An inseparable part of the Rajasthani culture and tradition, the colourful city of Alwar nestles amidst a cluster of small enchanting hills in the Aravallis. Apart from being the gateway to the Sariska tiger reserve, the historical city offers a treat to the visitors with its medieval era forts, palaces and lakes.
A Date With The Past
A part of the Mewat region of Rajasthan, the region of Alwar and its almost each and every site makes one walk through the galleries of the past, which witnessed several stages. Alwar, which was a small part of the Matsya kingdom during the Mahabharata period, was formally established in the year 1720 by a Rajput king, Pratap Singh, who had subsequently set up his capital in Rajgarh, south of Alwar. Later, when his successor accepted the sujereignty of the Mughals, the capital was shifted to Alwar.
Must See
City Palace : The ravishing City palace, which dates back
to the 18th century CE, reflects a unique amalgamation of the Rajput and Mughal
style of architecture. Built by Maharaja Vinay Singh, the secret of its inner
beauty lies in its uniqueness that it does not have any stairs, but rather
gently inclining corridors leading to the upper floors. The city palace, now
headquarters of the Collectorate, also comprises a Sheesh Mahal, again an
excellent example of the superb interior decorations. Besides, inside the
premises of the city palace, also known as Vinay Vilas Mahal, lies the City
Palace Museum - a home to exquisite furniture, stuffed tigers, pointed weapons,
Mughal and Rajput paintings and ancient manuscripts.
Bala Fort(Quila) : The Bala fort, built by the Nikumbha Rajputs,
is situated on a steep cliff at an altitude of 1000 feet, thereby providing
a picturesque sight of the city. Once a host to the Mughal emperors Babar
and Jahangir, the Rajputana Bala fort comprises 15 large towers, 51 small
towers and 446 openings for musketry, along with its other pampered treasures
like Jal Mahal, Durbar Hall and Salim Sagar(Named after a Mughal emperor,
Jahangir).
Other Attractions
Vijay Mandir Palace : Built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1918,
the Vijay Mandir palace is an excellent example of magnificent Indian architectural
style. Confronting a beautiful lake, the palace houses the sacred Ram and
Sita temple, visited by a large number of devotees every year especially on
the day of Ram Navami, the birth anniversary of the Hindu God Rama.
Purjan Vihar : A lovely garden situated in the central part
of Alwar, the Purjan Vihar allure the tourists with its enchanting setting
'Shimla' and other scenic beauties like 'Moosi Maharani Ki Chhatri', which
is an umbrella-shaped structure with Bengali roof and arches.
Sarika Palace Rajasthan AlwarSariska : Located 37 kilometers
from Alwar in the enchanting valley of Aravallis, Sariska is a well known
tiger reserve of India. Besides fearless tigers, the Sariska reserve is also
a natural home to its flora and fauna including Sambhar, Cheetal, Nilgai and
Wild Boar.
Kankwari Fort : The Kankwari fort, whose history dates back
to the 17th century, is situated at a distance of 36 kilometers from Alwar.
It was at this place where the Mughal emperor had imprisoned his elder brother
and political rival Dara Shikoh. A home to numerous wall paintings, the fort
attracts a large number of tourists and archaeologists interested in Indian
history and heritage.
Festivals
The Alwar festival, which is celebrated every year from February 11th to 13th, reflects the colourful Rajasthani culture and tradition in Alwar.
Shopping
Alwar is famous for its illusive work of art and its shopping centres attract the tourists with their products of exotic jewellery and fine wafer-thin(locally known as 'Kaghzi') pottery.
Best Months to Visit
The ideal months to visit Alwar would be from September to February.
Travelling in the City
One can hang around the city by a taxi, an auto-rickshaw or a cycle-rickshaw.
How to get there
By Air : The nearest airport is at Jaipur, 142 kilometers
away from Alwar. The Jaipur airport is well connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata,
Bangalore, Chennai and other major Indian cities by a good network of flights.
By Rail : A wide rail network connects the Alwar station,
situated on the Delhi-Jaipur broad gauge section of western railway, to Delhi,
Ahmedabad, Agra and major places of Rajasthan like Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajmer
and Jodhpur.
By Road : Alwar is located to the east of National Highway
number 8, which connects Delhi(280 km) to Jaipur(142 km). One can reach Alwar
from any of the cities of Rajasthan and Delhi as there are regular buses and
coaches for the same.
More Rajasthan Destinations :
