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Top 10 Fascinating Facts about the Gwalior Fort

The hill fort that has a history dating back to the 10^th century is located in Gwalior in the district of Madhya Pradesh, India. The fort features two palaces and a defending structure. It was built by Tomar Rajput but it was controlled by different rulers in history.  The fort offers a rich historical background on how the rulers and people in that era loved and thus makes the site a critical one to historians as they use the information found to fill in the gaps found in history.

Therefore, this article will look into the interesting facts about the fort and in doing so provide a deeper insight into the topic.

1. The second oldest record of zero was found in the fort

The fort is known for having the second oldest zero recorded in history was found in one of the temples located inside the fort. A stone inscription that shows proof of the second oldest zero was in the temple. Therefore, the fort plays a critical part in the history of how contemporary society came to be and the way it operates.

2. There is an archaeological museum inside the fort

The museum is known as the Gujari Mahal Archaeological Museum. Located within the fortress, the museum displays several artefacts from the region with the notable one being a fragment of the Heliodorus pillar that was part of Garyda’s capital in Vidisha. The archaeological museum allows archaeologists a chance to have a point of reference when discussing past events. Hindu and Jain sculptures are also found in the museum.

3. There is a connection between a sage and the fort

There is a connection between a sage and the fort in that King Suraj Sen was suffering from Leprosy which was a disease that had no cure at that time. A sage known as Gwalipa gave him water from a sacred pond and after drinking it the king was completely fine.

Therefore, the king built a temple in his name. The sacred water used to heal the king is found in the fort. Additionally, the sage gave the king the title of ‘Pal’ which means the protector and promised him that the fort will be in his family’s name as long as they have the title. Suraj Sen then became Suraj Sen Pal.

4. Palaces within the fort

The fort features many palaces that were built by different kings at different times when they were in power. Some of them include Man Mandir Palace which was built by Raja Man Singh Tomar who was a ruler of the Tomar Dynasty. He built the palace in the 15^th century to serve as their official residence. The palace features green, turquoise and yellow colours. 

Another palace is the Gujari Mahal that Raja Man Singh Tomar built for his beautiful wife. The Vikram Mahal was originally built as a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva by Vikramaditya Singh. There is also the Karn Mahal that got its name from the king who built it. He was the second king in the Tomar Dynasty.

5. The fort was used as a prison for the sixth Sikh guru

After the Mughals snatched the fort from the Tomar Dynasty, they turned it into a prison. He used it as a prison for political entities that tried to infiltrate the empire. The most notable person that was imprisoned was the sixth guru of Sikhism known as Guru Hargobind. He was imprisoned because his influence on the people was great.

6. The invasion of the fort by foreign powers

In the 16^th century, Sikander Lodi attempted to invade the Gwalior Fort but he was unsuccessful. The Tomar Dynasty that occupied the fort at the time were famous for their valour and this ensured that the fort was well protected. However, after the demise of Man Singh, the fort was snatched by the Mughals. They then turned the fort into a prison.

7. The legend of the tamarind tree

Tansen was a legendary musician in the Mughal Court who had a sensational voice. Legend has it that the leaves from the tamarind tree would make your voice melodious. This folklore has been in existence for a long time in that Tansen’s voice used to reverberate in the surrounding villages.

The fort now features a sound and light show that explains the legend of Tansen as well as a love story between Mrignayani and Man Singh. This show varies between seasons.

8. The temple that was built because of a family feud

In the Indian culture, it is believed that nothing good ever comes out of domestic feuds. However, this instance in history proved otherwise. The Sahastrabahu Temple is found inside the Gwalior Fort and was built after an altercation between a mother-in-law and a daughter in law during the reign of Kachchhapaghatas. It is said that the feud broke out because the two disagreed on which deity to be worshipped. To resolve the conflict, the deities of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva were housed in the twin temple to please both parties.

9. There is an entry fee

The historic site which was commissioned by Raja Suraj Sen Pal is a major tourist attraction among history enthusiasts. The fort charges an entry fee for one to be admitted to the site. It charges 75 rupees for Indians and 250 rupees for foreigners.  The rates are affordable which allows both locals and foreigners to experience the rich history of the fort.

10. The defensive structure

The fort is known for having a defensive structure. This means that when the fort is attacked, it will stand still. This is why many kingdoms and dynasties fought to get control of it as it would ensure that their rule was secure.