Gwalior is a major city in the state of Madhya Pradesh, located in the northern part of the state. It is popular for plenty of beautiful palaces and temples. It is one of the counter-magnet cities in India. Gwalior has a historic significance as well along with its wonderful temple architecture. There are some exciting places to visit in Gwalior.
Gwalior Fort is referred to as the ‘pearl amongst fortresses in India’ by Mughal Emperor Babur, the Gwalior Fort is one of the most impenetrable fortresses located in the entire northern and southern India and it is one of the must-visit places to visit in Gwalior. It is situated on the top of a vast rocky mountain near Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh in Central India, this imposing structure dominates the entire city of Gwalior.
An inseparable part of the identity and architecture of the city dated back to the 6th century. It is also the place where the second oldest reference of the number 'zero' has been found in the form of a carving inside a temple on the top of the fort.
The construction of the Gwalior Fort took place in two parts, in two different periods and thus, this architectural marvel has an intriguing history attached to it. It has passed from the possession of one dynasty to the other, multiple times. The entire fort complex is well-maintained and includes temples, water tanks and palaces such as Man Mandir, the Jahangir, the Shah Jahan and the Gujari.
Teli Ka Mandir is located in the Gwalior Fort; this temple also dates back to the 9th century and is the highest building in Gwalior (100 ft.). This temple was used to process oil before the Britishers occupied the Gwalior Fort.
This temple is famous for its unique architecture as the temple holds a Dravidian look, but the sculptures are typically North Indian style hence; it presents one of the perfect examples of amalgamation of North and South Indian architecture. It is one of the best places to visit in Gwalior for architecture students and culture enthusiasts.
Man, Mandir Palace is located at the Northeast end of the Gwalior Fort and was built between 1486 and 1516 by the Tomar ruler, Man Singh Tomar. The palace couldn't survive with time; however, the remains of the palace still showcase the beautiful carvings and designs of that era.
The palace has two open courts in between with apartments on two levels. There are underground prison cells as well, built later by Mughals. This was the place where Aurangzeb poisoned his brother Murad.
Nearby, Jauhar Kund is the place where various Rajput women committed mass suicide to avoid rapes by the forces of Iltutmish who was the king of Delhi in the 13th century AD.
The palace is also surrounded by other monuments like Jahangir Mahal, Shah Jahan Mahal and the Gujari Mahal. This is a decent place to visit in Gwalior.
The Jai Vilas Palace, also known as the Jai Vilas Mahal is situated in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh and is a symbol of age-old Indian culture and opulence, preserved to the modern-day.
The Maharaja of Gwalior, Jayaji Rao Scindia, has this magnificent edifice built to ensure a grand welcome for King Edward the seventh, then Prince of Wales in 1874. Today, it serves as a residence for the descendants of the royal Maratha Scindia family.
The palace also serves as a museum stretched over 35 rooms, houses the Chitrangada Raje Art Gallery and a library that comprises more than 5,000 books. Moreover, each room in the regal palace contains curious of historical importance, including a collection of swords that date back to the time of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, and the original shield that belonged to freedom fighter Rani Laxmibai.
The venture cost a total of 1 crore which is likely to have been quite an extravagant affair in that era. Covering a floor area of about 75 acres, the Jai Vilas Palace has an intricately designed Durbar Hall, which houses some of the world's most colossal chandeliers, gilt furnishings and a large plush carpet. The centre operates with a vision of creating an international cultural centre for the study of the Maratha Dynasty.
The Winter Season in Gwalior stays from October to February and Gwalior's temperature fluctuates between 9 degrees Celsius to 27 degrees Celsius. Gwalior's weather in this season is quite pleasant and cool and it creates the perfect atmosphere to engage in sightseeing, hiking and exploring the city.
Places like Gwalior Fort, Jai Vilas Palace, Man Mandir Palace, Teli Ka Mandir, Gwalior Zoo, Tomb of Ghaus Mohammad, Padavali and Bateshwar and Gwalior Trade Fair are some historic places to visit in Gwalior.
It is also a season when you can witness the epic celebrations of Dussehra and Diwali which bring happiness to the entire city. This is Gwalior's peak season hence; it is suggested to book your accommodation and travel in advance.
The Monsoon Season in Gwalior is marked from July to September and Gwalior's temperature stays between 25 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius. Gwalior's weather gives you a little relief from the harsh and hot conditions of the summer season.
However, the rainfall increases the humidity of the city to a great extent but nights are pretty comfortable and you can explore the city in this weather as well. Places such as Suraj Kund, Sun Temple, Scindia Museum, Saas Bahu Temple, Tomb of Tansen, Gujari Mahal (State Archaeological Museum) and Teli ka Mandir are some decent places to visit in Gwalior this season.
This is also the season when you may find some great deals on accommodations.
The Summer Season in Gwalior stays from March to June and Gwalior’s temperature ranges between 20 degrees Celsius to 42 degrees Celsius. Gwalior’s weather in this season is quite scorching hot, dry and humid hence; is not an ideal season for travellers to visit.
Days are warm and dry but evening and nighttime are little relief and this time can be utilised to explore the city. Places like Gwalior Fort, Teli ka Mandir, Gujari Mahal (State Archaeological Museum), Gwalior Zoo, Jai Vilas Palace, Tomb of Ghaus Mohammad and Sun Temple are some preferred places to visit in Gwalior this season.
If you are planning a budget-friendly trip to Gwalior then it is the season for you to visit. You will find some great deals on accommodation and travel.
How to Reach Gwalior by Air- The Gwalior Airport is one of the four major airports in the region, which is also the Indian Air Force Base at a distance of nearly 11 kilometres and is widely connected to other major cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Indore, Jaipur, Pune, Chandigarh and Ahmedabad.
Plenty of airline carriers like Air India, IndiGo, Jet Airways, Spice Jet and Go Air do operate flights to the Gwalior Airport on regular basis. Once you arrive at the airport you can easily hire a cab or take a bus for a further journey.
How to Reach Gwalior by Train- Gwalior Railway Station is the major railhead in the city at a distance of just 800 metres from the city centre and is well connected to other prime cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Indore, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Pune.
Train options such as Gatimaan Express, MAS Duronto Express, NZM SBC Special, MAS Garib Rath, Chennai Rajdhani, Bhopal Shatabdi, BSP Rajdhani Express and NZM LTT AC Express are some decent train options that run trains to Gwalior Railway Station on regular basis. From outside the railway station, you can take a state bus or hire a taxi to reach your destination.
How to Reach Gwalior by Road- Gwalior is nicely connected to other neighbouring cities like New Delhi which is approximately 340 kilometres away, Indore at a distance of 504 kilometres, Ujjain which is 468kilometres far, Udaipur at a distance of nearly 616 kilometres, Jaipur which is 333 kilometres away and Jhansi at a distance of 101 kilometres via well-maintained and smooth road connectivity.
Travellers do have options of private and public buses in deluxe and non-deluxe varieties to reach Gwalior from different cities as per their convenience and preference. Travellers do travel to Gwalior by their vehicles and if you are heading from New Delhi then Yamuna Expressway and from Jaipur NH-21 is the rote to follow. There are plenty of amazing places to make your trip enjoyable.
Taj Usha Kiran Palace, Gwalior is located at Lashkar and it offers you the services of a Café, Bar, Restaurant, 24-Hour Coffee Shop, Bakery, Paid Pickup and Drop, Currency Exchange, Yoga, Salon, Spa, Massage, Entertainment, Game Room, Picnic Area, Lawn, Balcony/Terrace, Temple/Chapel, Conference Room, Wake-up Call, Doctor on Call and Bellboy Service along with some other services.
Radisson Hotel, Gwalior is residing at Tulsi Vihar Colony and it provides you with the facilities such as Restaurant, Coffee Shop, Dining Area, Kids' Meals, Childcare Services, Paid Pickup and Drop, Gym, Sun Deck, Seating Area, Wake-up Call, Doctor on Call, Concierge Services and 24-Hour Helpdesk with some other basic facilities.
Clarks Inn Suites in the 4-star hotel situated at New Prem Nagar and it gives you the amenities like Bar, Restaurant, Coffee Shop, Paid Pickup and Drop, Kids’ Meals, Gym, Spa, Massage, Steam and Sauna, Seating Area, Business Centre, Medical Centre, Wake-up Call, Doctor on Call, Bellboy Service and Concierge Service.
Park Inn by Radisson Gwalior is residing at Kampoo at a distance of 480 metres from Gwalior Railway Station and it offers you the facilities such as Restaurant, Coffee Shop, Paid Airport Transfers, Smoking Rooms, Smoke Detectors, Gym, Seating Area, Doctor on Call, Wake-up Call, Concierge Services, Free Parking, Free Wi-Fi and 24-Hours Helpdesk.
All of these mentioned accommodation options are providing installed sanitisers, masks and gloves due to safety reasons.
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