GWALIOR

Gwalior’s history is traced back to a legend. In 8 A.D, a chieftain called Suraj Sen was stricken by a deadly disease. He was cured by a hermit saint, Gwalipa, and in gratitude founded a city which he named after the saint who had given him the gift of new life. The new city of Gwalior became, over the centuries, the cradle of great dynasties and with each, the city gained new dimensions from warrior kings, poets, musicians and saints, contributing to making it a capital renowned throughout the country.Since then, Gwalior is considered to be a city where a rich cultural tradition has been interwoven into the fabric of modern life. Also where a princely past lives on in great palaces and their museums. And where a multitude of images merge and mix to present to the visitor a city of enduring greatness.

Gwalior is best known for its imposing hilltop fort, which was famously described as ‘the pearl amongst fortresses in India’.

Gwalior holds an unparalleled reputation in Sangeet, and has retained Indian traditions and the wealth of music intact over the years. The Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest Khayal Gharanas and the one to which most classical Indian musicians can trace the origin of their style. Legendary musicians like Tansen and Baiju Bawara belonged to Gwalior.

Gwalior also has a rich history in sports, with the wizard of Hockey, Dhyan Chand, belonging to the city.

Gwalior is essentially a small city with its obligatory share of chaos, but the narrow lanes full of noise and traffic notwith standing, it stll bears the stamp of a place that has seen much grandeur.Once the capital of the Marathas and the Mughal emperors, it is now the seat of the Scindias,an erstwhile royal family.Gwalior is usually spoken of in the same breath as it is majestic 10th century fort, which dominates the whole region from atop a huge bluff.The great 14th century traveler Ibn Batuta spoke of Gwalior as being “a fine town of whites stones”,as did the Governor General of Bengal,Warren Hastings,who called it the “Key to Indostan”.Today, the city may not have that important a position on India’s political or cultural map,but there are a lot of hidden gems still to be discovered here, including the impressive Fort and the structures built around it.Additionally, the old city makes for an interesting stroll and there are markets nearby for shopping.