Gwalior (Hindi: IPA: [ɡʋɑːlɪjəɾ], pronunciation) is a major city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh; It is known as the City of Music of India having oldest musical gharana in existence. It is a major sports, cultural, industrial, and political centre in Madhya Pradesh. Gwalior is among the seven cities selected for new startup centres under India’s growing innovation ecosystem. It lies in northern part of Madhya Pradesh and is one of the Counter-magnet cities. Located 313 kilometres (194 mi) south of New Delhi, the capital city of India and 446 kilometres (277 mi) from Bhopal, the state capital, Gwalior occupies a strategic location in the Gwalior Chambal region of India. The historic city and its fortress have been ruled by several Indian kingdoms. From the Alchon Huns in the 5th century AD to Gurjara Pratihara dynasty in the 8th century AD. It was passed on to Kachchhapaghatas in the 10th century AD. Later it fell into the hands of the Delhi Sultanate in the 12th century AD, it was then passed on to the Tomars in the 13th century AD who were the vassal rulers of the Delhi Sultanate. The Mughal Empire conquered the city and its fortress in the 16th century AD. When the Mughal Empire was declining, it fell into the hands of Jat rulers, then to the English in 1730, and last it was passed on to the Scindia Dynasty of Maratha Empire in the early 18th century.

Gwalior was the premier state that has received the 21 gun salute along with Hyderabad, Baroda, Jammu & Kashmir and Mysore.

Gwalior was the capital of the state of Madhya Bharat from 1948 till 1956 which later became a part of the larger state of Madhya Pradesh. Prior to Indian independence on 15 August 1947, Gwalior remained a princely state of the British Raj with the Scindia as the local rulers. High rocky hills surround the city from all sides, on the north it just forms the border of the Ganga- Yamuna Drainage Basin. The city however is situated in the valley between the hills. Gwalior’s metropolitan area includes Lashkar, Old City (Fort City), Gwalior West, Gwalior East, Greater Gwalior, and Morar Cantonment.

In April 2021, it was found that Gwalior had the best air quality index (AQI 152) among the 4 major cities in Madhya Pradesh.

Besides being the administrative headquarters of Gwalior district and Gwalior division, Gwalior has many administrative offices of the Chambal division of northern Madhya Pradesh. Several administrative and judicial organisations, commissions and boards have their state and national headquarters situated in the city

Gwalior was one of the major locations of rebellion during the 1857 uprising. Post-independence, Gwalior has emerged as an important industrial and tourist attraction in central India while many industries and administrative offices came up within the city. Before the end of the 20th century it became a million plus agglomeration and now it is a metropolitan city in central India. Gwalior is surrounded by industrial and commercial zones of neighbouring districts (Malanpur – Bhind, Banmore – Morena) on all three main directions.

Gwalior has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under PM Narendra Modi’s flagship Smart Cities Mission.