The Urvai group of rock-cut Jain monuments, also known as Siddhanchal, are the most famous of the carvings to be found at Gwalior. Their location right next to the western approach road up to the fort makes them an easy stop-off as you head up to the top of the hill and the car park for Gwalior fort.
There are in fact two separate clusters of carvings that make up the Urvai Group. The first set are on your left as you head up the hill, and shortly afterwards and a little more concealed is another set on your right.
There are 22 principal figures carved here, accompanied by six separate inscriptions dated 1440 and 1453 AD, during the reign of Tomar King Dungar Singh.
The largest figure, not only of this group, but of all the Gwalior rock sculptures, is a standing colossus estimated by Barber to be 20 gaz (40ft) in height. It is in fact 57ft high, and from the roadside is the only visible carving on the right side of the road.
Be sure to climb down from the road and explore the carvings below, although many of them have been eroded by rainwater coming down the hillside, the more sheltered sculptures are still very well preserved.
This was one of five rock-cut Jain monument groups that can be found carved into the hillside at Gwalior. Here are links to the other sites I visited, and an introduction.
- The Rock-cut Jain Monuments of Gwalior – Introduction
- Group 1 – Gopachal Parvat (SE Group)
- Group 2 – SW Group
- Group 3 – Siddhanchal (Urvai Group)
- Group 4 – NW Group
- Group 5 – NE Group
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Categories: Gwalior, India, Madhya Pradesh, Rock-cut Jain Monuments, Siddhanchal (Urvai Group)
Kevin Standage 
Nice information and good visual presentation. Never knew that these existed, all we knew about Gwalior was it’s fort and not this. Will visit when visiting Gwalior, Jhansi, Orcha & Khajuraho and extended to Bhandhavgarh NP. Thanks for the information.
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Thanks Kevin Standage for this information.
Never knew about these,such a shame.
Since,I haven’t yet browsed the entire set of photos on your WordPress account,please let me know if you have been to Konark ,Khajuraho( with full understanding of the esoteric concepts behind the supposedly erotic figures) and some of the South India’s beautiful temples.
Thanks and Regards,
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Thanks Jay – have been to all those places you mention.
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Konark : https://kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com/2020/03/13/konark-sun-temple-odisha-orissa-surya/
Khajuraho : https://kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com/2018/04/16/introduction-guide-to-khajuraho-temples/
My southern temple trip was quite brief and there’s many sites. So you will need to navigate on my site to find the ones you’re specifically interested in. My narratives back then where a lot shorter !
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Beautiful…. I have visited these in 2005 during my training at Gwalior…. Thanks for sharing beautiful shots of the place.
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Thank you !
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Did Babur ever himself came toGwalior ?
Or sent his chamchas to destroy great place?
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I think he definitely visited Gwalior. His diary contains quite a detailed account of these carvings, you can read that in the intro to the five sites around Gwalior Hill :
https://kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com/2019/03/25/the-rock-cut-jain-monuments-of-gwalior-introduction/
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Lord Shiva snuck in? I have a shot of the biggest one from 1988.
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