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Gwalior Fort, Madhya
Pradesh
 The
history of Gwalior fort goes back to 1000 years, and inthis
period it has been annexed by many rulers including the Tomars,
Mughals, and the Britishers and lastly by Scindias. this fort
sprawls over the three kilometer long narrow out-crop of sandstone.
Its mighty turreted battlements encompass a number of palaces,
temples and several water tanks.
How
to get there:
Railhead: Gwalior
is on the main Delhi to Bombay railway line with connections
to most places.
Road: There are
regular bus services for:
- Agra.
- Jhansi.
- Shivpuri.
- Bhopal.
- Jabalpur.
Accomodations:
- Hotel Gwalior Regency.
- Usha Kiran Palace.
- Hotel Tansen.
The fort has been a mute witness to some of the final and
most dramatic events of the Mutiny, in mid 1858. Rani of Jhansi,
the heroine of the Indian independence, was killed here during
the final assault on the fort in 1858.
What to see:
- The ‘Gujuri Mahal’ was built by Raja Man Singh
to woo his favourite Rani " Mrignayani ". The
elegant sandstone palace now houses the Gwalior archeological
museum exhibiting sculpture, inscriptions, and paintings.
- ' The Man Mandir' is one of the finest Hindu palaces built
by Tomar ruler Man Singh, is also known as the 'Chit mandir'
or 'the painted palace' for the rich ceramic mosaics that
encrust its faηade.
- Next to 'Man Mandir' is the Vikram mandir and further
down the Karam mandir.
- The Teli-ka-mandir is the oldest surviving monument in
the fort.It consists of a huge rectangular sanctuary tower
capped with an unusual vaulted-arch roof.
- 'Suraj Kund'(water tank) a hundred meter long tank is
located at the north of the Teli-ka-mandir, whose magical
waters are supposed to have cured the tenth-century ruler
Suraj Singh, later Suraj Pal of leprosy.
- The large 'Jauhar Kund' where the women of the Parihar
court performed mass suicide by self immolation, to avoid
capture by enemies advancing armies.
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