GWALIOR FORT

There are two ways to get there: either from the northeast, which takes you to the Man Mandir, Mansingh's palace, or from the south. This is the most popular route. To reach the citadel, we recommend hiring a cab to take you inside, as the distances involved are considerable and auto-rickshaws are not welcome. However, if you've set aside a day to visit the fort, why not take a leisurely stroll? Make sure you bring plenty of water, as the climb up to the fort can be a bit tough when the sun is beating down.

From the Urwahi gate upwards, you'll discover a number of beautiful Jain tirthankara sculptures carved directly into the rock. At the top of the hill, in a former British barracks, you'll find the prestigious Scindia School, whose fees are on a par with those of our top schools. The teachers are almost as numerous as the students, who come from all over the world.

Now you're behind the ramparts, in the heart of the medieval city, on a plateau 3.2 km long and 820 m wide, containing six palaces, three Hindu temples, a Sikh temple (gurdwara) and several water reservoirs.

The entrance ticket of Rs. 400 gives access to the part of the fort that includes the Jahangir Mahal and Gujari Mahal palaces, and the Jogar Kund reservoir, but you're mainly here to discover the Man Mandir palace with its turquoise wall, which requires a different entrance ticket.