Gwalior Fort

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Gwalior Fort (Hindi: ग्वालियर क़िला Gwalior Qila) in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India, stands on an isolated rock and contains a number of historic buildings. The face is perpendicular and where the rock is naturally less precipitous it has been scarped. Its greatest length from north-east to south-west is 1.5 mile (2.4 km), and the greatest breadth 900 yd (820 m). The rock attains its maximum height of 342 ft (104 m) at the northern end. A rampart, accessible by a steep road, and farther up by huge steps cut out of the rock, surrounds the fort. The citadel stands at the north-eastern corner of the enclosure, and presents a very picturesque appearance with interesting tiles with symbolic images.

There are several remarkable mandirs within the fort. One pair of temples, known as the Sas Bahu Ka Mandir, is beautifully adorned with bas-reliefs. This pair of temples was finished in 1093, and, though dilapidated, is still picturesque. There is an impressive clear white Sikh Gurdwara. Its maintained very clean and has a big premises.

An older Jain temple has been used as a mosque. Another temple in the fortress of Gwalior is called the Teli-ka-Mandir, or “Oilman’s Temple.” This building was originally dedicated to Vishnu, but afterwards converted to the worship of Siva. It has an unusual configuration: shrine-like in that it has a sanctuary only; no pillared pavilions or mandapa; and a Buddhist barrel-vaulted roof on top of a Hindu mandir.

India Post has issued a stamp of this fort on 1984-08-03.

[edit] Further Reading

Tillotson, G.H.R [1987]. The Rajput Palaces - The Development of an Architectural Style (Hardback), First (in English), New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 224 pages. ISBN 03000 37384.