Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh

Description

The historic fortress of Gwalior, was initiated by Raja Sourya Sena who finished the fortification system around the plateau in 773CE. As per its strategic location on the basalt rock hills, it is mentioned as ‘Gopachala, Gopagiri’ and other allied names all meaning ‘cowherds’ hill in the old Sanskrit Inscriptions. The modern name Gwalior appears to have been derived from ‘Gopalikera’, one of the ancient names.

The Gwalior Fort has a long history dating back to the Stone Age, as evidenced by the numerous artifacts discovered in Gupteshwar, 3 km west of Gwalior. Early rulers of this region included the Mauryas, Sungas, Kushanas, and Nagas, who held power there until the fourth century CE. Guptas ruled over this place till the last quarter of the 5th century CE. In 525 CE Mihira Kula was ruling over the region which was referred from the inscriptions found on Sun temple on fort. The next historical record on the fort are the two inscriptions on the Chaturbhuja temple, dated in 875 and 876 CE, which shows that Gwalior was included in the kingdom Kanauj. From 1398 AD -1516 CE Gwalior came under the Rajput Dynasty OF Tomars and was extensively constructed in the reign of Raja Mansingh Tomar. Shortly after his death, the fortress fell to Ibrahim Lodi and passed over to the Mughal Sultanate when the latter succeeded the Lodi dynasty at Delhi. The fort was recovered by Akbar in 1550 CE from Sher Shah Suri. With the decline and fall of the Mughal empire, Gwalior passed into the hands of the rising Maratha power represented by Scindias in Central India. General White bombarded and captured the fort during the second Maratha War but an agreement signed in the 1805 CE gave it back to Scindia until 1857. It was in British occupation till 1886 CE when it was finally restored to the Scindias in exchange for Jhansi. After India gained independence in 1947 CE, Gwalior, along with the fort, became a part of the newly formed Indian state. The Scindia dynasty's association with the fort and Gwalior continued, but it came under the protected monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India and the Madhya Pradesh State Archaeology. Because of the chequered history the fort has a wide range of structures, both in terms of style and typologies.

Among the Palace Structures in the fort, Man Mandir Palace and Gujari Mahal were built by Raja Man Singh Tomar in 15th century. Vestiges of the Bagh Paintings are found on the glazed tiles adorning the façade of the palace of Man Mandir. Domed turrets, a row of elegantly carved brackets supporting the eaves, and a few horizontal bands of carved moulding that are inlaid with enameled tiles break up the simple and massive facade of Gujari Mahal. Karan Mandir was built between 1454 CE -79 CE by the second King of the Tomar dynasty, Kirti Singh. Vikram Mahal was built in 1516 CE by Vikramaditya Singh (the eldest son of Man Singh tomar), this lies between the Man Singh Palace and the Karan Mahal. The Fort also houses impressive palace structures constructed later by the Sultanate and Mughal rulers; Jahangir Mahal was called Sher Mahal as it was built by Sher Shah. Shahjahan constructed the Shahjahan Mahal, which is directly across from Jehangir Mahal. It is constructed in the Mughal style, but it is considerably less ornate than other Mughal palaces of the time.

Among the Ancient Temples, the Gwalior fort includes the Teli ka Mandir, dedicated to lord Shiva, Vishnu, and Matrikas. The Chaturbhuj temple holds a position of significance because of its mathematical connection where the second oldest reference to zero in mathematics is seen in a carving. The adjoining twin temples are known as Sas Bahu temples. The larger Sas Bahu temple which is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu has an inscription from 1150 CE.

The fort area also houses Jain rock cut sculptures of Gwalior Fort carved in caves and niches in the steep cliff below the fortress wall. The principal sculptures fall into five groups, those in the Siddhanchal (Urvahi) group on the west, Gopachal Parvat (SE Group), SW Group, NW Group, NE Group. They were all constructed within a span of 3 years from 1450 to 1480 CE during the rule of Tomar dynasty.

The fort has impressive ramparts and gateways. Its primary entrance is on its eastern side, where a long ramp ascends to the rock's summit via six gates. The main entrance of the Man Mandir, constructed by Man Singh Tomar, is the Hathi Pol Gate (or Hathiya Paur). Raja Dungar Singh Tomar constructed the Ganesha gate in the fifteenth century. Gate of Lakshmana was constructed in the 15th century and is named after Lakshmana Singh of the Tomar dynasty. Hindola Gate, also known as Badal Mahal Gate, was built in the 15th century and is named after Raja Man Singh's uncle Badal Singh Tomar. Gwalior gate is the main entrance to the fort connecting the historic city of Gwalior to the fort. Also known as the Alamgiri gate, it is attributed to the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.With chhatris placed on the gates and corner bastions, its architecture is modeled in Mughal and Rajput style.

Among the water management systems, the fort has access to water with a number of reservoirs such as Mansarovar Tal, Gangola Tal, Ek Khamba Tal, Katora Tal, Rani Tal, Chedi Tal, and Jauhar Kund.  The Gurdwara Data Bandi Chhor serves as a monument to Guru Hargobind Sahib, the sixth guru of the Sikhs. The Bhim Singh Rana Chattri was built in his honor close to the lake that Rana created and which the locals call Bhimtal. Bhim Singh Rana was the person who regained the Gwalior fort from the Mughal emperors. The Scindia School, founded in 1897 CE by Maharaja Madho Rao Scindia, is also located within the fort complex.

Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

Among the historic forts of India, the Gwalior Fort exhibits the richest repository of typologies and stylistic variations by virtue of its association with the Rajputs, Sher Shah Suri, Mughals, Marathas, Sikhs and Jain culture. It is an extraordinary example of architectural and artistic amalgamations showing an intercultural exchange through various centuries of regional and imperial rule. Its Palace structures such as the Man Mandir remains unmatched in it artistic expressions and innovations among other contemporary palace structures in India and served as a reference for later palace structures built by the Bundela Rajputs and the Mughals.

Criterion (ii): The architectural blend of Mughal and Rajput elements on the fort illustrates the cultural and architectural fusion of architectural elements with extraordinary artistic expressions in mosaic tiles, stone jalli patterns, stone columns and brackets and domed turrets not found elsewhere. The fort's architecture reflects the eclectic monumental arts, advancements and innovations of different dynasties. Exceptional stone carved elements such as the serpentine brackets in the Man Mandir have inspired similar forms in later Bundela architecture of Chanderi and the Salim Chisti Dargah at Fatehpur Sikri.

Criterion (iv): The strategic location and defensive structures of Gwalior Fort were enhanced by successive rulers. The towering walls, gates, and bastions reflect the military strategies of the Tomar Rajputs and Mughals.  The intricate stone carvings, elaborate designs, and artistic details found in structures like the Saas Bahu Temples and the Man Singh Palace showcase the unique craftsmanship and artistic skills marking them exemplary typologies in Indian Architecture. 

Statements of authenticity and/or integrity

Gwalior Fort has undergone several renovations, additions, and modifications over its long history, as it was ruled by various dynasties and empires. Therefore, while many of the structures within the fort are original or have historical significance, there might also be elements that have been restored or reconstructed to some extent. Many of the structures within Gwalior Fort are built from locally available sandstone and limestone. As per Archaeological Survey of India records, the restoration work for the Teli ka Mandir was carried around 1881- 1883 CE and for the Sas Bahu temple in the year of 1844 CE while Man mandir palace was restored in 1881 CE.

Comparison with other similar properties

A variety of forts are present in the southern part of India, with a majority of them built on a higher elevation like rocks, hills overlooking valleys owing to the terrain. The Bekal fort (9th – 19th century AD) in Kerala is a sea front fort built in the regional style. Within the Vijaynagara empire, the fortified city of Chandragiri (10th – 18th century AD) served as the capital of the Vijayanagara rulers, and the citadel exemplifies a regional style primarily influenced by Hindu architecture while also assimilating certain Islamic forms. The forts of Chitradurg (14th – 18^th century AD) and Gingee (16th – 18th century AD, one of the 12 nominated), both recognized as significant historical sites, demonstrate fortifications spread across multiple hills, showcasing a regional Hindu architectural style with the integration of some Islamic features. Furthermore, several forts in the region reflect a fusion of Indo-Islamic architectural elements and later European influences. These forts exhibit a mix of styles, incorporating features such as domes, minarets, and intricate ornamentation.

The forts of the Sultanate era in India showcase a remarkable fusion of national and international Islamic architectural styles, blending harmoniously with the prevailing Hindu architecture of that time.

Mughal During the 16th to 18th centuries, Mughal forts were strategically situated along river banks, utilizing the river as a defensive feature, distinguishing them from the hill fort style observed in Maratha, Rajput, and Sultanate forts. Additionally, the secular architecture within Mughal forts incorporated elements inspired by Rajput architecture.

Notably, the Red Fort in Delhi, Red Fort in Agra, and Fatehpur Sikri are prominent Mughal forts designated as World Heritage Sites. The Agra Fort built magnificently in red sandstone by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century is presumed to be the model for the Red Fort at New Delhi. And its adjunct positioning with the Taj Mahal built later by Shahjahan has added to its distinctiveness. The Red Fort at Delhi built later in the 17th century is considered to represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which, under the Shah Jahan, was brought to a new level of refinement.

The architectural styles and planning of Rajput and Mughal forts exhibited mutual influence from the 16th to the 19th century. The introduction of artillery during the 16th century led to significant changes in the construction and design of forts, akin to the transformations seen in Western forts due to the advent of gunpowder. These changes encompassed the reduction in wall height, thickening

of walls, and the further extension of bastions.

Hill Forts of Rajasthan (ii)(iii)

Architectural representations of Rajput gallantry, bravery, feudalism, and cultural traditions, as seen in various historical texts and artworks from India’s late-medieval and medieval periods, are seen in the sixenormous hill forts. Their sophisticated fortifications, which were constructed to safeguard not only garrisons for defence but also palatial structures, temples, and urban centres within the diverse physiographic and cultural zones of Rajasthan, are an exceptional testament to the

cultural traditions of the ruling Rajput clans and to their support of religion, the arts, and literature in the area of Rajasthan over many centuries.

Fatehpur Sikri (ii)(iii)(iv)

The earliest planned city of the Mughals, Fatehpur Sikri was characterized by magnificent palaces, public structures, mosques, and housingquarters for the court, the army, the king’s personal attendants, and an entire city. The Mughal emperors continued to visit Fatehpur Sikri on occasion after shifting the capital to Lahore in 1585. A remarkablewitness of Mughal culture at the end of the 16th century is the city of Fatehpur Sikri which serves as a singular illustration of exceptionally well-built architectural ensembles created between 1571 and 1585.

Champaner Pavagadh Archaeological Park (iii)(iv)(v)(vi)

The Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is a collection of ancient cultural heritage properties, including architecture, temples, and water-retaining installations, as well as religious, military, and agricultural structures. The park dates back to the 16th century and the regional Capital City built by Mehmud Begda. It provides a glimpse into long-gone cultures and is a unique representation of their history. The structures, especially the Great Mosque (Jama Masjid), which served as a model for later mosque construction in India, reflect a perfect fusion of Hindu and Muslim architecture. This unique style dates back to the crucial era of the regional sultanates. With a larger diversity of structures at a smaller scale, Champaner lacks the level of exchange that is visible in Orchha.

At the international level, comparison can be made with several forts inscribed on World Heritage List such as the Rohtas Fort in Pakistan, Dayabakir Castle in Turkey, Suomenolinna Sea Fort in Finland, Fort Wall of China, Hwaseong Fortress in Korea and Vauban Forts in France.