DATIA.
Bir Singh Palace. Datia.
Left Jhansi and Jhansi Fort at 1100 and set course for Gwalior. On the way saw a very imposing building. Could not resist temptation to look at it. It was Bir Singh Palace iv village Datia.
As per wiki.
Datia Palace, also known as Bir Singh Palace or Bir Singh Dev Palace is special, it has 7 floors. This Datia Palace or the Satkhanda Palace is also called Datia Mahal. This Palace was made by spending 35 Lakh Rupees (78 thousand us dollars) and it took nine years to build it. It is situated on an isolated rock on the western side of the city Datia. It represents Mughal architecture along with Rajput architecture. It is the biggest and most famous of all the 52 palaces build by Raja birsingh Deo and it can be seen easily from a long distance.
However neither member from the royal family did ever lived here. The founder of the Datia State in Bundelkhand - Maharaj Birsingh Deo Build many such 52 monuments all around the Country India. Datia's Palace as well as the Purana Mahal or the "Old palace", Historian Abdul Hamid Lahori came to this city with Shahan Jahan on 19 November 1635. He said that the palace was nearly 80 meters long and was also this much broad. He said this as a very beautiful and strong palace.
Spent one hour from 1130 to 1230 here and then again started for Gwalior.
GWALIOR.
Residency Air Force Officers Mess Gwalior.
Reached this place by 1630. A bit about how we came to be here;
I had spoken to AOC,Gwalior for accommodation. The same was confirmed. Assuming that mess would be located in AF Station ,on reaching Gwalior we went to Maharajpur. There came to know that the Mess where our accommodation was arranged was right in the heart of town and called Residency Mes. Buildig was constructed by Gwalior Maharajah as residence for the British Governor and calld Residency. A grand Palatial building . A unique experience. The photos give some idea of the grandeur but in reality it is very grand, magnificent and beautiful.
On the roof. Even the lighting fixture-exquisite The Mess
GWALIOR FORT.
Gwalior Fort
Freshened up and left for Gwalior to see Light and Sound show at Gwalior fort. We were to transpise on this road quite a few times in next couple of days.
Venue for Light and Sound show.
The light and sound show was quitr nice . The voice over for the show was by Amitabh Bachhan.
Returned to Mess by 2230
Gwalior Fort unique feature of the fort is th blue tiles.
Nex morning returned to have a look at the rest of the fort.
Fort covers a vast area and one has to cover lot of ground to see important land marks which can be devided in catagories of Monumets, temples and Places etc. All of which are quite few in nunber.We saw, Man Mindir Palace, Sasbhau Ka mandir, Teli Ka Mandir, Suraj Kund nad Gujar Mahl fro way above from Jahangir mahal.
MAN MANDIR PALACE.
Man Mandir Two Views.
From wieki:
Man mandir palace was built by the King of Tomar Dynasty - Maharaja Man Singh in 15th century for his favorite queen, Mrignayani. Man Mandir is often referred as a Painted Palace because the painted effect of the Man Mandir Palace is due to the use of styled tiles of turquoise, green and yellow used extensively in a geometric pattern.
We had gone around olnly in outer court yard. Dis not see any tiles.
SAS BHAU KA MANDIR.
The twin temple,is called Sasbahu temple. Unfortunately no photo of Twin temple.The word Sasbahu means "a mother and daughter-in-law", an association that implies their being together and interdependent. The Sas temple is typically the larger older temple of the twin. The Gwalior Sasbahu temple follows this style, but both temples are dedicated to Vishnu. Only the Sas temple has survived in some form, the Bahu temple is a shell structure of the original one storey with a highly ornate door frame and its defaced wall reliefs surviving.The remnants of the Bahu temple at Gwalior suggest that it may have been a smaller version of the Saas temple.
The temple main entrance porch has four carved Ruchaka ghatapallava-style pillars that are load-bearing. The walls and lintels are intricately carved, though much defaced. On the lintel of the entrances, friezes of Krishna-leela scenes are carved inside, while the outer side narrate legends from other Hindu texts. Above the lintel is Garuda, the vanaha of Vishnu.
TELI KA MANDIR.
From Wiki and other sites.
Teli Ka Mandir (Telangana Mandir) - A structure of about 100 feet, Teli Ka Mandir in Gwalior Fort distinguishes itself from the other compositions of its time because of its unique architecture. Though the roof of the temple holds a Dravidian look, the sculptures are typically North Indian. The temple bears a close resemblance to the temple of Prathihara Vishnu, and is filled with images of coiled serpents, passionate couples, river goddesses, and a flying Garuda. The temple architecture follows the Indo-Aryan and Nagara styles that exhibit superior artistic calibre. A marvelous temple, believed to be among the oldest constructions in the fort, gives an enchanting experience to the visitor. The Telikā Mandir is the loftiest temple among all the buildings in Gwalior Fort with a height of about 30m. Most striking feature of the temple is the wagon-vaulted roof, a form used over rectangular shrines which normally accommodated a row of Mother Goddesses. All the goddesses from the interior vanished centuries ago. The exterior walls of the temple are richly decorated with sculptures, many of which are damaged; the niches, shaped like temples, are empty. Some more photos from Gwalior Fort.
Gujari Mahal Seen from Jahangir Palace Panoramic view of Gwalior from Fort.
Less Frequented part of Fort. Suraj Kund.Gwaliot Fort
SAMADHI OF RANI LAKSHMI BAI.
Samadhi and a magnificent Equestrian Statue of Rani of Jhansi.
During our stay in Gwalior, to got to the city for sight seeing,every time we had to drive on Rani Laxmi Bai Marg in . Later when we decided to visit the Samadhi of Rani Laxmi Bai .we had to ask people for directions. Eventually when we did reach it we found that we had passed the sopt many times. Sadly It was not prominant and not proprely sign posted.
There is Samadhi and a magnificient Equestrian Statue of Rani of Jhansi.
From : https://www.mapsofindia.com/on-this-day/june-18-1858
Lakshmibai’s tomb is in the Phool Bagh area of Gwalior. She continues to remain an inspiration to generations of Indians and is remembered for her fearlessness and determination. Even British officer Hugh Rose who had wanted to annex Jhansi described Lakshmibai as “clever and beautiful” and as the “most dangerous of all Indian leaders.”
A very informative description about Death of Rani of Jhansi is given in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rani_of_Jhansi,
TOMB OF TANSEN.
Tansen Samadhi.
The father of Hindustani classical music and one of the nine jewels of Akbar's court, legendary singer Tansen is buried in Gwalior. Built in the early style of Mughal architecture, the tomb of Tansen has a simple and pristine aura about it. The headstone is surrounded by beautiful gardens on all its sides. Apart from being an ancient monument, the site also underlines the rich cultural heritage of Gwalior. Every year in the month of November/ December, a national level music competition is held at the place, to venerate this great musician.
Source : http://www.tourism4india.in/Gwalior/Spots/Tomb-of-Tansen.aspx
Returned to Mess.
Naxt day on 02 Mar03 booked out of the Maess for Jaivilas Palace. From where we would set course for Mathura.
JAIVILAS PALACE.
Entrance Jaivilas Palace,
Went around Jaivilas Palace looking at mavrvalous item on diaplayTook total of 9 photos : 1. Cannon on the way to Jaivilas Palace ,Gwalior. 2. Jai Vilas Palace. 3. The gate to His Highnes Sir Jivajirao Scindia Museum.4. Somewhere inside Jai Vilas Palace. This huge carpet has life like portraits sketche of real historical personalities of historical Times. 5. Crystal Fountain .Jai Vilas Palace.6. Meals serving Sterling Silver Train , Jal Vihar Palace. 7. Two Ton Chandeliers, Jai Vilas Palace. 8. Sterling Silver Idols Jai Vilas Palace. 9. Italian Chandeliers , Jai Vilas Palace. and felt that was enough. We spent only one hour and 30 minutes at this fabulous place where I think one needs a minimum of a day and a half to do justice to the feast for the eyes and asthestic senses.
Our fault. Never mended.
