A Gwalior Serenade

Best places to visit in Gwalior, sightseeing & tourist attractions in Gwalior

The past shadows one constantly in Gwalior, swathed as it is with memories of kings and their courtiers whose profligate lives prompted larger-than-life exploits. And their legacy is to be seen everywhere. The most awesome of these being Gwalior fort – two miles long and 35 ft high – said to be one of the most beautiful in India. Then there are grand palaces, museums, shrines of different faiths, Tansen tomb, colorful market places…

 

 

Map of Gwalior

 

Gwalior is located 320 km south of Delhi in north Madhya Pradesh; right in the centre of the head like projection of the state which butts into Rajasthan in the west and Uttar Pradesh in the east.

 

Why Gwalior : Places You Should Not Miss in Gwalior

Here is a city that has everything; grand palaces, forts, museums, temples, heritage sites, bustling markets… but most of all it has poise and grace. It is also the northern apex of the tourist triangle of north Madhya Pradesh wich includes Orcha to the southeast and Shivpuri to the southwest.

 

What to see and do in Gwalior: Tour package of Gwalior sightseeing spots

GWALIOR FORT

Raja Man Singh built the palace between 1486 and 1517, and with his prodigious appetite for the good things of life, he constructed exquisite chambers with julas or swings for his queens and underground swimming pools where they frolicked in privacy. Mughal Emperor Babar called this strong, sinewy bastion which seems to surge out of the landscape, “the pearl amongst the fortresses of Hind.”

There are some jewel-like temples in the fort like the Teli ka Mandir and Sas Bahu ka Mandir as well as the graceful Gurudwara Data Bandhi Chhod built in memory of Guru Hargobind Saheb, the Sikh Guru who was imprisoned here by Emperor Jehangir. At the base of the fort are a number of Jain shrines.

 

JAI VILAS PALACE MUSEUM

Some 35 rooms of the residence of the royal family have been turned into a museum and here one views an overwhelming collection of treasures which gives visitors a glimpse of the lifestyle of the time of kings and queens who lived life on an epic scale.

 

TANSEN TOMB

It is here that the great Tansen, father of classical Hindustani music, lies buried. His simple unostentatious tomb is more than a monument; it’s the heartbeat of the city’s living heritage and the scene of a rousing annual music festival. It is believed that if one eats the leaves of the tamarind tree that grows next to his tomb, one would warble like the maestro.

Located within the same complex is the more opulent mausoleum of the Afghan prince, Ghous Mohammed.

 

OTHER SIGHTS

Many of the road intersections have ornate cenotaphs or memorials to Scindia kings and queens as well as the warrior queen Rani of Jhansi.

Then there are a number of other museums like the The Gujari Mahal Archaeological Museum, The Municipal Corporation Museum which ahs a natural history section and the Museum of Music. And a zoo.

 

Local Languages: Hindi and English

 

Best time to visit: November to February, when the climate is at its best and the temperatures range from a minimum of 5* C to a maximum of 25* C.

March to June can get uncomfortably hot and the temperatures range between a minimum of 25* C to 38* C, touching 45* C at times. There is little respite during the monsoons (July to September)

 

Travel to Gwalior

AIR: Gwalior has its own airport

 

RAIL: Gwalior station lies on the Central Railway’s main Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Chennai lines. The Shatabdi and the Taj Express connect Gwalior with Delhi and Agra daily.

 

ROAD:

Distances from major cities in the region:

• Delhi 320km
• Agra 120 km
• Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh 420
• Jhansi 100 km
• Shivpuri 115 km

 

 

Excursions from Gwalior:  Sightseeing & Tourist Attractions in Gwalior 

Gwalior is the northern apex of MP’s golden triangle that includes Shivpuri National Park to the south east and Orchha to the south west. It can also be tagged on to Agra and Delhi as there are excellent super-fast train connections (Shatabdi and the Taj Express) between the three cities.

 

BATESHWAR TEMPLE 30 km

The ruins of the ancient temple complex are being excavated and reconstructed by the Archeological Survey of India and they give one an insight into the workings of a living jigsaw puzzle.

 

MITAOLI TEMPLE

This fascinating temple, a short drive from Bateshwar (see above) is the one which inspired British architects Baker and Lutyens when they design the Parliament House in Delhi.

 

THE JAIN TEMPLES OF SONAGIRI 75 km

Located on the road to Jhansi / Orchha, the Sonagiri hillock is encrusted with a number of Jain temples

 

DATIA 80 km

A charming little town on the road to Jhansi / Orchha where a grand palace – one that was never occupied – stands like a silent exclamation mark.

 

Hotels in Gwalior

In addition to properties of Madhya Pradesh Tourism there are a number of private hotels (including a palace hotel) and lodges that cater to all budgets.

 

Coorg Travel Packages:

 

Helpful Tips

• In keeping with the Tansen tradition of the city, the spa at the Taj Palace Usha Kiran Hotel can arrange for live musicians to perform behind a marble screen while you have your treatment.