Described by Mughal Emperor Babur as, “The pearl amongst fortresses in India”, this imposing fort is hard to miss as it can be seen from every nook and corner of Gwalior. Built on an isolated hill of sandstone 100 m above the city, the Fort spreads out over an area of 3 km and is considered as North and Central India’s most impregnable fortress.
The Fort itself was built in two parts, at different times. The first part, the main Fort was built during the Tomar rule, in the 8th century. The Gurjari Mahal and the Man Mandir Palace was later constructed by Raja Man Singh Tomar in the 15th century for his favorite queen, Mrignayani.
In the 500 years since then, the Fort has seen many ups and downs in history. It has also changed hands many times and has been held by the Tomars, Mughals, Marathas and the British, who finally handed it over to the Scindias. The fort has quite a gory history. There’s the Jauhar Kund, which marks the spot where the women of the harem burnt themselves to death after the defeat of the King of Gwalior in 1232. The Mughal emperor Aurangzed imprisoned and later murdered his brother Murad in the striking Man Mandir Palace.
Surrounded by concrete walls of sandstone, the Gwalior Fort encloses three temples, 6 palaces and several water tanks. Easily the most beautiful place in the Fort is the Man Mandir Palace. It is an amazingly elaborate structure that seems to hang on at the edge of the fort. Blue ceramic tiles form the façade of this palace. It is also host of the spectacular sound and light show which is held there every evening. It is so well executed that you will feel as if you’re a part of the rich history of the fort and the love story of Raja Man Singh and his Queen Mrignayani.
The Fort also contains many other marvels of medieval architecture. The Gujar Mahal is one such structure whose outer covering has survived the many battles the Fort has encountered. The inside of the Mahal has been transformed into an archaeological museum which houses an impressive collection of exhibits, some of which date back as far as 1st century AD.
Out of the three temples, the Teli-Ka-Mandir is the most prominent. It is a 9th century Dravidian style shrine rising to a height of over 100 ft. It is famous for its blend of South Indian architecture with North Indian decorative motifs and is notable for its liberally sculpted exterior. The Saas-Bahu temples can be found on the eastern side of the fort. They are dedicated to Lord Vishnu and are larger-than-life examples of 11th century temple architecture.
The Karan Palace, the Jahangir Mahal and the Shah Jahan Mahal are also all palaces what are definitely worth seeing.
The fort also has a special place in the field of human civilization as it was the place which has the first ever recorded use of 0.
A visit to Gwalior is incomplete with a visit to Gwalior Fort, one of the best heritages of our country and the most prominent structure in the Gwalior skyline. The best time to visit Gwalior fort is between October to March.
What a marvellous place! All the structures/buildings appear to be very well kept and are so beautiful to look at. Hope to visit the place some time!
JUST SUPERB.ONE MUST VISIT.
Excellent peace of Architecture. Maintenance will be a difficult task. Monetary and Physically.
It’s a beautiful architecture and worth seeing places. Everyone should keep maintain the same in the Indian history for future generation.
very beautiful also showing the long history of former emperor of India thank you sending email sneha.
We should beautify such a legacy & excellent architecture as Gwalior Fort.Also security arrangements need to be beefed up.The rear portion overlooking Kila Gate is not maintained,needs beautification.
please save this heritage of india – this is not only valuable for foreigner but costly also for history lovers
nice nnnnnnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiccccccccccccccccccccceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Exquisite photos. Eye thrilling. Keep it up
I would like to go and see these wonderful places…in my lifetime..very nice place..
Can I use one of these amazing pictures of the Gwalior fort in my forthcoming book Marathas: A Graphic History. I would be delighted to ack. the same
Jaymala
The Intricate work is remarkable . Not possible in nowadays. a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.
Most interesting and worth seeing. We are proud of this heritage.
WONDERFUL HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS WITH VERY INTERESTING INFORMATION.
KEEP IT UP
THANK U
G M P RAO.
The Gwaliar fort is very beutiful and well preserved. There was no destruction because of the Syndia rulers did not oppose british rulers and therefore there were no attacks. Still, maintain such a fort is a very very costly thing. Only kings can do it. One must visit the fort in life time.
PG Deodhar
Gr8. Something wonderful, highlighted by the meaningful write-up. Some pictures did not open up ! What could be the reason ? !
what a beauty!!!!!
i am fond of the mughal art. it is outstanding. thanks.
Excellent photographs bringing back nostalgic memories. I don’t miss a trip to this magnificent monument when visiting Gwalior. My compliments also to the housekeeping staff of the fort for maintaining it to beautifully
You been doing great service to the World at large by publishing articles covering such wonderful monuments, modern day achievements and so many other wonders of the World.
God bless such Institutions with long life.
Very nice.I hope someday you’ll see.
It is beautiful. Like to visit one day.
awesome pictures happy to see this place
Gwalior Fort and temples are worth visiting.
All Indians should be proud of such heritage.
Really Amazing place in India
AWESOME.NICE PLACE TO ENJOY VACATION.
Beautiful Fort and Palaces within. Missed seeing it when passing through thirty years back. Would like to see it in detail and feed the fishes in the famous talao.
superrrrrrrrr…. awesome pics!!
a very beautiful palace with absolutely magnificient carvings. a true rare monument of mans ingeniuenty in architecture. brilliant
Dear Sir/Madam,
Thank you for your mail in which you had attached fantastic photos of Gwalior Fort. I expect more like similar sight sceneries of various tourist places.
Thank you with warm regds/
Raviprakash Nair
[email protected]
Exquisite, worth seeing.
This piece of monument is really marvelous. There is no word to express its beauty and grandeur.
R C Mohapatra
Excellent really In Credible Indai
This has revived my old memories. I first visited this gorgeous fort in 1975 when I was in India working for Western Railway. Now since 2000 I am in Toronto,Canada. I recommend all NRIs and others to at least visit this place.
Firoz Khan
Sr. Editor
Hindi Abroad weekly
Toronto, Canada.
Think of the civilization then as compared to now. We are missing many good things in life. Who needs this fast life?
nice pic i really like it keep on sending
Its a marvellous archetechtural sturcture built during 8th century. Must visit place in the country.
beautiful and awesome
Wonderful pictures.Would like to visit in the near future.
Thank you
must visit
nice article to read.
It is fantastic. Can I share these photos with Facebook friends?
Can I share these photos with facebook friends?
rare art and interesting. mail more details to visit
Wow….This is really wonderful …..
It’s very superb………..
This is realy ghost areaa
there strictly not allowed after 5 pm there
this area site under 5 km not living any person
in this a HANUMAN JI TEMPLE if any person live inside wrongly person will come in temple nothing worng do with him otherwise…………….. u know very well
Govt also try make any building there but next all cunstruction crushed
Rajesh
Unfortunately I have not visited Guwaliar fort nor do I hope to visit it being a Pakistani citizen but by the pictures I have just now seen it is really an impressive structure.India should be paoud of it.
the most memorable visit for everybody
Rajesh,
Are you Kidding.. its so beautiful fort.. This kind of tendency destroying India..
Really bullshit
These are only superstitions…………..
All this is part of our glorious heritage.
one more history i think the last photo from this place chancy rani lakshmi bhai suicide “i meen jumped and zaheed ,there is one small park zahid park
Mr. Rajesh Sharma, please tell more in detail.
After seeing the Gwaliar fort and other sites to watch I am attractd too pay visit to the city of Gwaliat
Thanks for such information by this message sent by our group member
Truly Yours
Shankerprasad S Bhatt
Your information is as amusing as your English. Sach me padh kar maza aa gaya.
Rajesh is right. I visited this palaces way back in 1965. Our Guide at that time said that these are ‘Haunting palaces.’ Of no proof was given.
This is a fantastic site. A must for a tourist. One muxt see it at last once in life time.
Firo Khan,
Toronto, Canada.
fantastic @ really amazing
Wow! It’s so beautiful! 🙂
Hi Rajesh,
Your English is superb. It is just like those Ghosts about which you are talking here. It keeps on disappearing every moment. Nice English. Please teach me also.
@Rajesh Kumar Sharma, Are you kidding me…. i’ve been there plenty of times but never heard of any ghost. so stop posting stupid shit. Apart from that Fort there is a school(SCINDIA SCHOOL https://www.scindia.edu ) and a guru duara( a bit famous guru duara )
There is no place like ghost place.They may not be allowing after 5PM due to some other reason
Just amazing…. and awesome too..
excellent structure, only people in past can build . richest man today cant dare to build even one fourth of it today. man has become poorer by all means over the ages .
This monument a seen from the picture is really marvelous. We can not imagine the quantum of manpower skilled in stone crafting would have been engaged. The workmanship of this monument is really incomparable.It seems as if the Artist has drawn it on canvas.
Thank You,
R C Mohapatra
The Photos showing different parts of the Fort are excellent. I felt like seeing the Gwalior Fort just before my eyes. I have visited this Fort in July,1960, with my uncle.Quite a long time back! But I don’t remember the details now. I enjoyed seeing the important pictures of the Fort now. Thanks for ‘India Outing’for bringing this on the Internet.
Jacob
no one will believe u rajesh unless u show some proofs,coz i doubt that there would be guards atleast at nights not leaving this fort unattend during nights
Dearest lovely thanks for sending me nice pic,s
i like you .
you are the best friend in the world
lovely and facinating madam, thanks …. urs kvvs
lovely and fascinatingmadam …urs kvvs
superb to see….
Can any body suggest the train route from Hyderabad to Gwalior.
And the details of accommodation and tour operators within city.
Just returned from a 12 day India-Nepal trip- To me India is more than INCREDIBLE! The Hindu religion being the first and oldest in the world/civilization is so intriguing and mind-boggling, so alive and well. My respect for all religions and historical remains of the temples , stupa , mosques, palaces, forts . Himalaya, most exotic beautiful human faces, saris, turbans ,brilliant colors ,foods, holy cows , elephants ,camels , flora and fauna , the then silk road beaming w/ automotive vehicles , cobra charmers…plus more are all so fascinating! I was in ‘lala land’ I thought. Namaste!!!!
The photograph given at top is taken by me. How you have published it at your website without my permisssion?
Lindas fotos!!!
Brasil
This is wealthy of India,is any hope i will visit keep in memory
i like maratha riyasat fort
Very nice place…………..woooooooonderful fort
There is absolutely no doubt, once India used to be a gold mine of the world economy, when rest of world, particularly Europe was starving. It us during 1600s that so called East India Company (EIC)mafia came into existence and looted the entire subcontinent. True. But point to ponder is: How? By which instruments?
From where those instruments were imported to assist EIC? Are such elements not floating around? Do their roots not deepen in our society? Did anybody think to erradicate them?
Have been a past resident on the fort during school days (Scindia School. Have visited many forts around the country but nothing to beat the Gwalior fort in design, grandeure and maintenance. excellent Sound and Light presentation.
I already wrote an Article on Gwalior fort and best hotels of the city in Times of India, this mammoth structure is built on an isolated rock, giving panoramic view of old Gwalior town 24×7 and takes pride to be one of the biggest forts of its kind in the country
History reckons that the first part of the fort was constructed by a Tomar ruler. According to folklore a Tomar emperor while passing through the rocky terrain noticed saint Rishi Galav worshiping and he was awestruck by the charm on his face and the serene radiation coming out from his body as he prayed. Observing this emperor resolved to build a city called ‘Galav Rishi Ki Tapo Bhoomi’, which ultimately became the foundation laying of Gwalior Fort.
Beautiful Palace a must see place in India & thanks
Absolutely superb; 500 years old and still looks as though it was built only other day !!
I am proud of my ancesters.
I and my senior citizen friends would like to visit Gwalior and see these beautiful palaces.
i am from gwalior, i know everything about fort, but pic it nice
Marvellous and though very old is well preserved.
There are umpteen beautiful forts in India. The Govt needs to still do a lot and ensure that all of them come under heritage sites and maintained. The forex will be multiplied. The Govt must learn from the British as to how to maintain & attract tourists.
How the work of our ancestors rulers (TOMARS/ TOOR)
Very nice photos of an excellent architecture with beautiful information.
Beautiful place…Love to visit…
Gwalior…..what could be said about it….Its my Home town, my birth place…and the fort…it reminds me many past memories, my home is very near to the fort, during my childhood me and 1 of my friend Rahul, used to go to the fort daily in the early morning during 1990 to 1994…..These Incredible pictures reminds me a lot…
Thank you for posting these pictures
Amazing Gwalior Fort & beautiful architectures attract every one.