Gwâlior

The town of Gwâlior

Gwâlior is a city of the Indian State of the Madhya Pradesh The legend claims that the name of the city would come from that of an ascetic, Gvâlipa, who would have cured a râja râjput, Surâj SEN, leprosy. This last would then have founded the city in thanks.

Gwâlior is the birthplace of Tânsen Miân, that which is regarded as one of the largest Indian musicians of all times and who was musician of court of Akbar. Its Mausolée is in the city.

The fort of Gwâlior

The fort of Gwalior, which shelters a certain number of historical buildings, is located on a rock platform which overhangs the city and which measures 2,4 kilometers in its bigger length, in the North-South direction and 820 m in its greater width. The platform culminates to 104 m at its northern end. A rampart surrounds the fort which one reaches by a steeply sloping road. The citadel, located at the North-East of the enclosure, is a beautiful yellow stone masonry, decorated glazed ground squares comprising of the images to the animalist decorations, in particular an astonishing duck plank.

Several remarkable temples were built inside the enclosure. The group of the Hopper-bahû , for example, built in 1093 by the Râja Padmapâla and its Mahîpâla brother, perhaps dedicated at the origin with Vishnou, is devoted to the worship Jain. Largest - 33 X 21 meters - its roof lost while the other - of square form of 7,50 meter on side - is open like a house and preserved its pyramidal roof. Both comprise a central room with four pillars. The Teli-ka-Mandir - the temple of the oil merchant - date of the XIe century and knew a restoration at the 19th century. Probably dedicated to Sûrya in the beginning, it became a temple jaina thereafter. It in continuation was devoted to Vishnu before becoming a temple of Shiva at the 15th century.

One of curiosities of the fort is a whole of caves jaina excavated in cliff in the part where the road goes up to the higher platform. One counts a hundred very diverse sizes of it. The majority of them form only one niche around the statue which was excavated by it, but some are of a size such as it could be a cell intended to accommodate an ascetic jaina, very current thing in the whole of the India. According to an inscription, the work which produced this whole of caves would have proceeded on about thirty years during the 15th century. One of the excavated statues measurement 17 meters in height, which makes some largest of the India of North.

The palate Mân Mandir , built by Mân Singh (1486 - 1516), watch an interesting example of the Hindu architectural work of this time in India. It did not cease dêtre increased as of the end of its construction and until the 17th century, in particular by the emperors Moghol S Jahângîr and Shâh Jahân.

History of the principality

The principality has a long story. Probably belonging to the Râjput S Pratîhâra, it is charmed to them by the râja râjput Kacchhapagâtha Lakshmana (950 - 975). Then about the year 1000, the Chandelâ seize some and it is prone of fight between those and Mahmûd de Ghaznî. In 1232, the sultans of Delhi take it, but the râjputs Tomara conquers it and establish their dynasty there.

The sultans Lôdi then Bâbur seize some and Akbar will make of it the prison moghole of state.

The dynasty of Sindhia, which reigns there until independence, comes from a small village close to Satara, in the Maharashtra. Patil in the beginning, i.e. chief of village, the family members join the forces marathes under the reigns of the mahârâjas Shivajî, Shambhajî and Rajaram, pointing out himself by their valiancy during several battles. Ranojî Sindhia, a brilliant war leader under which the Mâlvâ is conquered, climbs at the top of the hierarchy marathe. The large fortress of Gwâlior, falls in front of its forces, for the first time in 1738. Its five sons, all generals marathes, are distinguished on the battle field. However, only Mahadjî survives the military disasters of 1760 - 1761, and it is him which restores family glory. It demolishes an army sent by the English Compagnie of the Eastern Indies to Wadgaon, forcing it to accept the Traité of Sabli, seizes Delhi as well as other imperial cities, ensuring the recognition of the capacity marathe by Moghols, the emperor becoming a puppet between their hands.

Daulat Râo, is him also a large captain who consolidates the capacity marathe, in particular vis-a-vis the Nizâm of Hyderâbâd, an ally of CAIO. However, that revives the conflict which opposes it to the British and ends in its defeat during the second war anglo-marathe.

The Revolt of Cipayes striking severely Gwâlior, most of the troops of Jayajî Râo revolting and joining the insurrectionists, obliging it to withdraw its capital temporarily. It joined the British then and takes part in the countryside to crush the mutiny, which is worth to him to become the first Indian general of the British armed forces. Beside its military actions, he is also a large reformer who modernizes his state. He leaves with his death his principality to his 10 year old son.

Madhav Râo continues the reforms of his/her father, in the field of education and health, building schools and hospital, developing the railroad and establishing representative institutions. He dies in 1925 after 39 years of reign leaving the principality to his 9 year old son.

The principality integrated the state of the Madhya Pradesh.

Leaders: Mahârâja Sindhia

1727 - 1750: Rânojî Râo Sindhia
1750 - 1759: Jayapa Râo Sindhia
1759 - 1761: Jankojî Râo I Sindhia
1761: Tukojî Râo I Sindhia
1761 - 1794: Mahâdâjî Râo I Sindhia (Mâdhava)
1794 - 1827: Daulat Râo Sindhia
1827 - 1843: Jânkojî Râo II Sindhia (Mukki Râo)
1843 - 1866: Jayâjî Râo Sindhia (Jiajî Râo)
1843 - 1844: Khasjiwallah hobby-horse - in rebellion
1866 - 1886: Dinkar Râo Sindhia
1886 - 1925: Mâdhava Râo II Sindhia
1925 - 1947: George Jîvâjî Râo Sindhia

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