Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra

Dhoopgarh, initially called the Harvatsa Kot, is located in the Satpura mountain ranges at Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh. It is located at 4429 feet above sea level. Being the highest point on these ranges, it is popular for providing a beautiful view of sunrise and sunset.

Dhoopgarh is among the most entrancing picnic spots of Pachmarhi. The beauty that lays siege to the landscape when it is covered with the thinnest drizzle of the monsoon clouds is beyond verbal expression. One can spend an entirely fruitful day at Dhoopgarh, simply by admiring the stunning splendorous. One should not miss the chance to be with the sun god once he is descending. The valleys and ravines radiate a breath taking beauty and invokes in one and all, a desire to stay there forever.

Tombs of Muhammad Ghaus: Muhammad Ghaus (or Ghawth) was a 16th c Sufi saint and teacher of the Mughal emperor Humayun as well as Tansen, the famous musician in Akbar’s court. The saint’s large tomb, built in the second half of the 16th c during Akbar’s rule, is the main structure in the garden complex located about a kilometer away from Gwalior Fort’s main eastern approach, and is surrounded by graves and smaller pavilion tombs, including that of Tansen.

Jai Vilas Palace was constructed by Maharaja Jayaji Rao Scindia in 1874 at a cost of Rs. 1 crore. It is a fine example of European architecture, designed and built by Sir Michael Filose. A combination of architectural styles, the first storey is Tuscan, the second Italian-Doric and the third Corinthian. The area of the Jai Vilas palace is 12,40,771 square feet and it is particularly famous for its large Durbar Hall. The interior of the Durbar Hall is decorated with gilt and gold furnishings and adorned with a huge carpet and gigantic chandeliers. It is 100 feet long, 50 feet wide and 41 feet in height.

Sas-Bahu Temple: Sas-Bahu ka mandir, or Sahastrabahu Temple, is located to the east of Gwalior Fort. Built in 1092 by King Mahipala of the Kachchhapaghata dynasty, this temple is one of the greatest architectural marvels situated by Gwalior Fort. It is 32 metres long and 22 metres at its breadth.

It was named SahastraBahu, depicting Lord Vishnu with a thousand hands . Lord Vishnu was worshiped by the wife of Kachchhapaghata's king, but when his son's wife came, she became a devotee of Lord Shiva. Thus, another temple beside Vishnu temple was built, where Lord Shiva was worshiped by the wife of the king's son. Collectively, these two temples were named 'Sas-Bahu temple', meaning the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law's temple.

Gwalior Fort is an 8th-century hill fort near Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, central India. The fort consists of a defensive structure and two main palaces, Gurjari Mahal and Man Mandir, built by Man Singh Tomar. The fort has been controlled by a number of different rulers in its history.

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