Gwalior is often
considered the poor cousin when compared to the likes of Shimla, Manali,
Nainital. At times, it is not even in the consideration set. But if you dig
forts, palaces and ancient love stories, Gwalior should be high on your
priority list. More so, if you are running out of weekend getaway ideas.
Last month, I spent a
weekend at Gwalior. Needless to say, a weekend is not sufficient for a place
like Gwalior. Me and my friend were dead tired and there was still so much left
to see. On the contrary, if you are up for a stamina crunching trip, even a
weekend might suffice.
Here is a quick snippet on what to expect on a Gwalior trip.
Stay
Gwalior doesn't have
many hotels; at least my internet search at the
time didn't say so. However, it has
a few budget hotels like Hotel Landmark, Hotel Grace and a few
two star hotels. On the other hand, if you don’t mind spending some money don’t
look beyond Deo Bagh, a Neemrana Hotel. It’s an idyllic setting to relax and to
some extent a destination in itself.
Originally a summer
palace of the ruling dynasty, this hotel has a range of rooms each overlooking
a lush green lawn and two quaint 17th century temples on the horizon. All
the rooms have been named after the royal family members like Jayaji Villas,
Aruna Villas, Rohini Raja Mahal, Dhruv Villas etc. Read more about them here http://deobagh.neemranahotels.com/. Ironically, not a single auto wallah
at the railway station knew anything about the hotel.
See
If you are a sightseeing
kind of person, there is a plenty waiting for you. Keep a day aside for
supposedly the largest of its kind - Gwalior Fort, the outer boundary of which
stretches as far as 3.5 km. Also come prepared for a long trek, as the autos are
not allowed to enter the fort premises.
Inside the fort are
Gujari Mahal, an Archeological Musuem, Man Mandir Palace, Saas Bahu Temple,
Teli ka Mandir, Jahangiri Mahal, Karan Mahal, Shahjahan Mahal, Jauhar Kund,
Suraj Kund, a Gurudwara, a chapel and even more.
If you have to choose
between the monuments due to paucity of time, then settle down for the Man
Mandir Palace and the Saas Bahu Temple. Both of them are exquisite to look at
and the best that the fort has to offer in terms of architecture.
Just like the history
of the city, Gwalior architecture is an interesting mix of mughal, deccan and
hindu designs. You will be able to see glimpses of this everywhere you go.
The other two must
visit places in the city are the Jai Vilas, erstwhile palace of the Scindihias
and Tansen Ka Maqbara. While the former is standing there in all its glory, the
Tansen’s tomb could have been better maintained. The fact that the entry to the
Maqbara is free and also that it is in a bustling market area has transformed
the place. At best it is comparable to a local park where people feel free to
come and sleep. Despite the indifference of the government, Tansen’s resting
place manages to give its visitors what they come seeking – peace. In fact,
both I and my friend were anxious about spending so less time at such a
beautiful place. Given a choice, we would have happily spent the entire day
dreaming there.
On the other hand, the
pristine white Jai Vilas that has often been shown as the home of heroes and
heroines in films of the 80’s has now been turned into a museum. The rooms of
the palace are still laid out as they were used once upon a time, each of them
with a unique colour scheme and a magnificent story to tell. Some
parts of the palace continue to be used by the royal family even today.
Do give the Kala
Vittika and the Light and Sound Show a miss. The Kala Vittika has absolutely nothing
inside and the Light and Sound Show is way too outdated with almost no
lighting and graphics. In fact, those who have seen the one at Delhi
Old Fort will not even call it a Light and Sound Show.
Eat
Sorry to say food
lovers, there is not much to eat here. The food at the Deo Bagh was average,
and beyond that we couldn't find anything. There are few dhabas lined up near the railway station that
dish up spicy stuff. But they can hardly be called sumptuous. Also it will
be best to stick to vegetarian food, as majority of the people at Gwalior seem
to be vegetarian.
Feel
Gwalior is full of
interesting stories. The fort itself was built by Raja Surya Sen when sage
Gwalipa cured him of leprosy. Again Raja Man Singh fell in love with a tribal
girl named Gurjari whom he named Mrignayani. It is said that Mrignayani’s love
for her husband was such that even Emperor Akbar couldn't do
anything. After conquering the Gwalior Fort, when he took her to his Agra
harem she continued to love her husband even after many days and refused to
comply. Seeing her dedication for her love, the emperor reunited her with Raja
Man Singh.
So, the next time
someone says there is not much to see or do you know what your answer should be.
