Gwalior Travel Guide

Situated on the northernmost fringe of MP, barely 120 km south of Agra and five hours from Delhi, Gwalior is a perfect place to start a trip to Madhya Pradesh. The magnificent Gwalior Fort, perched on an enormous rock massif, dominates the skyline of the city. Gwalior lived through Indian history, page by page. It was the seat of a powerful dynasty, ruled by great kings as the kingdom of Gwalior dominated the military and trade routes between north and south India.

Gwalior has a strong cultural heritage with some of the finest Indian Classical musicians claiming it as home. The long tradition of Hindustani classical music spans medieval to modern times as it flourished under royal patronage. The eminent musicians associated with Gwalior include Tansen, one of Mughal Emperor Akbar’s ‘nine jewels’ (17th century), vocalist Onkarnath Thakur (1897-1967) and ‘sarod’ maestro Amjad Ali Khan and his forefathers who trace their unbroken lineage three centuries back and whose sons enthrall audiences around the world with their musical heritage.

Tansen’s Tomb, part of the city’s living cultural heritage, is the venue for an All India Annual Music Festival (November-December) when India’s leading artistes gather to pay tribute to the greatest musician of all.

Gwalior is known for its rich cultural heritage towards art and architecture. So a trip without visiting all the important sites would definitely be considered a waste.