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GWALIOR
Gwalior's
colorful history, going back to the 8th century, is a mosaic of the Rajput clans
of the Pratihasas, Kachwahas and Tomars, each leaving their marks on the city's
magnificent monuments. A trip of Gwalior is incomplete without a visit to the
fort, Scindia Palace and the tombs of Ghaus Mohammed and Tansen.
As a modern
city, Gwalior is famous for its cloth mills, producing some of the best fabrics
in the country. The city is divided into three parts. Gwalior houses the fort
complex, Lashkar with the Jai Vilas Palace and Morar are the outskirts. The city
serves as an access point for the tourist centres of Orchha and Shivpuri.
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Indian Airlines flights connect
Gwalior with Delhi, Agra, Bhopal, Indore and Mumbai.
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Gwalior is on the central
railway's main Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Chennai routes. Best connections from Agra
and Delhi are provided by Shatabdi and Taj Express in the morning.
Both trains make the return journey in the evening.
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Gwalior is connected good roads to Agra,
Mathura, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Bhopal, Indore, Jhansi, Khajuraho and
Chandigarh.
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Some
important road distances from Gwalior
The
Gwalior Fort,
made of sandstone, is a magnificent monument. A steep road winds
upwards to the fort
which is flanked by
statues of many Jain Tirthankaras. The outer walls, two 3 km in length and
35 ft high, stand as a witness to its reputation as an invincible
structure. There is a sound-and-light show here in the evenings.
Gujari
Mahal,
Situated in the fort premises, is a 15th century monument built by
Raja Mansingh Tomar for his Gujjar queen, Mrignayani. The inner portion has been
converted into a museum which houses antiquities going back to the 1st centry
A.D.
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 bare,
stripped of their former glory, testifying to the passing of the
centuries. Vast chmbers with fine stone screens were once the music halls,
and behind these screens, the royal ladies would learn musci from the
great masters of the day. Below, circular dungeons once housed the state
prisoners of the Mughals. The emperor Aurangzeb ahd his brother, Murad,
imprisioned, and later executed here. Close by is the Jauhar Pond, where
in the Rajput tradition, the ranis committed mass sat after their consorts
ahd been defeated in battle. A the Man Mandir Palace, a poignant ambience
of those days of chivalry and heroism still lingers in the silent
chambers. A superbly mounted Son-el-Lumiere here brings it all alive every
evening.
Teli ka Mandir
and Sas Bahu Ka Mandir, are devoted to the Lord Vishnu. the 9th century Teli ka
Mandir,
towering 100-ft-high, is a Pratihara Vishnu temple with a unique blending of
various architectural styles - Dravidian as well as Indo-Aryan.
Jai Vilas Palace
is residence of the Scindia family. About 35 rooms
have been converted into the Jivaji Rao Scindia Museum. The architecture is a
combination of Italian, Tuscan and Corinthian styles.
The Tansen Tomb is a memorial to the pillar of Hindustani music,
Tansen. The
tomb is part of Gwalior's cultural heritage. An annual national music festival
is held here in November-December.
The Ghaus
Mohammed's Tomb is mausoleum of the Afghan Prince, Ghaus Mohammed.
Sun Temple is a newly constructed structure built on the style of
Konark's Sun Temple.
Sarod Ghar,
Ancestral house of the famous Gwalior gharana of Indian classical music from
which hails sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan. It has been opened as a museum of
musical instruments.
Suraj Kund,
was built in the 15th century, However, refrences to this gigantic structure can
be traced back to 425 A.D.
Kala Vithika
and Municipal Museum, are treasure houses of art and memorabilia of the past
history of Gwalior.
Datia, 68 km on Jhansi Road (8
km from Sonagiri). The main sight in this town is the 7-storeyed palace of Raja
Bir Singh Deo built atop a hill. Other sights are a temple with Mughal frescoes,
Gopeshwar Temple and the tantric peeth of Pitambara Devi.
Sonagiri, 60 km from Gwalior, on Jhansi Road. The 108 Jain temples date back
1,500 years, all arranged on the steps of a hill. The main temple (number 57) on
top of the hill is in honour of the 8th Tirthankara. One can walk up on paved
pathways to see the temples. Arati is performed in the main temples between 6-9
pm daily.
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HERITAGE |
STANDARD |
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WG
Usha Kiran Palace |
Gwalior
Regency |
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WG
- WelcomGroup
For
further information and reservation please contact
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