The famous Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, or the Tansen Music Festival, is celebrated every year on the Tansen Tomb in Gwalior. Tansen Samaroh is a platform where artists from all over India gather and participate to deliver vocal and instrumental performances. Gwalior’s environment during the festival turns mystical with melodious music echoing. Music lovers from far and wide make it a point to be a part of this event at any cost, as it is a memorable experience for them. The Tansen Sangeet Samaroh is organized by the government of MP, in association with the Academy of the department of culture in MP. During the festival, music lovers and artists from all over the world gather to offer their bit of tribute to the all-time music Maestro Tansen. To date, this festival has the honor of being the only musical show in Gwalior that takes place on multiple days and nights. The academy offers honors to senior celebrities and junior artists by including them in the Samaroh through their music of performance. Tansen was a legendary singer of Akbar’s mughal court. Tansen, a legendary exponent of the Hindustani classical music’s dhrupad style, was counted among the Nine Jewels of the Royal Court. In remembrance of this exemplary artist there is a tomb constructed in Gwalior called the Tansen Tomb. This is where the Tansen Music Festival or the Tansen Samaroh is organized every year. This annual music festival started in the 1930s. The passage of time has only glorified the status of this annual historic event. At present, renowned artists from all over the country come to perform and exhibit their excellence while in turn mesmerizing the audience. The venue Gwalior has retained Indian traditions and the wealth of music intact over the years. The famous Gwalior Gharana of music is actually inspired by the Tansen style of music. In all, the four-day musical extravaganza called Tansen Samaroh is an audio as well as visual treat, seeing the exemplary and renowned music expertise in artists all over India dedicating their bit of honor to the greatest ever musical mentor, Tansen. The Tansen Music Festival, or Tansen Samaroh, is held every year in the month of December. The experience of melodious music with the chilling weather of autumn makes it an ecstatic festival.
The Telika Mandir, or ‘oil-man’s temple’, owes its name to Teli, a term for an oil grinder or oil dealer. Many suggestions have been put forward to explain this name historically, but in fact the name is not old, the temple being used for processing oil before the British occupied the fort and used the building, albeit temporarily, as a coffee shop. The Telika Mandir is the loftiest temple among all the buildings in Gwalior Fort with a height of about 30m. The temple consists of a garba griha, that is, sanctum proper for the deity, and an antarala to enter into the temple. It can be approached by a flight of steps provided on the eastern side. The most striking feature of the temple is the wagon-vaulted roof, a form used over rectangular shrines which normally accommodated a row of Mother Goddesses. The goddesses from the interior vanished centuries ago and have not been traced, even in fragments. The exterior walls of the temple are richly decorated with sculptures, many of which are damaged; the niches, shaped like temples, are empty. The building carries a dedicatory inscription to the goddess in a niche on the southern side, but otherwise does not have any history. The architectural style, discussed by a number of architectural historians, points to a date in the late 8th Century. The building was erected just as the Gurjara Pratiharas were asserting their power over central India. The entrance gateway on the eastern side is a later addition of the British period, made by Major Keith in 1881. It was built as a way of saving various historic pillars and other pieces no longer in their original context.
Besides being the Administrative Headquarters of Gwalior district and Gwalior division, Gwalior also hosts some administrative offices of Chambal Division. Gwalior also hosts several Administrative Headquarters of the State as well the Country; Few of them are The High Court of Madhya-Pradesh (Gwalior Bench), Office of The Narcotics Commissioner of India (Central Bureau Of Narcotics), Office of The Accountant-General (AG) of Madhya-Pradesh, Office of The President-Board Of Revenue of Madhya-Pradesh, Office of The Transport-Commissioner of Madhya-Pradesh, Office of The Commissioner-Land Records & Settlements Madhya-Pradesh, Office of The State Excise Commissioner of Madhya-Pradesh etc. Gwalior also hosts Premiere Government Institutions like Defense Research & Development Establishment(DRDE), Country’s only Border Security Force (BSF) Academy, National Cadet Corps (NCC) Officer’s Training Academy(OTA). Gwalior also features a major Indian Air Force (IAF) Station, A major Indian Army Cantonment (Morar Cantt.), Central Intelligence Bureau HO. Numerous Colleges and Universities are located in Gwalior including IIITM Gwalior & IITTM Gwalior.
Gwalior enjoys being at a very strategic position as being a main junction on New Delhi – Chennai railroad and being on NH-3 and NH-75. Gwalior is surrounded by 3 Industrial areas – Sitholi, Banmore and Malanpur. All three of these sectors are on NH 75, NH-3 and NH 92 respectively, with Malanpur being the largest. The city used to have big manufacturing industries, such as Gwalior Grasim and J.C.MILLS of Birlanagar, but now this sector is left with only one industry – J.B.Mangharam Ltd. But the other 3 sectors have many industries. The important are from dairy, chemical, manufacturing, textiles, and other industries. Handicraft and small industries are also found like Gwalior potteries. Gwalior is also an important historical and tourism sector of the country. Therefore, the tourism sector also puts an effect into the city’s economy. Gwalior is part of NCR. The Gwalior Trade Fair is an annual trade fair showcasing the economy of Gwalior. There are some manufacturing set-ups of some companies like Ranbaxy Laboratories, Cadbury, J. K. Tyres, Surya Bulbs, and SynRam.
Gwalior has seven universities: Amity University Madhya-Pradesh, Jiwaji University, Lakshmi Bai National University for Physical Education (LNUPE), Atal Bihari Vajpayee – Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Gwalior (IIITM), R.V.S. Agriculture University Gwalior (RVSKVV), R.M.T. Music and Arts University Gwalior. The Scindia School Gwalior and Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya (SKV) are famous schools of international repute. Some esteemed colleges and institutes include Madhav Institute of Technology & Science (MITS Gwalior), an autonomous body and Excellent Government Engineering College; Rustamji Institute of Technology (RJIT Tekanpur), the first Engineering College in India established by a para-military force; Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM Gwalior); and The Indian Institute of Hotel Management (IHM Gwalior). ITM Gwalior . Apart from Universities Gwalior City contains numerous Engineering, Science and Arts Colleges, such as the Vikrant Institute of Technology & Management.
According to history, the original fort of Gwalior was founded by the Bargujar Kings during the 34th/35th century of Kali yuga as per puranas available with them. His palace is the most interesting example of early Hindu work of its class in India. Another palace of even greater extent was added to this in 1516. The Mughal emperors, Jahangir and Shah Jahan, added palaces to these two, the whole making a group of edifices unequaled for picturesqueness and interest by anything of their class in central India. Among the apartments in the palace was the celebrated chamber, named the Baradari, supported on 12 columns, and 45 ft (15 m) square, with a stone roof, forming one of the most beautiful palace-halls in the world. It was, besides, singularly interesting from the expedients to which the Hindu architect was forced to resort to imitate the vaults of the Muslims. Of the buildings, however, which so excited the admiration of the first Mughal emperor Babur, probably little now remains.
The Scindia state of Gwalior became a major regional power in the second half of the 18th century and figured prominently in the three Anglo-Maratha Wars. (Gwalior first fell to the British in 1780.) The Scindias held significant power over many of the Rajput states, and conquered the state of Ajmer. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857 the city was briefly held by rebel forces in 1858 until they were defeated by the British. The Scindia family ruled Gwalior until India’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, when the Maharaja Jivajirao Scindia acceded to the Government of India. Gwalior was merged with a number of other princely states to become the new Indian state of Madhya Bharat. Jivajirao Scindia served as the state’s rajpramukh, or appointed governor, from 28 May 1948 to 31 October 1956, when Madhya Bharat was merged into Madhya Pradesh.
Gwalior is also known for its participation in the 1857 revolt, mainly due to Rani Lakshmibai’s involvement. After Kalpi (Jhansi) fell into the hands of the British on 24 May 1858, Lakshmibai sought shelter at Gwalior Fort. The Maharaja of Gwalior was not willing to give up his fort without a fight as he was a nominal ally of the British, but after negotiations, his troops capitulated and the rebels took possession of the fort. The British wasted no time in attacking Gercest, the bloodiest battle ever fought on Indian soil.Empty citation? (help) Indian forces numbered around 20,000, and British forces around 1600. Lakshmibai’s example is remembered to this day by Indian nationalists. She died fighting, and Gwalior was captured. Tatya Tope and Rao Sahib escaped. Tatya Tope was later captured and hanged in April 1859.
According to local tradition, Gwalior owes its name to a sage of former times. Suraj Sen, a prince of the Kachhwaha clan of the eighth century, is said to have lost his way in the jungle. On a secluded hill, he met an old man, the sage Gwalipa, whose influence almost took him by surprise. Upon asking the sage for some drinking water, he was led to a pond, where the waters not only quenched his thirst but cured him of leprosy. Out of gratitude, the prince wished to offer the sage something in return, and the sage asked him to build a wall on the hill in order to protect the other sages from wild animals which often disturbed their yajnas (or pujas). Suraj Sen later built a palace inside the fort, which was named “Gwalior” after the sage, and eventually the city that grew around the fort took the same name.
Summers start in late March, and along with other cities like Nagpur and Delhi, are among the hottest in India and the world. Temperatures peak in May and June with daily averages being around 33–35 °C (93–95 °F), and end in late June with the onset of the monsoon. Gwalior receives 970 mm (39 in) of rain every year, most of which is concentrated in the monsoon months from late June to early October. August is the wettest month with about 310 mm (12 in) of rain. Winter in Gwalior starts in late October, and is generally very mild with daily temperatures averaging in the 14–16 °C (58–62 °F) range, and mostly dry and sunny conditions. January is the coldest month with average lows in the 5–7 °C range (40–45 °F) and occasional cold snaps that plummet temperatures to close to freezing.
Gujari Mahal- Within the fort are some marvels of medieval architecture. The 15th century Gujari Mahal is a monument to the love of Raja Mansingh Tomar for his intrepid Gujar Queen, Mrignayani. The outer structure of Gujari Mahal has survived in an almost total state of preservation; the interior has been converted into Archaeological Museum housing rare antiquities, some of them dating back to the 1st century A.D. Even though many of these have been defaced by the iconoclastic Mughals, their perfection of form has survived the ravages of time. Particularly worth seeing is the statue of Shalbhanjika from Gyraspur, the tree goddess, the epitome of perfection in miniature. The statue is kept in the custody of the museum’s curator, and can be seen on request.
Lakshmibai National University for Physical Education (operational since 1957 is one of the largest physical education institutions in the country. Gwalior also has the Railway Hockey Stadium with artificial turf. Roop Singh Stadium is a cricket ground with a capacity of 45,000. The stadium has hosted 10 One Day International (ODI) matches. Of the 10 matches played so far, the first one was played between India and West Indies on 22 January 1988. The ground has flood lights and has also hosted day-night encounters. One match of the 1996 Cricket World Cup was also played on this ground, between India and West Indies. This ground is famous for hosting the ODI between India and South Africa in which Sachin Tendulkar scored a double century.
Morar was the scene of the most serious uprising in Central India. On June 1, 1858, Jayajirao led his forces to Morar to fight a rebel army led by Tatya Tope, Rani Lakshmibai and Rao Sahib. This army had 7,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry and 12 guns while he had only 1,500 cavalry, his bodyguard of 600 men and 8 guns. He waited for their attack which came at 7 o’clock in the morning; in this attack the rebel cavalry took the guns and most of the Gwalior forces except the bodyguard went over to the rebels (some deserted). The Maharaja and the remainder fled without stopping until they reached the British garrison at Agra. By 1900 it had become a centre for local trade and had an important training industry, with a population of 19,179 in 1901.
At the heart of Gwalior is Gwalior Fort of the Tomar dynasty. This formidable structure was reputed to be one of the most structurally sound forts of India, having been improved by Raja Man Singh Tomar where a previous structure existed. It occupies an isolated rock outcrop. The hill is steepened to make it virtually unscalable and is surrounded by high walls which enclose buildings from several periods. The old town of Gwalior lies at the eastern base of the fortress. Lashkar, formerly a separate town that originated as a military camp, lies to the south, and Morar, also a formerly separate town, lies to the east. Gwalior, Lashkar and Morar are presently part of the Gwalior Municipality.
The prominent hospitals of Gwalior include Gajara Raja Medical College and the associated J.A. Hospital, Kamla Raja Hospital, Sahara Hospital, Mascot Hospital, Birla Hospital, Cancer Hospital & Research Institute and many good private doctor clinics. The Cancer Hospital & Research Institute is a nationally acclaimed medical center in Oncology. There is also a charitable hospital named SATCH (Shri Anandpur Trust Charitable Hospital) which provides free treatment. There is a government Ayurvedic college and a private homeopathic college (Vasundhara Raje Homoeopathic Medical College) which is run by the Biochemic and Homoeopathic Association of Gwalior, also providing health care education and services.
Gwalior is fairly well-connected to other parts of Madhya Pradesh and India by national and state highways. The proposed North-south-Corridor of the Golden-Quadrilateral Highway project passes through the city. The Agra-Bombay national highway (NH3) passes through Gwalior, connecting it to Shivpuri on one end and Agra on the other. The city is connected to the Jhansi by the National Highway 75, towards the south of the city. The northern part of the city is connected to the holy city of Mathura via National Highway 3. There are bus services to and from all major and minor cities near Gwalior, including Bhopal, Agra, Delhi, Jabalpur, Jhansi, Bhind, Morena, Dholpur, Etawah, Datia, Jaipur, and Indore.
Gwalior Fort stands on an isolated rock, overlooking the Gwalior town, and contains a number of historic buildings. It is one of the biggest forts in India and a postage stamp has been issued by the Indian Postal Service to commemorate the importance of this fort. From historical records, it is established that it was built in the 8th century. The fortress and the city have been integral to the history of the kingdoms of North India. It is said that the Mughal Emperor Babur (1483–1531) described it as “the pearl in the necklace of the forts of Hind”. The fort, also given the epithet “Gibraltar of India’, provides a
Sas – bahu temple- A 9th century shrine, Saas-Bahu temple in the fort allures not only the devotees but also the tourists with its artistic value. Despite what its name may suggest, these temples are not dedicated to Sas (mother-in-law) and Bahu (daughter-in-law) but rather the short form of Shashtra Bahu, another name of Lord Vishnu. These temples situated adjacent to each other and the larger one is elaborately decorated with beautiful carvings and sculptures. The roof of the larger temple is adorned with a marvelous lotus carving which is very fascinating. These ancient temples display exceptional architectural brilliance and are a perfect destination for pious people.
Gwalior temple has the very first occurrence of zero as a written number in the world. Gwalior may have been held by the Guptas or some of their disciples, but the oldest historical evidence shows the fort was conquered by the Hunas in the early sixth century. The evidence for this is a stone inscription of the time of Mihirakula recording the construction of a temple to the sun god. It is now in India Museum, Calcutta. Subsequently, Gwalior was taken by Gurjar Pratihars of Kannauj. From inscription found such as Rakhetra stone inscription, scholars assert that Gwalior was under the possession of Gurjara Pratiharas until at least 942 AD.
Vivsvaan Mandir (Sun Temple), A newly built temple dedicated to the Sun god, the Sun Temple is located near the residency at Morar, Gwalior. It is a facsimile of the famous Sun temple of Konark, Orissa and now this sun temple is one among the significant pilgrimage centers in Gwalior. The temple is located in a serene ambiance and a well-maintained garden within the temple premises is very attractive. This holy temple draws the locals and tourists alike who gather here to render their prayers. It makes one astounded that a shrine of comparatively modern origin is held in such high regard, and became one among the most sought after pilgrimage centers in the city.