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The Gwalior Fort is a hill fort near Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. The fort has existed at least since the 10th century, and the inscriptions and monuments found within what is now the fort campus indicate that it may have existed as early as the beginning of the 6th century.
The history of the Gwalior Fort
Reputed to be among the most beautiful fortresses in the country, the Gwalior Fort is a thriving tourist destination today. Exuding energy that speaks of the days gone in a harmonious tune, the walls of this fort capture your attention as soon as you step into the complex of Gwalior ka Kila. India is a country that is surrounded by rich history spanning era after era. Forts were fundamentally built to protect from enemies and till now the forts of India stand strong. How wonderful it is after so many years, India has maintained the beauty and exquisiteness of its forts. One of the majestic forts in India is Fort of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. According to historians, there isn’t any concrete proof to indicate exactly when the fort was constructed. However, a local legend tells us that it was built in 3 CE by a local king called Suraj Sen. A saint named Gwalipa came wandering to the fort and met the king, who was suffering from leprosy. When Gwalipa offered him some water from a sacred pond (now called Suraj Kund and located within the fort complex), he immediately became healthy again. As a thankful gesture to the saint, the king named the fort and the town after him. The saint then gave the king the title of ‘Pal’ (protector) and told him that as long as he and his family continue to bear this title, the fort would remain in their possession. Following this, 83 successors of Suraj Sen controlled the fort. But the 84th king, Tej Karan, did not bear the title and lost the fort.
Gwalior Fort was entitled as 'Gibraltar of India' by the Mughal Emperor Babur who reigned in the 15th century. It was called so because it provides panoramic sights of the old Gwalior town.
When we discuss the origins of Gwalior ka Kila, it is essential to note that the main structure has been standing tall since the 6th century! That’s right. As old as monuments can be, this fort has witnessed every season, war, and love story known in the Indian subcontinent. Over the centuries, Gwalior kila passed through the many hands—the Huns, Prathiharas, Qutub-ud-din Aibak, princes of Kanauj, Akbar, the Tomars, Kachwahas, Jats, and Marathas. According to Sikh history, Guru Hargobind (the 6th guru), was held captive at Assi Khamba Bawri near the Man Singh Palace in the 17th century during the rule of Jahangir. And in the early 19th century, Gwalior Fort and the city became the reason for a long disturbance between the British and the Scinids.
After being attacked and ruled by a couple of Muslim dynasties for three centuries, the Tomars captured the fort in 1398. Maan Singh was the last and the most distinguished Tomar ruler, and he constructed several monuments inside the fort complex. The beautiful turquoise blue-tiled Man Mandir Palace was built during his reign. And he also had a separate palace built for his wife Mrignayani; this structure is called the Gujari Mahal and is now a state archaeological museum. When Ibrahim Lodi attacked the fort in 1516, he defeated Maan Singh, who died, and the Tomars lost the fort.
The fort was, however, soon taken by Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty. However, the Mughals lost it to the Sur ruler Sher Shah Suri, in 1542. In 1558, Mughal Emperor Akbar recaptured the fort and turned it into a prison, where he executed his prisoners and rivals. Post the reign of Aurangzeb, the Mughal Empire weakened, resulting in the loss of the fort, which was now captured by the Rana chieftains of Gohad. Mahadaji Shinde of the Scindia dynasty captured it from Gohad Rana Chhatar Singh, but eventually lost the fort to the British. In 1780, the British gave away the fort to the Ranas, in exchange for their support during the Sepoy Mutiny in the 18th Century. The Marathas then captured it again from the Ranas, but lost it to the British during the Second Anglo-Maratha War. The British then largely controlled the fort and sometimes even gave up its ownership to the Scindia family for political reasons. In 1886, after capturing the whole of India, the British gave the fort to the Scindias, as the fort was of little importance to them at that time. The Scindias then ruled over the fort and even came up with their own structures within the fort, until it was finally taken by the government of India post-independence.
The structure of the Gwalior Fort
The Gwalior fort spreads out over an area of 3 square km (741.3 acres), surrounded by concrete walls of sandstone. The fort encloses several structures, temples and two main palaces. The fort is divided into five parts. Each part is named after the direction on which it lies. There are two main gates, namely the Elephant Gate and the Badalgarh Gate. With well-maintained premises, the fort complex includes several temples, palaces and water tanks. The palaces here include the Man Mandir Palace, the Gujari Mahal, the Jahangir Mahal, the Shah Jahan Mahal and the Karan Mahal.
The imposing architecture of Fort of Gwalior embedded by the concrete walls of sandstone dominates the complete city of Gwalior. The beautiful carvings of the fort comprise of the second oldest reference to the number “Zero” which can be seen at the top of the fort. The architecture of the marvellous fort has a fascinating history associated with it which can be seen in two different parts. Temples, palaces reflect the fine artistry in the hands of the workers who created this beautiful palace. The exterior is also sculpted exquisitely containing blue ceramic tiles. A fort with several temples and monuments located inside its premises brings enough clarity to understand how different cultures, traditions, and kingdoms left their mark on it. In its entirety, there are 11 temples belonging to the Jain Tirthankaras with the tallest idol of Rishabhanatha or Adinatha hoisted up to a height of 58 feet! Besides this, Gwalior Kila’s Teli ka Mandir or Tellika Temple is a famous tourist destination in itself. It was built in the 9th century by the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty. Right next to this temple is Garuda monument in honour of Lord Vishnu. The most unique characteristic of this monument is that it has influences from Hindu and Islamic architecture alike.
Temples within the Fort
There are several temples within the fort. Some of them are mentioned below:
Siddhachal Jain Temple Caves – There are many idols of Jain Tirthankaras that are carved inside caves and on rocks. Carved during the period of 7th to 15th Century, the tallest among these idols is the Rishabhanatha or Adinatha, which stands at 58 feet 4 inches. The second tallest idol at 35 feet height belongs to Suparshvanatha.
Idols on the Gopachal Hill – The Gopachal hill houses more than 1500 idols, many of which are carved on the rocks. The idols are said to be carved during the reign of Keerti Singh and Dungar Singh of the Tomar dynasty. One such idol of Bhagwan Parsvanath stands at an imposing 42 feet (height) and 30 feet (width). Many such idols were destroyed by the Mughal emperors when they captured the fort.
Teli-ka-Mandir – The Teli-ka-Mandir is the most famous of all temples within the Gwalior Fort. This temple was built in the Dravidian architectural style and is notable for its generously sculpted exterior. The temple is the oldest part of the fort and houses Buddhist architectural elements as well. Teli-ka-Mandir, which originally housed Vishnu as its main deity, now has Shiva as the main deity.
Sas-Bahu Temple – These are basically two pillared temples that stand next to each other, one larger than the other. Originally, there was only one temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple was frequently visited by the queens of the Kachchhapaghatas. Later, another temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built next to this temple, so that the daughter-in-law of the king, who was an ardent Shiva devotee, could worship her favorite deity. Since the temples were visited by the queen and her daughter-in-law, the pillared temples were collectively known as the Sas-Bahu Temple.
Palaces within the Fort
There are many palaces within the fort that were built by different kings at different point of time. Some of them are mentioned below:
Man Mandir Palace – Built by Raja Man Singh Tomar in the 15th Century, Man Mandir Palace served as the main residence of the rulers of the Tomar dynasty for a long period of time. Styled tiles of various colors, including turquoise, green, and yellow are used to decorate the interiors of the palace.
Gujari Mahal – This, too, was built by Raja Man Singh Tomar for his beautiful wife, Mrignayani, a Gujar princess. It is said that the queen of Man Singh demanded a private palace for herself, which resulted in the construction of the famous Gujari Mahal. Today, the palace has been converted into a museum, which houses rare artefacts and sculptures of Hindu and Jain deities, dating back to the first and second Centuries BC.
Vikram Mahal – This was originally built as a temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, by Vikramaditya Singh of the Tomar dynasty. The palace was restored after it was destroyed by the Mughal emperors during their reign.
Karn Mahal – This palace is named after the king who built it. Karn Mahal served as the private residence of Kirti Singh, who was also known as Karn Singh. He was the second king of the Tomar dynasty.
The Legend of Tansen’s Tamarind Tree
Tansen, the legendary musician of the Mughal courts, has a melodious connection with Gwalior Kila. It is believed that a tamarind tree situated insider the fort has leaves that can make your voice melodious! This folklore has been around for ages mainly because of Tansen’s tomb inside the fort and his magical voice reverberating into the villages located close by. The sound and light show organised nowadays illustrates this legend along with the love story of Man Singh and Mrignayani in the most serene manner. The timings of this show differ according to the season, so you can plan your trip to this fort accordingly.
It is with good reason that Gwalior Fort stakes its claim as one of the top hill forts of India. Pay it a visit and experience it in its full glory!
Ati uttam