Gwalior is the fourth largest city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It serves as the capital and administrative headquarters of the Gwalior district and division. The city functions as a significant cultural, industrial, sports, and political center within the region.
Known as the music city of India, Gwalior is home to the oldest musical gharana in the Indian subcontinent. It also holds historical significance as the site of the earliest known epigraphical inscription using the number 0 (zero) as part of the Hindu numeral system.
The historic city and its fortress have been governed by various dynasties, including the Alchon Huns, Gurjara Pratihara, and Kachchhapaghata. The area later fell under the control of the Delhi Sultanate before passing to their vassals, the Tomars.