Best Things to do in Gwalior

If you want to visit a place with enormous history and past to disclose, visit Gwalior. The heritage city founded by king Surajesan, Gwalior is a major city situated in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh that has loads to tell about its glorious history and legacy. To hint the least about it, Gwalior and its fortress have been ruled by several historic northern Indian kingdoms.
Gwalior?s vast past can be felt and learnt through the imposing architecture of mosques, rock temples and statues. Not only the history, but the natural beauty of Gwalior is equally unique to boast about. Surrounded by beautiful hills and lush green flora, Gwalior doesn?t just please the history-buffs but it also is a treat to the nature lovers. Gwalior proudly unfolds India?s most eminent royalty that ruled over the region once. The city is full of palaces, forts, monuments and temples that were built under different rulers in varied era. The Gwalior Fort is the most popular of all which offers a panoramic view of the entire city.
Culturally, Gwalior is the confluence of two culturally rich territories- Braj and Bundeli. It is also a city where Indian Classical Music has flourished under the Gwalior Gharana hoisting several singers and musicians of the country. Gwalior is also known for being one of the major sites of rebellion during the 1857 uprising. It became a major tourist spot after independence and, today, is being counted under PM Narendra Modi's flagship Smart Cities Mission.

With the name itself, Gwalior reflects its royal touch found in everything from its buildings to culture to music and food. Several of the famous personalities - Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, music maestro Amjad Ali Khan, the famous percussionist Alla Rakha, three generations of the Akhtar family, Urdu and Hindi poet Nida Faizal are some of the faces that bring Gwalior under fame.

Gwalior has a history that has been handed over from one dynasty to another. The history dates back to 1231 when Iltutmish, the third ruler of the Delhi Sultanate captured the Gwalior Fort which remained under Muslim rule till the 13th century when it was taken over by the founder of the Tomar clan, Raja Veer Singh who became the ruler in 1375. Gwalior was ruled by the Scindias as well as the Marathas and remained a Princely State during the British Rule in the 19th and 20th century. Interestingly, the first reference of zero as a written number can be found in the Chaturbhuj Temple of Gwalior.