Gwalior:-

Few hours (2-2.5) away from Agra is Gwalior, best known for its imposing hilltop fort famously described as 'the pearl amongst fortresses in India'. Gwalior is popularly called the ''Gibraltar of India''. Besides, Situated 110 kms from Agra, it is a 2 hours drive by road or a one hour train ride on the Shatabdi Express. You can travel to Gwalior from Agra and return on the same day.

Gwalior holds an unparalleled reputation in Music (Sangeet), retaining Indian traditions and the wealth of music intact over the years. The Gwalior Sangeet Gharana is one of the oldest and renowned Khayal Gharanas. Legendary musicians like Tansen and Baiju Bawara belonged to Gwalior. Besides, the wizard of Hockey, Dhyan Chand, belongs to the city of Scindias depicting Gwalior's rich history in sports.

About Gwalior Fort Gwalior Fort has existed at least since the 10th century, the inscriptions and monuments found within the fort campus indicate that it may have existed as early as the beginning of the 6th century. The fort has been controlled by a number of different rulers in its history, from the Tomars to Mughals, the Marathas to British.

Standing 100 m above the town on a steep mass of the sandstone, the fort hill is about 3 km long. Its width varies from nearly 1 km to less than 200m. The walls, encircling almost the entire hilltop, are 10 m high and imposingly solid. Beneath them, the hill face is a sheer drop away to the plains. The view from the top is such that you can witness the entire city, especially during the late evening and night when you can view the city lights lighting the city.

The fort is famous as one of the best fortresses for its magnificent beauty, great architecture and rich history. A nightly 45-minute sound-and-light show is held in the open air amphitheatre outside the Mansingh at Gwalior Fort, narrating the past of the fort and the city. The English version is at 1930 hrs and the Hindi version is at 1830 hrs. Entry tickets are Rs. 150 Per person.

Other Major attraction Inside the Fort Wall Jain Sculptures: . Midway on the slopes of the fort,on either side of Urwahi Road are many Rock Cut Jain Tirthankaras Statues, some of them are impressively big, standing and seated, sheltered in small caves or niches are carved on the rockface. Originally cut into the cliff-faces in the mid-15th century, they were defaced by the forces of Babur in 1527 but were later repaired.

Teli Ka Mandir: This temple probably dates back to the 9th century. Its peculiar design incorporates a Dravidian roof with Indo-Aryan decorations, the whole temple covered with sculptures. A Garuda tops the 10m high doorway is captivating to eyes of the visitors. Tours to Gwalior Saas bahu Temples: The Saas bahu, or Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-Law temples stand close to the eastern wall, midway along that side of the fort. The two temples are similar in style, dates back from 9th to 11th centuries. The larger temple has an ornately carved base, figures of Vishnu over the entrances and four huge pillars support the heavy roof.

Man Singh Palace: Situated at the north of the Saas bahu Temples is Raja ManSingh Palace, a delightfully whimsical building, is also known as the Chit Mandir, or Painted Palace, because of the tiled and painted decorations of ducks, elephants and peacocks.

Other Major Attractions of the City Jai Vilas Palace & Scindia Museum: Although the current Maharaja still lives in the palace of the Scindia family (Royal family of Gwalior), 35 rooms now form a museum and are open to the public to give tourists an essence of age-old Indian Culture and opulence, preserved in the backdrop of modern-day India.

The main durbar hall is impressive. The gold paint used around the room is said to weigh 58 Kg and the two giant chandeliers looks magnificent adding to the enchanting beauty of the palace. The Chitrangada Raje Art Gallery that depicts the artistic nerve of Gwalior along with a library that comprises of more than five thousand books, the Jai Vilas Mahal is a must-visit for history lovers who intent to engage with the rich narrative of Indian civilisation.

Sun Temple: Known as the Surya Mandir, the Sun Temple is one of the most popular religious centres in the Gwalior city. Although it is one of the most revered shrines in the city now, the Sun Temple is also known for its amazing architecture and is popular amongst the tourists. Dedicated to the holy Sun God (Surya Dev) as the name suggests, the Sun Temple in Gwalior has been modelled with somewhat close similarities to the legendary Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha. The temple adorns a breathtaking architecture attracting tourists and devotees from all over the world.

Note: Book Now

• Taj Mahal is closed on Friday.
• Timings may vary depending upon the traffic.
• This tour is available in 3 versions i.e Budget, Deluxe and Luxury.