Gwalior Fort:
Gwalior Fort is an 8th-century hill fort near Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, central India. The fort consists of a defensive structure and two main palaces, Gurjari Mahal and Man Mandir, built by Man Singh Tomar.
History:
Gwalior’s legendary beginning stems from the hermit Gwalipa curing the Rajput chieftain, Suraj Sen, of leprosy using water from Suraj Kund tank (which still remains in Gwalior fort). Renaming him Suhan Pal, he foretold that Suhan’s descendants would remain in power as long they retained the name Pal. His next 83 descendants did just that, but number 84 changed his name to Tej Karan and, naturally, lost his kingdom.In 1398 the Tomar dynasty came to power. Gwalior Fort became the focus of continual clashes with neighbouring powers and reached its ascendancy under Raja Man Singh 1486–1516, remembered for his love of music and architecture. After his death the fort fell to Ibrahim Lodi; two centuries of Mughal possession followed, ending with its capture by the Marathas in 1754.
Over the next 50 years the fort changed hands several times, including twice to the British. Finally it passed to the Scindias, one of only five noble clans to be honoured with a 21-gun salute by the British.During the Indian Uprising in 1857, Maharaja Jayajirao remained loyal to the British but his troops rebelled, and in mid-1858 the fort was the scene of some final dramatic events of the whole uprising. Near here the British finally defeated rebel leader, Tantia Topi, and it was in the final assault on the fort that the Rani of Jhansi was killed.
The Mughals, British, Rajputs, Marathas, Muslim rulers, Sikhs and some more may have played out their roles in India's rich history, but they all seem to have a unique common link to a city in central India - Gwalior.Located about 330 km south of New Delhi, Gwalior not only rests on the legacy of its historical links like doyen of Hindustani music, Mian Tansen, who was one of the nine Navratnas of Mughal Emperor Akbar, but also on modern day events. It was here that on February 24, 2010, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman in world cricket history to score a double century in a One-day International (ODI) match. The momentous occasion was witnessed by around 50,000 people in Gwalior's Roop Singh cricket stadium.
The erstwhile kingdom of Gwalior is best linked to the name of its rulers - the Scindia family. In modern times, former union minister Madhav Rao Scindia and now his son and union minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, have carried on the legacy of the royal family. The palaces, the Gwalior fort and several other monuments dot the city - giving a peek into its rich history.
The Jai Vilas Palace, a portion of which has been converted into the Jivaji Rao Scindia museum and where visitors can get a first-hand look at how the royalty lived in yesteryears, has a lot to offer. Only 40 rooms and halls of the 400-room palace have been converted into the museum. The Scindia royal family retains the rest of the palace and uses that portion.
Some of the halls like the Durbar hall, where top dignitaries are hosted, and the dining hall are used by the royal family even now. A host of VVIPs, including presidents and prime ministers and even the Indian cricket team have been hosted here in recent years," Parul Kumar, a local tourist guide, told us.
In the Durbar hall, two chandeliers, each weighing a bulky seven tonnes (7,000 kg each), and said to be the biggest ones in the world, adorn the roof. In the dining hall, a toy train plies on a laid out track on the long dining table as it carries liqueurs and cigars for seated guests. The mechanical, silver train has been in operation since the early 20th century.
It was in Gwalior that Laxmibai, the famous Rani of Jhansi, who played a stellar role in the 1857 India's first War of Independence, was killed after information regarding her whereabouts was leaked to the British by the local rulers.
The majestic Gwalior fort rests on top of a hillock, overlooking the entire city. The colourful outer walls of the fort give it a distinct look. A light and sound show every evening - first in Hindi and then in English (duration 45 minutes) - is delivered in the mesmerizing voice of actor Amitabh Bachchan. The fort has palaces and temples inside, which attract a number of visitors.
In the Durbar hall, two chandeliers, each weighing a bulky seven tonnes (7,000 kg each), and said to be the biggest ones in the world, adorn the roof. In the dining hall, a toy train plies on a laid out track on the long dining table as it carries liqueurs and cigars for seated guests. The mechanical, silver train has been in operation since the early 20th century.
It was in Gwalior that Laxmibai, the famous Rani of Jhansi, who played a stellar role in the 1857 India's first War of Independence, was killed after information regarding her whereabouts was leaked to the British by the local rulers.
The majestic Gwalior fort rests on top of a hillock, overlooking the entire city. The colourful outer walls of the fort give it a distinct look. A light and sound show every evening - first in Hindi and then in English (duration 45 minutes) - is delivered in the mesmerizing voice of actor Amitabh Bachchan. The fort has palaces and temples inside, which attract a number of visitors.
Places to see:
- Jai Vilas Palace museum,
- Gwalior Fort,
- Saas-Bahu temple,
- Tansen Memorial,
- Bara market
- Gujri Mahal
- Samadhi Of Rani Laxmi Bai
No comments:
Post a Comment