So, I reach the station, cross
over the flyover, take the right before DD mall and wriggle through the narrow
road to reach the entrance of Gujari Mahal - the rear entrance to Gwalior fort.
Thank you Google Maps. It seemed like a perfect evening plan for a Sunday!
I asked the security guard at the
base of Gujari Mahal where I could park the borrowed Activa. Prompt was the
reply - I could take it up right into the fort. It was steepest of many climbs and with a
110cc autogear scooter, I couldn’t expect the ride to be of much finesse. One
of many times when I thoroughly missed my Thunderbird! I rode up, up, in the
air to reach yet another entrance of the fort. That’s where I decided to park
the bike and take a walk for the rest of the distance. The non-existent parking
lot was almost empty with just one another bike. Sunday evening and I had the
fort all to myself? Wah! Craning my neck in awkward angles to look through the
narrow doorway, the BGM of Om Shanti Om started. Flurry images started passing through
my mind! Who were these people in the grand kingdom setup? Real disturbing
images of pseudo-reality. Cut back to reality, the narrow doorway was just an
orifice when compared to the magnificent big door that separated the fort from
the rest of the world. It was one of those grand doors which would need
zillions of horsepower to operate on a daily basis. I stepped inside the fort
only to find more motorcycles. And notorious that I was with my luck in such
cases, there was a motorcyclist approaching me. There were only seconds left to
avoid a clash. Thanks to my reflex, I could avoid a head –on collision; although
I did expect him to crash into the grand door. But agility, kraft (sorry, craft) and practice
made him exit the fort through that orifice, almost effortlessly. The very same
orifice which I struggled through. Gwalior never stopped to amaze me!
I climbed the steep road to the
Museum, got a ticket and ventured in. Frankly speaking, there was nothing
interesting in there. The museum usher learnt that I had parked my bike outside
the grand entrance doorway. He gave me looks that I deciphered to be - “What do
you take this place to be that you left your bike outside for the world to see??
Bring it in you moron!” . He had won the non-existent argument. I climbed down
and with a few beggars help,..ta da! I brought my bike inside and headed for
the fort. Without much ado, I parked my bike at a makeshift parking lot and entered
Tomar palace. Explored! Clicked random pictures! Took unknown stairs! And found
myself in dungeons with no light only to hear bats squeaking. Scary enough!
Took unknown stairs again, with little light from the mobile; this time to hear
someone moaning at the end of the tunnel. Oops! Wrong tunnel. A couple in
search of some privacy landed in the dungeon only to be disturbed by the sound
of footsteps and the light from my mobile. Sorry guys, no voyeuristic
intentions meant. Please continue! Retraced my steps a little, and then there
was light! There was an end to the tunnel.. Phew, that was close!
I came out of the Tomar palace to
find my way into a library of Mahals – Karan Palace, Jahangir Mahal and Shah Jahan
Mahal. Was it under renovation or was it
that badly maintained, one should ask. Again the disturbing images of Jahangir
and Shah Jahan approaching me passed me through. The ticket vendor brought me
back to reality. After paying ten bucks, I was let inside a bigger than usual gate.
Once in, no one stopped me ever, no frisking, no checking of bags – you are
just out in the open of wild architectural wonders. Then it dawned on me – No
one cares! I went to the West end. The sun was blazing down even at 4 in the
evening. I figured that the east side should be wonderful then. I roamed around
and finally found myself a spot overseeing the entire Gwalior city. When you
have found that one spot of perfect light for quiet and tranquility, there was
only one thing to do – read. So I took out my book and spent close to half an
hour reading. At around 5, I roamed around and found the best place to spend the
evening. The top of East Tower of Jahangir Mahal, atop the minaret. Wow! View
of entire Gwalior was breath taking. I must accede that the kings had taste.
They definitely knew how to live and it must have been a life worth dying for! What
a way to spend your evening. To stare
into the horizon and feel nothing; every evening! All philosophical concepts of
how to keep oneself at zero entropy state came to mind. There is nothing that I
could think of than take in the view and beauty of it. Listening to Vellai Pookal by ARR took
me to an altogether different plane of bliss, melancholy and solitude! I forgot where I was, who I was.
The sun started to set at around
6:30. It probably was time to leave. Things were starting to get a little spookier
too. I kept hearing thuds and taps in rhythm. When I walked out, there was no
one else to be seen. Five minutes later, I reached the entrance and found the
gate locked. What the….. ! I called the security guard and he asks me if I had fallen
asleep. I said I was ‘all philo and forgot about myself’ which made him
suspicious. He started walking towards me, when I muttered, “yes boss, I had fallen
asleep. Now please help me out?” He asked me to go inside and search for
labourers who may have the key to the locked gate. I nodded, darting in again. Inside
looked spookier with twilight setting in. I heard someone call my name. Who in
the fort could know my name! When I turned back, obviously there was no one. I
searched for the labourers, but no luck. It took a few moments to sink in – I was
screwed!
Jahangir spoke first. Followed by
Shah Jahan. Then it was someone who had died here having got locked out too.
They all asked me to stay back, promising interesting narrations of their
lives. Then on, I wasted no moment; I
ran. I ran as if there was no end to the race. I caught the steel gate and
wringed myself to it. I shouted, but there was no one to hear my plea. The gate
was 10 feet high. Mustering courage and strength, I began climbing. I slipped. So
I tried again. And fell on the ground, yet again. Feeling more determined, I took
a few sips of water and a bar of Cadbury Perk (Not only SRK, even I can do it).
This time I got atop the gate. I bid adieu to the voices of Jahangir and Shah
Jahan and I jumped. Phew!
I walked to the makeshift parking
lot and checked the bike. Gwalior continues to amaze me - the rear view mirrors
were stolen! I met the security guard en
route the grand doorway. He lectured me on how robbery takes place in the fort
and asked me not to venture out crazily like this. I thanked him and found my
way out of the orifice. Vrooooooom I went; to the next place where you would find
hot Madu girls of Gwalior – The Pani Puri stall!!
