Pawaya is an ancient city, earlier known as Padmawati. It is a city of ruins, located at a distance of 32 km from
Shivpuri. Pawaya is 68 km from
Gwalior on the Gwalior -
Jhansi road.
In the 3rd century Pawaya was the capital of the Naga kings, a fact mentioned in the Vishnupurana. The life size statue of Chaksha Manibhadra dates back to 1 A D. The fort built by the Parmars, and the nearby Dhoomeshwar Mahadev temple are the main attractions.