Maharaja Mansingh Tomar

History

Maharaja Man Singh Tomar was born to Raja Kalyanmall Tomar[Rajput King] of Gwalior. He was a great ruler and ruled for over 30 years. In his years the Tomar were sometime at feud with and sometimes allies with the sultans of Delhi. Amongs others, he married famous Gujari rani 'Mrignayani'. Tradition has it that Mrignayni was vary beautiful and courageous woman who said no to veiling her face like other queens did and fought a few battles along with Raja Man Singh. She resided in a separate palace made exclusively for her, the Gujari Mahal and did not sit among other queens during ritual bathing or musical show. Maharaja Man Singh was a great warrior and great patron of Music. One of the nine gems of his court was Tansen.he died in battles of Haldi ghati along with 3 generations.Maharaja Mansingh is creditted to have been defeated Sikander Lodi, who was Delhi Sultan at that time.

Palaces

The 15th century Gujari Mahal is a monument of love by Raja Man Singh Tomar for his Gujari queen, Mrignayani. After he had wooed and won her, Mrignayani demanded for a separate palace with a constant water supply from the River Rai. The outer structure of the Gujari Mahal has survived in an almost total state of preservation, the interior has been now converted into an archaeological Museum.

Within Gwalior Fort, also built by Raja Mansingh Tomar, is the Man Mandir Palace, built between 1486 and 1517. The tiles that once adorned its exterior have not survived, but at the entrance, traces of these still remain. Vast chambers with fine stone screens were once the music halls, and behind these screens, the royal ladies would learn music from the great masters of those times.