discovered the ruling of Tomars in Gwalior. It is during this period when Gwalior was in its best and literally saw golden days. The renowned Jain structures that you see today were built during the Tomar ruling. In fact one of the biggest tourist attractiosn of his city the Maan Mandir Palace was also built in that era when Raja Man Singh used it as is residency. It was his dream palace which now serves as tourist attraction. The palace has also been described to be the Pearl in the necklace of forts in the country and that even the winds could not touch it masts. And trust us when we say, these words have been aptly written. If you visit Gwalior fort, the light and sound show that is organized there is an excellent of knowing a detailed history of this most visited city of Madhya Pradesh.

Gwalior Fort
Standing on a steep mass of sandstone, Gwalior Fort dominates the city and is its most significant monument. It has been the scene of momentous events, imprisonment, battles and jauhars . A steep road winds upwards to the fort, flanked by statues of the Jain tirthankaras, carved into the rock face. The magnificent outer walls of the fort still stand, two miles in length and 35 feet high, bearing witness to its reputation for being one of the most invincible forts of India. This imposing structure inspired Emperor Babur to describe it as " the pearl amongst the fortresses of Hind ".

Within the fort are some marvels of medieval architecture. The 15th century Gujari Mahal is a monument to the love of Raja Mansingh Tomar for his intrepid Gujar Queen, Mrignayani. The outer structure of Gujari Mahal has survived in an almost total state of preservation; the interior has been converted into Archaeological Museum housing rare antiquities,some of them dating back to the 1st century A.D. Even though many of these have been defaced by the iconoclastic Mughals , their perfection of form has survived the ravages of time. Particularly worth seeing is the statue of Shalbhanjika from Gyraspur, the tree goddess, the epitome of perfection in miniature . The statue is kept in the custody of the museum's curator, and can be seen on request.

Man Mandir Palace
Built between 1486 and 1517 by Raja Mansingh.The tiles that once adorned its exterior have not survived , but at the entrance , traces of these still remain. Within the palace rooms stand bare, stripped of their former glory, testifying to the passing of the centuries. Vast chambers with fine stone screens were once the music halls, and behind these screens, the royal ladies would learn music from the great masters of the day. Below, circular dungeons housed the state prisoners of the Mughals. Emperor Aurangzeb had his brother , Murad imprisoned , and later executed here. Close by is Jauhar Pond, where in the Rajput tradition, the Ranis committed mass sati after their consorts had been defeated in battle. At Man Mandir Palace, a poignant ambience of those days of chivalry and heroism still lingers in the silent chambers. A superbly mounted Son-et-Lumiere here brings it all alive every evening.

Ghaus Mohammed's Tomb
The sandstone mausoleum of the Afghan prince, Ghaus Mohammed, is also designed on early Mughal lines. Particularly exquisite are the screens which use the pierced stone technique as delicate as lace. It is on the way to Gwalior fort near Hazira from Railway Station.

Sun Temple
Located near the Residency at Morar, the newly constructed Sun Temple takes its inspiration from the famous Konark Sun Temple in Orissa.

Jai Vilas Palace and Museum
A splendor of a different kind exists in the Jai Vilas Palace, current residence of the Scindia family. Some 25 rooms have been turned into the Jivaji Rao Scindia Museum, and in these rooms , so evocative of a regal lifestyle, the past comes alive. Jai Vilas is an Italianate structure which combines the Tuscan and Corinthian architectural modes. The imposing Darbar Hall has two central chandeliers weighing a couple of tonnes, and hung only after ten elephants had tested the strength of the roof. Ceilings picked out in gilt, heavy draperies and tapestries , fine Persian carpets and antique furniture from France and Italy are the features of these spacious rooms. Eye catching treasures include : a silver train with cutglass wagons which served guests as it chugged around the table on miniature rails; a glass cradle from Italy used for the baby Krishna each Janmashtami, silver dinner services and swords that were once worn by Aurangzeb and Shah Jahan. These are ,besides, personal momentoes of past members of the Scindia family : the jeweled slippers that belonged to Chinkoo Rani , four-poster beds, gifts from practically every country in the world, hunting trophies and portraits. The Scindia Museum offers an unparalled glimpse into the rich culture and lifestyle of princely India.

Gurudwara Data Bandhi Chhod
Built in the memory of Guru Hargobind Saheb , the 6th Sikh Guru who was imprisoned here by Emperor Jehangir for over two years. It is located on the Gwalior Fort.