Introduction
'A pearl among fortresses in India', this is how Babur once described the Gwalior Fort , which was reputed to be the most invincible of the forts in North and Central India. The fort is located 100 meters above the town of Gwalior, at a place called Gopachal, on a hill , north of Lashkar.
History
There is a 1000 year old history behind the Gwalior Fort. The fort has been in the hands of different people and rulers at different times, nourished and protected by each one of them. It was built by Raja Man Singh Tomar in the 15th century when Tomar Dynasty took over the fort and Man Singh the greatest Tomar ruler took over the throne. He withstood attack on the fort by Sikander Lodhi of Delhi. Ibrahim Lodhi laid siege on the Gwalior Fort in 1516. After the Lodhis. The Mughuls took over the Gwalior Fort till 1754 when it was captured by the Marathas. Later, through many hands, the Gwalior Fort finally reached the Scindias. During the revolt of 1857, the troops inside the fort fought against the British defying the ruler who remained loyal to the Raj. The Gwalior Fort also witnessed the assassination of Rani of Jhansi and Tantia Tope near its premises.
Description of Gwalior Fort
The Gwalior Fort displays a unique amalgamation of two distinct styles of architecture, Hindu and Muslim. This perfect union finds the best expression within the walls and corners of the Gwalior Fort. There are solid walls encircling the fort, about 10 meters high. The walls are steep to make them non-scalable. Covering an area of 3 sq kms, the Gwalior Fort has three temples, six palaces and a number of water tanks. The most distinguished of places inside the Gwalior Fort includes Man Singh Palace, Jauhar Kund, Jahangir Mahal, Shahjahan Mahal and the Gujri Mahal.
How To Reach Gwalior Fort
To reach Gwalior by Air, one can take the Indian Airlines flight that operates from Delhi. There are regular bus services from Gwalior to Agra, Jhansi, Shivpuri. Indore, Bhopal amd Jabalpur. The main rail line from Delhi to Mumbai also halts at Gwalior.
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