So finally it was a long week end for us being 21-23^rd Feb….We wanted to go for road trip but there was no clear cut conclusion as where to go.

 

We didn’t wanted to go to any hill station as already we were facing cold weather in Delhi for last 90 days….so we were looking for a place which is close to Delhi and we can  plan a short trip.

 

So while doing my research Gwalior came into my radar…It close to Delhi.. have heard small stories of Gwalior fort and warriors so we intended to go finalized this as a place.

 

It only 330 km from Gurgaon and  ideal place for family trip.

 

History Of Gwalior:

 

Gwalior is a major city in Central India and one of the big city of Madhya Pradesh. This city is close to Agra, Delhi and Bhopal.

This city has been ruled by Kachchhapaghatas in 10^th century…tomars in 13^th century…and than Mughal and finally Scindia’s

 

Climate in Gwalior:

On the average the temperature ranges between 45 degree in summers and around 7-8 degree in winters. Best time to visit Gwalior is by Oct to March….in summers days can be pretty hot here.

 

When we went in feb it was nice weather….at times you need a half sleeve jacket in evening but other wise weather was awesome. Also since mostly where ever you will go in city those are building and monuments so better to visit in winters or early summers only.

 

Month High / Low(°C)

January23° / 7°

February27° / 10°

March33° / 15°

April39° / 21°

May42° / 26°

June40° / 28°

July35° / 26°

August33° / 25°

September34° / 24°

October34° / 19°

November30° / 12°

December24° / 8°

 

 

Road condition:

 

We started from Gurgaon around 7 am and took us close to 7 hours including breaks….We took below route:

 

Gurgaon-KMP to Palwal-Matura-Agra by pass-Dholpur-Morena-Gwalior.

 

On this route of 330 km hardly road of 10-15 km was bad but otherwise road condition is perfrtcly fine.Since we were travelling with family so we didn’t go over 100 km per hour anywhere and we also took frequent breaks.

 

 

Distance chart:

 

Where to Stay:

There are n numbers of option when it comes to stay at Gwalior. Room as low as 700 to rooms to 5 star property there is all…you name it and you got it…

 

We stayed at property called Ramaya Hotel….location wise it was very strategically located….and room rent was around 2500..i booked it through Goibibio and was well satisdfied with over all experience….

 

What to eat:

Gwalior is place for foodies ..from street food to fine dining…this city has  something for everyone.

 

• Paneer Jalebi from JodhpurMishthan bhandar
• ladoos from Bhadurasweet at Naya Bazaar
• hot Samosaswith delicious aaloo bhaji at patnaker choraha
• Chat at Phhol bag
• Chaurasiya” poha bhandar 
• SS kachori wala
• Bedhai, Kachori, samosa, sweets from Poonam mishtan bhandar morar
• Dosa from Indian cafe house
• Luuch at The Maan signh restaurant

 

What to buy:

I didn’t get time to indulge myself in shopping but still explored a bit:

• Patankar Bazaar is famous for its Chanderi silk saris,
• handmade carpets, wall hangings, dolls, lacquer ware, and ornaments.
• Bada Market in Gwalior
• Dindayal City Mall

 

 

Activities

There are lots of activities one can explore in and around Gwalior….Its a small city and yes if you plan your trip accordingly you can cover all…although in my 3 days trip I couldn’t cover all of these

 

1. Jai Vilas Palace Museum:

So  basically it’s a place turned into museum….in total it had 400 rooms and for museum some 40 rooms have been given. When you actually see it you find the what royal life has been like…3d picture frame which is 100 year old…French style drawing room..Furniture based on temple themes…small furniture for a queen who was of small height…this just shows how the kings life was actually like…

Open all days of the week except Monday and national holidays

1. 10:00am- 4:45pm (April- September)
2. 10:00am- 4:30pm (October- March)

Entry Fees

• INR200 per person for Indians 
• INR 300 for Camera/Mobile 
• (*Free entry to children up to 05 years)
• (**Free entry to physically challenged persons)

 

Located in the city centre, Jai Vilas Palace is one of Gwalior’s greatest and biggest buildings. Jayajirao Scindia, Gwalior’s Maharaja, established this beautiful palace back in the year 1874. The palace features a stunning combination of Tuscan, Italian, and Corinthian architectural styles.

Although a portion of the palace has been converted into a museum, one part remains the residence of the descendants of the former royal dynasty Maratha Scindia.

A visit to the palace lets you explore the Maratha Scindia dynasty’s royal times. This visit lets you flip back the pages of the kings and queens ‘ luxurious lifestyles of those days.

Enjoy Sound and Light Show at Gwalior Fort

For me this was the most beautiful place in Gwalior…it gives you a chance to know the history of fort..who has been there…what all the tings been done there…Althought its called Light and sound show but its actually more of a sound show…there are 2 shows hindi and English….there is a differene of 1 hour in both the show….we thought of watching English but since it was late so we neded was seeing Hindi…

 

But no be honest it was a surprise for us as etire audio was done by Amithabh bachaan so it was a dlight to hear his voice…also in the month of Feb it becomes quite windy and cold around 6:30 so we could not afford to wait for 1 more hour for English version. But I liked it a lot

• Highlights: History of the fort and the region through a sound & light show
• Location: Man Mandir Palace, Gwalior Fort, Gwalior
• Price: Indian- INR 150 | Foreigner- INR 350
• Timings: Hindi version- 7:30  PM | English version- 8:30

Get Mesmerised by the Sasbahu Temple

See for me it was quite an irony as I was travelling with my mom and wife so what I thought is what everyone yhings by the name that’s ita temple dedicated to Saas Bahu….but later found out its temple which was orgibally called Sahastrabahu Temple or Harisadanam temple dedicated to Vishnu Ji in his Padmanabha form…From this name it got changed to SasBahu Temple…

 

It was built in 11th century but has been ruined mosly by Muslim Invasions..

Sasbahu Temple, located close to the Gwalior Fort,

Location: Gwalior Fort, Gwalior

Timings: 8 AM to 5 PM

 Boating in Tighara Dam

Tighra Dam or Tigra Dam is a fresh water reservoir situated in Tighra near Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, at a distance of 20 km from Gwalior. It is the primary source of drinking water for the town of Gwalior and one of the popular picnic spots near Gwalior to visit.

Built on the Sank River in 1916, Tighra Dam is a major water source for the town of Gwalior. That dam was built in the vicinity of 11 villages. The villagers rely on this dam for irrigation, drinking, and household use. The dam is an engineering marvel and is 24 meters high at its crest, and 1341 m long. The reservoir has a capacity of 4.8 million cubic meters. Due to infiltration in 1917 & 1970, respectively, the dam failed twice. Today, however, it has emerged to spend some good time together as a favorite destination for families.

Location: Sank River, 23 km from Gwalior

Boating Fees: Speed Boat- INR 50 per person | Paddle Boat- INR 100 | Water Scooter- INR 350 | Jalpari Boat- INR 50

Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM

 

Explore the History of Gwalior at Gujari Mahal Museum

 

Highlights: Hindu and Jain sculptures, archaeological pieces, and architecture.

Location: Lohamandi, Gwalior

Entry Fee: INR 10 per person

Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM

 

Explore Wildlife at Madhav National Park

 

Location: Madhav National Park, Shivpuri

Entry Fee: Indian- INR 15 per person | Foreigner- INR 150 per person

Timings: Morning- 6:30 AM to 10 AM PM | Evening- 2:30 PM to 6 PM

 

123 km from Gwalior

 

Enjoy Melodious Music at Tansen’s Mausoleum

Highlights: Mughal architecture and Tansen’s tomb.

Location: Tansen Nagar, Gwalior

Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM

 

Visit the Gwalior Zoo with your Family

 

Highlights: White tiger, crocodiles, and birds.

Location: Lashkar, Gwalior

Entry Fee: Indian- INR 20 per adult | INR 5 per kid

Timings: Morning- Saturday to Thursday | 9:15 AM to 5:30 PM

 

Get Mesmerised by Bateshwar’s Beautiful Architecture

 

Highlights: 200 temples and architecture.

Location: Padavali Village, Morena

Entry Fee: Indian- INR 15 per person

Timings: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM

 

37 km from Bhutan

 

Amazed at Gopachal Parvat Rock-cut Sculptures

he state of Madhya Pradesh is dotted with religious places that date back to the ancient times. One of the places in Gwalior that claim huge religious and historical prominence is Gopachal Parvat that is the home to Giant Jain Tirthankara Statues, cut out of rocks.

The major attraction at this interesting site is the 40 feet tall statue of Parshavanatha. Besides, statues of Rishabhanatha, Neminatha and Mahavira can also be seen here. The carvings are believed to have their origin between the 7th and 15th century.

Taking a tour of this interesting site replete with ancient idols is one of the best things to do in Gwalior and this is one of the most scenic road trips to take in Madhya Pradesh..

Highlights: Jain statues, and intricate carvings.

Location: Lashkar, Gwalior

Timings: 24 hours

 

 

Enjoy Coffee at Indian Coffee House

 

Highlights: Simple ambiance, south indian food, and rich coffee.

Location: Indian Coffee House, Near Gwalior Railway Station, Gwalior      Timings: 7:30 AM to 10 PM

 

Shop at Patankar and Sarafa Bazaars

 

Highlights: Textiles, jewellery, artifacts, handicrafts and street food.

Location: Daulat Ganj, Gwalior        Timings: 10 AM to 10 PM

 

Capture the Beauty of the Sun Temple

Highlights: Architecture and sculpture

Location: Morar, Gwalior

Timings: 6:30 AM to 6 PM