5 ways to explore Gwalior, the UNESCO city of music

Gwalior Fort. Man Mandir Palace and the Chaturbhuj Temple are within the fort complex. (Photo credit: Tom D'arby via Pexels)

Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh offers a unique window onto central India's history, heritage and geography. From the Saas Bahu Ka Mandir to the 10th century Gwalior Fort hewn out of sandstone and the 15th-century Gujari Mahal Palace and archaeological museum, there's much to explore in this central Indian city that is home to 1.27 million people. Temperatures go up to 40 degrees Celsius in summers; so, if you're heading there for a long weekend in the coming months or for a summer vacation, take care to stave off heat stress and dehydration. With this in mind, here are five things to do in Gwalior:

1. Head to the Gwalior Hill Fort for a bird's eye view

Drive past rock faces carved with statues of Jain Tirthankars, to the Gwalior Fort with its six bastions, the Man Mandir Palace and the Chaturbhuj Temple. The impregnable fort hewn from sandstone has existed since the 10th century, when it was built by the Tomar kings.

According to legend, the fort was built by a local king named Suraj Sen when he was cured of leprosy by the water from a sacred pond, which now lies within the fort. The fort has seen many momentous events, from battles to beheadings.

The Man Mandir palace with traces of lapis lazuli and turquoise blue tile-work on the facade with images of everything from ducks to elephants is striking. Inside are music halls with stone screens, circular dungeons and galleries. Housed in the erstwhile barracks of the British soldiers, is Gwalior's famous Scindia School.

2. Visit the exquisite temples

Don't miss the 11th century ‘Saas Bahu’ twin temples inside the Fort complex which was actually called the Sahastra Bahu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, with statues and carved ceilings and walls. Another beauty is the tall Teli temple that is one of the oldest surviving temples with a rectangular plan, built in a mix of Dravidian and Nagara styles with carved statues of serpents and flying Garudas.

3. Get a glimpse into the life of erstwhile royals

Visit the 19th century Jai Vilas Palace Museum built by the Scindia family, in a fusion of architectural styles from Italian Doric to Corinthian. Walk through the gargantuan Durbar hall, grand staircases, and admire the  heavy tapestries and draperies, enormous Murano chandeliers, ornate howdahs and palanquins. On display are stuffed tigers, a model silver train with cut glass wagons that carried cigars and after dinner brandy around the large dinner table and a glass cradle from Italy used for Janamashtami celebrations.

Gwalior (Photo credit: Mohan Kumar Khangar via Pexels)

4. Spend the evening at Maharaja Bada

Seven classical office buildings and a central British style garden with fountains and a statue of Maharaj Jiyaji Rao, in the centre, Maharaja Bada is a delight to see, especially when it's all lit up in the evenings. Around the square are British era buildings which now house banks, the General Post Office and the Town hall. The old Indo-Saracenic Victoria Market is now a museum. Close by are the bustling Saraafa and Topi Bazaars.

5. Shop at Sarafa Bazaar and feast on local cuisine 

Walk through the tiny lanes of Sarafa Bazaar, and buy lustrous Chanderi sarees, silver jewelry and tribal figurines. Feast on local chaat, poha, kachoris, jalebis, gajak made from jaggery and sesame seeds and malai kulfi at street stalls.