Gwalior

Location
The ancient capital of Gwalior has made a successful transition into a modern Indian city, which is energetic and buzzing. Many dynasties, which have ruled the city, be the Rajput clans of the Pratiharas, Kacchwahas or Tomars, have left notable artwork of their rule in the form of palaces, temples and monuments. The magnificent momentos of a glorious past have been preserved with care, giving Gwalior an appeal of uniqueness and timelessness. Gwalior's tradition as a royal capital continued until present day that India was formed, having the rule of the Scindias.

This city is also the one, where a rich cultural tradition has been interwoven into the fabric of modern life. The entire city is a visual and elegant celebration, since the builders of Gwalior were great architects. One can discover old havelis with exquisitely carved doorways and windows. Every street crossing one can also find the statues of the Scindia family. Museums and art galleries are this city's treasure houses and beautifully maintained palaces give it a supreme majestic flavour.

Geographical Location
Gwalior is 321 km from Delhi in Northern Madhya Pradesh.Morena district surrounds it in the north, district Shivpuri in the south, District Bhind in the east and Datia in the west. It has two sub-divisions, namely, Gwalior & Dabra. There are three tehsils, namely, Gwalior, Dabra & Bhitarwar and four Development Blocks namely, Ghatigaon (Barai), Morar, Dabra & Bhitarwar.

History
Gwalior is a very important city, be it now or even before. This city has a very remarkable history and has been a centre of attraction for all its rulers. The first rulers of the Gwalior city were the Huns. Between 11th to 14th century A.D Gwalior came under the influence of Kachhawaha Rajputs, the Pratiharas, Qutub-ud-din Aibak, and Iltutmish, and remained under Muslim possession until 1398. Under the Tomars, whose most important king was Man Singh (1486-1517), Gwalior rose to prominence. However, it finally surrendered to Ibrahim Lodi in 1518. The Mughals, Jats, Marathas, and the British held Gwalior in succession.

In 1857, when Mangal Pandey lit the fire and the First War of Independence broke out, the Maharaja of Gwalior had sided with the British. However, his troops did not, and took the city under their control. In 1858, Gwalior was again at war and, in this war, Tantia Tope and the Rani of Jhansi embedded their names in the history books by becoming martyrs. Gwalior came under the hands of the British and they finally handed it over to Jiyaji Rao Scindia at a formal durbar in 1885. The Scindias were the last ruling family of Gwalior and are still influential in the political arena of India.

Climate
The climate of Gwalior is extreme with hot summers and cold winters. The maximum temperature during the summer months can touch a high of 46°C, while in the winters it can go down to below 5°C. Monsoon starts from the first week of June and remains there till August/September. The best time to visit Gwalior is from October to March. Cotton clothing is apt for summers and woolens are required for winters.

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