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/ Gwalior / Attractions / Gwalior Port
The
Gwalior Fort is the city's most famous
landmark and within its walls contains several
interesting temples and mined palaces. Its dramatic
and colorful history dates back over a 1000-years
In
1398, the Tomar dynasty came to power in
Gwalior. Over the next several centuries, this
was the scene of continuous intrigue and clashes
with Neighboring powers. Man Singh, who
came to power in 1486, was the greatest of the
Lamar mien. In 1505, here repelled an assault
on the fort by Sikandar Lodi of Delhi,
but in 1516, the fort was finally besieged by
Ibrahim Lodi. Man Singh died early in the
siege, but his son held out for a year before
capitulating. Later, the Mughals, under Babur,
took the fort and held it until 1754, when the
Marathas captured it.
For
the next 50 years, the fort changed hands several
times. It finally passed in to the hands of the
Scindias, although the British retained
indirect control. At the time of the Indian Mutiny
in 1857, the maharaja remained loyal to the British,
but his troops didn't, ad in mid-1858, the fort
was the scene of some of the final and most dramatic
events of the Mutiny. It was near here that the
British finally defeated Tantia Tope, and
it was in the final assault on fort that the Rani
of Jhansi was killed.
Rising
100 metres above the town, the fort hill
test is about 3 kms in length. Its width varies
from nearly a km to less than 200 meters. The
walls, which encircle almost the entire hilltop,
are 10 meters high and imposingly solid.
Teli
Ka Mandir, within the fort complex probably
dates from the 9th century and has a peculiar
layout plan and design. The roof is Dravidian
while the decorations (the whole temple is covered
with sculptures) - Indo-Aryan. A Garuda tops the
95 metre high doorway. This is the highest structure
in the fort. Dedicated to Pratihara Vishnu, it
is a harmonious blend of Muslim and Indian Architecture.
Another such marvel is the Sas Bahu Ka Mandir,
again dedicated to Vishnu. Originally known as
the "Saharabahu" Temple, This is probably
the most ancient of the structures within the
fort walls. It was built by Mahipala, the Kachchwah
King, in the early 11th Century.
Man
Mandir Palace, once a grand music hall, was
built by Raja Man Singh during 1486 and 1517,
for the royal ladies of the palace. The most impressive
building in the fort, it is richly studded with
blue, green and yellow tile work creating patterns
of animals, birds, trees and flowers on its exteriors.
This wall faces a cliff side, interrupted by large
rounded bastions. Inside, it comprises finely
carved stone screens where the ladies learnt music
from the maestros of their times. Dazzling with
colored lights and sound effects, it comes alive
during the Son-et-Lumiere shows, even today.
On
your way up hill to the fort, do stop to visit
the massive icons of Bahubali, a Jain master,
which are cut out of huge rocks, - similar in
style to the rock cut Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan.
The tallest figure here stands at a height of
57 meters and are believed to have been created
during the 15th Century.
A
sandstone Muslim of the Sufi saint Ghaus Mohammed,
an Afghan prince, who once helped Babur to win
the fort lies in the crowded old town of Hazira,
North East of the fort.
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