The royal city of Gwalior lies in the heart of Madhya Pradesh. It is distinguished by its majestic splendor, especially its hilltop fort and the resplendent Jai Vilas Palace. The city of Gwalior is also the gateway to the wild heart of India, where several dense forests and tiger reserves are hidden. Interestingly, the history of Gwalior is rooted in legend. Legend has it that in the 8th century, a ruler of the region, Suraj Sen, fell ill and was in critical condition when Gwalipa, a hermit, nursed him back to health. In return, as a sign of gratitude, Suraj Sen built a city and named it after the saint.
The city of Gwalior is famous for its great hilltop fort, described by the Mughal emperor Babur as “the pearl of the fortresses of India”, as well as for its incomparable reputation for Indian classical music.
It is also known for its unparalleled reputation in the field of sangeet. Over the years, Gwalior has preserved the Indian traditions and thus the richness of the music. It has kept the Indian traditions, and thus the richness of the music, intact over the years. Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest traditions and therefore the one to which most Indian classical musicians can trace the origin of their style. Its legendary musicians such as Tansen and Baiju Bawara belonged to Gwalior.
It has been the settlement center of various dynasties like the Kachchhapaghatas, Tomars, Mughals, Marathas, and Scindias. It has also witnessed several wars, the most famous of which was the fierce battle between the British and Indians under the leadership of Tatya Tope and Rani Lakshmi Bai, the queen of Jhansi, who was martyred at this place. The folklore of the region still abounds with legends about Tatya Tope and Lakshmi Bai.