The history of this sandstone-walled fortress—its moss-encrusted domes and mammoth-sized entrances—goes back a long way. Legend has it that a local leader, while on a hunting trip, got bit by an animal and fell ill with leprosy. A recluse happened to give the leader medicinal water that cured him of the deadly disease. In the honour of his saviour, the leader built a sweeping three-kilometre long Gwalior Fort which stands to this day.
Over the centuries, the fort has been an imperishable witness to the rise and fall of a number of dynasties—the most momentous ones being the Huns, a fierce war clan from central Asia who invaded northwest India; the Pratiharas, an imperial power that held significant influence over north and central India; and not to forget, Akbar the Great.
Open daily from 6 am to 5.30 pm, the cost of an entrance ticket for foreigners is ₹250, ₹75 for Indians, and free for children below 15 years of age. And while you’re here, don’t miss the dazzling show of lights and sounds, held every evening after sunset, which is an excellent way of experiencing the history of the fort, its long lineage of Maharajas, and the battles won and lost.
Once you enter inside this iconic monument of central India, you will be welcomed by intricately carved sculptures of Jain Tirthankaras—an enlightenment process of life and death according to Jainism. Teli ka Mandir and Sas Bahu Temple are two holy sites for Hindu pilgrims that exhibit a beautiful amalgamation of the north and south Indian architectures.