Gwalior Travel Guide

Gwalior Fort rises nearly 100 metres above the city on a sheer sandstone hill, one of India's largest hill forts and a stronghold that changed hands between the Tomars, Mughals and Marathas across a thousand years. The Man Mandir Palace inside still wears its original blue-tiled facade, while Jai Vilas Palace, once home to the Scindia royal family, holds a chandelier pair so heavy that elephants were hoisted onto the roof beforehand to test the ceiling could bear the weight. Tansen, one of Akbar's court musicians, is buried in the city, and a classical music festival is held in his name every winter. The fort also carries rock-cut Jain figures cut into the cliff face, some over 15 metres tall. Between the palaces, temples and the carved Saas Bahu temple, Gwalior is worth a full day and pairs well with Orchha on a heritage circuit.

A historic city founded by king Surajesan, Gwalior is a city where India's most eminent royalty once resided. Jai Vilas Pala has the largest carpet in the world which took almost 12 years to weave and two most massive chandeliers in the world that weight close to 3.5 tonnes.

The great Indian musician Tansen was born in Gwalior, and the tomb of Tansen is also an important place here. Every year, in November/December, a four-day Tansen Music festival is celebrated in the city where various classical musicians from all over the country perform on the stage near the tomb itself.

Visit the various monuments and museums, eat the local delicacies like namkeen and go boating in Tighra Dam while you are in the city.