An ancient times, the use of durable materials was reserved for temples, the houses of the gods. In civil constructions, stone was only used for the base of fortifications, terraces on which wood and brick dwellings stood, and for city gateways.
Remains of civil Hindu architecture do not therefore date back to before the 12th century; to this era belong parts of the fort of Uparkot at Junagadh in the state of Gujarat where Dabhoi, about 19 miles from Baroda, is also found. Dabhoiis noted for its city walls and particularly for its splendid 13th century gates: Hira, the 'Diamond' Gate that faces east and which is framed by two finely sculpted wings each housing a temple, the well-preserved and attractive Baroda gate to the west, Nandod gate facing south and Moti, or the Pearl Gate, facing north.

Gwalior, one of the oldest and loveliest forts in Madhya Pradesh, appears to have been founded in the 3rd century AD. After being part of the Pratihara and Kachhavaha dominion, it became dependent on the Chandella dynasty of Khajuraho with the Kachhapagatha clan at the start of the 11th century. Next came the Paramara dynasty which reigned from 1128-1232 at which time Gwalior fell into the hands of the sultan of Delhi. With the decline in power of the sultanate, a new dynasty, the Tomara, took possession of the area in the 14th century. It was under their sovereign, raja Man Smgh (1486-1516) that Cwalior attained its maximum splendour. It was conquered by the Moguls but regained its independence in 1 732 with the Scindia clan, members of the Maratha people. Mahadji Scindia, the last of the clan, was obliged to hand over the fort to the British in 1780 but it was returned to the Scindia who then retained it until 1948. The difficult climb to the fort winds through a gorge containing caves once inhabited by Jain ascetics and flanked by 15th century sculptures of the Jirtbankaras, the prophets that revealed the saving doctrine of Jainism. After passing a series of fortifications, the visitor reaches Urvahi, the main entrance.The huge pool of water inside the fort, the Suraj kund, next to a temple dedicated to Surya, the sun god, is believed to be the place where the divine hermit Gwalipa, after whom the fort is named, cured King Suraj Sen, founder of the fort, of leprosy.

Just beyond the Teli ka Mandir (the Temple of the Caste of Oil Sellers), there is an interesting construction: a huge cubic structure with a tall rectangular inner sanctum and porch dedicated in the nth century by the Pratihara dynasty to Shakti, the divine female Energy. The covering of the construction has recently been rebuilt and there is an unusual, oblong double shikhara which stands over the sanctum. The shikhara has two large chaitya windows of which the one on the first level is blind and which vaguely resembles the khakhara style of window in certain temples in Orissa in the shape of half a watermelon.

Two other temples worthy of note at Gwalior Fort are the Sas Bahu group (Sister-in-law and Daughter-in-law), two buildings from the second half of the 11th century constructed by Mahapala of the Kachhapagatha dynasty. The larger is composed of a two-floor porch and a three-floor central section with a twelve corner ground plan. There is no shikhara but the covering of the porch is a beautiful example of a samvarana (a pyramid of bell-shaped layers topped by a lotus flower). The smaller temple is an open pavilion also covered in the samvarana style and resembling the mandapa of Khajuraho.

One of the oldest unspoilt examples of Hindu palatial architecture is the splendid Man Mandir built by Man Singh from the Tomara dynasty (1486-1516). The magnificent Hathi Pol (Gate of the Elephants) opens in the eastern side of the building decorated with six circular towers crowned by chattris (domed kiosks topped by slender columns). The walls are adorned with marquetry, animals and embellishments in coloured enamelled ceramic tiles. Although small, the palace has two main courtyards overlooked by two floors of apartments. The zanana (the section reserved for the women) faces onto the courtyards from a screened gallery protected by a large sloping roof, and continues on the terrace above in a series of chattris.

Two uderground floors house the serdab (the cool, shaded summer apartments). The interior is decorated with mullions, balustrades, carved architraves, bands and panels ornamented with floral and geometric patterns.

At the foot of the fort stands the Cujari Mahal, the palace built by raja Man Singh for his favourite wife. It now houses a museum and is interesting for the statues connected with the worship of the Shaktis and their attendants, the Yogins.Another noteworthy monument at Cwalior, clearly influenced by the Mogul style of the Moslem court at Delhi, is the 16th century Tomb of Muhammad Ghaus which contains the cenotaph of one of the spiritual teachers of the emperor Akbar. The tomb is crowned with an elegant dome flanked by chattris and decorated with jali (marble tracery in the walls).Next to it stands the tomb of the great 16th century musician, Tansen, in the shadow of a tamarind tree whose leaves are said to sweeten the voices of singers.