ABOUT GWALIOR

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Gwalior is one of the oldest city of central India and is known 
for its cultural and heritage in Madhya Pradesh.For a long time 
Gwalior served as a land for Saints, Artists and Heroes. Archit
_ecture and music of Gwalior is well known around the world.
Gwalior was established by Kacchwa King Suraj Sen way back in 
5th century in respect of the Saint Named Galav who cured him 
of leprosy. By the Saints order the King established Gwalior 
Fort and few lakes on Gopa Gir Mountain where today’s fort is 
standing. Various writers of the past named the mountain as 
“Gopagir”, “Govardhan” and “Gopanchal” .Babar called this fort 
as the “Pearl in the neck-less of fortress of India “. Gwalior 
fort was also called Gibraltar of India. As no one can persuade
 Europe without winning Gibraltar, in the same way South India 
is unreachable without passing through Gwalior Fort. During the 
Tomar Era many architectural constructions did here in which 
Maan mandir and Gujri mahal are noteworthy. Even today the Gwalior
Fort is standing with his splendour and glory.
Gwalior is not only rich in arts, architecture and heritage as 
economic point of view Gwalior is advanced from the past. Abul 
Fazal wrote in his book” Aine – Akbari” that Gwalior was the hub 
of mining, metal and stone industry. When akbar constructed Fatehpur 
Sikri the sculptress were called from Gwalior itself. Gwalior got 
its first train as Gwalior Light Railway in 1905 and this project 
was started to give peoples jobs when they were facing severe drought 
of the century. Before freedom many industries were set up in Gwalior 
in which Gwalior leather factory ,Gwalior Potteries and Gwalior 
Engineering works were established in 1912, East India Carpet factory 
in 1920 ,DRDE in 1925 ,Imperial match company in 1933 ,cement factory 
Cimmco birla ltd, Gwalior rayons (Later called Gwalior suitings), JC 
Mills(Jayaji Rao cotton Mills) are famous. Gwalior trade fair started 
in 1905 is also one of the oldest trade fairs of the country

The reign of the Mughals over Gwalior did not last long. 
With the third battle of Panipat, the kingdom went in the 
hands of the Jats with Lokandra Singh. In 1765, Gwalior 
was regained by the Scindhia clan under the aegis of Mahadji 
Scindhia. The soldiers of the kingdom contributed significant
_ly in the first freedom struggle of India.Gwalior along with 
Indore,Malwa and some other provinces merged together to form 
the Madhya Pradesh state in 1948.By this time,India has become 
a sovereign democracy and so Jiwajirao  Scindhia was  made the 
chief of the State. Still the Scindhias are the King of the pre
_sent day Gwalior city with Jyotiraditya Scindhia, though the 
rule of monarchy no more exists.


 
The city of Gwalior experiences extremes in temperature owing to 
its landlocked location.The summers are scorching while the winters 
are chilling in Gwalior.Due to its location in the rain shadow zone, 
Gwalior receives little rainfall.The city has a population of 1629881 
heads and the literacy rate ranges from 80.83% among the male to about
56.76% among the females.The city of Gwalior is known for its magnific
_ent fort, the palace of the Scindhias and the tombs of Ghaus Mohmmed 
and the music maestro Miya Tansen. Situated in the Chambal river valley, 
Gwalior is easily accessible from the major cities of India and well 
connected by various means of transportation. It is situated at a distance
of 121 km from Agra and 321 km from the Indian capital of New Delhi.

GWALIOR FORT:

Gwalior Fort is one of the biggest fort in central Indian 
state of Madhya Pradesh.It was built in around 8th century 
on an isolated hillock overlooking the Gwalior town.The 
Gwalior Fort its premises are well maintained and have many 
historic monuments, Hindu and Jain temples and palaces,out 
of which the famous are the Man Mandir palace, The Gujari 
Mahal, The Jahangir Mahal, the Karan palace and the Shahjahan 
Mahal.The Fort spreads over an area of 3 square kilometer (1. 
sq mi). The fort, 35 feet (11 m) in height, is built over massive 
sandstone rocks. The main entrance or gate, called Hathi Pul 
(means “elephant gate” as elephant could pass through this gate), 
is accessed after passing through six other gates. Apart from the 
Hathi Pul gate to the Palace, there is another large ornate gate,
known as the Badalgarh Gate.



Gwalior Fort was constructed in two parts-The main fort, the Gurjari 
Mahal and Man Mandir Palace. The first part was built during the early 
Tomar rule, while the second part, the Gurjari Mahal and palace, were 
constructed by Raja Man Singh Tomar in the 15th century.From the Tomars 
it passed to the Mughals, Marathas and the British. The Gwalior Fort 
finally went to the Scindias from the British. The Teli-ka-Mandir is the
most famous of all the temples of the Gwalior Fort. this temple was built
in the Dravidin style shrine and is notable for its generously sculpted 
exterior.Man Mandir The prison dungeon is also located below this palace 
where many royal prisoners of the Mughal dynasty were incarcerated and 
killed.

Gujari Mahal, a palace that was built by Raja Man Singh for love of his 
wife Mrignayani, a Gujar princess, because she demanded a separate palace 
for herself with regular water supply through an aqueduct structure built
from a nearby river source called the Rai River.

Tourist Places in GWALIOR recommended by travellers

1. Gwalior Fort

2. Ghaus's Tomb enclave

3. Italian Garden enclave.

4. Samadhi of Rani Laxmi Bai

5. Gwalior Zoo

6. Sarod Ghar

7. Chhatris of Scindia Dynasty

8. Gurudwara Data Bandi Chod

9. Gopachal Parvat

10.Koteshwar