Gwalior Fort

By Sanjeev Nayyar Sanjeev@esamskriti.com | 2008

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The earliest historical mention of the fort is found in an inscription on a sun temple i.e. 525 a.d. A total of 110 kings ruled over it spread over five dynasties i.e. Kachhawaha Rajputa, Tomar, Lodhi, Mughal and Scindia-1777. The outer wall of the fort stands two miles in length, 35 feet high. The fort wall has a 10 km radius. Extreme left is Sas Bahu temple. Far end is a Gurudwara. You see the eastern entrance to the fort.

You can enter the fort from the Gwalior Gate (i.e. steep climb) or the Urvayu Gate i.e. a car takes you uphill on a tarred road. You see the steep path that has six fortified gateways. The fort is situated on the Gopachal mountain, has 10 gates of which only two are operational. It has eight tanks, six palaces and six temples.

At the foothills of the fort Gwalior Gate side is the Gurjari Mahal. You see entrance to the Mahal. Raja Mansingh Tomar made this palace for his queen Mrignayani, a Gurjar lady, in the 15th century.

You see an overview of Gurjari Mahal that was clicked from top of the fort.

You see a close up of palace entrance. Left hand side see fort top. I clicked the earlier picture from there. The Mahal is converted into an Archaeological Museum (houses rare antiquities). It is open from 10 am to 5pm.

Eastern side of fort clicked while walking up. Older than the city is the Suraj Kund within the fort walls, the original pond where Suraj Pal was cured by the Maharishi Gwalpa. According to tradition, Surajpal a Rajput chieftain who suffered from leprosy was out hunting and became separated from his followers. Climbing to the summit of the cliff he met an ascetic Maharishi Gwalpa who gave the thirsty chief water from the tank near his hut.

A close up of the external walls of the Man Singh Palace. There is a Scindia School within the fort. To read more visit Travelogue section.

A close up of main entrance to the fort from the eastern side. When you drive up to the fort it is flanked by icons of Jain tirthankaras carved into the rock surface.

Stone Inscription outside the Man Singh Palace.

On entering the fort from the gate that you saw earlier, come into a large open area that you see. The chhatri that you see right in front on an elevated level is where the Raja sat. The area behind that is where the subjects sat and today a Light & Sound Show is held.

A close up of the walls of the Man Singh Palace. Top you see two elephants. In between are peacocks. At the last level you see crocodiles.

A close up of crocodiles.

We then entered the main palace from inside. It is huge. You see the Dancing Hall.There a total of 4 storeys on the palace of which 2 storeys are underground. The plan on the third storey consists of two courtyards and various rooms supported by different decorated pillars and brackets.

You see our guide Jagdish against the backdrop of Brahmaji ka Srishti Rachna Chakra. He is very knowledgeable. Inspite of being affected by polio he walks around briskly. Pay app Rs 250/ for a round of the fort.

This gate leads to an underground tunnel that takes you to Jhansi. Also underground is the Jauhar Pond where per Rajput tradition the queens committed mass sati after their consorts were defeated in battle.

This picture was clicked in Jhansi Fort. This path takes you to Gwalior.

You see me and wifey enjoying the Light & Sound Show at the fort. It starts at 7.30, has voice of Amitabh Bachchan and is a must see.

There is Jahangir/Shahjahan Mahal etc but they are in ruins. These were made to commemorate their visits. When you come out of the Palace there is a huge hall with pillars i.e. what you see. It was a Shivji ka Mandir (temple) but later on converted into a prison.

You see Sas Bahu Mandir (temple). The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu (measures 102 by 74 feet) built in the 11th century by Raja Mahipal. In the 17th century 350 statues were destroyed by Aurangzeb. Also see the Telikhama temple that made by Raja Padampal in the 9th century is app 1200 years old.

You see Gurudwara Data Bandhi Chhod built in the memory of the 6th Sikh Guru Hargobind Singh who was imprisoned by Mughal Emperor Jahangir for two years and three months.

Another view of Gwalior Fort

Another view of Gwalior Fort

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