Two nights in Gwalior gave us a full day for catching the palace on the hilltop. We should have stayed longer.
1 Rock-carved Jain sculptures near the Urvai Gate to Gwalior Fort date from the 15th century.
2 Tourist admiring the sculptures.
3 The statues represent tirthankars, Jain teachers. Defaced and castrated by Muslim invaders in 1527, but repaired since. Presumably, these days, the Taliban or ISIS would bomb them out of existence. Thank goodness that has not happened -- yet.
4 A long series of cut-out caves with sculptures
5 The road can be seen ascending along the cliff wall and up to the fort.
6 More sculptures. One wonders if the reinforcing structure is original or added recently.
7 The hightest is a 17m sculpture of Adinath. Remember, the face is not original.
8 The Man Singh Palace on the rock of Gwalior Fort was built around 1500. It even looks impressive in the awful smog which covered Gwalior that day. (Gwalior has been named one of India's most polluted cities -- which is saying something.)
9 Colored tiles with ducks. Yes, really. Ducks!
10 Elaborate decoration with colored tiles.
11 The east wall is built directly above the cliff.
12 Tourist and guide inside the palace. In upper left-hand corner, balcony from which women could observe without being observed.
13 Rooms were built under the palace to escape the heat. Speaking tubes link one room with another.
14 Here be dragons.
15 Pretty pillared hall on a nearby building.
16 The Sasbahu (Mother-in-law) temple is dedicated to Vishnu. Also on the rock of Gwalior Fort.
17 Elaborate carvings inside the Sasbahu Temple.
18 The smaller Sasbahu Temple (Daughter-in-law).
19 The Teli ka Mandir, from the 8th century (!), is the oldest temple on Gwalior Rock.
20 Old Ganesh on the Telil ka Mandir
21 Modern Gurdwara (Sikh temple)
22 View from the southern part of the rock towards the Man Singh Palace, with modern Gwalior spread out below.
23 Back downstairs.
24 In the State Archaeological Museum, the gods -- Devas and Asuras -- using a snake to churn the sea and make amrita, the nectar of immortality. The Devas took it all and left none for the Asuras. And the devas are supposed to be the good guys!
25 A beautiful Salabhanjika in the archaeological museum. This one is hidden away and you must ask the gardian to take you to it -- through two locked doors.
26 A friendly worker in the streets of Gwalior.
27 Thriving commerce.
28 One tissue salesman smiling as the other plays with his telephone.
