A king named Suraj Sen once ruled the city of Gwalior. He was diagnosed with an incurable disease. But fortunately, a sage named Gwalipa cured the king! In gratitude towards the sage, the king built a monument which was destined to gain immense popularity, not only in Gwalior but all over the country! Yes, we are talking about the magnificent Gwalior Fort, a place showcasing a rich history and brilliant architecture!
The fort remained in the king’s family for 83 generations and was later passed from one dynasty to another, adding more and more historical importance to itself. And during all those years in the possession of different kings, many palaces and monuments were built inside the fort complex, adding more beauty to its architecture! Today the fort stands tall with all its might and definitely is one of the best places to visit in Gwalior as well as India.
With so much to explore at the Gwalior famous fort, a trip here must be in your travel diaries, whether you are a history buff, an architecture enthusiast or simply, an ardent traveller! So, we say, go ahead, get the flight ticket and book any of the hotels or resorts in Gwalior. And to help you out with the planning here goes a complete guide to the Gwalior Fort!
Obviously, you will have to reach Gwalior first. From the Gwalior airport as well as from the Gwalior railway station, you can take an auto-rickshaw or taxi to the fort! But, here is the catch! The fort has two entry gates, the northeastern gate and the southwestern gate! You have to decide from which one you want to enter. Before you decide, here is what you need to know!
Vehicles are not allowed to enter this gate. If you enter through this gate, you will have to get down from your vehicle and then hike to the fort. So, if you are feeling a little sporty, this gate is your match. Also, if you want to see all the amazing monuments at this old Gwalior fort, you should definitely take this gate.
You can go through this gate in a vehicle and then get down at the fort parking area. So, you will not have to walk for long to see the fort. We will suggest you enter through this gate if you are with little kids or senior people.
While you visit here, remember the place remains open from 5 am to 6.30 pm. If you book any of the hotels in Gwalior near the fort complex, we will definitely suggest you go for a morning walk to the fort. You will have a nice time exploring the fort in the fresh morning air!
When you visit this fort at Gwalior, make sure to keep some time in your hand because there are many places that you must see! Also, depending on which gate you are entering, you can explore the places here in a certain order. For example, here we will enter from the northeastern gate and explore the places on our way towards the southwestern gate!
Enter through the northeastern gate and the first attraction that will welcome you to the fort is this museum. Raja Man Singh built the Gujari Mahal for his beautiful queen Mrignayani. The queen was a Gujar Princess and hence the name. The queen’s former residence has been turned into a museum, where you will see many Jain sculptures and rare artefacts from the 1st and 2nd century BC
Our next stop is this ancient temple. Carved out from a single rock in the 9th century, this temple got its name as it was dedicated to Lord Vishnu’s form with four arms. In comparison to the other monuments within the fort complex, this temple is small but that doesn’t make it any less popular among tourists. And what makes it a must-have in most visitors’ lists is the most ancient inscription of ‘zero’ in the country.
Walk a few steps from the Chaturbhuj Temple and you will be in front of a stunning palace highlighted with the colours blue, yellow and green. As you might have already guessed, king Man Singh of the Tomar dynasty built this monument. The architecture lover in you will surely find heaven here. The monument showcases Hindu architecture beautifully. And if you look closely, you can see the influence of Chinese architecture as well!
After the Man Singh Palace, you will be seeing many mahals, one after another, nesting elegantly inside the fort. The first two of them are the Jahangir Mahal and the Shah Jahan Mahal built by the two Mughal emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan. You can also spot the Vikram Mahal built by King Vikramaditya Singh and the Karan Mahal built by King Karan Singh. All these mahals are surely a treat for the eyes!
Now we are approaching the main fort complex! And the first place waiting for us there is the Assi Khamba ki Baori. Before you ask, baori means well. This well is surrounded by 80 large pillars. Just like the famous Man Singh Palace, this well is painted with bright colours and looks just exquisite!
After exploring the baori and the many mahals, we will be much closer to the southwestern gate, but we are yet to see some other gems at this fort. One among them is the Sas Bahu Temple. Two temples, the large one named Sas Temple and the small one named Bahu Temple, are in ruins but their rustic beauty is quite enjoyable!
There is another temple that you must pay a visit to, Teli ka Mandir. This temple was originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu but later was restored as a Shiva temple. The key attraction here has to be a charming blend of North Indian and South Indian architecture.
Just opposite the Teli ka Mandir is another sight to behold! We are talking about the Gurdwara Data Bandi Chhor. There is a fascinating story behind this Gurudwara. It goes something like this. The Sikh’s sixth Guru was imprisoned by Jahangir. Later Jahangir decided to set the Guru free. At that time, 50 kings were also imprisoned within the fort. The Guru requested Jahangir to free the kings as well. Jahangir agreed but had one condition. The kings will be freed only if they could hold on to the Guru while leaving the prison. The Guru had a special cloak stitched and all the kings held a part of the cloak and got out. The Gurudwara was associated with the Guru’s imprisonment and freedom.
We are almost at the southwestern gate. But before we leave the fort complex, here is our final stop, the beautiful sculptures of Jain Tirthankara! These sculptures perfectly display Jain iconography. All these sculptures, some in standing positions and some in seated positions are quite captivating and will conclude your Gwalior Fort trip perfectly.
We are guessing that you have already started packing your bags and getting ready for your trip to Gwalior Fort. So, wishing you a happy journey!
