Location of Gwalior
Gwalior city occupies a strategic location in the grid region of Northern India. Gwalior, a historic city known for its fortresses, lies in the state of Madhya Pradesh covering an area of 5214kms and a population of about 16,2988. Gwalior comprises a composite city of three urban sections namely Gwalior the old city, Morar the cantontment area and Lashkar the new city. Its proximity to Delhi and Agra is 321 kms and 121 kms respectively.


Climate of Gwalior
The climate of Gwalior is extremely hot in summers and cold in the winters. The maximum temperature in the summers can reach to as high as 46°C, while in the winters it dips down to below 5°C. The suitable time to get the best out of Gwalior is from October to March. Monsoon starts from June and stays till the end of September.


About Gwalior
Once the capital of the Scindias, Gwalior is a majestic city that retains its past grandeur amidst the daily choas. The influence of great dynasties of the Rajput clan of the Pratiharas, Kachwahas and the Tomars have left indelible etching in this city. The old city retains its flavour with the 10th century fort standing atop a huge bluff, a silent witness to its glorious past.

Gwalior derived its name some 2000 years ago when a Rajput chief Suraj Sen was cured of his leprosy ailment by the hermit saint Gwalipo. It was in his name that the grateful nobleman built a fort on the hills and named it Gwalior. The plains around Gwalior witnessed fierce fighting during the time of India's war of Independence in 1857 led from the front by Tantia Tope and Rani Laxmi Bai.


Major attractions of Gwalior
The Gwalior fort - The most domination and impressive centre-piece of the city stands atop the massive sandstone hill and can be seen from miles away.The historic fort which was one of the most difficult to gain has witnessed many a battles to possess it. Among the memorable battles was the one fought between Rani Laksmi Bai of Jhansi and the British East India Company in 1857.The fort described as the pearl in the necklace of the castle of hind encloses many fine palaces and monuments including the Gujari Mahal, Man Mandir Palace, Suraj Kund, Teli-ka-Mandir and Sas-Bahu-ka-Mandir dating back to 425AD. The finest building in the fort is the Man Mandir Palace built by Raja Man Singh in the 15th century. Other palaces inside are the interconnected Vikramaditya and Karan Palaces, Jal Vilas palace and the museum.. The fort is open from sunrise to sunset but the palaces in the fort closes at 5pm.

Jal Vilas Palace and Museum - The residence of the royal Scindia family, part of which has been converted in to a museum displays a collection of royal memorabilia which includes the clothes, furniture a battery operated silver train that was used to carry drinks and fruits to the dinning table in state dinners. The Jal vilas Palace has a pair of worlds heaviest chandeliers in the Durbar hall and a crystal staircase.

Tombs of Ghaus Mohammed and Tansen - The tombs is dedicated to two of the most famous personalities of the city, spiritual saint Ghaus Mohammad and Mian Tansen, the famous musician and one of the nine pearls in the court of Mughal Emperor, Akbar. The sheer beauty of the tombs are breathtaking. The stone carvings gives them a delicate ethereal appeal.

Gujari Mahal and Archaeological Musuem - The Mahal speaks volumes on the kind of affection Raja Man Singh kept in his heart for his wife Mrignayni, for whom he specially built a Palace outside the fort. Now a converted museum, it contains an extensive array of stone carvings. The beauty of queen Mrignayni and the love of Raja Man singh for her are now a part of folk traditions.

Teli-ka-Mandir - The temple built in the ninth century in Dravidian form is the oldest in the fort. Some believed it was built in the telangana style while others say it was built by oil merchant and hence got its name "Teli" from them. A Garuda can be seen on top of the 10 meter high doorway. The structures is an amalgamation of the architectural features of both North and South India. The shikhara or spire is Dravidian in style while the decorative details are in the Nagara style.