Alwar is nestled between a
cluster of small hills of the Aravalli range. Perched on
the most prominent of these hills is a massive ancient
fort that whispers tales of the rich history of the
city.
Once an ancient Rajput state, formerly known as Mewat,
Alwar was nearest to the imperial Delhi. The people of
the state did not accept any external interferences and
daringly resisted all foreign invasions. In the 12th and
13th centuries, they formed a group and raided Delhi.
But finally, Sultan Balban (1267 AD - 1287 AD)
suppressed them, bringing the area under the Muslim
rule.
In 1771 AD, Maharaja Pratap Singh, a Kuchhwaha Rajput
belonging to the clan of Jaipur¿s rulers, won back Alwar
and founded a principality of his own.
Apart from its long history, the city has a rich natural
heritage with some beautiful lakes and picturesque
valleys thickly wooded in parts.
Some of the finest varieties of birds and animals are
spotted here. Alwar has one of the finest wildlife
sanctuaries in Rajasthan - Sariska, which is an
excellent tiger country
Prime Attractions of Alwar
Ajabgarh
Located 21 kms south of Thana Ghazi in Alwar district,
this place
is well known for a temple called Shri
Raghunathji.
Alwar Fort:
This huge fort with its ramparts stretching 5-km from
north to south and 1.6 kms from east to west, stands
304m above the city and 595m above the sea level,
constructed before the rise of the Mughal Empire. Babar
had spent a night at this fort and took away the hidden
treasures to gift to his son, Humayun. Akbar¿s son,
Jehangir had also stayed here for some time during his
exile. The place where he stayed is called Salim Mahal.
The fort was finally annexed by Maharana Pratap Singh in
1775 AD It is a forbidding structure with 156 large and
51 small towers and 446 openings for musketry, along
with 8 huge towers encompassing it. The fort has several
gates - Jai Pol, Suraj Pol, Laxman Pol, Chand Pol,
Kishan Pol of Jal Mahal, Nikumbh Mahal, Salim Sagar,
Suraj Kund and many temples.
Government Museum - Alwar
The museum has the finest collection of Mughal and
Rajput paintings dating back to the 18th and 19th
centuries and some rare ancient manuscripts in Persian,
Arabic, Urdu and Sanskrit. ?Gulistan? (The garden of
roses), ? Waqiat-I-Babri? (autobiography of the Mughal
Emperor Babar) and ?Bostan? (the garden of spring) are
some of the notable ones amongst the collection.
Purjan Vihar
A picturesque garden, laid out during the reign of
Maharaja Shiv Dan Singh in 1868 AD. The garden has an
enchanting setting called ¿Shimla¿ which was built by
Maharaja Mangal Singh in 1885 AD. The lush surroundings
and the cool shades make it the idyllic visiting spot
during summers.
Tijara
The old historic town situated 48 kms north east of
Alwar, has an imposing fort worth seeing.
Vinay Vilas Mahal
An 18th century palace, harmoniously blending the Rajput
and Mughal styles of architecture. While the ground
floors have been converted into government offices and
district courts, the upper apartment is presently a
museum
Excursions from Alwar
Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary (21Km.)
This 765.80-sq-kms thickly wooded reserve cradled in the
picturesque valley of the Aravallis. Established in
1955, it is an excellent tiger sanctuary under the
Project Tiger. The dry deciduous forests of the Reserve
are noted for their population of Tiger, Nilgai, Sambhar,
Cheetal, Four-horned Antelope and Wild Boar.
Jaisamand (6Km.)
Jaisamand Sanctuary is situated 50-km south of Udaipur,
the picturesque 'City of Lakes', succulent valleys and
hills. It is on the bank of Jaisamand Lake, the second
largest artificial Lake in Asia.
Siliserh (13Km.)
Located 13 kms from the city of Alwar, the enchanting
Siliserh Lake was built in 1845 AD by Maharaja Vinay
Singh by constructing an earthern dam between two hills
to store the water of a small tributary of river Ruparel.
It is a beautiful lake, covering an area of 7 sq. km,
adorned with domed cenotaphs.
Vijai Mandir Palace (10Km.)
Situated 10-km away from the city this palace is a
splendid palace, built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1918 AD.
A picturesque lake overlooking the palace makes it a
fascinating sight. A fabulous Sita Ram Temple in the
palace attracts number of devotees, especially during
Ramnavami. One needs prior permission form the Secretary
to visit the palace. |