|
|
Gwalior City is a District in Madhya Pradesh State
near Âgra. The new section of the city called Lashkar. Lashkar is few miles
South from the old city. It is the site of factories producing cotton, yarn,
paint, ceramics, chemicals, and leather products. The nucleus of Gwalior is
a citadel crowning an isolated rock about 91 m (300 ft) high, 3.2 km (2 mi)
long, and 823 m (2700 ft) wide. The rock is said to have been a strong hold
for more than Ten Centuries and Old city is located in the Eastern base of
the rock. The old city is covered with white sandstone Mosque, Palaces, rock
temples and statues of archaeological and architectural interest. The Jiwaji
University was built in Gwalior in the year 1964. Gwalior City was the
Capital of the princely State of Gwalior until 1948 and the summer Capital
of Madhya Bharat State from 1948 to 1956. When Madhya Bharat became part of
Madhya Pradesh, it become separate District. According to Census 1991,
population of the District was 692,982.
Gwalior's history is traced back to a legend in 8th century AD when a chief
tain known as Suraj Sen was struck by a deadly disease and cured by a
hermit-saint Gwalipa. As a gratitude for that incidence, he founded this
city by his name. The new city of Gwalior became existance over the
centuries. The cradle of great dynasties ruled the city Gwalior. With
different Dynasty, the city gained a new dimension from the warrior kings,
poets, musicians, and saints who contributed to making it renowned
throughout the country. The city is also the setting for the memorials of
freedom fighters such as Tatya Tope and the indomitable Rani of Jhansi.
Today the old settings stand side by side with the trappings of modernity.
| |
| |
HOW
TO REACH
By Air -
Gwalior has its own airport that is situated 8 km. from the main
city. Gwalior is connected by Indian Airlines to Mumbai, Bhopal,
Indore, and Delhi. The services are operational three days a week.
By Rail -
The Gwalior Railway Station lies within the city area. It is on the
main Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Chennai rail link. Among major trains,
the Taj and Shatabdi Express connect Gwalior with Delhi and Agra.
By Road -
Gwalior is very well connected by a network of roads and road
transport to all major towns of Madhya Pradesh and surrounding
areas. Gwalior is well linked with Agra (118 km), Mathura, Jaipur
(350 km), Delhi (321 km), Lucknow, Bhopal (423 km), Chanderi (239
km), Indore (486 km), Jhansi (101 km), Khajuraho (275 km), Ujjain
(455 km), and Shivpuri (114 km).
touristplacesinindia can arrange for you all types of land transport
for your comfortable journey in Gwalior and throughout the Indian
state of Madhya Pradesh.
WHEN TO GO
A historic event known as Gwalior Mela (Hindi), takes place every
year in winter and was started by Maharaja Scindia in 1905.Tansen
Music Festival is held every winter in the months of
November/December. The festival is a major cultural event, drawing
prominent performers and music lovers from all parts of the country.
The climate of Gwalior is extreme with hot summers and cold
winters. The maximum temperature during the summer months can touch
as high as 46°C, while in the winters it can go down to below 5°C.
Monsoon starts from the first week of June and remains there till
August/September.
|
WHAT TO SEE |
|
|
Sun Temple - Sun Temple was Constructed in
1988. It is inspired by architecture of the famous Konark Temple in
Orissa. Red stone has been used on exteriors and white marble on
interior. There is a beautiful sculpture of Lord Surya in the temple.
|
|
|
Sas Bahu Ka Madir-This is a 9th century temple.
The Sas-Bahu temple was probably called the Shashtra Bahu (another name
for Vishnu) temple. "The smaller one close to it was perhaps a Shiva
temple, but over the years this pair of temples whose carvings can be
compared to any of the great temples of India came to be known as the
"Sas-Bahu temples". In local language Hindi sas means mother-in-law and
bahu means daughter-in-law.
|
|
|
Mausoleum of Ghous Mohammed - The great, Ghous
Mohammed, whose mausoleum is laid near tomb of Tansen, was a Afghan
Prince turned sufi saint who had helped Babur to win the Gwalior fort.
His mausoleum is a typical Mughal architecture. Particularly interesting
are the hexagonal pillars and screens using pierced stone technique.
|
|
|
Man Mandir Palace - This marvelous palace was
built between 1486 and 1517 by Raja Man Singh of Tomar dynasty of
Gwalior. The palace has two underground floors. It consists of two open
courts surrounded by apartments with carved stones, pillars and
brackets. Six rounded towers of singularly pleasing design crowned with
cupolas relieve this 80 feet high structure. It is further complimented
by blue ceramic mosaic and petite trellis work. Vast chambers with fine
stone screens were once the music halls, and behind these screens, the
royal ladies would learn music from the maestro of the day. Former
Emperor Aurangzeb had imprisoned his brother here. Aurangzeb ordered
that his brother be killed by being put in to a big vessel containing
boiling oil. This place still has black walls for the aforesaid reason.
A magnificent 'Son-et-Lumiere' brings back all this alive in the
evening. Light and sound show or 'Son-et-Lumiere' in English is from
8:30 pm to 9:15 pm.
|
|
|
Gujri Mahal - The 15th century Gujari Mahal is a
monument to the love of Raja Mansingh for his Gujar queen, Mrignayani.
Today Gujari Mahal has one of the finest museums of sculptures dating
back to 1st century AD even though many of them have been defaced by the
Mughals, their perfection of form has survived the ravage 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
(timing of this museum is from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm daily except Monday).
|
|
|
Teli Ka Madir - This is a 11th century 70 feet
high temple. The temple was probably known as the Telengana temple. It
has a South Indian influence on its architecture especially on the roof,
which is Dravadian, though it's facade remains Indo-Ayran.
|
|
|
Archeological Museum - It has sculptures found
in Naresar, Batesar, Kherat, Ater(my maternal native place), Ranod,
Surwaya, Terahi and Padhawali. Sculptures are of Gurjar Pratihar period(
7th century AD to 10th century AD). These sculptures show the later
development of Gupta art. 17th century AD sculptures, from Ater are of
Bhadoria rulers, showing Hindu and Mughal art.
|
|
|
Jai Vilas Palace - This beautiful pure white
edifice patterned on the style of the 'Palais de Versailles' in France
combines Tuscan, Italian and Corinthian styles of architecture. The
palace has been partly converted into a museum for Royal memorabilia.
The rest of the part is the residence of Madhav Rao Scindia. The royal
Durbar Hall is a magnificent structure and taking support only from
columns on four sides. It also has the largest single piece carpet woven
right there in the hall by 12 weavers who took 13 years to complete it.
The ceiling of the Hall has a pair of the largest crystal chandeliers in
the world which were built in Belgium and bought in Paris each weigh 3.5
tones. The banquet hall below has the famous Royal Gwalior silver train,
which is infect, a liquor serving trolley.
|
|
|
Jain Sculptures - There are many impressively
big Jain sculptures, which were originally cut into the cliff faces in
the 15th century. They were defaced by Babur's forces and renovated
later. The images are in five main groups.
|
|
|
North-East Entrance - This is an entire sequence
of gates, the sixth gate- the Hawa Gate, the fifth gate- the Hathiya
Paur, the fourth gate-named after Lord Ganesha, the third gate-Badal
garh, the second gate-Bansur or Archer's Gate and the first gate-
Alamgiri Gate.
|
|
WHERE TO EAT
There are so many good restaurants with different delicacies, and all the
major hotels has their own specialty restaurant and bar.
TOP
|
|
