 Steeped
in the splendour of its past, the ancient capital of Gwalior has yet
made a successful transition into a modern Indian city, vibrant and
bustling. A multitude of reigning dynasties, of the great Rajput clans
of the Pratiharas, Kacchwahas and Tomars have left indelible etchings of
their rule in this city of palaces, temples and monuments. Gwalior's
tradition as a royal capital continued until the formation of present
day India, with the Scindias having their dynastic seat here. The
magnificent mementoes of a glorious past have been preserved with care,
giving Gwalior an appeal unique and timeless.
This, then, is Gwalior : where a rich
cultural tradition has been interwoven into the fabric of modern life.
Where a princely past lives on in great palaces and their museums. Where
a multitude of images merge and mix to present to the visitor a city of
enduring greatness.
 Gwalior's
history is traced back to a fascinating legend: in 8AD, a chieftain
called Suraj Sen was stricken by a deadly disease. He was cured by a
hermit saint, Gwalipa, and in gratitude, founded a city which he named
after the saint who had given him the gift of a new life. The new city
of Gwalior became, over the centuries, the cradle of great dynasties and
with each, the city gained new dimensions from the warrior-kings, poets,
musicians and saints who contributed to making it a capital renowned
throughout the country.
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