Gwalior Holiday

The historical city of Gwalior is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It was founded in the early 18th century by Ranoji Sindhia as a part of the Maratha confederacy. It is also famous as the city of the classical music maestro Miya Tansen and has derived its name from a sage Gwalipa. The place occupies a special mention in India's freedom struggle. The city also boasts of disparate schools and colleges famous throughout the country. Every year in the memory of Tansen a three days “Tansen Samaroh” takes place where several musical stars participate to entertain the people of Gwalior and other visitors as well. The Gwalior Trade Fair held during the months of December-January also pulls umpteen tourists to Gwalior. The city showcases a perfect blending of modernity and tradition.

Tourist Attractions
Gwalior Fort – The Gwalior Fort is one of the invincible forts of India. It was built in the 15th century by Raja Man Singh Tomar. The Fort has been a great witness to the ups and downs of many dynasties and kingdoms like: Mughals, Tomars, Lodhis and Marathas. The Gwalior Fort exhibits both Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture. The fort is encircled with strong and solid walls of around 10 metres in height and is spread over an area of 3 sq. km. The fort is the proud owner of three temples, six palaces and a number of water tanks. Man Mandir, Gujari Mahal, Jauhar Kind and Shah Jahan Mahal are some of the distinguished places inside the Gwalior Fort.
Man Singh Palace – Gwalior Fort holds a number of magnificent Palaces. These Palaces have been built by various kings during their reign. Amongst all of them Man Singh Palace is one of the most significant ones built by Maharaja Man Singh in the 15th century. It is said, that it was Man Singh Palace where Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb imprisoned and killed his brother. The Palace displays a colourful style of architecture. Also known as Chit Mandir, the palace is adorned with artistically tiled and various decorations of ducks, peacocks, elephants etc.

Saas Bahu Temples – It is the name given to two temples of different sizes located side by side. These two temples are built on two pillars. These pillars stand next to each other and one is larger than the other. The Saas Bahu Temples are the masters of great architecture. The carvings, the sculptures, art work are of a class. An intricately carved lotus adorns the roof of the temple.

Surya Mnadir– The Surya Mandir is one of the prime attractions of Gwalior. The temple is the replica of the famous Sun Temple of Konark in Orissa and has been built by one of the business tycoons G.D Birla.

State Archaeological Museum – This museum is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Gwalior. The museum was established in the year 1922 and has a vast collection of historically relevant materials.

Gujari Mahal – The architecture of Gujari Mahal is of a class and presents the spellbinding aesthetic sensibilities of Raja Man Singh. The palace has now been converted in to a museum and has a vast and good collection of Jain and Hindu artifacts.

Tansen Tomb – The Hindustani classical music maestro, Tansen's body lies buried in Gwalior. The tomb has been built in the Mughal architectural style. The tomb reflects the rich cultural heritage of Gwalior. It is also the venue of the Tansen Music Mahotsav held annually in the months of November- December.
Accommodation
Gwalior has a good variety of hotels from which a tourist can choose. The numerous hotels ranging from luxury to budget fit in to everyone's pocket. The hotels offer quality services and a peaceful environment for all the tourists. Some of the well known hotels of Gwalior are:

• Hotel Usha Kiran Palace (Heritage)
• Hotel Shelter (4 Star)
• Hotel Gwalior Regency (3 Star)
• Hotel Central Park (3 Star)

Shopping
Shopping in Gwalior is a worthwhile experience for the travellers. The city owns some of the oldest bazaars of Madhya Pradesh. The bazaars are flooded with items of royal touch and ones which claim to date back several centuries. The city is mostly famous for its Chanderi sarees. The fabric of the sarees are awesome and are designed by the traditional weavers. Shops near Laskar, Rajwara and Patankar Bazaar are known for their traditional souvenirs. Hand-woven carpets, wall hangings, jewellery and crafts of Gwalior are famous across the world for their traditional and authentic looks.

Best Season To Visit: September to February

How To Reach
Air : One can fly to Gwalior from Mumbai, Bhopal, Indore and Delhi.
Rail : The train services to Gwalior can be availed from Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Lucknow, Bhopal, Ujjain, Indore , Jhansi, Khajuraho and Shivpuri.
Road : Gwalior is well connected by a network of road from all the major places of Madhya Pradesh. A tourist can hire auto Rickshaws or taxis for moving around the in Gwalior.