Day 1:
Immerse in the heritage at the Gwalior Fort Complex
08:00 AM – 05:00 PM
Gwalior Fort is not only just a tourist attraction but also the identity of the city. Being built atop a hill, the fort can be viewed from any location across the city. There are multiple attractions to visit inside the fort complex comprising of palaces, temples, and gardens.
Mode of Transport: Urvai Gate is the entrance point for Gopachal Parvat and Gwalior Fort complex. Public transport is allowed till this gate and beyond this point, visitors have to hire cabs that will cover all the attractions. Private vehicles are allowed beyond the Urvai Gate.
You kick off your sightseeing by exploring the Gopachal Parvat.
Gopachal Parvat holds spiritual importance in Jainism. There are 26 caves and around 1500 idols of all sizes dedicated to the 23rd Tirthankara, Lord Parshvanatha. The idols are cut out of rocks. The sizes of the sculptures range from 9 inches to almost 60 feet. A few of the sculptures are in partially ruined condition. However, restoration work is being undertaken.
You can get a glimpse of these rock-cut sculptures on your way to Gwalior Fort.
Time Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
After this, head towards the top of the hill for a visit to Gwalior Fort.
The primary attractions at Gwalior Fort are Assi Khamba ki Bawadi, Man Singh Palace, Karn Mahal, and Jahangir Mahal. Each of these attractions has unique and spectacular architecture and structures. Tourists are free to roam across the entire stretch of the fort. The view of Gwalior city and the nearby area truly takes your breath away.
There is a souvenir shop beside the parking area where you get indigenous fabrics and artifacts of the Bundelkhand region.
There are many outlets where you can get some small bites and some drinks to refresh yourself.
Time Duration: 2 – 2.5 hours
The next stop in the Fort Complex is the Saas-Bahu Mandir.
The Saas-Bahu Temple is a twin temple that showcases architectural brilliance and exquisite carvings. The larger (Saas) of the two temples has three storeys. The smaller (Bahu) temple is located on the eastern side of the Saas temple. Inside both the temples, the carvings on the walls and pillars depict scenes from Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism.
Time Duration: 45 min – 1 hour
The penultimate attraction inside the fort complex is the Teli ka Mandir.
Teli ka Mandir is believed to be the highest building in Gwalior notching up 100 feet in height. The literal meaning of Teli ka Mandir is Oilman’s temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The artwork and carvings on the wall are similar to those of the Saas-Bahu Mandir.
Time Duration: 20 – 30 min.
Your tour of the Gwalior Fort complex completes at the Gujari Mahal.
Although Gujari Mahal is an integral part of Gwalior Fort, however, entry is allowed from the opposite end of the fort. And to get there a distance of 3 km has to be covered. Gujari Mahal was the palace for the queen of Raja Man Singh Tomar. The Gujar princess demanded a private palace for her with an adequate water supply. Now the palace has been converted into a museum that has more than 25 galleries and over 5500 artifacts.
Time Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Mode of Transport: Hire a taxi or an auto from Urvai Gate to Gujari Mahal.
The final attraction to explore around the fort is the Tomb of Tansen and Tomb of Mohammad Ghaus.
Just 1 km from Gujari Mahal, the Tomb of Tansen is one of the iconic attractions although it receives limited tourists due to its lack of prominence. The tomb of Tansen and the tomb of Mohammad Ghaus is adjacent to each other. Mohammad Ghaus was the Sufi Master of Tansen who also received musical lessons from Swami Haridas.
Time Duration: 30 – 45 mins
Mode of Transport: Hire a taxi or an auto from Gujari Mahal.
Also read: Best Area To Book your Hotel in Gwalior
Day 2:
Explore the hidden gems of Gwalior
10:00 AM – 04:00 PM
Padhavali is 35 km from Gwalior city and at this location, you find some unique and ancient temples that are not known by many.
Mode of Transport: Hire a taxi or an auto from your hotel for the whole day’s sightseeing.
Once you reach Padhavali, your first stop will be at the Bateshwar Temple.
The Bateshwar Temple is a group of temples of different sizes made of sandstone. Each temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Each shrine has a dedicated shiv linga along with Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva. It is hard to count the exact number of temples due to their partially ruined condition. Restoration work by the administration is underway to develop the area into a prime tourist destination.
100 meters from the Bateshwar Temple, you can spot the Vishnu Temple built on an elevated platform. The temple has no deity inside but the carvings on the walls and pillars dictate some of the episodes from the Krishna Leela.
Time Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
1 km from Bateshwar Temple is the Garhi Padhavali.
Garhi Padhavali is a unique place to explore. From the exterior, you identify it to be a fort but once you enter the premise, you find a temple. The ceiling and the pillars are carved with figures of Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, and their devotees. If you are fond of architectural photography, you cannot afford to skip this.
Time Duration: 45 min – 1 hour
4 km from Padhavali is Mitawali Temple.
Mitawali Temple is known by two other names, viz. Ekattarso Mahadev Mandir and Chausath Yogini Temple. As the name indicates, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The structure of the temple cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The shiv linga sits at the center and in the surroundings, there are slots dedicated to 64 yoginis. The temple sits on a hilltop and to get there you have to climb close to 100 steps. The older building of the Indian Parliament was developed based on the structure of this very temple.
There’s a shop here where you can get some small bites and keep yourself hydrated.
Time Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
Travel advice: This area is neither a commercial area nor a residential area. So you will not find a restaurant or any shop. So it is advised to carry some snacks while traveling and an extra bottle of water.
Day 3:
The iconic landmarks of Gwalior
08:00 AM – 05:00 PM
After exploring the heritage and off-beat places in Gwalior, you are left with exploring some of the iconic landmarks of the city. Have a heavy breakfast before getting started with the day’s sightseeing.
Your sightseeing begins by visiting the Sun Temple.
The Sun Temple is actually a replica of the Sun Temple of Konark in Odisha. This temple was developed in the year 1988 and the initiative was taken by G. D. Birla. The idea behind building the temple was to showcase the original architecture of the Sun temple which was ruined. The temple is constructed out of red sandstone and that makes it unique and different from the original temple. The temple opens at 07:00 AM in the morning and getting there early gives you the best views.
Time Duration: 45 mins – 1 hour
Mode of Transport: Hire a taxi or an auto from your hotel.
Jai Vilas Palace, also known as the Scindia Palace, is situated 8 km from Sun Temple.
The palace is the residence of the royal Scindia family. The palace was built in the year 1874 when Gwalior was a princely state during the British Raj. The area covered by the premise is a whopping 1.3 million sq. ft. and has more than 400 rooms spread across 3 storeys. History buffs would love to be here.
Time Duration: 3 – 4 hours
Mode of Transport: Auto/Taxi from Sun Temple.
The final place to visit in Gwalior is Sarod Ghar.
Just 3 km from Jai Villas Palace, Sarod Ghar is a museum for music enthusiasts. This is the ancestral home of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. The house was built by his father and Guru Ustad Haafiz Ali Khan. Now converted into a museum, Sarod Ghar displays the ancient instruments used in composing classical music.
For more information, you can check www.sarod.com
Time Duration: 45 mins – 1 hour
After this, head towards Sarafa Bazaar. Sarafa Bazaar is a famous marketplace in Gwalior. Here you can look to buy souvenirs for the near and dear ones. You can also explore some street food here.
