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Destinations By Air, By Road, By Train: A Complete Travel Guide To Gwalior
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By Air, By Road, By Train: A Complete Travel Guide To Gwalior

By Air, By Road, By Train: Here is everything you need to know before planning a trip to Gwalior. Bookmark the travel guide now!

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By: Karan Kaushik Published: Aug 07, 2022 12:00 PM IST

By Air, By Road, By Train: A Complete Travel Guide To Gwalior
Image: Shutterstock

If you are looking for a heritage trip, look no further than Gwalior. This historical city of Madhya Pradesh will leave you in absolute awe of its incredible architectural heritage. Here’s a handy guide. By Karan Kaushik

Here’s everything you should know before planning a heritage trip to Gwalior

The Destination

Gwalior, as a city, was first established in the 9th century, and it has been ruled by different leaders. Some of these rulers were Baghel Kachvaho, Gurjar Pratihar Rajvansh, Tomar, and the Scindias. Apart from the Gwalior Fort, which offers an expansive view of the city, Gwalior is also home to several other palaces and temples. Some of them, such as the Sas Bahu Ka Mandir temple and Gujari Mahal Palace enjoy huge popularity among travellers. The historical fort city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Cities List in 2020.

The Way

By Air

 

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Gwalior is served by a domestic airport. Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Air Terminal or Gwalior Airport enjoys regular connectivity with Delhi, Mumbai, Indore, and Bhopal. If you are coming from other parts of the country, you can book a connecting flight from Delhi. Popular cities from where you can get daily flights to Gwalior include Jaipur, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Kolkata. Gwalior Airport is located at Maharajpur Air Force Station, 10 km from Gwalior.

By Road

Being a major town in Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior has great road connectivity. It can be easily reached from Delhi (321 km), Lucknow (423 km), Bhopal (423 km), and Agra (118 km). You can either hire a taxi or travel by your car. State road transport and private buses are also available for Gwalior. Other prominent tourist destinations in Madhya Pradesh that offer easy access to Gwalior are Khajuraho (275 km), Ujjain (455 km), and Shivpuri (114 km).

By Rail

 

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Gwalior shares a direct rail route with New Delhi, Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Dehradun, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Vizag, Patna, Thiruvananthapuram, Kanyakumari, and Kolkata, among other major cities in India. From Delhi, take the New Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express. Auto rickshaws and cabs are easily available at the station.

Things to do in Gwalior

Gwalior Fort

Referred to as ‘the pearl in the necklace of the forts of Hind’ by Mughal Emperor Babur, the Gwalior Fort is located on an isolated rock along the ‘Sun Tank’ or Suraj Kund, with quite a history attached to it. Arguably one of the biggest forts in the country, the Gwalior Fort has been invaded by Mughals, Turkish rulers, and Tomars, until the British took over. Among the many historical feats was the great victory of Hem Chand Vikramaditya who defeated Akbar in Delhi and Agra to establish ‘Hindu Raj’. Don’t miss the evening sound and light show at the fort’s amphitheater.

Gopachal Parvat

 

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This hill near the Gwalior Fort is famous for its incredible Jain rock carvings. The Gopachal Parvat Jaina monuments are believed to be in existence since the time period between the 7th and 15th centuries. They were carved during the reign of the Tomar dynasty. Among the imposing statues of Jain tirthankaras, the most stunning are those of Adinath and Parshvanath which face the fort.

Sas Bahu Ka Mandir

The thing with the temples named Sas Bahu in India is that they were originally called Sahastrabahu temples. Sahastrabahu is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Over the centuries, the name of the temples was corrupted to Sas Bahu. Gwalior’s Sahastrabahu Temple is a must-visit. Constructed by King Mahipala of the Kachwaha dynasty during the 11th century, the temple is a fine specimen of Hindu Temple architecture. Built with red standstone, the temple boasts a pyramidal shape sans arches. The carvings of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Goddess Saraswati are noteworthy.

Read more at: https://www.nativeplanet.com/gwalior/attractions/sas-bahu-temple/#overview

Teli Ka Mandir

 

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This temple stands as a great example of the concept of musical harmonics in architecture. Designed in the Gurjara Pratihara-Gopagiri style of North Indian architecture, the temple is a treasure trove of late Gupta era Indian art.  Said to have been built during the reign of Mihira Bhoj, the ancient Teli Ka Mandir is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Matrikas.

Jai Vilas Palace

 

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This grand palace serves as the current residence of the royal Scindia family. A part of the Jai Vilas Palace has been converted into the Jivaji Rao Scindia Museum. The museum offers a sneak peek of the uber-luxurious and opulent lives of the Scindias. From Persian carpets to imposing chandeliers and vintage furniture, the palace is a true reflection of the glorious past of princely India. Prime attractions at the museum include a silver train with a cut glass wagon,  a glass cradle from Italy, the jeweled slippers of Chinkoo Rani, and hunting trophies.

Gujari Mahal Archaeological Museum

Located on the eastern gate of the fort, Gujari Mahal was constructed by King Man Singh for his beloved queen Mrignayani, who belonged to the Gujjar clan. Today, the palace houses a museum, which was inaugurated in 1922. The museum displays an amazing collection of sculptural art, terracotta figurines, stone and copper plate inscriptions, coins, arms and weapons, and other excavated objects.

Tansen’s Mausoleum

Gwalior was blessed to have the legendary Tansen in its royal courts. He is regarded as one of the greatest musicians India has ever had. Tansen was among the nine gems of the Mughal court and propagated the Dhrupad style of Hindustani classical music. He also developed the Gwalior Gharana style of music. His mausoleum is located in the vicinity of the tomb of Sufi saint Mohammed Ghaus.

Best time to go

Gwalior experiences extreme temperatures in summers and winters. This makes the months between October to March the most suitable time to visit the city. Monsoon is a good time too. For the best experience, try and plan your trip in November-December when the city hosts the Tansen Music Festival.

Feature and hero image courtesy: Shutterstock

Related: Why The Pravaas Journey In Gwalior Was A Lesson In Luxe Experiences & Fine Dining

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