The Great Road Trip
India Ka
‘ dil’ dekho!
In our last issue, we took you to Mathura / Agra by road. This issue, we have extended the journey further and will be taking you to Gwalior, Jhansi, Orchha and Khajuraho to give you a glimpse of what lies further in the interiors and mesmerizing regions of North India. Here’ s more.
Any road journey in India is best enjoyed when you leave for it in the wee hours of the morning. So bid your adieu to Agra and depart for your road trip to Gwalior.
Agra à Gwalior 120 km / 2.5 hours
Priyanka Saxena Ray
Gwalior
Gwalior is an intrinsic part of Madhya Pradesh, just like the ruling families of Tomars and Scindlas. Raja Man Singh Tomar of Tomar Dynasty built the Gwalior Fort, which has two parts – the main fort and Gujari Mahal. The latter was built by Mansingh Tomar in the memory of his wife Gujari Rani. There are 30 to 40 graves of the British soldiers who died during the war of independence in 1857. Contrastingly, there are several remarkable temples within the fort. One pair of temples, known as the SasBahuKaMandir, is beautifully adorned with bas-reliefs. Construction of this pair of temples was completed in 1093. Though dilapidated, it is still picturesque and worth a visit. There is an impressive White Sikh Gurdwara there as well. Enjoy the local delicacies of Gwalior, pack some for the way, and leave for Jhansi.
Gwalior à Jhansi 104 km / 2:15 hours
Jhansi
One of the most important venues of India’ s first war of independence in 1857 and the erstwhile capital of Rani Lakshmibai’ s kingdom, Jhansi serves as the perfect gateway to the Bundelkhand region. The artistic grandeur of the Chandelas is still evident in the monuments and other ancient structures standing in the city. Apart from the historic fort of Jhansi, magnificent temples,
40 destination exotica | february 2017