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Gwalior

Gwalior

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This ancient site features a large former citadel.
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles47 reviews
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JPh
16 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Couples
Gwalior has beautiful architecture and historical sites that are worth seeing. The fort and statues on the way up in particular. There are nature visits too but did not have time to do. It is cheap to eat out but be careful. There are very nice places to stay if you look.

It’s not set up for western tourist too much and needs cleaner food options. The streets are more polluted compared to other cities I visited.
Written February 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AmolP82
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India138 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We just took one day stop here enrolee to Agra. This place is close to Agra and takes harpy 2 hrs by train. One travelling to Agra can take delhi- Bhopal shatpadi train to visit this place.
I must admit that none of india small towns has so much things and history to see that Gwalior has. I will just list down things to see:
1. Gwalior fort and all monuments on that mountain
2. Scindia palace
3. Chatri temple
4. Tansens tomb
5. Old city and bada Market
6. Gwalior zoo
7. sun temple
8. Rani laxmibai monument

Try to take a tuk tuk from railway station for whole day city sight seeing which will cost you 500/-. For food their city mall close to zoo which has a food court at top floor, we did not find many good restaurants in Gwalior.

The weather gets very cold in jan/feb and hot between April- June, so best time to visit will be oct- dec.
Written January 5, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vijay D
New Delhi, India4 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2012 • Friends
Gwalior is one of the oldest city of central India and is known for its cultural and heritage in Madhya Pradesh. For a long time Gwalior served as a land for Saints, Artists and Heroes. Architecture and music of Gwalior is well known around the world. The ancient city of Gwalior is steeped in its past splendour. A multitude of reigning dynasties, the Pratiharas, Kachwahas and Tomars have left imprints of their rule, in this city of palaces, temples and monuments.

Gwalior occupies a strategic location in the Gird region of North India, and the city and its fortress have served as the center of several of North India's historic kingdoms.

At the heart of Gwalior is its fortress (Gwalior Fort), built by Raja Man Singh Tomar, of the Tomar dynasty. This formidable structure had the reputation of being one of the most invincible forts of India. The great Mughal Emperor Babur presumably described it as, "The pearl in the necklace of the forts of Hind". The Fort area is also home of the Scindia School, a well regarded institution founded by the late Maharaja Madho Rao Scindia of Gwalior in 1897. Close to the heart of the city is splendid Jai Vilas Palace, patterned on the style of the 'Palais de Versailles' in France combines Tuscan, Italian and Corinthian styles of architecture.

ATTRACTIONS WITHIN CITY LIMITS:-

Gwalior Fort
The Fort dominates the city and is its most magnificent monument. A steep road winds upwards to the Fort, flanked by statues of Jain tirthankaras carved into the rock face. The magnificent outer walls of the Fort still stand, two miles in length and 35 feet high, bearing witness to its reputation for being one of the most invincible forts of India.

Within the fort are some marvels of medieval architecture:

• Gujari Mahal & Archeological Museum (Timings: 1000-1700 hrs - Closed on Mondays) : Gujari Mahal talk about of Maharaja Man Singh’s love for his ninth Gujar wife, Mrignayni, in loving memory of whom this special palace was built. At present it’s now serves as a museum housing a large collection of stone carvings.

• Man Mandir (Temple) Palace: - This temple built by Maharaja Man Singh Tomar between 1486 and 1516, the Man Mandir is a huge palace. It is supposedly the fort’s prized possession. It is also known as the Chitra Mandir or the Palace of Paintings; it exhibits tiled and painted decorations of peacocks and several other birds. The Sound and Light show at the Man Mandir Palace of Gwalior Fort gives you a glimpse into its glorious past. The story of this 'pearl' begins with the sonorous and eloquent narration by Amitabh Bachchan as Gopachal, the sutradhar (narrator). This show is held at fort every evening in Hindi & English language both.

• Teli Ka Temple: The Teli ka Mandir is a 9th century edifice, towering at 100 ft high. This is a Pratihara Vishnu temple of a unique blending of architectural styles. The shape of the roof is distinctively Dravidian, while the decorative embellishments have the typically Indo-Aryan characteristics of Northern India

• Sas Bahu Ka Temple: As the name suggests, the Sas-Bahu temples, located on the other part of the fort, are not dedicated to a mother-in-law (Sas) and daughter-in-law (Bahu). Sas-Bahu is the name given to two adjacent temples of different sizes. The larger of the two is ornately decorated and sculpted with beautiful statuettes and intricate patterns.

• Gurudwara Data Bandhi Chhod (Sikh Temple) - Built in the memory of Guru Hargobind Saheb ,the 6th Sikh Guru who was imprisoned here by Emperor Jehangir for over two years. It is located on the Gwalior Fort.

OTHER ATTRACTION OUTSIDE THE GWALIOR FORT

Jai Vilas Palace and Museum
The Jai Vilas Palace is the current residence of the Scindia family. 35 rooms in the palace have been converted into the Jivaji Rao Scindia Museum. The imposing Darbar Hall has two central chandeliers, weighing a couple of tonnes, and hung only after ten elephants had tested the strength of the roof. Ceilings picked out in gilt, heavy draperies and tapestries, fine Persian carpets, and antique furniture from France and Italy are features of these spacious rooms. Eye-catching treasures include: a silver train with cut-glass wagons which served guests as it chugged around on miniature rails on the tables; a glass cradle from Italy used for the baby Krishna each Janamashtami; silver dinner services and swords that were once worn by Aurangzeb and Shah Jehan.
Timings: 1000 to 1700 hrs all days except Mondays

Tansen's Tomb
More than a monument, this tomb is a part of Gwalior's living cultural heritage. It is the venue of a music festival on a national level held annually in November-December.

Ghaus Mohammed's Tomb
The sandstone mausoleum of the Afghan prince, Ghaus Mohammed, is also designed on early Mughal lines. Particularly exquisite are the screens which use the pierced stone technique as delicate as lace. It is on the way to Gwalior fort near Hazira from Railway Station

Gopachal Parvat (dedicated to Jain community) – it is situated on the Mountain Area at slopes of Gwalior Fort carries unique statue of Jain Tirthankars. The largest Idol of Bhagwan Parshwanath on Lotus is the largest statue (in single stone piece) in the world, being 47 feet high and 30 feet in width. 26 Jain statues in a series give a beautiful and attractive picturescue. Built between 1398 to 1536 by Tomar Kings - these Jain Tirthankars Statues are a species of Architecture and a treasure of Old Indian heritage and culture.

BEST AVAILABLE HOTEL IN GWALIOR

TAJ USHA KIRAN PALACE: It is one of the best hotels in Gwalior which is the 120-year-old palace, which has played host to the King of England and is now a heritage hotel run by Taj Hotels & Resort. Set amidst 9 acres of beautifully landscaped lawns, this regal palace, rich in history, is outfitted with artistic stone carvings and delicate filigree work, the palace is located next to the Jai Vilas Palace, the ancestral home of the Scindia family.

Accommodation:
All 40 rooms & suites reflect the majestic tastes of Maharaja, well equipped with modern facilities and amenities. The Ornate rooms are adorned with Art-Deco furniture and French Mosaic floors, these giant size rooms with spacious baths, ante-rooms, and old world charm are reminiscent of gracious lifestyles of Maharajas.

Dining:
The Silver Saloon restaurant: Overlooking a verdant courtyard, Silver Saloon takes its inspiration from history and offers signature cuisine that was once the preserve of the Maratha and Nepal royal families. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and also offers select Continental, Asian & Indian delicacies accompanied with a choice of selected wines. Experience a touch of the royal together with a trendy approach in service and style while you listen to classical music from the Gwalior Gharana.

The Bada Bar presents a selection of the finest European wines and spirits. The Court is the courtyard café offering an alfresco dining experience.
Written February 26, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nirmal Rajan
Lucknow, India17 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2011 • Solo
I still remember my first encounter with the Gwalior was a strange one. I boarded the Baurani mail which arrived half a day late at Lucknow station. some how my journey began from Lucknow till the time i reached Kanpur the sun had gone below the horizon and now it was a night journey.TTE warned every passenger to be vigilant as there were only few passenger on board.Many thought were flashing in my mind as i heard lot about Gwalior from the people that it was near to Chambal ( Famous for Notorious Dacoits).a fear was there in my mind which did not let my eyes to go off.
when i opened my eyes the sun was rising high and the train had just passed through a tunnel. I was happy to see the country side beauty of my country.After a hour journey finally the train halted in the station and as i peeped from the door i saw a magnificent fort standing with a pride.The fort appealed me as the view of it was the captivating one ,It was truly the pearl among the fort and fortress of India.
I stayed in one of the famous budget class accommodation managed by ICH.
After attending my meeting in city centre in the evening i went to chaupati at phoolbagh... where one can find so many food stalls.
second day i made a visit to the fort of Gwalior.The fort was massive and i entered from the Urwahi valley side where there were so many sculptures of the Jain tirthankaras.the elevating road lead us to the schindia school one of the most famous resedential schools in India.There were many monuments in the fort but the oldest was Teli ka Mandir which has it's own history. Also there was a Gurudawara managed very well by the shikh community. Near to the shrine there is a small pond which belongs to sage Gwapila it is said that the city drives it name from this pond itself built by the king Suraj Sen in gratitude for the sage.then there were series of monuments like Sastra Bahu Temple which was often called a SaS Bahu ka Mandir by the localites.
After it we entered the Man Mandir palace where king use to reside with his high class wifes.
down below the fort or at starting of it there was the small palace built for his most beautiful and youngest Gujjar wife who was not allowed to stay in the main fort by other upper caste queens..
The fort left an indelible impression on me !
After covering fort i headed towards the old city bada. Most of the shop are located here.As sun did a farewell to me i was bit hungry. After a few minutes search i explored the incredible Paratha shop in the main market. The speciality was the cheese stuffed parathas with 6-7 varieties of vegetable dishes which was the perfect combination.
Next day i made a visit to the Tansen Mausoleum as every year there is a Musical festival celebrated in this location.
Gwalior gharana holds an important position in Indian Music industry as most the talented musician come from this Gharana.Next in my itinerary was the Jag Niwas palace which was classic with so many luxury items and the most famous the Silver toy train which still serves the royal.Part of it is turned into Museum and in the left over is the residence of the schindia family.The most bizarre was the pair of chandeliers each weighing 1.5 tone ( largest in Asia) .As the watch struck 2 it was the time to move ahead and to cover another wonderful monument sun temple which is the replica of the sun Temple of Konark.
Although i did not like the city on the first glance as it was a small one and not like any mini metros but as i passed some time here i knew i had fallen in Love with Gwalior it was difficult for me to bid farewell to the city with a thought of coming back and exploring the uncovered sights.
Written October 15, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DipankarD
New Delhi, India27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2014 • Family
If you are interested in architecture (a student or architect or have a link) you cant enough of it. The fort is awesome & make sure you hire guide.. rates can be bargained to 200-250.. but its worth. The main building with its wonderful blue tiles are breath-taking.. the murals, which are a combination of 6 animals (lion like legs, eyes like deer, ear like mouse etc.) are worth mentioning. The maintenance is poor, as there are a multiple of agencies; but do visit the state controlled part as well, which has some wonderful temple & buildings (charged separately). Light & sound show is OK, but worth a dekko.. do not go with very high expectation. The other temples like, Saas-bahu & Teli ka mandir are architectural marvels. Near the old city, Tansen ka makbara & his guru Ghaus mhd. tomd are also not to be missed.
Written February 1, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KB R
New Delhi, India26 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2013 • Family
Gwalior is one of the oldest city of central India and is known for its heritage in Madhya Pradesh.
Gwalior fort and Jai Vilas Palace are magnifecent . fort is biggest fort in Madhya Pradesh. its amazing.
Written November 25, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Physio
Chandigarh, India27 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2013 • Solo
This place is half of what it promises to be, one of the oldest city with historical fort....fails to deliver as a tourist's haven. Public transport system is nowhere to be seen. Tempos an bigger shared auto ferries public. Roads are good if you plan to drive to this town. Weather is not so pleasant in summer and winter. Water borne diseases are the major cause of worry. Even taxi cabs are not regulated for tourists welfare. Would prefer to avoid this place if I have to come with my family.
Written December 19, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nirmalyo B
12 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019 • Family
On 22nd we started from Delhi by hired car at 6.00am. We reached at 3.00pm because of the CNG fuel car and the unprofessional driver. On that evening we visited Gopachal, a Jain mandir in the caves. An excellent place to visit and then headed for the light and sound program on top of Gwalior fort. Tourists are informed that only hired cars are allowed to go to the top. The autos will drop you at the base and walking will be the only option left to the visitors. A good program to attend.Again we had much difficulty in getting a cab for going down.Next day we visited the Jai Vilas Palace museum.This is one of the best museums in India.A must see for all visitors to Goa. The other worth visiting spot is the Sash Bahu mandir. A nice weekend family visit ended on Sunday.
I would advise the Fort lovers to visit Gwalior in winter and be careful with the auto drivers.They charge exorbitantly. From Delhi availing train service is better than travelling by the road. The only issue is the return Jansapabdi express reach Delhi very late at night.
Written March 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kanungoarchita
Indore, India27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2017 • Family
The whole trip destinations will cover Agra-Gwalior-Jhansi-Orccha-Khajuraho-Bhopal

Day1: 1 day at Agra for famous Tajmahal,Agra Fort,Fatehpur and Sikri for witnessing Mughal art.

Day 2: Agra to Gwalior by road(120km -around 2/3 hr)/Train. 1 Day local sight seeing at Gwalior. Night Stay at Gwalior.

Day 3: Head for Jhansi in early morning. visit Jhansi fort etc. Feel the histroy of Jhani ki Rani. Then go to Orccha(30 min by road). At orccha,no. of temples with beatiful architect , history, spirituality and mythological belief are standing beside Betwa River. Then back to Jhansi to catch local transport for Khajuraho. Stay at Jhansi. Orccha temples have frescos, oil paintings which are older than british rulers in india. So, history is still alive here.

Day 4: Early morning start for Khajuraho(4/5 hr from jhansi). A whole day to understand the sculptures , paintings etc. in the temple's wall.

Day 5: 1 whole day to roam around bhopal. Bhopal has a beautiful sweet water lake at the centre of the city. The city is also called Nawab's Haveli.

Important Tips of trip:

1. Road condition is well and good. One can hire a car for local sight seeing which will take around 1000/- to 1200/- at Gwalior city.

2. One can hire a car from gwalior to jhansi and orccha and again drop at jhansi after having local sight seeing at Jhansi and Orccha. It will help to save ur time and cost. It will cost around 2000/- to 2300/-.

3. If one can travel by local bus, then opt for local bus to visit Khajuraho which is readily available from Jhansi. It will tk 4/5hrs. It will save ur money ofcourse.

4. Train is available from Khajuraho to Bhopal which is best convenient. It starts from Khajuraho at 4pm and arrives at Bhopal at 11 pm. Comfortable journey.

5. Take a tour guide available at every place to make the history living in your sense and feelings.
Written March 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Smith A
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2016 • Family
Gwalior is a nice place to visit. There are lots of places for nature and architecture lovers. Also so many famous temples are there, one of them datia pitambra peeth is very popular. Connectivity from railway is good. There is a airport also. Gwalior is very well connected with all possible routes and city.
Sun temple is very famous ancient temple in india. Gwalior is just 300km far from delhi.
Written June 30, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh, India): Address, Phone Number, Attraction Reviews - Tripadvisor

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