GWALIOR TOURISM | TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT & FORTS IN GWALIOR

At a distance of 4 km from Gwalior Junction, Gwalior Fort is one of the most beautiful historical and architectural marvels situated in the center of Gwalior city. Known as the pearl amongst fortresses in India, Gwalior Fort is one of the best historical forts in India and also one of the top places to visit in Gwalior.

The fort was built by a local king, Suraj Sen in 8th century AD on a solitary rocky hill called Gopachal. According to legend, the king was cured of leprosy, when a sage named Gwalipa offered him the water from Suraj Kund, now lies within the fort. The king constructed a fort, and named it after the sage. Since then many dynasties ruled over the place from Tomars, Mughals, Marathas and the British. Finally, Gwalior Fort was acquired by Scindias in 1886 and ruled until the independence of India in 1947. It was here that Tatya Tope and Rani Jhansi Lakshmi Bai fought for their freedom.

Spread over an area of 3 sq. km, Gwalior Fort is one of the biggest forts in .....

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At a distance of 2.5 km from Gwalior Junction and 4 km from Gwalior Fort, Jai Vilas Mahal or Jai Vilas Palace is a 19th century palace in Gwalior, India. It is one of the important heritage places in Gwalior city and was rated among the well maintained palaces of Madhya Pradesh state.

Jai Vilas Mahal was constructed in the year 1874 CE by Jayajirao Scindia, the Maharaja of Gwalior, at a cost of Rs. 1 crore. It is a fine example of European architecture, designed and built by Sir Michael Filose. The palace was the residence of the royal family of Scindia's. A segment of the Jai Vilas Palace was converted into a museum now.

The Palace is well-known for its beautiful architecture. The palace features a beautiful blend of Tuscan, Italian and Corinthian styles of architecture. Spread over an area of 12, 40, 771 square feet, the palace has 400 rooms and a huge Durbar Hall. The interior of the Durbar Hall is decorated with gilt and gold furnishings and adorned with a huge carpet .....

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At a distance of 5 km from Gwalior Fort and 5 km from the Gwalior Junction, Surya Mandir or Sun Temple is a Hindu temple in the historic city of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Situated near the Residency at Morar, Sun Temple is one of the most famous heritage monuments in Gwalior and also one of the top places to visit in Gwalior.

Dedicated to Sun God, Surya Mandir is one of the popular pilgrimage places in Gwalior. Also known as Vivaswan Temple, Surya Mandir was constructed in 1988 by G.D Birla, the famous industrialist of India. The Surya Mandir is a new one in the list of the grand historical monuments of Gwalior and it does not even have any historical significance.

The temple is the replica of the famous Sun Temple of Konark in Orissa. The temple is one of the architectural wonders and has a beautiful sculpture of Lord Surya in the temple premises. The temple building is created in the shape of chariot pulled by seven horses each one depicting seven days of the week. One can .....

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At a distance of 2 km from Gwalior Junction and 3 km from Gwalior Kila, Gwalior Zoo is an ideal spot and also one of the most visited tourist attractions in Gwalior. Also known as Gandhi Prani Udhyan or Gandhi Zoo, Gwalior Zoo is one of the most beautiful zoological parks in Madhya Pradesh.

The Gandhi Zoo is a part of a huge garden known as Phool Bagh which was built by Madhao Rao Scindia in 1922 and it was inaugurated by Wales Prince in the same year. The Gwalior Zoo is maintained by the Municipal Corporation of Gwalior. The Phool Bagh campus also includes a gurudwara, a mosque, a theosophical lodge and a prayer hall.

Spread over an area of 8 hectares, Gwalior Zoo is home to some rare species of animals including a white tiger. The main animals which are present in the zoo are deer, monkeys, Royal Bengal Tiger, serpents, crocodile, spotted deer, sambhar, hyena, lion, rabbits, panther, bear, hippopotamus, etc. The zoo also has some rare and colorful birds, snakes, lizards, .....

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At a distance of 5 km from Gwalior Junction and 6 km from Gwalior Fort, the Chhatris are the memorial of Scindia dynasty rulers of Gwalior. Situated in Chhatri Bazar, the Chhattris of the Scindia dynasty are one among the prominent attractions in Gwalior city.

Renowned for its architectural brilliance and beautiful structures, the Chhatris are located in a beautiful garden. These are elevated, dome-shaped pavilions used as an element in Indian architecture. The first chhatri was built in 1817 CE to commemorate Jayaji Rao Scindia. Since then other Chhatris have been added. The older ones are built in yellow and pink sandstone and are of great architectural value.

Apart from others, the Chhatris of Jiwaji Rao Scindia, Daulat Rao Scindia and Janko ji Rao Scindia are well known. These Chhatris preserve the beauty of the medieval period and are decorated with stone carvings of elephants, horses and tigers. These monuments have been built with pink and white stones. There is a .....

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At a distance of 2.5 km from Gwalior Junction, Gwalior Trade Fair is one of the largest fairs of Madhya Pradesh. It is the most colorful fair of North India and one of the major attractions of Gwalior.

Gwalior Trade Fair was started in 1905 by Maharaja Madhav Rao Scindia, the king of Gwalior. The fair is held at the Mela Ground, also known as Pragathi Maidan in the Race Course Road of Gwalior. Started as a cattle fair, this Trade Fair now emerged as the biggest fair in Madhya Pradesh. The fair is not only popular in India but it is also enjoys its international acclaim. The fair is organized by Gwalior Trade Fair Authority (GTFA), a nodal agency of Government of Madhya Pradesh. Usually the fair starts every year around the middle of December and lasts for a month.

The Mela Ground spreads over an area of 104 acres which is divided into several pavilions and sectors. It has 1200 permanent pavilions, more than 500 platforms and 3000 kiosks. Both private national and multinational .....

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At a distance of 1 km from Gwalior Fort and 3 km from Gwalior Junction, Tombs of Mohammed Ghaus & Tansen are situated in the town of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Well known for its architecture, the tomb complex is one of the prominent sightseeing attractions in Gwalior.

The Tomb of Mohammad Ghaus was built in 16th century AD during the Akbar's rule. Ghaus Mohammed was an Afghan Prince who later converted into a Sufi saint. According to legend, Mohammad Ghaus assisted Babur when he was conquered the fort of Gwalior in 1526 CE. The Sufi saint who belongs to 16th century occupies an important position in the history of Mughal India and is said to have had great influence over Mughal emperors like Babur and Humayun.

Tomb of Ghaus Mohammed is a prominent pilgrimage center of both Muslims and Hindus. The structure of this tomb is typical Mughal architecture with hexagonal pillars stand at each of its four corners. The building is square in plan and topped by a square dome decorated .....

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At a distance of 1.5 km from Gwalior Junction and 3 km from Gwalior Fort, Maharani Lakshmi Bai Park is a memorial situated in the Phool Bagh area of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The Samadhi of Rani Lakshmi Bai is located here and is one of the best places to visit in Gwalior.

Lakshmi Bai, the Rani of Jhansi was born on 19th November, 1835 CE at Banaras and died on 18th June, 1858 CE at Gwalior. She is a well-known freedom fighter, who fought against the British for the freedom of the princely state, Jhansi. She was one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and became for Indian nationalists a symbol of resistance to the British Raj.

For paying tribute and respect to the Rani, an eight metalled tall statue of Rani Lakshmi Bai has been installed by the ruler of Gwalior in 1920 AD. She is shown riding a horse with sword in her hand and a child at her back. In her honor and memory, every year a fair is organized in Gwalior on 18th June.

Timings: 6 AM to 6 .....

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At a distance of 20 km from Gwalior, Tighra Dam or Tigra Dam is a fresh water reservoir situated at Tighra near Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. It is the primary source of drinking water to the city of Gwalior and also one of the popular picnic places to visit near Gwalior.

Tighra Dam was constructed in 1916 on the Sank River and is a major source of water for the city of Gwalior. This dam has been constructed in the vicinity of eleven villages. The villagers depend on this dam for their irrigation, drinking and domestic purpose. The dam is an engineering marvel and is 24 meters high at its crest, and 1341 m long. The reservoir has a capacity of 4.8 million cubic meters. The dam was failed twice due to infiltration in 1917 & in 1970 respectively. However, today it has emerged as a favourite destination for families to spend some good time together.

As tourism gained popularity, the tourist department started a boating club here. One can enjoy speed boating, jalpari boat, paddle .....

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At a distance of 5 km from Shivpuri, 89 km from Jhansi and 116 km from Gwalior, Madhav National Park, one of the oldest parks in India, is situated in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the major wildlife sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh and among prime place to visit on a Gwalior tour.

The park was established as Madhya Bharat National Park in 1955. It was declared as a National Park in the year 1959 and renamed as Madhav National Park after Madhav Rao Scindia, the Maharaja of Gwalior. It was originally the shooting reserve of the Maharaja. Even before this, during the reign of the Mughals, its dense forests were the hunting grounds of the Mughal emperors. It is also believed that from the dense forests of Madhav National Park, Akbar once captured elephants for his stables in the year 1564 CE. Since the area was a royal shooting reserve, it was well protected and flourished with wild life and was famous for its tigers. .....

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