GWALIOR, Madhya Pradesh

Main Attraction: CHHATRI OF MAHARANI LAXMIBAI

Maharani Laxmibai fought the British during the revolt of 1857 She jumped off the Gwalior fort along with her horse. After getting surrounded by the British army and having no chance of survival she is said to have died of her wounds at this very place. The chhatri is dedicated to her. It is a state protected monument.

Brief History

Gwalior is a historical place of Madhya Pradesh. The history of Gwalior is traced back to 8th century AD when a chief known as Suraj Sen was struck by a deadly disease and cured by a hermit-saint Gwalipa. As a gratitude, Suraj Sen founded the city by the name of the saint. The cradle of great dynasties ruled the city of Gwalior. With different dynasties, the city gained a new dimension from the warrior kings, poets, musicians and saints who contributed in making it renowned throughout the country. The city is also famous for the memorials of freedom fighters such as Tatya Tope and the indomitable Rani of Jhansi. The Gwalior is blessed with classical music maestro Miya Tansen.

This area was ruled by Nagvansi of Patliputra in the beginning of 600B.C. who had snatched it from Shishu-Nagas. Pawaya village nearby Dabra was the capital during that time. Parvalekh (script) found in Pawaya reveals that Swamini Shivnandi was the ruler of this place, in 3rd century. On the basis of coins found during excavation show that Naga rulers likes Bhim, Sakand, Vasu, Grahspat, Vibhu, Bhavnam, Dev, Bayaghra, Ganpati etc. ruled this area . Of them, the name of Ganpati figures in the script of pillar of Sumadargupta at Allahabad. A part of the script depicts that Miharkuls reign was upto Gwalior where Matrachet built Surya Mandir (sun temple). Stone carving reveals that amongst other famous rulers Pritihar Bhoj had occupied area around the Gwalior fort from year 836 to 882 AD. Mehmood Ghazani launched first attack on Gwalior fort in 1021-1022 AD and after four days, the Rajput ruler gifted 35 elephants to him and peace treaty was signed. 

In 1195-96 AD. Mohd.Gori attacked Lahang Dev of Gwalior and after treaty, he entrusted the job of annexing Gwalior to Malik Bahaudin Tughlak who after one and a half years fight conquered Gwalior fort. Later on Kutbudin Abek, commander-inchief of Mohd. Gori appointed Illtutamish as Ameer of this fort.

Tomars ruled Gwalior from the year 1486 to 1526. Raja Man Singh was the main ruler of this dynasty. He adorned the hilly fort with new buildings. He devised many irrigation channels; among them Motijheel is prominent. Vikramaditya was the last ruler of this dynasty who was killed in 1526 in the battle of Panipat. Babar, the first Mughal Emperor when he became the ruler at Delhi, visited Gwalior on 26th September 1528. He has beautifully described this place in his ‘Babarnama’. Akbar seized Gwalior and by mid 1754 Gwalior and its fort was part of the Mugal kingdom. As per ‘Ain-i-Akbari’, there was an iron mine in Gwalior and this town was a taxal (mint) from where copper coins

were produced and issued. 

This area came in the hands of Scindias and Holkar after the downfall of Mughal kingdom and till the independence it was ruled by the Scindia dynasty. With the advent of independence on 15th August, 1947 the ruler signed the instrument of Accession and on 28th may,1948 Gwalior and Indore claimed to be the capital of New state. A compromise was evolved and for seven months the capital was at Gwalior and for remaining months at Indore. With the formation of Madhya Pradesh on 1st November, 1956 this formula came to an end and Gwalior became a district and Commissioner’s divisional headquarters.