06 Nights | 07 Days
06 Nights | 07 Days
The most important landmark in the city, Gwalior Fort stands on a steep land of sandstone. This grandeur was built to honour the saint Gwalipa. As per folklore, when the monarch was ill, sage Gwalipa offered him water from a sacred pond to cure him, that is still inside the Gwalior fort complex. The fort has witnessed important incidents, imprisonments, conflicts, and jauhars. Jain tirthankara statues carved into the rock face border the steep road leading up to the fort. The fort’s majestic outside walls, which are two miles long and 35 feet high, continue to remain, attesting to its reputation as one of India’s most impregnable forts.
The palace was built by King Man Singh for his beloved queen Mrignayani. She was one of the queens of Raja Mansing. King’s love and devotion towards his brave Gujar Queen, Mrignayani, is memorialised in the Gujari Mahal from the fifteenth century. While the interior of Gujari Mahal has been transformed into an archaeological museum housing rare artefacts, some of which date back to the first century A.D., the exterior building has survived in an almost perfect condition of preservation. Many medieval architectural wonders can be found inside the fort. Their perfection of form has endured the ravages of time, despite the fact that many of these were destroyed by the iconoclastic Mughals. The statue of Shalbhanjika from Gyraspur, the tree goddess and miniature representation of perfection, is very noteworthy. The curator of the museum is in charge of keeping the statue, and visitors may view it upon request.
A simple structure of the Tomb of Tansen can be seen a short distance away from the Tomb of Muhammad Ghaus. Tansen was one of the legends and pioneers of Indian classical music and the most famous singer during Akbar’s rule and one among the nine jewels of the court. Every year in November and December, a grand music event is held at his tomb. Here, musicians and artists from all over the world come to honour the legendary Indian musical maestro Tansen. India-wide performers of both vocal and instrumental music are invited.
Teli Ka Mandir, a historic religious temple renowned for its Dravidian architecture and intricate artwork, is the tallest building inside the Gwalior Fort complex. As per folk stories, the temple was built with the money donated by oil merchants. Hence, the name Teli Ka Mandir came into existence. Tourists can also find this information in the inscription written on the main gate of the temple. It is about 100 feet tall, and its design combines Hindu and Buddhist elements. The earliest temple in the fort was built either in the eighth or eleventh century. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and features constructions within with coiled serpents and river goddesses as well as Lord Vishnu in the guise of his mount, “Garuda.”
The Sas-Bahu or Sahastrabahu Temple, which is housed inside the Gwalior Fort, consists of two elaborately carved red sandstone temples. Lord Shiva is honoured in the smaller one, while Lord Vishnu is honoured in the larger. Contrary to what the name might imply, this temple is named after Lord Vishnu’s incarnation, Sahastrabahu. In the eleventh century, Kacchapaghata Dynasty King Mahipala built this iconic temple.
Gopachal Parvat, a well-known series of rock-cut inside the Gwalior Fort, is the best location to view ancient Jain imagery. It is the location of a collection of rock-cut sculptures with carvings from the seventh to the fifteenth centuries. If you’re a history or architectural junky, this place would awe you with its grandeur. Here, the statue of Tirthankaras might be seen standing or sitting during their meditation. For followers of Jainism, it is one of the most significant locations in Gwalior.
Sun Temple, also known as Surya Mandir, is another pride for Gwalior. It was constructed in 1988, and the Sun Temple of Konark served as inspiration for its design. The temple’s red sandstone exteriors make it the ideal location for dawn and sunset photo shooting. White marble was used to carve the statues inside the temple. The temple welcomes a number of visitors and pilgrims every year.
Maharaj Bada, one of the most beautiful squares in India. Here, you can indulge in flavorful cuisine at one of the city’s many eateries, sampling the diverse array of dishes that showcase Madhya Pradesh’s culinary legacy.
The Bateshwar Hindu Temple is group of temples of roughly 200 sandstone Hindu temples constructed by the Gurjar monarchs in Morena. These temple groups are examples of early Gurjara-Pratihara style temple construction. It is located approximately 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Morena city and about 35 kilometres (22 miles) north of Gwalior. The temples are dispersed over around 25 acres devoted to Shiva, Vishnu, and Shakti, which stand for the three main Hindu religions. Bateshwar temples were constructed between the eighth and tenth centuries.
The Jat Ranas of Dhaulpur, who ruled in the 18th century, constructed the renowned Padavali fort. The fort features a temple that was a sacred location to worship Lord Shiva and is graciously guarded by a lion and lioness. Every stone used in the construction of the temple and the fortification has an inscription or other indication of the ancient time period on it!
The well-known Chausath Yogini Temple is located in the village of Mitaoli; it is set atop a hill and surrounded by lush greenery. You can reach this magnificent round temple’s beauty after ascending about 100 steps. You will undoubtedly grab your camera as you take in the breathtaking views.
Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh is a city of historical importance as it used to be the summer capital of erstwhile Gwalior state. It is nestled in the midst of dense forests which sprawls under the Madhav National Park. Town’s beauty lies in its majestic edifices which date back to the colonial times. A lot of heritage architectures can be seen in and around the Shivpuri including the Madhav Palace, once a summer residence of the Scindias. Structured in pink colour, the palace has a colonial influence that can be seen in its marble floors, iron columns, and quaint terraces. Today, the property is used as a training school for the Intelligence Bureau of Government of India.
Just on the outskirts of Shivpuri located two beautiful chhatris (Cenotaphs) of Scindia king and queen. Flanked by the Mughal gardens with path adorned with picturesque fencing. The chhatris are a great blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture. In order to give a similar effect like Taj Mahal, the cenotaph of Madho Rao Scindia is ornamented in the pieta dura style with precious lapis lazuli (semi-precious stone) and onyx (a kind of gemstone). Facing the chhatri is the memorial of Madho Rao’s mother, Maharani Sakhya Raje Scindia. Both the cenotaphs are very popular among tourists and worth a visit.
A quaint town in Madhya Pradesh, Chanderi has earned global fame for its beautiful textile – Chanderi sarees- known for their elegance and design. But there’s more to this town that emanates an old-world charm, and you might have seen glimpses of it in movies like ‘Stree’ and ‘Sui Dhaaga’. Chanderi is also famous for its architectural marvels like Koushak mahal, Shahzadi ka Rouza, Chanderi Fort, Badal mahal Gate etc.
Nestled on the banks of the Betwa River, the quaint town of Orchha with its royal cenotaphs seems to be in a time warp. During the monsoons, this historic city looks its best, with the green cover becoming denser and the Betwa river gushing along in full might. Built by Bundela chief Rudra Pratap Singh, the town has a distinct medieval aura that woos you with its charm. If the weather allows, you can also try rafting in the Betwa. And don’t forget to get the best photographs of the cenotaphs in the drizzle. Some popular attractions of Orccha are Raja Mahal, Raja Ram Temple, Jahangir Palace, Royal Cenotaphs etc.
The city of Datia; Mentioned as Daityavakra in Mahabharata, is blessed with history as well as divinity. Numerous temples, some even dating back to pre-historic times, give this city its second name – ‘Laghu Vrindavan’ or ‘Small Vrindavan’. On the other hand, the Pitambara Peeth in Datia is a Shakti Peeth. A visit here will be an enlightening experience. The temple is always thronged by a large number of devotees, especially during Navratri. Some other temples to visit here are Bagulamukhi Devi temple, Dhumawati Mai and Vankhadeshwar temple. An astonishing confluence of Mughal and Rajput architecture, the 7 storeyed Datia Palace (Satkhanda palace or Govind Palace) stands tall in the historic city of Datia. While its exterior is adorned with arches, chhatris and oriel windows, the Bundela paintings beautify the interior.
Upon arrival in Gwalior, guests will check-in at the hotel. After getting freshn up and having delicious meal; the rest time will be on leisure. Guests may explore Maharaj Bada; the local market of Gwalior in evening. After dinner overnight stay in Hotel.
Next day in morning after breakfast, guests will embark on a local sightseeing tour, starting with the iconic Gwalior Fort, including visits to Tansen Tomb, Gujari Palace, and Chaturbhuj Temple. Other highlights include Mansingh Palace, Sas Bahu Temple, and Rani Laxmibai Samadhi. After lunch, the tour continues to the Sun Temple. Guests will have dinner at the hotel and may explore Maharaj Bada for shopping.
Early morning, after breakfast guests will head to an excursion toawards Mitaoli to explore Chounsath Yogini Temple and Padavali for temple heritage. After lunch en-route, the tour Proceed to Bateshwar Group of Temples and Kakanmath Shiva Temple in Morena. Returning to Gwalior, guests will dine and stay overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast, guests will check out and proceed to Shivpuri. Sightseeing in Shivpuri includes Royal cenotaphs of Scindhia, Madhav Palace, and a safari in Madhav National Park. Other highlights are George Castle, Sankhya Sagar Lake (Ramsar Site), and Tatya Tope Memorial. Guests will check-in at the hotel in Shivpuri for dinner and overnight stay.
Early morning check-out from the hotel and proceed to Chanderi for sightseeing. Explore Chanderi Fort, Jageshwari Devi Temple, Badal Mahal gate, and other attractions. Lunch and dinner will be in Chanderi, followed by an overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast and check-out, guests will proceed to Orchha for local sightseeing, including Raja Ram Temple, Chaturbhuj Temple, and Raja Mahal. Lunch will be provided upon check-in at the hotel. Sightseeing continues with visits to Jahangir Palace, Royal Chhattaris, and an optional boating experience on the Betwa river. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the hotel.
Guests will check out from the hotel after breakfast and proceed to Datia for sightseeing, visiting Pitambara Mata Temple and Veer Singh Deo Palace. En-route lunch will be provided. The tour concludes with a visit to Sonagir Jain Temple before departing from Gwalior.
This Itinerary can be customize as per client’s requirement. Please feel free if you wants to add or remove any day/ destination/ activity in (or from) this itinerary.
