Ancient and imposing Gwalior Fort, one of the must see tourist places in Madhya Pradesh, has a very long and turbulent history.
The fort's history can be traced as far back as 525. Over the years, it was subjected to many attacks and had many different rulers. It wasn't until the reign of the Rajput Tomar dynasty that the fort really rose to prominence, and was built to its current scale and grandeur. During this time, ruler Raja Man Singh Tomar crafted one of the fort's main highlights, Man Mandir Palace, between 1486 and 1516. Its outer walls are distinctively decorated with blue mosaic tiles and rows of yellow ducks.
Later on, the Mughals used the fort as a prison during their rule. | milesnsmilesholidays
The fort's size is large enough to warrant having your own transport, as there's a lot to see inside it. The compound contains a number of historic monuments, Hindu and Jain temples, and palaces (one of which, the Gujari Mahal, has been converted into an Archeological Museum).
The fort's most dramatic entrance, known as Hathi Pol (Elephant Gate), is on the eastern side and leads into Man Mandir palace. However, it's only accessible on foot and requires a steep climb through a series of other gates. The western gate, Urvai Gate, is conveniently reachable by vehicle, although it's nowhere near as impressive. There are some intricate Jain sculptures cut into the rock on the way up though, which shouldn't be missed.
A sound and light show is held nightly in the fort's open air amphitheater. | milesnsmilesholidays
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