How to reach:

Gwalior is an important railway station and is well connected to almost all the major cities of India. Best connections from Agra and Delhi are provided by Shatabdi and Taj Express in the morning. Both the trains make the return journey in the evening. Gwalior has well connected bus services to Agra (119 kms), Delhi (325 kms), Bhopal (423 kms), Indore (486 kms), Jhansi (101 km).

Places to see

Gwalior Fort

This is an important landmark of the city. The ruins of many temples and palaces can be seen within its walls. Teli ka Mandir and the Sahasrabahu temple dedicated to Vihnu, inside the fort are worth a visit. Incidently the name Sahasrabahu has been distorted and the temple is now referred to as Sas Bahu ka Mandir.

Man Mandir Palace

This was built by Raja Man Singh in the 15th/16th century as a music hall for the royal ladies to learn music.

Hill-top Fort

There are huge stone statues of Bahubali, cut out of massive rocks on the way to the fort. The tallest is 17 metres in height. There is also a sandstone mausoleum of the Sufi saint, Ghaus Mohammed near the fort in the old town of Hazira.

Gujari Mahal Palace

There is an Archaeological Museum inside this palace. The palace was built by Raja Man Singh for his Queen Mrignayani.

The Jai Vilas Palace

This palace belongs to the Scindia family and a large part of it has been converted into a museum.

Others

The garden where the tomb of Tansen is located is also the venue for an annual music festival held during November.

Excursions

Shivpuri

Shivpuri was once the summer capital of the Scindia rulers of Gwalior. Even earlier its dense forests were the hunting grounds of Emperor Akbar. Shivpuri's royal visitors used to live in the exquisite palaces, hunting lodges and intricately embellished marble chattris (cenotaps) erected by the Scindia princess. Today the National park is a sanctury for not only rare wildlife but avifauna as well. There are some excellent spots for bird watching too.

Gwalior was an important princely state during the pre-independence era. Gwalior's colourful history going back to the 8th century is a mosaic of Rajput clans of the Pratihasas, Kachwahas and Tomars each leaving their marks on the city's magnificent monuments. A trip to Gwalior is incomplete without a visit to the fort, Scindia palace and the tombs of Ghaus Mohammed and Tansen.

As a modern city Gwalior is famous for its cloth mills, producing some of the best fabrics in the country. The city is divided into 3 parts Gealior houses the fort complex, Lashkar with the Jai Vilas Palace, and Morar are the outskirts. The city serves as an access point for the tourist centres of orchha and Shivpuri.

Madhya Pradesh is not called the heart of India only because of its location in the centre of the country. It has been home to the cultural heritage of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainisim and Islam. Innumerable monuments exquisitely carved temples, stupas, forts and palaces are dotted all over the state. The National Parks of Kanha, Bandhavgarh and many others you can spot the tiger, the bison and a wide variety of deers and antelopes.