Gwalior city

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Gwalior cityBy Pitamber Agarwal
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JuSt A InTrOdUcTiOn

• Gwalior is especially known for it rich
  contribution to the history of India. Strategic
  events and times from vedic ages to the Indian
  Rebellion of 1857 to the British Raj, Gwalior has
  emerged as a prominent place making it an
  important archaeological as well as historical
  site. The rich heritage of art and culture and
  especially contribution of Gwalior to the
  classical music is worth mentioning.

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OrGiNaTiOn

• According to local tradition, Gwalior owes
  its name to a sage of former times. Suraj Sen, a
  prince of the Sikarwar Rajput clan of the eighth
  century, is said to have lost his way in the
  forest. On a secluded hill, he met an old man,
  the sage Gwalipa, whose influence almost took him
  by surprise. Upon asking the sage for some
  drinking water, he was led to a pond, where the
  waters not only quenched his thirst but cured him
  of leprosy. Out of gratitude, the prince wished
  to offer the sage something in return, and the
  sage asked him to build a wall on the hill to
  protect the other sages from wild animals which
  often disturbed their yajnas (or pujas). Suraj
  Sen later built a palace inside the fort, which
  was named "Gwalior" after the sage, and
  eventually the city that grew around the fort
  took the same name.

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ThE GrEaT ReVoLt Of 1857

• Gwalior is also known for its participation
  in the 1857 revolt, mainly due to Rani
  Lakshmibai's involvement. After Kalpi (Jhansi)
  fell into the hands of the British on 24 May
  1858, Lakshmibai sought shelter at Gwalior Fort.
  The Maharaja of Gwalior was not willing to give
  up his fort without a fight as he was a nominal
  ally of the British, but after negotiations, his
  troops capitulated and the rebels took possession
  of the fort. The British wasted no time in
  attacking Gercest, the bloodiest battle ever
  fought on Indian soil. Indian forces numbered
  around 20,000, and British forces around 1600.
  Lakshmibai's example is remembered to this day by
  Indian nationalists. She died fighting, and
  Gwalior was
• captured. 

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MuSiC iN tHe AiR oF GwALioR

• TaNsEn SaMrOh
• The famous Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, or the
  Tansen Music Festival, is celebrated every year
  on the Tansen Tomb in Gwalior. Tansen Samaroh is
  a platform where artists from all over India
  gather and participate to deliver vocal and
  instrumental performances. Gwalior's environment
  during the festival turns mystical with melodious
  music echoing. Music lovers from far and wide
  make it a point to be a part of this event at any
  cost, as it is a memorable experience for them.

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PlAcEs To ViSiT In GwAlIoR

• SuN TeMpLe
• A temple built by Birla group is dedicated to
  the Sun god, the Sun Temple is located near
  residency at Morar, Gwalior. It is a facsimile of
  the famous Sun temple of Konark, Orissa and now
  this sun temple is one among the significant
  pilgrimage centres in Gwalior. It is the place
  which gives best examples of peace and neatness
  in gwalior.
• The temple is located in a serene ambience and a
  well-maintained garden within the temple premises
  is very attractive. This holy temple draws the
  locals and tourists alike who gather here to
  render their prayers. It makes one astounded that
  a shrine of comparatively modern origin holds
  such a highest regard, and became one among the
  most sought after pilgrimage centres
• in the city.

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JaI viLaS PaLaCe

• The Jai Vilas Mahal (or The Jai Vilas
  Palace) , is a nineteenth-century palace in
  India. It was established in 1874 byJayajirao
  Scindia, the Maharaja of Gwalior and is still the
  residence of his descendants the former
  royal Maratha Scindia dynasty. The European
  architecture of the palace was designed and built
  by Sir Michael Filose (known as Mukhel Sahib)
  under the guidance of Jayajirao to welcomeEdward
  VII.
• The palace has 400 rooms from which
  exclusively 40 rooms are transformed into Jiwaji
  Rao Scindia Museum. Two Belgian chandeliers at
  Durbar Hall weighing 7 tonnes each are believed
  to be most
• gigantic in the world.

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GwAiLoR fOrT

• At the heart of Gwalior is Gwalior Fort of
  the Tomar dynasty. This formidable structure was
  reputed to be one of the most structurally sound
  forts of India, having been improved by Raja Man
  Singh Tomar where a previous structure existed.
  It occupies an isolated rock outcrop. The hill is
  steepened to make it virtually unscalable and is
  surrounded by high walls which enclose buildings
  from several periods. The old town of Gwalior
  lies at the eastern base of the fortress.
  Lashkar, formerly a separate town that originated
  as a military camp, lies to the south, and Morar,
  also a formerly separate town, lies to the east.
  Gwalior, Lashkar and Morar are part of the
  Gwalior Municipal Corporation.
• The massive Gwalior Fort, popularly called
  "the Gibraltar of India", overlooks the city.

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MaIn PlAcEs Of GwALiOr

• LaShKaR
• The name of Lashkar is a Persian word
  meaning 'army' or 'camp', as this was originally
  the camp, and later the permanent capital, of
  the Scindia dynasty of Gwalior state. Lashkar was
  the capital of Madhya Bharat from 1950 to 1956.
• Jayaji Chowk is the central focus of
  Lashkar, with a large square, a former opera
  house, banks, tea, coffee and juice stands and a
  municipal market building. Thriving bazaars
  surround the chowk. Many jewellery shops are
  situated near Jayaji Chowk, also known as Maharaj
  Bada. A source of water for the city is Tighra
  Dam, built on the Saank river 20 km to the north.
  The Gajra Raja Medical College, founded in 1946
  by the Maharaja Jiwaji Rao Scindia and the
  Maharani Vijayaraje Scindia, is situated in
  Lashkar on Palace Road, near Katora Taal,
  together with a group of many hospitals.

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MoRaR

• Morar, formerly a separate town, lies 5
  kilometres (3.1 mi) east of the old city. It was
  formerly a British military cantonment. Morar is
  generally considered a rural farming town. The
  area is known as the "green part" of Gwalior
  because much of the area is still rural.
• Morar was the scene of the most serious
  uprising in Central India. On 1 June 1858,
  Jayajirao led his forces to Morar to fight a
  rebel army led by Tatya Tope, Rani Lakshmibai and
  Rao Sahib. This army had 7,000 infantry, 4,000
  cavalry and 12 guns while he had only 1,500
  cavalry, his bodyguard of 600 men and 8 guns. In
  this attack, the rebel cavalry took the guns and
  most of the Gwalior forces except the bodyguard
  went over to the rebels (some deserted). The
  Maharaja and the remainder fled without stopping
  until they reached the British garrison at
  Agra.10 By 1900 it had become a centre for
  local trade and had an important training
  industry, with a population of 19,179 in 1901.

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ThAtIpUr

• Thatipur is said to have got its name from State
  Army Unit 34, which once resided there. Gandhi
  Road divides Thatipur into two areas. Morar at
  one end of the road and Balwant Nagar on the
  other. It primarily consists of Darpan Colony,
  Madhav Rao Scindhiya Enclave, the government
  blocks, Vivek Nagar, and Suresh Nagar. Places of
  note are the Dwarikadhish Mandir, Bhagwan colony,
  the Tomar building, Chauhan Pyau, Galla Kothar,
  Ramkrishna Aashram, Saraswati Nagar,
  Govindpuri, Gayatri Vihar, Shakti Vihar,
  Shakuntalapuri,Dushyant Nagar, Shanti Vihar, and
  Mayur market along with Sai Baba Mandir in Shakti
  Vihar Colony.