Gwalior Fort
Referred to as 'the pearl amongst fortresses in India' by Mughal monarch Babur, the Gwalior Fort is one of the major impenetrable fortresses located in the entire northern andsouthern India and is a place you should definitely visit. Perched on top of a massive rocky mountain near Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh in central India, this imposing structure dominates the entire city of Gwalior. An inseparable part of the city's identity and architecture, evidence suggests that it has been around since the 6th century. This is also the place where the second oldest reference to the number 'zero' has been found in the form of a carving inside a temple at the top of the fort.
The Gwalior Fort was constructed in two parts, in two different time periods and thus, this architectural marvel has an interesting history attached to it. It has passed several times from the possession of one dynasty to another. The thorough fort complex is well maintained and includes temples, water tanks and palaces such as Man Mandir, Gujari, Jahangir, Karan and Shah Jahan.
Jai Vilas Palace
Gujari Mahal
Built by Man Singh in the 15th century for his favorite wife Mrignayani, the Gujari Mahal is now in ruins and is also an archaeological museum as it displays various sculptures, sculptures and other relics from the 1st and 2nd centuries BC.
Man Mandir Palace
Situated at the north-eastern end of the fort, the Man Mandir palace was built between 1486 and 1516 by the Tomar ruler Man Singh Tomar. The palace could not survive over time, although the remains of the palace still display beautiful carvings and designs from that era.
In the middle of the palace are two open courts with apartments on two levels. There are also underground prisons, which were later built by the Mughals. It was the same place where Aurangzeb had taken his brother Murad captive and killed him by slowly poisoning him using opium. If you find a local guide, he/she can tell you various secrets about the place and show you different parts of the castle that you wouldn't be able to see otherwise. Nearby Jauhar Kund is the site where various Rajput women committed mass suicide to escape rape by the forces of Iltutmish, who was the king of Delhi in the 13th century AD. The palace is also surrounded by other monuments like Jahangir Mahal, Shah Jahan Mahal and Gujari Mahal.
Tomb of Tansen
One of the great musicians of India and a noted singer in the court of Akbar in medieval times, Tansen was also one of the nine gems of the Mughal court.
Tansen is believed to create magic with his music and cause rain and even enchant animals with his music. He was a student of Mohammad Ghaus who taught him Hindustani classical music. He was a supporter of Dhrupad style and he developed the Gwalior Gharana style of music. He was buried near his master and this burial site is a beautiful piece of architecture. The annual Tansen Music Festival is held here every year in the month of November where prominent musicians from across the country come and perform various classical programs.
Teli Ka Mandir
Located in the Gwalior Fort, this temple also dates back to the 9th century and is the tallest building in Gwalior (100 feet). This temple was used to process oil before the British captured Gwalior Fort.
The temple is famous for its unique architecture as the temple is Dravidian in nature, but the sculptures are generally North Indian.