A magnetic recording medium is constructed with a substrate made of glass, one or two underlayers, and a magnetic film. In order that the easy magnetization axis of the magnetic film is parallel to the magnetic film, an underlayer having an NaCl crystallographic structure is superposed on the substrate. A magnetic film made of a Co based alloy having a hexagonal close packed crystallographic structure is formed on this underlayer, putting an underlayer made of a material having a body centered cubic crystallographic structure therebetween at need. Magnetic anisotropy of the magnetic film is increased by forming grooves in a predetermined direction in a surface portion of the substrate. These grooves play a role also for defining the orientation of the underlayer made of the material having an NaCl crystallographic structure.