Gwalior (Hindi:IPA:[ɡʋɑːlɪjəɾ],pronunciationⓘ) is a major city in the central Indian state ofMadhya Pradesh. It is known as the Music City of India[7][8] having the oldestmusical gharana in existence. It is a major sports, cultural, industrial, and political centre in Madhya Pradesh. Gwalior is among the seven cities selected for new startup centres under India's growing innovation ecosystem.[9] On World Cities Day (31 October 2023), UNESCO Director - GeneralAudrey Azoulay announced Gwalior's inclusion among 55 newworld creative cities in the UCCN fromIndia.[10] This tag elevates Gwalior's identity internationally, spotlighting its artists, music traditions and vibrant culture. It lies in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh and is one of theCounter-magnet cities. Located 313 kilometres (194 mi) south ofNew Delhi, the capital city of India and 446 kilometres (277 mi) fromBhopal, the state capital, Gwalior occupies a strategic location in theGwalior Chambal region of India. The grand historic city and its fortress have been ruled by several Indian kingdoms. From theAlchon Huns in the 5th century AD toGurjara Pratihara dynasty in the 8th century AD. It was passed on toKachchhapaghatas in the 10th century AD. Later it fell into the hands of theDelhi Sultanate in the 12th century AD, it was then passed on to theTomars in the 13th century AD who were the vassal rulers of the Delhi Sultanate.
TheMughal Empire conquered the city and its fortress in the 16th century AD. When the Mughal Empire was declining, it fell into the hands ofJat rulers, then to theEnglish in 1730, and last it was passed on to theScindia Dynasty ofMaratha Empire in the early 18th century.[11]
Gwalior was the capital ofMadhya Bharat from 1948 till 1956 and Moti Mahal was made the legislative assembly.[13]
Gwalior was one of the major locations of rebellion during the1857 uprising. DuringBritish Raj Gwalior became winter capital of Central India Agency. Post Independence Gwalior was made the capital of the state ofMadhya Bharat from 1948 till 1956 which later became a part of the larger state of Madhya Pradesh.[14] Prior toIndian independence on 15 August 1947, Gwalior remained a princely state of theBritish Raj with theScindia as the rulers.
Besides being the administrative headquarters ofGwalior district andGwalior division, Gwalior has many administrative offices of theChambal division of northern Madhya Pradesh. Several administrative and judicial organisations, commissions and boards have their state and national headquarters situated in the cityPost-independence, Gwalior has emerged as an important industrial and tourist attraction in central India, while many industries and administrative offices came up within the city. Before the end of the 20th century, it became a million plus agglomeration and now it is a metropolitan city in central India. Gwalior is surrounded by industrial and commercial zones of neighbouring districts (Malanpur –Bhind,Banmore –Morena) on all three main directions.
High rocky hills surround the city from all sides, on the north it just forms the border of the Ganga-Yamuna Drainage Basin. The city however is situated in the valley between the hills. Gwalior's metropolitan area includesLashkar, Old City (Fort City),Gwalior West,Gwalior East, Greater Gwalior, andMorar Cantonment.[4] In April 2021, it was found that Gwalior had the best air quality index among the four major cities inMadhya Pradesh.[15] Gwalior has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as asmart city underPM Narendra Modi's flagshipSmart Cities Mission.[16]
Gwalior derived its name from theGwalior Fort itself, which was earlier known as Gopgiri, Gop Parvat (Shepherd's Hill) or Gopachal duringGupta period. In ancient time this region was known asGopashetra roughly translated to "the land of Gopis" or "the land associated to Cowherds". The name is believed to have connections with the Gopis (the cow herdesses or cowherds girls) of theLord Krishna mythology. It is said that the area was once inhabited by cowherds and associated with pastoral activities, especially in the times ofMahabharata. This may refer to the cultural or historical ties withLord Krishna worship, which had an influence on the region. Gwalior was the major commercial and trade route duringSamudragupta reign. According to some legends, Gwalior was founded in 600 CE (early 5th Century) after a local chieftain,Suraj Sen, who was cured of leprosy from a drink given to him by a hermit namedGwalipa. Suraj subsequently set up a city and fort and named them after Gwalipa.[17]
The earliest historical record found at Gwalior is theGwalior inscription of theAlchon Hun rulerMihirakula. It describes Mihirakula's fatherToramana (493–515) as "a ruler of the earth, of great merit, who was renowned by the name of the glorious Tôramâna; by whom, through (his) heroism that was specially characterized by truthfulness, the earth was governed with justice", and his Mihirakula as "the lord of the earth" as of 520 CE.
In 1231Iltutmish, ruler of theMamluk dynasty of theDelhi Sultanate, captured Gwalior after an 11-month-long effort and from then till the 13th century it remained under Muslim rule. In 1375, Raja Veer Singh was made the ruler of Gwalior and he founded the rule of theTomar clan. During those years, Gwalior saw its golden period. The Jain Sculptures atGwalior Fort were built under Tomar rule.Man Singh Tomar a TomarRajput made his dream palace, theMan Mandir Palace which is now a tourist attraction at Gwalior Fort.[18] Babur described it as "the pearl in the necklace of forts ofIndia and not even the winds could touch its masts". The daily light and sound show organised there apprise about the history of the Gwalior Fort and Man Mandir Palace. By the 15th century, the city had a noted singing school which was attended by the prominent figure of Hindustani classical music,Tansen. After death of Mughal EmperorAurangzeb theJat rulerBhim Singh Rana captured Gwalior fromMughals.[19] Later in the 1740s, theScindia Dynasty captured Gwalior from theJats. It remained aprincely state during the period of British rule.
Gwalior was major centre in the1857 rebellion, mainly because ofRani Lakshmibai. After Kalpi (Jhansi) fell into the hands of the British on 24 May 1858, Lakshmibai sought shelter at Gwalior Fort. The Maharaja of Gwalior, was not willing to give up his fort, but after negotiations, his troops capitulated and the rebels took possession of the fort. The British swifty charged against Gwalior in no time, the battle was fought by Lakshmibai.[21] Indian forces numbered around 20,000, and British forces around 1,600 troops. Lakshmibai's example is remembered to this day by Indian nationalists. She died fighting in Gwalior. There is a statue erected at the cenotaph (Samadhi) of Lakshmibai on her horse at Chhatri of Rani Lakshmibai[22] in Gwalior's Phoolbagh area where she died and was cremated which commemorates her contribution to the fight for independence.Tantia Tope and Rao Sahib escaped.[23] Tantia Tope was later captured and hanged in April 1859.
The Maharaja of Gwalior Before His Palace, by Edwin Lord Weeks. c. 1887
Scindia is a Maratha clan in India. This clan included rulers of theGwalior State in the 18th and 19th centuries, who were aprincely state during the period of British colonial rule until Indian independence. During independence, the clans became involved in politics.
Map of the city, ca 1914
The Scindia state[24] of Gwalior became a major regional power in the second half of the 18th century and figured prominently in the threeAnglo-Maratha Wars. (Gwalior first fell to the British in 1780.) The Scindias held significant power over many of theRajput states, and conquered the state of Ajmer. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the city was briefly held by rebel forces in 1858 until they were defeated by the British.[25] The Scindia dynasty ruled Gwalior until India's independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, when theMaharajaJiwajirao Scindia acceded to the Government of India. Gwalior was merged with a number of other princely states to become the new Indian state of Madhya Bharat. Jivajirao Scindia served as the state'sRajpramukh, or the appointed governor, from 28 May 1948 to 31 October 1956, when Madhya Bharat was merged into Madhya Pradesh. Gwalior was the first princely state that was merged into India.
A King George VI stamp of 1949, inscribed 'GWALIOR'
In 1962,Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia, the widow of Maharaja Jivajirao Scindia, was elected to the Lok Sabha, beginning the family's career in electoral politics. She was first a member of the Congress Party, and later became an influential member of theBharatiya Janata Party. Her son, MaharajaMadhavrao Scindia was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1971, representing the Congress Party, and served until his death in 2001.[26] His son,Jyotiraditya Scindia, also in the Congress Party, was elected to the seat formerly held by his father in 2004, but later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2020.
[needs update]As of the2011 Census of India, Gwalior had a population of 1,054,420. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Gwalior has an average literacy rate of 84.14%, higher than the national average of 74%: male literacy is 89.64% and female literacy is 77.92%. In Gwalior, about 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. The city's metropolitan population, which includes the commuter town ofMorar Cantonment, was 1,102,884.[4]
Hinduism is practised by the majority of the people in Gwalior (88.84%). Other religions practised includeIslam (8.58%),Jainism (1.41%),Sikhism (0.56%), and Christianity (0.29). Gwalior has a long history of religious amity. The erstwhile Maharajas of the Scindia dynasty considered theSufisaints to be their gurus and headed theMuharram procession every year.[27]
Hindi is the predominant language of Gwalior, with nearly 96% of residents speaking it as their first language.Sindhi andMarathi are spoken by 1% each.[28]
TheTigra Dam is located on the outskirts of the city. The dam is now being used to store water from the Sank river and supply water to the city. The reservoir is used for leisure activities including speed boating, paddle boating, and water scooters.
The Swarna Rekha river is a reconstructed part of the Swarna Rekha river which was dried during the British raj. Boat rides run between Padav in central Gwalior to Gwalior Zoo.
The Lashkar part of Gwalior has many parks, including thePhool Bagh, or the garden of flowers, built to welcome the Prince of Cambridge.
Italian Garden – the garden which was used by the Scindias as a place of relaxation, is Italian in architecture with a water pool surrounded by musical fountains. Ambedkar Park and Gandhi Park are other prominent parks.
Gwalior Zoo provides a home forwhite tigers, serpents, golden pheasants,sambar, hyena, bison, and others.
Gwalior has a sub-tropical climate with hot summers from late March to early July, the humid monsoon season from late June to early October, and a cool dry winter from early November to late February. UnderKöppen's climate classification the city has ahumid subtropical climate. The highest recorded temperature was 48 °C and the lowest was −1 °C. Summers start in late March, and along with other cities likeJaipur andDelhi, are among the hottest in India and the world. Temperatures peak in May and June with daily averages being around 33–35 °C (91–95 °F), and end in late June with the onset of themonsoon. Gwalior receives 750 mm of rain on average per year, most of which is concentrated in theMonsoon months (from late June to early October). August is the wettest month with about 250 mm of rain. Winter in Gwalior starts in late October, and is generally very mild with daily temperatures averaging in the 14–16 °C (57–61 °F) range, and mostly dry and sunny conditions. January is the coldest month with average lows in the 5-6 °C range (41-42 °F) and occasional cold snaps that plummet temperatures down to a single digit.
Climate data for Gwalior (1991–2020, extremes 1951–present)
Source 2: Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020)[31]
Gwalior has been ranked 26th best "National Clean Air City" (under Category 1 >10L Population cities) in India.[32]
Environment
Gwalior was found to have the second-highest level of air pollution according to aWorld Health Organization study in 2016. Particulates from the burning of garbage and fossil fuels make breathing the air of this city a hazard.[33][34]
The Gwalior Municipal Corporation is responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of the city, which is divided into 66 wards.
Shobha Satish Sikarwar(INC) is the present Mayor of Gwalior.[38]TheMunicipal Commissioner, a member of theIndian Administrative Service, is responsible for the corporations finances and for the services and works conducted for the city.[37]
Gwalior Municipal Corporation covers an area of 414 square kilometres (160 sq mi).[3] The municipality was created on 6 June 1887 with two divisions for Lashkar and Morar, which later were merged with a single constitutional body.[39]
Gwalior is a major railway junction in the Northern central region. TheGwalior Junction (Station code: GWL) is the part of theNorth Central Railways. Gwalior is one of the few places where bothnarrow gauge andbroad gauge railways tracks were operational (until the line closed in 2020[47]). Gwalior was the terminus for the longest narrow-gauge route operating in the world, covering a distance of 198 km (123 mi) from Gwalior Junction to Sheopur. Gwalior Junction is a six-railway track intersection point. It won an award for the best and cleanest station ofNorth Central Railway zone.
Gwalior has 3 railway stations within city limits namely:
Station name
Birla Nagar station
Sithouli Station
Dabra Station
Travellers can board/de board from Gwalior Junction Railway Station from these routes namely:
Goes toKota (New line to be completed by 2025)[48]
Gwalior is one of the major commercial railway stations of the North Central Railway, whose zone headquarters is centred inPrayagraj. The station has won awards from Indian Railways for excellent clean infrastructure in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1992. It is in the Adarsh Station Category of Indian Railways.
Gwalior Light Railway connected to theKuno Wildlife Sanctuary inSheopur. It is being converted to broad gauge and may commence service as a broad-gauge line in future, connecting Gwalior toKota, Rajasthan via Sheopur. It is the junction point to reach tourist destinations like Shivpuri, Dholpur and Bhind.Gwalior is on the Main train line between Delhi (station code: NDLS) andMumbai (Bombay; CSTM) and between Delhi andChennai (MAS).
Some trains starting here and travelling towards Eastern India via Gwalior Junction – Jhansi Junction provide direct connections to points in eastern India includingKolkata,Durgapur,Barauni,Varanasi, and Allahabad. There are about fifty trains toNew Delhi and Agra every day, and around the same number of trains to theBhopal andNagpur stations. However, fewer trains are available for long routes like Mumbai and Chennai. The luxury trains – theMaharaja Express and the India on Wheels – stop at Gwalior on their week-long round trip of tourist destinations in Central India. More than 180 trains stop at Gwalior Railway Station[49]
Road
Gwalior has an excellent connectivity to other parts of Madhya Pradesh and India by national and state highways. The proposedNorth-south-Corridor of theGolden-Quadrilateral Highway project passes through the city. The Agra-Bombay national highway (NH3) passes through Gwalior, connecting it to Shivpuri on one end and Agra on the other. TheYamuna Expressway is easily accessible from Agra for the travellers going to New Delhi.
The city is connected to theJhansi by the National Highway 75, towards the south of the city. The northern part of the city is connected to the city ofMathura via National Highway 3. There are bus services to and from all major and minor cities near Gwalior, includingBhopal,Jaipur,Bharatpur,Agra,Delhi,Lucknow,Jabalpur, Jhansi, Bhind, Morena, Dholpur, Etawah, Datia,Indore,Sawai Madhopur,Karauli,Sheopur Kala etc.
Gwalior's public transport system mainly consists ofTempos,auto rickshaw taxis,Ola Cabs,and micro-buses. The Municipal Corporation's "Gwalior City Bus" covers some routes in the city. BlueRadio taxis are also available in Gwalior. The Tempos and auto rickshaws are often cited as a cause of pollution and road congestion, and the local government has plans to replace the Tempos with vans that will run onliquefied petroleum gas. In 2018, a 3 km cycle track was built in the city,[50] and the city became the fourth in India to have this type of facility.[citation needed]
TheGwalior Metro is the proposed project for Gwalior city. The project was announced by state CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan on 17 October 2014. Hence district administration is preparing a DPR(Detailed Project Report) for The Gwalior Metro.
Culture and cuisine
Cuisine
The most famous dishes which make part of the city's cuisine include:
Gwalior Barbat – The Barbat is a typical Gwalior way of cooking mutton in a red hot and spicy gravy using locally sourced kala masala. Gwalior Barbat is the royal signature dish of theScindia Dynasty. It is a Dassehra speciality and every Maratha home in Gwalior will prepare this dish on the festival.[51]
Gwalior Bedai – A famous local speciality breakfast dish served with chutni and gravy.[52]
Gwalior ke Mangode - is a crispy fritters, spiced with local flair served with sabzi and chutney, embodying the city's street food soul. It is considered as Gwalior's culinary charm.[53]
Apart from that Pohe-Jalebi, Kachori-Imarti, Samosa-Kadhi, Karela Chaat and Gajak are some of the famous local dishes that can be enjoyed in and around the city.
Art and literature
In more recent times, Akhtar family has been based out of Gwalior for at least three generations withMuztar Khairabadi, his sonJan Nisar Akhtar and his grandsonJaved Akhtar being the prominent literary figures.Nida Fazli, one of the most famous Indian Hindi and Urdu poets grew up here. Former Indian Prime Minister,Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is also a well known writer and poet.
Music
Raja Man Singh Tomar, the King of Gwalior between 1486 and 1516 CE, was a patron ofDrupad (Hindi: ध्रुपद). Dhrupad is a vocal genre in Hindustani classical music, said to be the oldest still-in-use in that musical tradition. Its name is derived from the words "dhruva" (fixed) and "pada" (words). The term may denote both the verse form of the poetry and the style in which it is sung.
Tomb of Tansen
Gwalior holds a major position in the Indian classical music, with being the birthplace of the oldest Hindustani sangeetgharana –Gwalior Gharana. Gwalior holds an unparalleled reputation inSangeet and has retained Indian traditions and the wealth of music intact over the years. The Gwalior Gharana is not only the oldest KhyalGharana but it is also one of the most prominentgharana being the one to which most classical Indian musicians can trace the origin of their style. The rise of the Gwalior Gharana started with the reign of the great Mughal emperorAkbar (1542–1605). Akbar's favourite singer was Tansen, who came from the Gwalior area and whose ashes were buried in Gwalior after his death. The Tansen Tomb in Gwalior was constructed in his remembrance.Tansen Festival started in the 1930s, and currently artists from all over India come to perform in the festival.
Baijnath Prasad (also known asBaiju Bawra) was a classical singer (Dhrupadiya) who lived in Gwalior for his whole life under the patronage of Man Singh. Baiju was born in Chanderi and was cremated there. He received his musical training in Vrindaban under Swami Guru Haridas Ji. He was the court musician of Gwalior along with Nayak Charju, Bakshu, and others.
Sarod playerAmjad Ali Khan is also from Gwalior. His grandfather, Ghulam Ali Khan Bangash, became a court musician in Gwalior.
UNESCO: Creative Cities Network for Music Category
TheTansen Sangeet Samaroh (Tansen Music Festival) is celebrated every year on the Tansen Tomb in Gwalior during the month of December.[56] Tansen Samaroh is a platform where artists from all over India gather and participate to deliver vocal and instrumental performances. The Tansen Sangeet Samaroh is organised by the government of Madhya Pradesh, in association with the Academy of the Department of Culture. During the festival, music lovers and artists from all over the world gather to offer their tribute to Tansen. The academy offers honours to senior celebrities and junior artists by including them in the Samaroh through their performed music.
Sarod Ghar
This Museum of Music has been set up in the old ancestral house of musicianHafiz Ali Khan. It houses ancient instruments of the Indian masters of the past. It also houses a collection of photographs and documents. Sarod Ghar is an institution devoted to promoting Indian classical music, heritage and culture. Through this 'window' to the past, music lovers can gain a better understanding of the evolution and history of Indian classical music and a deeper perspective and insight into the context of the art as it exists today.[citation needed]
Media and communication
There are newspapers, magazines, local TV stations and four FM radio stations in Gwalior.
Dainik Bhaskar is the leading and one of the oldest and most widely read newspapers.Swadesh andNaidunia are other well-established newspapers. More newspapers published in Gwalior areBPN Times,Raj Express,Dainik Madhya Raj,Nav Bharat,Youth Engine,Dainik Jagran, People's Samachar, Dainik Adityaz. Evening newspapers areSandhya Samachaar, Gwalior Sandesh, Sudarshan Express.
"Aalekh-Life in Pages" is one of the leading youth magazine published and widely read across the city.SouLSteer magazine is a bi-monthly lifestyle and automotive magazine in Gwalior.
The radio industry has expanded with private FM channels being introduced. The FM radio channels that broadcast in the city includeBig FM (92.7 MHz), Red FM (93.5), Chaska FM (95 MHz), My FM (94.3 MHz), and Lemon (91.9 MHz). The state-owned company,Doordarshan, transmits two terrestrial television channels. Major local channels include Hathway Win, Harsh Networks, KMJ Communications, and DEN networks.
Sports
Lakshmibai National University for Physical Education (operational since 1957) is the largest physical education institutions in Asia.[57] Gwalior also has the Railway Hockey Stadium with artificial turf.Captain Roop Singh Stadium is a cricket ground with a capacity of 45,000. The stadium has hosted 10 One Day International (ODI) matches. Of the ten matches played so far, the first one was played between India and West Indies on 22 January 1988. The ground has flood lights and has also hosted day-night encounters. One match of the 1996 Cricket World Cup was also played on this ground, between India and West Indies.
Dhyan Chand was a famous hockey player from Jhansi which is near Gwalior.Ankit Sharma is a cricketer from Gwalior and plays in the Indian Premier League. Athletics are also played in this city, Vishal Kaim was the youngest hammer thrower of India when he participated in National Athletics Games in 2006 at the age of 14 years.[citation needed]
Captain Roop Singh Stadium is a cricket ground in Gwalior. The stadium has hosted tenOne Day International (ODI) matches. Of the ten matches played so far, the first one was played between India and West Indies on 22 January 1988. It can hold 45,000 people at a time. It was originally a hockey stadium named after great Indian hockey playerRoop Singh, brother of hockey player Dhyan Chand. The ground has flood lights and has hosted day-night encounters as well. One match of the 1996 Cricket World Cup was also played on this ground, between India and West Indies. This ground is notable for hosting the ODI between India and South Africa in whichSachin Tendulkar scored the first-ever double century in ODI cricket.[58]
TheLakshmibai National University of Physical Education (LNIPE), Gwalior was established by the Ministry of Education & Culture, Government of India as Lakshmibai College of Physical Education (LCPE) in August 1957, the centenary year of the War of Independence. It is located at Gwalior, where Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, a heroine of the war, died during the rebellion in 1857. The Institute started as an affiliated college of the Vikram University, Ujjain and then came to the folds of Jiwaji University, Gwalior in 1964. The institute was given the status of National importance, and hence it was renamed as Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education (LNCPE) in 1973. In recognition of its unique status and character and to facilitate its further growth, the college was conferred the status of an ′Autonomous College′ of Jiwaji University, Gwalior in 1982.
Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia International Cricket Stadium at Shankargarh is a newly built international stadium atGwalior West. It has a seating capacity of around 100,000 spectators. It is also equipped with flood lights for night matches, 9 full length pitches, a swimming pool, sauna bath, modern gym, dressing rooms, 30 corporate boxes, media rooms, practise area, conference halls.[59][60]
TheAtal Bihari Vajpayee Training Centre for Disability Sports – Gwalior (formerly Centre for Disability Sports) is an autonomous body established by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India.[61]
The Railway Hockey Stadium, Gwalior is one of the largest and well equipped morden hockey stadium situated in the city.[62]
Gwalior has developed into a significant centre of education. It hosts several prominent government and private universities and institutions including the following:
Gwalior has sixKendriya Vidyalayas (managed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India), several engineering and technological institutes, and more than thirty affiliated engineering colleges. The city is home toKendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan – Zonal Institute of Education and Training (Under Ministry of Education). The ZIET Gwalior is an institution that provides national level training to the teachers inducted to teach at Kendriya Vidyalayas across India.[63]
The 2011 census put the population of Gwalior's urban area / metropolitan region, comprising Gwalior andMorar Cantonment, at 1,117,740.[64]
Old City (Fort Gwalior)
The old city of Gwalior, commonly called Fort Gwalior is around 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from Hazira, the largest area in old city, which is of considerable size but irregularly built. It lies at the eastern base of the rock and contains the tomb of theSufi saints,Khwaja Khanoon andMuhammad Ghaus, erected during the early part of Mughal emperorAkbar's reign, the tomb ofMian Tansen, a great singer and one of the 'Nine Jewels' of Akbar's court,Ladkhan (Lahori) Gate facing towardsLahore, Shahi Jami Masjid built byMughal governor Motamid Khan, Badalgarh and Gurjari Mahal. The old city earlier called by the name ofGhauspura as it is situated near the tomb of Muhammed Ghaus. The fort city consisted of some streets and mohallas which are presumed to be 700 to 800 yrs old localities in gwalior which are still congested due to improper management of old city (Ghauspura) these old areas are as follows.
Koteshwar Temple. This temple is a 700-year-old temple of Lord Shiva whoseshivling was on Gwalior Fort, but when the Mughals conquered it they ordered the shivling thrown out. When the troops did that, the shivling was automatically established in a field below the fort without any harm. Muslim Gazi told the emperor not to harm the shivling. In the late 18th century Scindias built a temple for that shivling, now known as Koteshwar Mahadev.
Baba Kapoor- this place is 500 meters away from Ghas Mandi. This place was named Baba Kapoor because of saint Shah Abdul Gafoor.
Kashi Naresh ki gali- this a 600-year-old residential street in Gwalior it was given name as Kashi Naresh ki gali because in the 14th century when the emperor of Kashi was defeated in war he was sent to exile by oppositions at that time Gwalior emperor and Kashi's emperor were good friends when Kashi's emperor told Gwalior's emperor whole story, emperor gave him an entire street for living at that time which is now known as Kashi Naresh ki Gali. their family even now resides there in Kashi Naresh ki gali in Rajaji Ka Bada. (Meanings: naresh = king = rajaji; gali = street in Hindi language; bada = big area.)
Lashkar Subcity
Jiwaji Chowk at Gwalior
The name of Lashkar is aPersian word meaning 'army' or 'camp', as this was originally the camp, and later the permanent capital, of the Scindia dynasty ofGwalior state. Lashkar was the capital ofMadhya Bharat from 1950 to 1956.
Jiwaji Chowk is the central focus of Lashkar, with a large square, a former opera house, banks, tea, coffee and juice stands and a municipal market building. Thriving bazaars surround the chowk. Many jewellery shops are situated nearJayaji Chowk, also known as Maharaj Bada. A source of water for the city is Tighra Dam, built on the Saank river 20 km to the north. The Gajra Raja Medical College, founded in 1946 by the Maharaja Jiwaji Rao Scindia and the Maharani Vijayaraje Scindia, is situated in Lashkar on Palace Road, near Katora Taal, together with a group of hospitals.Jai Vilas Palace, patterned on the Frenchpalace of Versailles, is located here.
Morar Cantonment
Morar Cantonment, formerly a separate town, lies 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of the old city. It was formerly a British militarycantonment. Morar is generally considered a rural farming town. The area is known as the "green part" of Gwalior because much of the area is still rural.
Morar was the scene of the most serious uprising in Central India. On 1 June 1858, Jayajirao led his forces to Morar to fight a rebel army led byTatya Tope,Rani Lakshmibai and Rao Sahib. This army had 7,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry and 12 guns while he had only 1,500 cavalry, his bodyguard of 600 men and 8 guns. In this attack, the rebel cavalry took the guns and most of the Gwalior forces except the bodyguard went over to the rebels (some deserted). The Maharaja and the remainder fled without stopping until they reached the British garrison at Agra.[65] By 1900 it had become a centre for local trade and had an important training industry, with a population of 19,179 in 1901.
TheSun Temple is situated in Morar at Residency Road.
The cantonment area makes up a large area of Morar which contains official residences for the Indian Army. It has many canteens for Army personnel. Saint Paul's School and Pragati Vidyapeeth School are nearby. There is an air force base in the Pinto Park region.
Thatipur
view of Gwalior Fort from the Old city
Thatipur is said to have got its name from State Army Unit 34, which once resided there. Gandhi Road divides Thatipur into two areas. Morar at one end of the road and Balwant Nagar on the other.
Thatipur primarily consists of residential areas like Darpan Colony, Madhav Rao Scindhiya Enclave, the government blocks, Vivek Nagar, and Suresh Nagar. Places of note are the Dwarikadhish Mandir, Bhagwan colony, Tomar building, Chauhan Pyaau (The Chauhan family), Galla Kothar, Ramkrishna Aashram, Saraswati Nagar, Govindpuri, Gayatri Vihar, Shakti Vihar, Shakuntalapuri, Dushyant Nagar, Shanti Vihar, and Mayur market along with Sai Baba Mandir in Shakti Vihar colony.
Healthcare
The prominent hospitals of Gwalior includeGajara Raja Medical College and the associated J.A. Hospital, Kamla Raja Hospital, Sahara Hospital, Mascot Hospital, BIMR Hospital, Cancer Hospital & Research Institute and many private doctor clinics. The Cancer Hospital & Research Institute is a nationally acclaimed medical centre inOncology. There is also a charitable hospital named SATCH (Shri Anandpur Trust Charitable Hospital) which provides free treatment. There is a governmentAyurvedic college and a privatehomoeopathic college (Vasundhara Raje Homoeopathic Medical College) which is run by the Biochemic and Homoeopathic Association of Gwalior, also providing health care education and services.
Future developments
Gwalior West is being developed as a "Counter Magnet" project with funding support from theNational Capital Region.[66] It has been introduced to increase investment in education, industry and real estate. This is hoped to counteract the closing of manufacturers such as Hotline, Cimmco and Grasim Gwalior.
Gwalior is selected for the establishment for secondAIIMS after Bhopal AIIMS.[67]
Britannia has announced to set up a wafer factory in Gwalior.[citation needed]
The Gwalior Master plan launched by the local collector and municipal corporation initiates to improve the basic civic infrastructure of the city to meet the growing population of the city as well as to make the city beautiful for tourists.[citation needed]
At the heart of Gwalior is Gwalior Fort of theTomara dynasty. This structure was reputed to be one of the most structurally sound forts of India, having been improved by RajaMan Singh Tomar where a previous structure existed. It occupies an isolated rock outcrop. The hill is steepened to make it virtually unscalable and is surrounded by high walls which enclose buildings from several periods. The old town of Gwalior lies at the eastern base of the fortress. Lashkar, founded by Daulat Rao Scindia, formerly a separate town that originated as a military camp, lies to the south, and Morar, also a formerly separate town, lies to the east. Gwalior, Lashkar and Morar are part of the Gwalior Municipal Corporation.[68]
The Fort, popularly called "the Gibraltar of India", overlooks the city. The EmperorBabur reputedly described it as "the pearl in the necklace of the forts of Hind". This fort's architecture is unique. It displays a Chinese influence on Indian architecture, as Chinese dragons have been crafted at the hilt of the pillars. This influence was due to trade between China and India at the time of the fort's construction.
After the death ofSher Shah Suri in 1545, who was ruling North India at that time, his sonIslam Shah shifted his capital from Delhi to Gwalior and constructed 'Sher Shah Mandir' (or 'Sher Shah Fort') in his father's memory. Islam Shah operated from Gwalior until his death in 1553. Islam Shah had appointed the Hindu warrior 'Hemu' orHem Chandra Vikramaditya as his Prime Minister in Sher Shah Fort for the first time, who later on became theHem Chandra Vikramaditya king at Delhi and established 'Hindu Raj' in North India.
In the east of the city are two examples of earlyMughal architecture: the mausoleum of the 16th centurySufi Saint Ghous Mohammed and the tomb of Mian Tansen, a singer and one of the 'Nine Jewels' of theMughal EmperorAkbar's court. Right next to them is the Gujari Mahal, built by Tomar Rajput King Man Singh Tomar on demand of his consort Gujar princess Mrignayani.[69][70]Close to the heart of the city isJai Vilas Palace of the Scindia dynasty, patterned on thepalace of Versailles. It combines Tuscan, Italian and Corinthian styles of architecture.Historically and architecturally, Gwalior is interesting first as an ancient seat ofJain worship; second for its example of palace architecture of theHindu period between 1486 and 1516; and third as an historic fortress. Many historical places are found near theDabra-Bhitarwar Road. Prior to the founding of Gwalior, the region was also known by its ancient name ofGopasetra. Gwalior had an institutional seat of theBhattarakas ofKashtha Sangh and laterMula Sangh.
Gopachal Parvat is situated on the mountainous terrain at the slopes of Gwalior Fort. Gopachal Parvat contains unique statues ofJainTirthankaras. The idol ofParshvanath seated on a lotus (carved out of a single stone) is the largest in the world, towering at 14 metres (46 ft) in height and 9 metres (30 ft) in breadth. There is a series of 26 Jain statues in a single line. Built between 1398 and 1536 by Tomar kings, these JainTirthankar statues are one of a kind in architecture.
Jain rock-cut sculptures of Siddhachal Caves – A striking part of theJain remains at Gwalior is a series of caves or rock-cut sculptures, excavated in the rock on all sides, and numbering nearly a hundred, great and small. Most of them are mere niches to hold statues, though some are cells that may have been originally intended for residences. According to inscriptions, they were all excavated within a short period of about thirty-three years, between 1441 and 1474.[71] One of the colossal figures is 57 ft (17 m) high, taller than any other in northern India.[citation needed]
Teli Temple or in Hindi Teli Ka Mandir – A structure of about 100 feet, Teli Ka Mandir in Gwalior Fort distinguishes itself from the other compositions of its time because of its unique architecture. The temple bears a close resemblance to the temple of Prathihara Vishnu, and is filled with images of coiled serpents, passionate couples, river goddesses, and a flyingGaruda. The temple architecture follows the Indo-Aryan and Nagara styles and is believed to be among the oldest constructions in the fort. The Telikā Mandir, or 'oil-man's temple', owes its name to Teli, a term for an oil grinder or oil dealer. Many suggestions have been put forward to explain this name historically, but in fact the name is not old, the temple being used for processing oil before the British occupied the fort and used the building, albeit temporarily, as a coffee shop. The Telikā Mandir is the loftiest temple among all the buildings in Gwalior Fort with a height of about 30 meters. The temple consists of agarba griha, that is, sanctum proper for the deity, and anantarala to enter into the temple. It can be approached by a flight of steps provided on the eastern side. The most striking feature of the temple is the wagon-vaulted roof, a form used over rectangular shrines which normally accommodated a row of Mother Goddesses.[72] The goddesses from the interior vanished centuries ago and have not been traced. The exterior walls of the temple are decorated with sculptures, many of which are damaged; the niches, shaped like temples, are empty. The building carries a dedicatory inscription to the goddess in a niche on the southern side, but otherwise does not have any history.[73] The architectural style points to a date in the late 8th Century.[74] The entrance gateway on the eastern side is a later addition of the British period, made by Major Keith in 1881. It was built as a way of saving various historic pillars and other pieces no longer in their original context.
Other monuments
Gurudwara Daata Bandi Chhorh- Gwalior Fort also has theGurudwara, built in the memory of the sixthSikh,Guru Har Gobind. This Gurudwara is particularly large and grand, built entirely of marble with coloured glass decorating the main building. Recital of theGuru Granth Sahib takes place here and Mughal kings used to visit Gwalior regularly. There is a Gurdwara that was converted to a mandir of "kalli devi" and process is on to take it back by Sikhs.
Italian Garden - It is the most beautiful garden built in 19th century. It was a private garden used by the ladies of the Gwalior royal family. It design is Italian design which makes it unique. The garden is situated the central part of Gwalior.[75]
Geo Science Museum - The Gwalior Geoscience Museum is India's first geological museum serves as a gateway to the wonders of Earth's story a sanctuary of knowledge where science and art converge to inspire curiosity. It houses two exceptional galleries, offering a glimpse into the mysteries of our planet and the chronicles of life's journey through time.[76]
Municipality Museum, is situated a little distance from Rani Lakshmibai's tomb.
Atal Museum - The Atal Museum has been established to commemorate the life of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It includes belongings and memories of Vajpayee from his Gwalior days.[77]
Modern 5D is Madhya Pradesh's first multi-dimensional theatre launched in the 2011 trade fair of Gwalior. It was built by Gwalior's leading enterprise Modern Techno Projects (P) Ltd. Modern 5D is recognised as India's first own multi-dimensional theatre.
Within the fort are some marvels of medieval architecture like theMan Mandir Palace, Jehangir Palace, Vikram Mandir Palace etc. The 15th centuryGujari Mahal is a monument to the love of Raja Mansingh Tomar for his Gujar Queen, Mrignayani. The outer structure of Gujari Mahal has survived in an almost total state of preservation; the interior has been converted into an archaeological museum housing rare antiquities, some of them dating back to the 1st century A.D. Many of these have been defaced by theiconoclastic Mughals.
Jai Vilas Palace, is the residential palace turned museum of the Maratha rulers of Gwalior – the Scindias. The palace has notable collections of antiques. The museum is one of the largest in Madhya Pradesh and has the world's largest chandelier[citation needed] and the complex is a mixture of British and Hindu architecture.The palace was constructed in 1874 as an attempt to bring the palace of Versailles to Gwalior.
Tombs and Chatris of historic importance
Gaus Mohammad tomb
Chatris of Scindias is situated close to the city near Achaleshwar temple and is the burial place for the Scindias who ruled the city for numerous years. Designated persons like Maharaja Madhavrao Scindia, Vijayaraje Scindia and His Highness Jivajirao Scindia were cremated here.
Tansen's tomb: Gwalior is the birthplace of the musician Tansen. He was one of the "Nine Gems of Akbar".[78]
Gaus Mohammad's tomb: The tombs of Great Gaus Mohammad and Tansen are situated on the same territory.
Tomb ofRani Lakshmibai, a famous freedom fighter, at Phoolbag area. It is here where she died in 1858 fighting against the British. It is also her burial place.
Sun Temple
Sun Temple
Located in§ Morar Cantonment, the Sun Temple"Vivsvaan mandir" is dedicated to the sun godSurya. Designed as a facsimile of the Sun temple ofKonark in Odisha, the temple was sponsored and built in the 1980s by theBirla family.[79]
The temple is in a garden within the temple premises. The temple draws the locals and tourists alike who gather to render their prayers. Before the temple was built the gardens had the nameTapovan. The gardens were the location of an ill-fated attempt to introduceafrican lions by the Maharaja of Gwalior State.[80]
In popular culture
There are several movies, series and daily soaps shot and filmed in Gwalior of which few have been mentioned below.
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