Gwalior
The timeless city-fortress

The majestic Gwalior Fort, which stands on a 3 km long plateau overlooking the city below, is a must-see. This 8th-century architectural marvel, which dominates the Gwalior skyline, seems to stand guard at one end of the city. The palaces, temples, and other buildings within the fort complex were built over the centuries and reflect the influence of different dynasties.
The most popular buildings are the Teli-Ka-Mandir and the Man Singh Palace. The Teli-Ka-Mandir temple, built in the Dravidian style, is covered with beautiful carvings. The tallest structure in the compound is the 30-meter high temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and probably built in the 9th century. It is also considered the oldest structure in the compound. The entrance tower, or gopuram, appears to be inspired by Dravidian architectural forms, while the carvings on the temple walls are from the north of the country. A gigantic image of Garuda, the mount of Lord Vishnu, can be a popular attraction.
The Man Singh Palace was built in the 15th century by King Man Singh, a Tomar ruler, and is distinguished by its brilliant blue tiles. The blue patterns, visible from afar on the facade of the fortress, are emblematic of the fort itself.
Interestingly, the magic of the fort begins long before you enter the complex, with several massive sculptures of Jain Tirthankaras carved into the rock walls in and around the fort. These imposing sculptures, built by the kings of the Tomar dynasty, offer benevolent smiles to walkers as they make their way to the fort’s main gate. The complex has nine large sculptures and many smaller ones, including an impressive 17-meter high standing representation of the main Tirthankara, Adinath.
It also houses the Gujari Mahal, built by Raja Man Singh for his beloved queen, Mrignayani. Other notable structures are the Karan Palace, the Jehangir Mahal, and the Shah Jahan Mahal, whose walls, windows, and arches are covered with fine latticework.
Stroll through the remains of these palaces, passing the washing area, where kings and queens are said to have cooled off during the hot summer months. Nearby you will find the Jauhar Kund, a tank where the women of the royal house immolated themselves (Jauhar) in 1231 when Gwalior was about to be captured by Sultan Iltutmish. The fort also houses the famous Scindia School.

The Gujari Mahal is a sprawling palace located inside the fort of Gwalior. It was built by Raja Man Singh in the 15th century as a token of affection for his Gujar queen, Mrignayani, who was the daughter of a milkman. Legend has it that the king fell in love with the doe-eyed Mrignayani during a search. She agreed to marry him on the condition that the king would build her a palace with an endless water system from the Rai River. The exterior structure of the palace remains almost intact, while inside it is a museum that houses a huge collection of terracotta artifacts, replicas of the Bagh cave frescoes, archaeological evidence from the 1st and 2nd centuries BC, and non-secular scriptures.

The Jai Vilas Palace and Museum, a magnificent creation in white, is a spectacular European-style castle located in the heart of Gwalior. The palace, which is rich in every aspect, contains several unique artifacts belonging to the private collection of the former rulers of Gwalior. The style of the palace, designed by British Lieutenant Colonel Sir Michael Filose under the aegis of Maharaja Jayaji Rao Scindia in 1874 at a cost of one million rupees, draws on several European architectural styles. The first floor of the palace is in Tuscan style, the second floor is in Italo-Doric style and the third floor is in Corinthian style. The Durbar Hall’s interior glitters with gold and gilt and boasts two gigantic chandeliers and one of the largest carpets in Asia. It is said that eight elephants were suspended from the hall’s ceiling to see if it could support the weight of these two chandeliers weighing 3.5 tons. The banquet hall is also prized for its miniature silver train that ran on a track attached to a large board, carrying cognac and cigars after the meal. This palace also had a set of solid crystal furniture and was accessed by a staircase with crystal balusters. In the museum, there are about 35 rooms of the palace and among other objects from the collection of the royal family, there is a section dedicated to transportation, which includes a silver buggy, a silver chariot, palanquins, and old luxury cars. There are also rare paintings by Indian and European masters. Lithographs of Napoleon and Tipu Sultan are some of the rarest collections of the family that is displayed in the museum.

In the heart of a lush green compound next to the resplendent tomb of the Sufi saint Mohammed Ghaus, lies the small and simple tomb of the iconic musician Tansen. The tomb of Tansen (1500-1586), one of the nine jewels in the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar, was among India’s finest musicians. The tomb remains a place of interest for music lovers and those fascinated by history. The singer, it is said, could create magic with his voice, so that clouds were tempted to rain and even animals were enchanted. The musician Tansen learned serious Hindustani music from Mohammad Ghaus and developed the Gwalior Gharana music genre. He is also a proponent of Dhrupad music, which does not seek to entertain but to bring the listener peace and an atmosphere of contemplation. The famous Tansen music festival is held every year in November at the tomb.