Gwalior: Palaces, fort and a lot of history
The Mughals, British, Rajputs, Marathas, Muslim rulers, Sikhs and some more may have played out their roles in India’s rich history, but they all seem to have a unique common link to a city in central India – Gwalior.
Located about 330 km south of New Delhi, Gwalior not only rests on the legacy of its historical links like doyen of Hindustani music, Mian Tansen, who was one of the nine Navratnas of Mughal Emperor Akbar, but also on modern day events. It was here that on February 24, 2010, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman in world cricket history to score a double century in a One-day International (ODI) match. The momentous occasion was witnessed by around 50,000 people in Gwalior’s Roop Singh cricket stadium.
Gwalior’s history can be traced back to the eighth century.
The erstwhile kingdom of Gwalior is best linked to the name of its rulers – the Scindia family. In modern times, former union minister Madhav Rao Scindia and now his son and union minister, *****raditya Scindia, have carried on the legacy of the royal family. The palaces, the Gwalior fort and several other monuments dot the city – giving a peek into its rich history.
The Jai Vilas Palace, a portion of which has been converted into the Jivaji Rao Scindia museum and where visitors can get a first-hand look at how the royalty lived in yesteryears, has a lot to offer. Only 40 rooms and halls of the 400-room palace have been converted into the museum. The Scindia royal family retains the rest of the palace and uses that portion.
“Some of the halls like the Durbar hall, where top dignitaries are hosted, and the dining hall are used by the royal family even now. A host of VVIPs, including presidents and prime ministers and even the Indian cricket team have been hosted here in recent years,” Parul Kumar, a local tourist guide, told IANS.
In the Durbar hall, two chandeliers, each weighing a bulky seven tonnes (7,000 kg each), and said to be the biggest ones in the world, adorn the roof. In the dining hall, a toy train plies on a laid out track on the long dining table as it carries liqueurs and cigars for seated guests. The mechanical, silver train has been in operation since the early 20th century.
It was in Gwalior that Laxmibai, the famous Rani of Jhansi, who played a stellar role in the 1857 India’s first War of Independence, was killed after information regarding her whereabouts was leaked to the British by the local rulers.
The majestic Gwalior fort rests on top of a hillock, overlooking the entire city. The colourful outer walls of the fort give it a distinct look. A light and sound
Gwalior also has its link to Sikh history. It was here that Mughal emperor Jahangir had imprisoned the sixth Sikh guru, Hargobind Singh, along with 52 princes for nearly two years.
- See more at: http://www.canindia.com/2013/11/gwalior-palaces-fort-and-a-lot-of-history/#sthash.kdack62g.dpuf
The Mughals, British, Rajputs, Marathas, Muslim rulers, Sikhs and some more may have played out their roles in India’s rich history, but they all seem to have a unique common link to a city in central India – Gwalior.
Located about 330 km south of New Delhi, Gwalior not only rests on the legacy of its historical links like doyen of Hindustani music, Mian Tansen, who was one of the nine Navratnas of Mughal Emperor Akbar, but also on modern day events. It was here that on February 24, 2010, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman in world cricket history to score a double century in a One-day International (ODI) match. The momentous occasion was witnessed by around 50,000 people in Gwalior’s Roop Singh cricket stadium.
Gwalior’s history can be traced back to the eighth century.
The erstwhile kingdom of Gwalior is best linked to the name of its rulers – the Scindia family. In modern times, former union minister Madhav Rao Scindia and now his son and union minister, *****raditya Scindia, have carried on the legacy of the royal family. The palaces, the Gwalior fort and several other monuments dot the city – giving a peek into its rich history.
The Jai Vilas Palace, a portion of which has been converted into the Jivaji Rao Scindia museum and where visitors can get a first-hand look at how the royalty lived in yesteryears, has a lot to offer. Only 40 rooms and halls of the 400-room palace have been converted into the museum. The Scindia royal family retains the rest of the palace and uses that portion.
“Some of the halls like the Durbar hall, where top dignitaries are hosted, and the dining hall are used by the royal family even now. A host of VVIPs, including presidents and prime ministers and even the Indian cricket team have been hosted here in recent years,” Parul Kumar, a local tourist guide, told IANS.
In the Durbar hall, two chandeliers, each weighing a bulky seven tonnes (7,000 kg each), and said to be the biggest ones in the world, adorn the roof. In the dining hall, a toy train plies on a laid out track on the long dining table as it carries liqueurs and cigars for seated guests. The mechanical, silver train has been in operation since the early 20th century.
It was in Gwalior that Laxmibai, the famous Rani of Jhansi, who played a stellar role in the 1857 India’s first War of Independence, was killed after information regarding her whereabouts was leaked to the British by the local rulers.
The majestic Gwalior fort rests on top of a hillock, overlooking the entire city. The colourful outer walls of the fort give it a distinct look. A light and sound
Gwalior also has its link to Sikh history. It was here that Mughal emperor Jahangir had imprisoned the sixth Sikh guru, Hargobind Singh, along with 52 princes for nearly two years.
- See more at: http://www.canindia.com/2013/11/gwalior-palaces-fort-and-a-lot-of-history/#sthash.kdack62g.dpuf