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Attractions in Gwalior
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Gwalior
Fort - The foundation of the Gwalior
Fort was laid by Raja Suraj Sen on the advise
of Sage Gwalipa some 1,000 years ago on a hill
where he was supposedly cured of his leprosy.
The Gwalior Fort occupies the whole of the enormous
rock it sits on. Some estimates claim that it
is the largest structure of its kind in the
world. The outer wall of the fort stands 3.2
km (2 miles) in length and 35 m in height. A
steep road winds upwards to the fort. On both
sides of the road, cut deep into the rock and
towering over the proceedings, are many Jain
statues. Some of these are two or three storeys
high and carved, in |
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some
cases, more than 2 m into the rock surface.
Gujari Mahal - Built by Raja Man Singh,
Gujari Mahal speaks of his love for his ninth
Gujar wife, Mrignayni. Today, it is a museum
and houses a very extensive collection of stone
carvings, many of them rare and exquisite. The
courage and beauty of Mrignayni and her love
for Raja Man Singh are today a part of popular
folk tradition.
Man Mandir Palace -
Man Mandir built by Man Singh Tomar between
1486 and 1516 is a delicate structure exhibiting
a sense of joy and abandon through use of colour,
motif, and design. This palace is also known
as the Chitra Mandir or the Palace of Paintings
because of the tiled and painted decorations
of peacocks and other birds. There are chambers
for affairs of state as well as those for relaxation,
adorned appropriately and ornately with carved
animals, flowers, and the human form.
Suraj Kund - Built
in the 15th century, references to the Suraj
Kund complex can be traced as far back as AD
425. Suraj Kund existed much before the city
of Gwalior and is considered the place where
Sage Gwalipa cured Suraj Sen of leprosy from
the waters of this pond.
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Teli
Ka Mandir - Contrasting with the predominant
North Indian style of architecture is the Teli-ka-Mandir.
This temple, built in the ninth century and
Dravidian in form, is believed to be the oldest
in the fort. The sculptures are distinctly North
Indian.
Tansen?s Tomb -
Adjacent to the tomb of Ghaus is another small
white, austere tomb. This is the memorial dedicated
to Tansen, a famed musician, and one of the
nine gems of Akbar's court. At this place is
held the annual Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, a world-renowned
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festival, which brings forth the essence of
Gwalior and her rich heritage of classical music.
Sas Bahu Ka Mandir -
The Sas-Bahu temples, in another part of the
fort, are not dedicated to a mother-in-law (Sas)
and daughter-in-law (Bahu) as is sometimes supposed.
Sas-Bahu is the name traditionally given to
two adjoining temples of different sizes. The
larger of the two is profusely sculpted with
graceful figures and intricate patterns. This
is apparent in the interior where, above the
sculpted walls and pillars, an elaborately carved
lotus adorns the roof.
Jai Vilas Palace and
Museum- Much of modern Gwalior is associated
with the Scindias who were prolific builders.
The Jai Vilas Palace at Lashkar is an opulent
Italianate structure, set in carefully laid
lawns. Part of the palace functions as residence
of the royal family while the other has been
converted into a museum that effectively documents
a more leisurely and princely lifestyle. The
museum exhibits, consisting of collections of
the Scindia family, include such things as chandeliers
weighing several tons, a silver toy train whose
wagons were used as serving dishes, and a glass
cradle from Italy used for the Lord Krishna
at Janmashtami. |
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Ghaus Mohammed?s Tomb
- At another point in the city is the
tomb of Mohammad Ghaus, a saint of the Islamic
faith of the 16th century. Although of little
importance from a historical perspective, the
sheer beauty of the tomb is breathtaking. The
stone carving for which the skilled artisans
of Gwalior were justly famous is apparent in
the huge panels of lacy screen work, which combine
with an interesting architectural design to
create a delicate appeal.
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