Gwalior Travel Guide

§ The Fort
For over 100 years this fort has been over looking the city of Gwalior. One of the most invincible forts in India, this imposing citadel has changed many hands but has rarely been captured.

§ Jai Vilas Palace
Built in 1809, this palace is located in new city of Gwalior. It is house of the present Maharaja of Gwalior.

§ Mausoleum of Ghaus Mohammed
Ghaus Mohammed, whose sand stone mausoleums is laid in the old town of Hazira, was a Afghan Prince turned sufi saint who had helped Babur to win the Gwalior fort. His mausoleum is designed on early Mughal architectural lines. Particularly exquisite are the screens using pierced stone technique. The carvings on these screens are as delicate as lace.

§ Sun Temple
This newly constructed temple is based on the lines of the Konark temple. It is located near the Residency at Morar.

§ Tomb of Tansen
Father of Indian classical music and one of the nine Gems in Akbar's court is buried in Gwalior. The memorial of this great singer carriers a very simple tone in itself and is surrounded by gardens on its sides. This monument is a part of Gwalior's cultural heritage. Every year a music festival is organised here. The festival is held in November / December and attracts singers and musicians from all over India.

§ Shivpuri
Shivpuri was summer capital of the Scindias and is 122 kms on the Mumbai - Agra highway. Shivpuri has numerous palaces and lakes which reminds of the splendour this place must have seen during the rein of Scindias.

§ Datia
A town of the Mahabharata period, Datia is 69 kms from Gwalior on the way to Chennai. Datia is historically very important. The seven storied palace built in brick and stone by Raja Bir Singh Deo is one of the finest example of Bundela architecture. This palace was built in 1614. The palace houses some of the fine Bundela paintings. The imposing Gopinath temple is a confluence of cultures with Mughal frescoes adorning the temple.

§ Orchha
Orchha was once the capital of Bundela Rajput and later it came under the Mughals. It is 120 kms on the road to Khajuraho and has not been touched by destructive hands of time. For more information on the Orcha ruins Click Here.

§ Dholpur
On the way to Agra is a small tract of Rajasthani land which is called Dholpur. It was here that sons of Aurangzeb fought battle for succession. The battle was fought for the control of a declining Mughal empire. The Shergarh fort here is in ruins now. The Khanpur Mahal was built by Shah Jahan but it was never occupied.

§ Narwar
122 kms from Gwalior is another fort city called Narwar. This city was capital of Raja Nal. His love for Damayanti has been moulded into ballads and stories which form legends of the region. The town is dominated by a fort 500m above the town. The fort and palaces of Narwar are built in Rajput style. The flat ceilings, fluted columns and the many arches with interiors decorated with glass beads are typical in construction.

§ Chanderi
This place is famous for sarees which have fascinated the Indian lady since ages. Chanderi is 239 kms from Gwalior and is surrounded by forests, hills and lakes. Though the craft from Chanderi is very famous, the architecture of the area are in no way less imposing. The architecture here is influenced by the Bundela Rajputs and the Sultan of Malwa. In 1445 Mohammed Khilji built the Koshak Mahal on lines of Mandu architecture. The Jama Masjid , Shahzadi ka Rouza and Battisi Bandi were all built by the Sultans of Malwa in the 15th century. Chanderi also came up as pilgrimage center with the coming up of Jain temples in the 9th and 10th century. The picturesque Parameshwa Tal was built by the Bundelas and has a temple complex around it.

§ Pawaya
The ancient city of Padmawati is fascinating city of ruins. It is 68 kms from Gwalior on the Jhansi road. In the 3rd century Pawaya was the capital of Nag kings. The life size statue of Chaksha Manibhadra dates back to 1 A.D. The Parmars built the fort and the nearby Dhoomeshwar Mahadeo temple which are the main attractions of Pawaya.

§ Tigra Dam
A picnic spot which is 23 kms from the Gwalior City.