1. You see Tirthraj Machkund. It has temples and ghats on all sides. Very peaceful. “The name comes from a Raja Muchkund, who is believed to have ruled 14 generations before Sri Ram. King Muchkund was son of legendary king Mandhata.” “Dholpur was earlier part of Matsya Mahajanapad since the time of Mahabharat. Jats ruled over it since the time of the Mughal.”
2. Bridge over Chambal River. You can go boating. Charge was I think Rs 2,000/ in January 2020. River has crocodiles.
3. Looks like a pipeline to draw water out of the river.
4. Shergill Fort. We drove inside the fort but nothing much remains. There is a prachin Hanuman Temple inside the fort. Shri Laungpur Siddh Baba Mandir is the samadhi place of Shri Ramdasji Maharaj on top of Laungpur Hill.
5. Another view of the fort and famous Chambal ravines.
6. Chambal Ravines. Raj Niwas Palace, think only for guests, book 4x4 Maruti Suzuki Gypsy. Do not think a normal car would work. In good old days this area was dacoit infested with types of Phoolan Devi, Pan Singh Tomar said a local.
7. “Royal Step well...Constructed between 1873 -1880. A two story, with beautiful artistic pillars and carved stones. Descending layers of stairs wind around leading down to the pool of water.” Pic and caption courtesy and copyright Raj Niwas Palace, Dholpur, Rajasthan.
8. “Prachin Kailash Dham-Chopda Mahadev Mandir, proven by vaastu, ashtakoneey (octagonal), in the shape of Shiv Yantra.” Pic and caption courtesy and copyright Raj Niwas Palace, Dholpur, Rajasthan.
9. Back to Machkund. In centre temple belongs to the erstwhile ruler of Dholpur, was closed. It is some 3 kms from town.
10. One end of waterbody. Structure in centre end of pic is modern day temple.
11. View of temples and ghats. There are 108 temples around the kund. There is a 1 km Parikrama walkway along the kund. We saw boats, not sure in which season is boating done.
12. Deepsthamb on the banks of the kund. Around Diwali a huge fair is organised. Devotees who come have a dip in the holy kund. Machkund is mentioned in the Vishu Puran and Srimad Bhagwat. Missing visiting Machkund Cave. To read more https://www.optimatravels.com/dholpur-rajasthan/muchkund-temple-dholpur-rajasthan-india.aspx
13. Close up of erstwhile ruler temple, note the Jaali work. To read Raja Machkund story in Hindi https://www.bhaktibharat.com/katha/raja-muchkund-ki-katha
14. Kund and ghats view. Keeping Dholpur as a base you can visit Morena. See Kakanmath Shiv Mandir, Chausath Yogini Mandir Mitawali, Padavali Temple and Bateshwar Temples. Dholpur is about 2 hours from Gwalior. Close to Gwalior is Datia Palace, Orchha, Jhansi, Gar Kundar Fort and Khajuraho.
15. Pic courtesy and copyright Raj Niwas Palace, Dholpur, Rajasthan. The hotel organises a boat safari of Chambhal National Park where u see wildlife and rural life along the river. To visit Palace site https://www.dholpurpalace.com/