My parents were avid travellers. My sister and I grew up listening to their travel stories. Gwalior was one such place, whose stories were part of our childhood. Our fascination grew year by year by listening to their tales. Therefore, we decided to visit Gwalior in March 2018 and explore the city ourselves!
A little bit about Gwalior city
Gwalior is a city of India’s second-largest state, Madhya Pradesh. The city is home to one of the most beguiling forts in India. This fort is also known as the ‘pearl of fortresses’. Many dynasties ruled this city. The Kachwaha, Tomars, Mughals, Marathas and Scindia. It is also the birthplace of one of the nine jewels of Emperor Akbar’s court, Tansen.
Being close to Delhi, Gwalior fits perfect as a weekend getaway destination. Here is a complete itinerary of what we did on our weekend trip to Gwalior.
Day 1 – 6:00 a.m. – Train to Gwalior from Delhi
There are plenty of trains running between Delhi and Gwalior. You can also reach here by car. It takes merely 3.5 hours to reach Gwalior to Delhi. The best train to reach Gwalior is Habibganj Shatabdi Express that starts from New Delhi (NDLS) at 6 a.m.
Boarding an early morning train during winters is an adventure altogether. Although the station was barely 10 km away from our home, it felt like miles apart. It was 5:15 a.m., and we were still struggling to find a ride until the station. Thanks to the local auto-rickshaw drivers, we reached the platform at a margin time and were able to board the train.
Learning: Always pre-book a cab for your early morning travels.
10:30 a.m. – Gwalior Fort Expedition
We stayed at Hotel Ramaya in Gwalior, which was just 1.6 km away from the railway station. We reached the hotel at 10 a.m. packed our gear and left for the day.
The hilltop fort of Gwalior greets you as soon you enter the city. Undoubtedly, the most imposing structure dominating the architecture of Gwalior city. The fort is an excellent example of Hindu architecture and is a must-visit if you’re a first-timer in the city. It is 3 km long enclosing three temples, six palaces, two archaeological museums, numerous water tank and a Gurudwara.
You either can walk from the main fort gates or can take your car inside until the parking. We took the tickets from the counter next to the parking and began our expedition. It took us 3.5 hours to see every bit of it.
2:30 p.m. – Dining at the Mansingh
Even in March, the sun was harsh enough to make us feel dehydrated. Therefore, to save some energy, we took an e-rickshaw ride until the main gate. Getting a cab was a pain as the signals were weak on the fort. However, we managed to grab an auto to the DD Mall.
After all that walk, it was now time to re-energise with some delicious food. I referred to the TripAdvisor App for picking my restaurant. Mansingh was one of the highest-ranking in the city. We tried their famous Tandoor platter, which was worth every penny.
We headed back to the hotel to rest before hopping to our next destination.
7:30 p.m. – Digging out History at the Light and Sound Show
The Light and Sound show happens at the Man Mandir Palace amphitheatre (Gwalior fort) every evening. The show runs in two languages, Hindi (7:30 p.m.) and English (8:30 p.m.).
The show took us through the history of the fort and the love story of Raja Man Singh and his queen Mrignayani. The show was mesmerising and one of the best that I have seen. Moreover, the hilltop view of the city post-show was the icing on the cake.
Right after the show, we tried to book a cab. However, due to weak signals, we were unable to do so. Moreover, there were no transport available until the main gate. Hence, we had to walk for 1.5 km, which was a little creepy and unsafe!
Learning: Pre-book your ride if you are heading to the show.
10:00 p.m. – Dinner at the hotel
We were too exhausted to eat out and so we decided to stay back in our room and order food through the room service.
Day 2 – 9:00 a.m. – Starting the day on a spiritual note
It was our second day in Gwalior. We started early after a delicious breakfast (Indore style Poha) at the hotel.
Our first stop of the day was a replica of the famous Sun Temple in Konark. The Sun Temple of Gwalior is equally remarkable architecture wise. The magnificent red stone façade shines bright in the daylight. On the other hand, the white marble interiors reflect serenity. Every little carving on the temple wall is a beauty indeed. However, the size is a bit smaller than the actual one.
10:30 a.m. – Tomb of Mohammed Ghaus and Tansen
The Tansen road of Gwalior is home to two of the famous tombs of Gwalior, Tomb of Mohammed Ghaus and Tomb of Tansen. Finding these tombs were a bit of a struggle. As the location shown on the map is 500 metres away from the actual tomb entrance. Nevertheless, we were able to locate the tomb with the help of the locals.
The architecture of this mausoleum is unique with hexagonal minarets. The tomb of Tansen, on the other hand, is a simple pillared gallery. Next to which lies a tamarind tree whose leaves are considered sacred by the credulous singers.
11:15 a.m. – A short detour to Moti Mahal
I came across this place while I was finalising my itinerary. However, due to on-going restoration work, we were not allowed inside. We stopped by for few pictures before heading to the Jai Villas Palace.
11:40 a.m. – Jai Villas Palace
Located in the heart of the city is one of the glorious building of Gwalior. Home of the Maharaja of Gwalior. The architecture is a perfect blend of Tuscan, Italian and Corinthian styles. Before entering the palace premises, we stopped by the cafeteria to replenish our energy.
We started with the main museum that comprised of antiques and the preserved pictures of the royal family. We saw the private chambers and other areas of the palace like the private bath, dining and many more. It took us 2.5 hours to see the place.
3:00 p.m. – Lunch at Usha Kiran Palace
I usually prefer eating at a local food outlet than in fine dining, to understand the real essence of the place. However, Usha Kiran Palace was hard to resist. I was intrigued by its history and architecture. And so we decided to grab our lunch at the Silver Saloon Restaurant in Usha Kiran Palace.
4:30 p.m. – Amma Maharaj ko Chhatri (Cenotaph)
Our final spot for the day was the royal memorial ground of the Scindia rulers. This place was about a kilometre away from the Jai Vilas Palace. The ambience was calming and pleasant because of the lush green surroundings. We sat here for a while admiring the architecture and the calmness, before heading back to our hotel.
6:42 p.m. – Heading back home
We took the 6:42 p.m. Rajdhani express from Gwalior railway station and reached Delhi at 10:40 p.m.
Gwalior is a city that is architecturally brilliant and culturally rich. If you wish to visit this place, then follow the above itinerary to make the most of your trip.
Tip: The best time to visit the city is between November and March.
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