The Invincible - Gwalior fort

As per ASI site, the history of the Fort goes back to the fifth century AD or perhaps still earlier. The old name of the hill as recorded in ancient Sanskrit inscriptions is Gopagiri. It has witnessed varying fortunes of the Guptas, Hunas, the Pratiharas, the Kachhwahas, the Tomars, the Pathans, the Mughals, the English and the Marathas who have left their landmarks in the various monuments which are still preserved. The main monuments which are in the premises of this fort are :- Man Mandir, Teli-Ka-Mandir, Sas Bhau Temple, Badal Mahal, Alamgiri gate, Ganesa gate, Chaturbhuj gate, Rock-cut Jain collosi, Urwai gate, etc. 

Indiaknow site states that for over 100 years this fort has been over looking the city of Gwalior. One of the most invincible forts in India, this imposing citadel has changed many hands. It is built on a hill of sandstone and towers 100 meters from the plain.The outer wall of the fort is almost 2 miles in length and the width varies from one km's to 200 meters. The walls of the fort gives way onto the steep slopes. This fort has been a witness to many battles in the turbulent times as well as festivals in the peace time.

Ecosystem at Bhilkheria needs to be preserved

It was fascinating following yellow pansy butterfly on the small mud and sand paved way at Bhilkheria village, outskirts of Bhopal towards Raisen. The board on the main road said that there is an eco tourism spot about 2 kilometer away, something which pulled my car onto that way while I was driving onto Raisen. Though after driving 2 kilometers one reached closed gate, am not sure where they were leading to. One could hardly spot a soul who could tell or guide me how we can enter the so called eco tourism spot.

Yellow Pansy butterfly

Bird at Bhilkheria

Orange Tip butterfly on flower

Eco tourism board on main road calling on people to visit the spot

But nevertheless I enjoyed the drive and the place as it had plethora of fauna. One could site nymphalids butterflies like yellow pansy, lemon pansy, grey pansy, blue pansy, chocolate pansy and others like danidfly, common crow, orange tip, common grass yellow, common castor, lime butterfly and common emigrant. Interesting was to see common grass yellow and ‘silver forget me not’ (butterflies) puddling over mud as one moves on to the spot. The place has many farm lands as we move on and one the way to closed eco tourism spot, one is greeted by red vented bulbuls, squirrels and common emigrant butterflies.

The place has not only butterflies, but one could site many birds, dragon flies, as it had water bodies and lot of flora around. Though water bodies around the area are getting polluted but nevertheless harbors many varieties of odonates. The spot is endowed with diversity of flora, fauna, is picturesque and touchwood Bhopal builders still have not reached till their, though they are very near.  The place has an eco system which needs to be preserved, whether or not it is developed into eco tourism spot. Seeing what happened to Kerwa, a eco tourism spot in Bhopal am not an advocate for eco tourism spot, as being developed, but want eco system at Bhilkheri to be preserved.