One day trip to Gwalior #QuickTrip

Tripoto
23rd Feb 2020

We took a train from Agra on Sunday at 8 am and reached Gwalior around 9:30 am. Then decided to explore the city through google and locals. So we started with the Gwalior Fort which is a huge sight from outside. The tourists are taken from the other route of the fort that has Jain gods carved in the rocks. The main front door is on other side and is good for ones coming on foot. What all we saw was the various divisions of Mughal and Hindu rulers in the fort, the Man Mandir, the private den of Scindia's and Rani Laxmi bai, the Johar kund, the temples inside the main fort and outside in the campus. Then we heeded to the Jai Vilas Palace. Only the museum part is available to see which showcases all the luxury creations of artists around the world that Maharaja Jiwaji Rao Scindia loved to collect and the grandeurs of the famous Darbar Hall. Then we had lunch and heeded to the Sun Temple. Since the tourist spots close at 4 pm, the last one we could visit for the day was the Tomb of Tansen which also includes the shrine of his teacher Mohammad Ghaus. We came back the same day so did not stay in any hotel for the night. OYO hotels are available for the night stay and other cheap options are also there. Otherwise there is Radisson, Country Inn for luxury stays.

Gwalior Fort. Open 6am to 5:30 pm then later is the light and sound show about the history of the fort in Hindi and English separately. Ticket price is I believe Rs75 for above 15 yrs and free below that. The Man Singh Palace is included in the ticket along with gurudwara and the other two temples.

Photo of Gwalior Fort, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India by Arooshi jain

The Johar Kund in Gwalior Fort. The Hindu ladies performed Johar when Muslims invaded the fort and after that it was used as a water reservoir for the Mughals and other successors of the fort.

Photo of Gwalior Fort, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India by Arooshi jain

Jai Vilas Palace belongs to the Scindia heritage. The left part is converted to museum for tourists from 10am-5pm and right part is the private residence to the current generation of the family. The ticket price for the museum is Rs60 for Indians and you get a locker to keep your bags and extras.

Photo of Jai vilas mahal, Lashkar, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India by Arooshi jain

The famous Darbar Hall of the palace built in all its luxury depicting the grandeur of the palace and its king. With worlds largest chandeliers above and Asia's biggest carpet on the floor (built by prisoners of the fort), it proves the famous Hindi quote "shauk badi cheez hai".

Photo of Jai vilas mahal, Lashkar, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India by Arooshi jain

The Sas-Bahu temple originally called as Sahastrabahu temple is again of the architectural admirations in the fort campus but sadly ignored in terms of care and maintenance.

Photo of Sas Bahu Temple, Gwalior Fort, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India by Arooshi jain

This Sun temple in Gwalior is said to be like the other one in Odisha. Beautiful from inside and outside and well maintained.

Photo of Sun Temple Gwalior, Residency Road, Mahaveer, Morar, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India by Arooshi jain

The entrance to Tomb of Tansen in Gwalior. On the front is the shrine of his teacher Mohammad Ghaus where you offer your prayers. On the right in this picture is Tansen's Tomb along with several other tombs behind this (kind of like a graveyard with tombs). This closes at 4pm so plan accordingly.

Photo of Tomb of Tansen, Tansen Nagar, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India by Arooshi jain