|
|
|
Information about
Gwalior |
|
Steeped in
the splendour of its past, the ancient capital of
Gwalior has yet made a successful transition into a
modern Indian city, vibrant and bustling. A multitude
of reigning dynasties, of the great Rajput clans of
the Pratiharas, Kacchwahas and Tomars have left
indelible etchings of their rule in this city of
palaces, temples and monuments. Gwalior's tradition as
a royal capital continued until the formation of
present day India, with the Scindias having their
dynastic seat here. The magnificent mementoes of a
glorious past have been preserved with care, giving
Gwalior an appeal unique and timeless.
This,
then, is Gwalior : where a rich cultural tradition has
been interwoven into the fabric of |
 |
|
modern
life. Where a princely past lives on in great palaces
and their museums. Where a multitude of images merge
and mix to present to the visitor a city of enduring
greatness.
Gwalior's history is traced back to a fascinating
legend: in 8AD, a chieftain called Suraj Sen was
stricken by a deadly disease. He was cured by a hermit
saint, Gwalipa, and in gratitude, founded a city which
he named after the saint who had given him the gift of
a new life. The new city of Gwalior became, over the
centuries, the cradle of great dynasties and with
each, the city gained new dimensions from the
warrior-kings, poets, musicians and saints who
contributed to making it a capital renowned throughout
the country.
The entire city is a visual and aesthetic feast, for
the builders of Gwalior were great architects. Take a
walk through the streets of the city and you will
discover old havelis with exquisitely carved doorways
and windows; at almost every street crossing you will
find statues of the Scindia family. Museumes and art
galleries are treasure houses and beautifully
maintained palaces give the city its inimitable regal
flavour. Sightseeing in Gwalior is a magical trip into
the centuries gone by. |
|
|
|
|
|
What to see |
|
 |
The Fort
Standing on a steep mass of
sandstone, Gwalior Fort dominates the city and is its
most magnificent monument. It has been a scene of
momentous events : imprisonments, battles and jauhars. A
steep road winds upwards to the Fort, flanked by statues
of 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 Babar to
describe it "the pearl amongst the fortresses of Hind."
|
| |
|
Gujari Mahal
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 Gujar queen, Mrignayani. After he had wooed
and won her, so the story goes, Mrignayani
demanded that he build her a separate palace with
a constant water supply from the River Rai, via an
aqueduct. The outer structure of the Gujari Mahal
has survived in an almost total state of
preservation; the interior has been converted into
an Archaeological Museum. |
 |
|
| |
|
Man Mandir Palace
built between 1486 and 1517. The tiles that once
adorned its exterior have not survived, but at the
entrance, traces of these still remain. There is a
charming frieze here of ducks paddling in
turquoise waters. Within, the palace rooms stand
bare, stripped of their former glory, mute
testimony 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 once housed the
state prisoners of the Mughals. The 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. Though the major portions
of the Fort were built in the 15th century,
references to this gigantic complex can be traced
back to 425 AD. Older than the city is the
Suraj Kund
within the Fort walls, the original pond where
Suraj Sen, or Suraj Pal as he was later known, was
cured by the Saint Gwalipa. |
|
| |
|
 |
Teli ka Mandir
The
Teli ka Mandir is a 9th century edifice, towering at 100
ft high. This is a Pratihara Vishnu temple of a unique
blending of architectural styles. The shape of the roof
is distinctively Dravidian, while the decorative
embellishments have the typically Indo-Aryan
characteristics of Northern India. Also dedicated to
Vishnu is the graceful little
Sas-Bahu-ka-Mandir,
built in 11th century. |
|
| |
|
Gurudwara Data Bandhi
Chhod
built in the memory of
Guru Hargobind Sahib, the 6th Sikh Guru who
was imprisoned here by Jehangir for over two
years. At the time of his release, he wanted
52 Hindu kings who were his fellow
prisoners, released with him. Jehangir was
very impressed with the Guru and agreed to
his condition. And, finally, within the Fort
complex, housed in the erstwhile barracks of
the British soldires, is Gwalior's unique
gift to modern India : Scindia School.
Acknowledged as one of the finest schools in
India, it is only fitting that the country's
young citizens receive the best educational
grounding surrounded by monuments to a past
which is a constant inspiration.. |
 |
|
| |
|
 |
Jai Vilas Palace
A splendour of a different kind exists in the Jai
Vilas Palace, current residence of the Scindia
family. Some 35 rooms have been made into the
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 features of
these spacious rooms. Eyecatching treasures include : a
silver train with cut-glass wagons which served guests
as it chugged around on miniature rails on the tables; a
glass cradle from Italy used for the baby Krishna each
Janamashtami; silver dinner services and swords that
were once worn by Aurangzeb and Shah Jehan.
There are,
besides, personal momentoes of the past members of the
Scindia family: the jewelled 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 unparalleled
glimpse into the rich culture and lifestyle of princely
India. Open everyday except Monday from 10 am to 5 pm.
Entry fees are Rs. 20/- for Indian and Rs. 100/- for
foreign visitors. |
|
|
|
|
|
Monuments |
|
Tansen's Tomb
The father of Hindustani classical music, the
great Tansen, one of the 'nine Jewels' of Akbar's
court, lies buried in Gwalior. The memorial to
this great musician has a pristine simplicity
about it, and is built in the early Mughal
architectural style. More than a monument, the
Tansen's Tomb is part of Gwalior's living cultural
heritage; it is the venue of a music festival on a
national scale held annually in November-December.
Leading musicians of the country gather here to
give performances during the festival. |
 |
|
|
|
 |
Ghous Mohammed's Tomb
the sandstone mausoleum
of the Afghan prince, Ghous Mohammed, also
designed on early Mughal lines.
Particularly, exquisite are the screens
which use the pierced stone technique, as
delicate as lace.
Memorials
The earliest freedom fighters,
Tatya Tope
and the indomitable
Rani of Jhansi,
are commemorated in memorials in Gwalior.
There are cenotaphs at major public
crossings, memorials to Scindia kings and
queens. Throughout the city, there are these
reminders of a proud past, of the great men
and women of Gwalior who have their place in
the nation's roll of honour. |
|
Located near the Residency at Morar, the
newly constructed Sun Temple takes its
inspiration from the famous Konark Sun
Temple in Orissa. |
| |
|
Art
Galleries and Museums
The Gujari Mahal Archaeological
Museum
houses rare antiquities, some of
them dating back to the 1st century AD. 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, epitome of perfection in miniature.
The statue is kept in the custody of the
museum's curator, and can be seen on
request. The museum is open every day except
Monday, from 10 am to 5 pm.
The Kala Vithika
is another treasure
house of the arts. It remains closed on
Sunday and public holidays.
The Municipal
Corporation Museum,
which is open all
days except Mondays, has a very fine natural
history section. The old ancestral house of
the legendry Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan has
recently been converted into 'Sarod Ghar'
- Museum of Music
by the Ustad Hafiz Ali
Khan Memorial Trust under the patronage and
guidance of his great son and sarod maestro
Ustad Amzad Ali Khan. The museum has been
rebuilt keeping in mind the old traditional
architecture of Gwalior and houses in it
ancient instruments of the great Indian
Masters of yesteryears.
|
 |
|
| |
|
Gwalior
Zoo,
open every day from 8 am to
3 pm, has some rare species of Indian
wildlife kept in natural surroundings. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Excursions |
|
Datia
69 km
from Gwalior, on the Delhi-Chennai main line, Datia is a
town whose antiquity can be traced back to the
Mahabharata. A town of great historic significance,
Datia's seven-storeyed palace built entirely of stone
and brick by Raja Bir Singh Deo in 1614, is considered
to be one of the finest examples of Bundela architecture
in the country. Within the palace are some fine wall
paintings of the Bundela school. An interesting blending
of cultures can be seen in the frescoes in a temple;
Datia's other attraction is its imposing Gopeshwar
Temple.
Sonagiri
This
sacred Jain hill lies 3 km to the North West of Datia
and is 5 km from the railway station. There are 77 Jain
temples, built in rows on the hill and its slopes, and
date back to the 17th century. Of these the temple
dedicated to Chandranatha, the 8th of the 24
Tirthankaras, is quite a large one and the most
beautiful. A large annual fair is held here in the month
of Chaitra (April).
Pawaya
Known
as Padmavati in ancient times is a fascinating complex
of ruins, 68 km away, on the Gwalior-Jhansi road.
Pawaya's ruins still bear testimony to the days when it
was the capital of the Nag Kings, in 3 AD. Particularly
noteworthy is the lifesize statue of Chaksha Manibhadra
of 1 AD. The ruins of the medieval fort built by the
Parmars and the nearby Dhoomeshwar Mahadeo temple are
Pawaya's other attractions.
Kuno-Palpur Sanctuary, Chambal Ghariyal Sanctuary and
Ghatigaon Sanctuary - more info available in Wildlife
Guide section.
Tigra Dam
23 km.
A pictureque setting for recreation. |
|
|
|
|
|
How to Reach |
|
By Air :
Gwalior is connected with regular flights from Delhi & Bhopal.
By Rail :
Gwalior is on the Central Railway's main Delhi-Mumbai and
Delhi-Chennai lines. Among other major trains, the Shatabdi
and the Taj Express connect Gwalior with Delhi and Agra daily.
By Road
:
Gwalior
is connected by regular bus service with Agra, Mathura, Jaipur,
Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Bhopal, Chanderi, Indore, Jhansi,
Khajuraho, Rewa, Jabalpur, Ujjain and Shivpuri. |
|
|
Best
Season |
|
July to
March. |
|
|
Chat
