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Chanderi
127 kilometers from Chanderi has some of the
finest examples of Bundela Rajput and Malwa
Sultanate architecture. Dominating the
skyline of this lovely old town, famed today
for its brocades and Muslims, is a Mughal
fort.
Teli Ka Mandir
The 9th century Teli ka Mandir,
towering 100 ft high, is a Pratihara Vishnu
temple of a unique blending of architectural
styles. The shape of the roof is
distinctively Dravidian, while the
decorative embellishments have the typically
Indo-Aryan Characteristics of northern
India. Also dedicated to Vishnu is
the graceful Sas-Bahu ka Mandir built in the
11th century.
Tansen's Tomb
A pillar of Hindustani classical music, the
great Tansen, one of the 'nine jewels'
of Akbar's court, lies buried in Gwalior. The memorial to this great musician
has a pristine simplicity, and is built in
the early Mughal architectural style.
More than a monument, the tomb is part of
Gwalior's living cultural heritage: it is
the venue of a music festival on a national
scale held annually in November- December.
The Bhojeshwar
Temple
The Bhojeshwar temple that has earned the
name of the Somnath of the east, is in
Bhojpur 28 kilometers away from Bhopal. The
temple was never completed and the earthen
ramp used to raise it to dome-level still
stands. Had it been completed, it would have
been a majestic masterpiece with only a few
rivals. Even with the ravages of time, it
still remains as one of the best examples of
temple architecture of the 11th -
13th centuries.
Mandu
Perched along the Vindhya ranges at an
altitude of 2,000 feet, Mandu, with its
natural defenses, was originally the fort
capital of the Parmar rulers of Malwa.
Towards the end of the 13th century, it came
under the sway of the Sultans of Malwa, the
first of whom named it Shadiabad - 'city
of joy'. And indeed the pervading spirit
of Mandu was of gaiety; and its rulers built
exquisite palaces like the Jahaz and Hindola
Mahals, ornamental canals, baths and
pavilions, are graceful and refined. Some
are outstanding like the massive Jami
Masjid and Hoshang Shah's tomb,
which provided inspiration to the master
builders of the Taj Mahal centuries
later.
Baz Bahadur's Palace is a magnificent
expression of Afghan architecture and
Under Mughal rule, Mandu was a pleasure
resort, its lakes and palaces the scenes of
splendid and extravagant festivities.
Teli ka Mandir
The Teli ka Mandir is a 9th
century edifice, towering at 100 ft high.
This is a Pratihara Vishnu temple of a
unique blending of architectural styles. The
shape of the roof is distinctively
Dravidian, while the decorative
embellishments have the typically Indo-Aryan
characteristics of Northern India.
Sas-Bahu ka Mandir
Also dedicated to Vishnu is the graceful
little Sas-Bahu-ka-Mandir, built in 11th
century. Another landmark is the historic
Gurudwara Data Bandhi Chhod built in the
memory of Guru Hargobind Sahib, the 6th Sikh
Guru who was imprisoned here by Jehangir for
over two years. At the time of his release,
he wanted 52 Hindu kings who were his fellow
prisoners, released with him. Jehangir was
very impressed with the Guru and agreed to
his condition. And, finally, within the Fort
complex, housed in the erstwhile barracks of
the British soldiers, is Gwalior's unique
gift to modern India : Scindia School.
Acknowledged as one of the finest schools in
India, it is only fitting that the country's
young citizens receive the best educational
grounding surrounded by monuments to a past
which is a constant inspiration.
Chhatries
Set in a formal Mughal garden,
with quiet nooks under flowering trees,
interested by pathways with ornamental
balustrades and illuminated by Victorian
lamps, is the each other across a water tank
are the Chhatries of Madho Rao Scindia
and the dowager queen Maharani Sakhya Raje Scindia, synthesizing the architectural
idioms of Hindu and Islamic styles with
their shikharu-type spires and Rajput and
Mughal pavilions.
The glittering white marble surface of Madho
Rao Scindias cenotaph is inlaid in the pietra
dura style, with lapis lazuli and onyx
to create a spectacularly rich effect,
heightened by the delicacy of the
trelliswork on the sides. The dowager queens
cenotaph has a noble dignity of line and
superb structural harmony, Both memorials
contain life-size images of the Scindias and
these are tended to with extreme devotion by
ceremonially dressed retains who perform the
rituals of placing flowers and incense
before the statues each day. In the evening,
the hush is broken by the sound of music as
artistes of the Gwalior gharana render classical
ragas before the statues.
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