Gwalior City

 Gwalior: The Creative City of Music

Gwalior is a historically and culturally significant city located in the northern part of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is a well-planned, royal, and neat city. Strategically positioned in the Gwalior Chambal region, it lies approximately 313 km (194 mi) south of New Delhi and 446 km (277 mi) from the state capital, Bhopal, and is well-connected by road, rail, and air.

Gwalior is an important cultural, industrial, and political centre in Madhya Pradesh and has been selected as one of the seven cities for new start-up centres under India's innovation ecosystem. As a counter-magnet city, it has also been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under the government's flagship Smart Cities Mission.

The Music Capital of India

Gwalior holds a paramount position in the landscape of Indian performing arts and culture, earning it the moniker "The Music City of India".

UNESCO Recognition and Creative Culture

In 2023, Gwalior achieved significant international recognition when UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay announced its inclusion among the 55 new UNESCO Creative Cities in the Creative Cities Network (UCCN). This prestigious designation highlights Gwalior's deep-rooted music traditions, vibrant culture, and community of artists on a global stage.

Birthplace of the Gwalior Gharana

The city is the birthplace of the Gwalior Gharana, the oldest surviving gharana (school or style) in Hindustani classical music (sangeet). The rise of this tradition is often traced back to the reign of the great Mughal emperor Akbar (1542–1605).

Royal Patronage and Musical Giants

Gwalior's musical heritage flourished under royal patronage:

  • Raja Man Singh Tomar (King of Gwalior, 1486–1516 CE) was a major patron of Dhrupad, a vocal genre considered the oldest still in use in Hindustani classical music.

  • The classical singer, Baiju Bawra (Baijnath Prasad), lived in Gwalior for his whole life under the patronage of Man Singh, though he was born and cremated in Chanderi.

  • The legendary musician Tansen, Akbar's favourite singer, hailed from the Gwalior area. After his death, his ashes were interred in the city, and the Tansen Tomb was constructed in his memory.



                Tansen Tansen Tomb

  • Modern-day maestros, such as the renowned Sarod player Amjad Ali Khan, are also associated with Gwalior.


Sarod player Amjad Ali Khan


Tansen Sangeet Samaroh (Tansen Music Festival)

To honor Tansen's legacy, the annual Tansen Sangeet Samaroh (Music Festival) is celebrated every December at the Tansen Tomb. Organized by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, the festival serves as a platform where vocal and instrumental artists from across India and music lovers from around the world gather to perform and pay tribute to the master musician.


An image Tansen Sangeet Samaroh 2024

Historical Significance

Gwalior boasts a rich and varied history:

  • Ancient Name: In ancient times, the region was known as Gopashetra, roughly translating to "the land of Gopis" or "the land associated with cowherds". This name is linked to the Gopis (cowherdesses) and the mythology of Lord Krishna.

  • Colonial Era: Gwalior was a significant centre during the 1857 uprising against the British. During the British Raj, it was the winter capital of the Central India Agency.

  • Post-Independence: Following India's independence, Gwalior served as the capital of the state of Madhya Bharat from 1948 until 1956, when it became part of the reorganised, larger state of Madhya Pradesh.

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