Vidur’s Travel Diary – 8 : Gwalior [ A ]

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           APRIL 24 , 2012           06.30 P.M.

As I have stated in my travel diary of Datia , I landed at Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Airport , Gwalior on February 27 , 2012 evening . I immediately proceeded to Datia by car and after worshipping at Peetambara Peeth , returned to Dabra in the night.

Since the House – Warming party was on March 01 , 2012 , and I had two free days in between , I decided to visit Gwalior on February 28 , 2012 . I have been to Gwalior many times before . In fact I have lost count of my visits to Gwalior .

I reached Gwalior by car and went to see Jai Vilas Palace . Constructed in 1874 and designed by Lt. Col. Sir Michael , Jai Vilas Palace is located in the new city of Gwalior. It was house of the royal family of Scindias and now has been converted into museum .

[ I am re-producing some vital information about Jai Vilas Palace from the internet ]

” The Tuscan and Corinthian architectural modes are combined in Jai Vilas. The Darbar hall of the Palace is an imposing structure. Covered with heavy draperies and tapestries, fine Persian carpets and furniture from Italy and France occupy the spacious rooms.

The treasure of the palace includes a silver train which has cut glass wagons carrying wine and cigars after dinner, a glass cradle used for Lord Krishna on every Janamashtami, swords once worn by Aurangzeb and Shah Jehan.

35 of the rooms of the palace have been converted into the Scindia Museum and the rest of the rooms reflect the spender and glory that comes alive in the Italianate structures. Then there is a little room full of erotica, including a life-sized marble statue of Leda having her way with a swan. But the pièce de resistance is a model railway that carried brandy and cigars around the dining table after dinner. “

View of Jai Vilas Palace

View of Jai Vilas Palace Gate

Jai Vilas Palace Entrance

Current Residence of Scindias - A Part of Jai Vilas Palace

In The Courtyard of Jai Vilas Palace

Indoor Swimming Pool - Jai Vilas Palace

palanquins for Queens

Staircase Leading to !st Floor

Queen's Darbar Hall - Now Madhao Rao Scindia Memorial

Study Desk & Chair of Madhao Rao Scindia

Midget Queen's Bed Room

Queen's Bath Room

Queen's Dressing Room

Royal Armory

Royal Music Room

King's Bed Room

The Glass Cradle

Sitting Room

A Corridor

Coloured Glass Window

Ground Floor Courtyard - Near Darbar Hall

Ground Floor Verandah of Darbar Hall

Indian Style Dinning Hall

Western Style Dinning Hall

Railway Track of Cuisine Train on The Dinning Table

Cuisine Train Still in Running Condition

Staircase Leading to Darbar Hall on The 1st Floor

Golden Darbar Hall with 8 Ton Chandeliers

Another View of Darbar Hall

Gallery Leading to Outer Courtyard

Outer Gate of Jai Vilas Palace

Royal Railway Coach Parked in the Courtyard

After going through the palace and watching everything intently , I came out of palace . If I remember correctly , it was my third visit of the palace . And this time I watched everything with care and attention .

Video of Jai Vilas Palace

As usual , after my visit , I was wondering whether I would be able to come here again or not ?

Remembering these famous lines of Hindi poet Agyeya , I proceeded towards Gwalior fort .

पार्श्व गिरि का नम्र चीड़ों में , डगर चढ़ती उमंगों सी ;

बिछी पैरों में नदी ज्यों दर्द की रेखा , विहग शिशु मौन नीड़ों में ; 

मैंने आँख भर देखा , दिया मन को दिलासा ; 

पुनः आऊँगा , भले ही बरस दिन , अनगिन युगों के बाद ;

क्षितिज ने पलक सी खोली , दमक कर दामिनी बोली ;

” अरे यायावर ! रहेगा याद ? “

………………………………………………..अज्ञेय 

[ Tenderness of mighty mountains reflected in pine trees ,

Upward moving pathways symbolizing my enthusiasm ,

River , flowing deep down like a line of pain ,

Tiny tots of birds sitting silently in their nest ,

I saw everything with contentment ,

Consoled myself , I would come again ,

After a year or may be after ages ..........

Horizon opened its eyes , lightning dazzled in the sky ,

As if saying ..................

O Wanderer ! Would you ever even remember ? ]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

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Vidur’s Travel Diary – 7 : Datia

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           APRIL 18 , 2012           03.15 P.M.

I flew to Gwalior on February 27th , 2012 by afternoon Air India flight . I have lost count of my visits to Dabra and Gwalior . It is place of my in – laws  , so I have to visit it again and again for some function or the other .

This time I went for the house – warming party of my youngest brother – in – law Shri Ashok Tiwari . Party was on March 1st , 1012 . But I went 2 days earlier because this time I wanted to visit Datia , Orchha and several places in Gwalior city also .

I landed at Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia airport at Gwalior in the evening . It is new airport and is quite small compared to other known and older airports . But it is very convenient for me because it connects Mumbai and Gwalior directly . I landed and immediately proceeded to Datia by car .

Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Airport , Gwalior

Datia is a small district , sandwiched between Gwalior of Madhya Pradesh and Jhansi of Uttar Pradesh .

Map showing location of Datia district in Madhya Pradesh in India

Highway connecting Gwalior to Jhansi is being re-done. After completion it is going to be a boon for travellers . Few km. of the road which is complete , is testimony to this fact .

A Portion of Gwalior - Jhansi Highway

Datia has nothing much to offer . It is very old district but it is still a small town . It has only 445 villages and just 3 towns ; Datia , Seondha and Bhander . It comes under Gwalior Division and could be approached through rail and / or road . Datia railway station lies in between Jhansi and Gwalior .

Rugged Terrain of Datia

There is nothing much in Datia for a wanderer like me . But it has world-famous temple of Durga Mata . In popular parlance this temple is known as Peetambara Peeth .

My Wife at the Main Entrance of Peetambara Peeth , Datia

Near the Temple Gate

My Wife Near the Temple Gate

Coming Out of Peetambara Peeth

Apart from Peetambara Peeth , Datia has Hanuman Garhi and a palaces known as Purana Mahal . It was built for Mughal Emperor Jahangir, though he never visited Datia . This palace is visible from the train and road , when you travel from Jhansi to Gwalior .

I paid obeisance to Peetambara Peeth and immediately returned to Dabra in the night . I am not sure when I would be visiting Datia again . May be I will go there , when I visit Dabra again for some function .

As usual I remembered these famous lines of Agyeya , a renowned Hindi poet , while returning :

पार्श्व गिरि का नम्र चीड़ों में , डगर चढ़ती उमंगों सी ;

बिछी पैरों में नदी ज्यों दर्द की रेखा , विहग शिशु मौन नीड़ों में ; 

मैंने आँख भर देखा , दिया मन को दिलासा ; 

पुनः आऊँगा , भले ही बरस दिन , अनगिन युगों के बाद ;

क्षितिज ने पलक सी खोली , दमक कर दामिनी बोली ;

” अरे यायावर ! रहेगा याद ? “

………………………………………………..अज्ञेय 

[ Tenderness of mighty mountains reflected in pine trees ,

Upward moving pathways symbolizing my enthusiasm ,

River , flowing deep down like a line of pain ,

Tiny tots of birds sitting silently in their nest ,

I saw everything with contentment ,

Consoled myself , I would come again ,

After a year or may be after ages ..........

Horizon opened its eyes , lightning dazzled in the sky ,

As if saying ..................

O Wanderer ! Would you ever even remember ? ]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi