Gwalior City

By Sanjeev Nayyar Sanjeev@esamskriti.com | 2008

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You see a close up side view the Viraswan Mandir or Surya Temple. It was built by G D Birla and Mahadevi Birla. The temple is made in red sandstone. It is inspired by the Sun Temple Konarak Puri Orissa. It has beautifully carved horses and a wheel on either side of the temple as you can see in the pictures.

You see a front view of the same temple. We found the place clean, well maintained and peaceful. Met a number of school children who had come to offer their prayers. We started our Gwalior trip by visiting this temple.

Our next stop was Tansen’s tomb. You have to drive through crowded market to reach here. The structure was built in the 16th century A.D and is on a rectangular elevated platform with a pillared gallery in the centre of which is the tomb. In front you see the famous Tamarind tree, the leaves of which were chewed by Tansen for a sweet voice.

A close up view of the tomb. Tansen was born to Brahmin parents Laxmi Bai and Makrand Pandey in Behat village i.e. 25kms away from Gwalior. He learnt music from Swami Haridas. He converted to Islam in his childhood or on marrying Akbar’s daughter Mehrunisa or did he convert at all I am not sure.

A view of Akbar’s Guru Mohammad Ghaus’s tomb. The garden is very well maintained. A Music Festival is held here every year.

You see the Chatri of Maharani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi. This monument marks the site of the cremation of the illustrious and heroic Rani of Jhansi. She died in Gwalior on 18/6/1858.

You see my wife who is nicknamed by her colleagues as Jhansi ki Rani at the Chatri with an icon of the Rani of Jhansi in the background. In the centre is a Jyot (oil lamp) that is lit through out the day.

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