This album is the last of a 4-part series of photologues. For the first of the series, visit http://picasaweb.google.co.in/lazyTrekker/Jhansi# - - - A gate on the way and close to Gwalior Fort
Due to steep and narrow road, traffic is regulated (one way at a time). Also, weaker vehicles (that includes maruti) cannot climb up.
As soon as one enters the fort complex, one sees a 32-pillared building built in the Hindu style. Later this was used royal prison by Moghul emperors.
An entrance with an arch of Moghul style (extreme right) was later added by Moghuls.
Inside the fort complex
The plaque at the 'side' entrance of the Man Singh Palace.
Richard, Lauren Stern and Samudravijaya at the historic Gwalior fort. The fort (called 'Man Mandir') was built by Man Singh 6 years before Babar invaded India.
The left corner of this majestic fort was destroyed during the battle of the 'first Independence struggle' of India in 1857. The leftmost tower was rebuilt later; a doom at the top of the tower was not built however.
This plaque at the inner entrance documents the fact.
An original sculpture+painting with original color. Crocodile ('vahana'[vehicle] of mother Ganges) lift a flower. Note that the crocodile in this sculpure has one hand. This was the old theme. This should be contrasted with the new version on the rebuilt tower (see next picture).
The new tower has the sketch of 'makara' (a mythical creature) that has 8 features distinct from the crocodile. The most apparent one is the number of legs; makara has two legs instead of one (see the previous photo).
A view of Gwalior city from the top of the fort. It seems that there was a lake in the area where bushes are seen. The first king was cured of leprosis upon drinking water from this water source after receiving permission from a sage (named "Gwalipa") who was staying nearby. The city built by the king was named Gwalior.
Man Singh's Grandfather (Karan Singh) built this building (on the left of the path).
This building on the right was built by another scion of the dynasty.
An young man was sitting on one of the structures on the terrace.
The sterns listening to the tales being told by the guide at a 'mantapa' (sheltered sitting/relaxing place) close to the rear wall of the fort.
A view of the series of 'chhatris' inside the fort - as viewed from the 'mantapa' in the previous picture.
A view down from the 'Mantapa'. One can see the palace built by the king for his 9th consort (belonging to the lower caste) just outside and below the fort. The river water was diverted to naturally flow down to her mansion so that she can bathe in natural flowing water.
The 9th wife's mansion and a mosque (right of photo).
A view of the (natural and manmade) fort wall.
The narrow and steep road up the fort.
There was a small Shiva shrine inside the fort. The priest handed over holy water and put 'tilak' (red coloured sandalwood paste) on my forehead.
The place where musicians used to sing, dancers used to dance for the 8 wives of the King. There are 8 grilled view points (you can see one of them at the top of this photo).
The courtyard outside the 'dance room'.
Then, we went to the dungeon where prisoners were kept during the mogul times. Notice the iron hooks at the top for tying hands of prisoners.
One such 'modern era prisoner' is aghast!
The ventilation system of the dungeon.
On the side of the narrow road up, there are Jain statues carved out of solid granite.
A narrow gauge track, a relic of the reins of the Maharajas of Gwalior, leads to Morena and beyond.
The influence of Jain community in the region is evident. In addition to the statues on the way up to the fort, there is a holy Jain shrine below the fort as well. Jains refer to this hill as 'Gopachal parvat'.
A modern Mall adjacent to the Jain shrine below the fort.
A hoarding at the Gwalior railway station urges Jain pilgrims to visit the 'Gopachal parvat' shrine below the fort.
