Location / importance / temperature / weather / map / architecture / travel / tourism / photography / guide / tips / night / photo gallery / entry fee of Gwalior Fort
Significance : The perfect combination of Hindu and Muslim architecture
When / best season / time to visit : November to January
Timings : Fort open 8 am to 6 pm, the palaces close by 5 pm
Erected by the Rajput ruler clan Tomars during the15th century, the overwhelming Gwalior fort in Madhya Pradesh is located on a sandstone rock face, which is 2.8 km long and 200 to 850 m in width and 91 m above the neighboring plains. A major segment of the fort was built during the reign of Raja Man Singh, one of the greatest of the Tomar kings, for his Queen Mrignayani. Portrayed as 'the pearl among the fortresses of Hind' by the great Mughal Emperor Babur, the fort enclosed by imposing walls 35 ft in height and two miles in length, is the ideal blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture. The great fort dominates Gwalior city, a place which has served as the centre of quite a few historic North Indian kingdoms. With a chaotic and pretty eventful past, the Gwalior fort has altered hands many times, from the Tomars in the 8th century it passed on to the Mughals, subsequently to the Marathas under the Scindia's (1754), followed for a short time by Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, Tatiya Tope and the British.
From the British the fort lastly went to its previous masters, the Scindia's when India became independent. The fort has been a silent witness to many historical battles and events, one of the most significant among them being the1857 revolt, as well as the courageous death of Rani of Jhansi, (Rani Laxmibai) in1858 within its fortifications while fighting against the British.
