Gwalior is a historical and major city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is located to the south of Agra, 319 kilometres (198 mi) south of Delhi the capital city of India, and 423 kilometres (263 mi) north of Bhopal, the state capital. Gwalior occupies a strategic location in the Gird region of India, and the city and its fortress have served as the center of several of historic northern Indian kingdoms. It is famous for Gwalior Fort, which has changed hands many times. From the Tomaras in the 8th century, it passed to the Mughals, then the Marathas under the Scindias (1754).