Gwalior Fort

Overview

Gwalior Fort stands on a long sandstone hill above the city of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. Its walls and gates enclose palaces, temples and water tanks built over many centuries.

Its best-known building is the Man Mandir Palace, raised by the Tomar ruler Man Singh in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries and decorated with bands of coloured tiles. The fort also holds the eleventh-century Sas-Bahu temples and the older Teli ka Mandir.

What to look for

• The tiled facade of Man Mandir Palace
• The Sas-Bahu temples with their carved pillars
• Teli ka Mandir, one of the fort's oldest and tallest structures
• Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhor, where Guru Hargobind was held prisoner
• The view over Gwalior city

Visiting tips

• The fort is large and hilly: allow two to three hours and wear sturdy shoes.
• Morning light on the tilework is best.
• It sits between Agra and Orchha, so it combines well on an overland route.

Why visit with a private guide

A private guide shows you where to stand, when to arrive and what most visitors miss at Gwalior Fort, and fits the visit around the rest of your day.

More photographs

Nearby

Kandariya Mahadeva Lakshmana Temple Mitawali Jahangir Mahal Orchha Palace Panna Tiger Raneh Falls Jai Vilas Palace Ram Raja Temple