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Introduction
The city of Alwar is referred to as the gateway to the
historic and colorful state of Rajasthan, which is located in
the northwestern part of India. However, it is more than a
mere gateway to the rich cultural treasure that lies beyond:
Alwar has its own heritage, which goes back to the
mythological legends of the Mahabharata. Alwar has had a
chequered history and has been a witness to many rules and
rulers. It offers the traveler many sites of historical
importance. The ride on the special train, the Fairy Queen is
an added attraction of Alwar.
The origin of Alwar city goes back to the time of the
Mahabharata. It was a part of the ancient kingdom of Matsya
and it is said that legendary Pandava brothers had spent some
time of their exile there. The ancient state of Alwar was
probably the oldest kingdom in the state of Rajasthan. It is
said that the city was founded by a member of the Kachh family
hailing from the town of Amber. The local Rajput rulers of
Alwar had a sweet-bitter relation with the rulers of Delhi in
the early medieval period and there was a constant struggle to
take control of Alwar. As Alwar was located at a strategic
place, the Mughals annexed it and used it to mount military
campaigns against the erstwhile Rajput principalities and
states. The decline of the Mughal rule saw a brief struggle
between Jat and Rajput rulers. Later Pratap Singh, a noble,
restored parity in 1775. The descendents of Pratap Singh were
great patrons of art and under their rule Alwar became an
important cultural center. The later rulers forged an alliance
with the British that soon broke off, with the latter taking
over Alwar.
Climate: Alwar is given to extremities in weather.
With temperatures in summer ranging from a minimum of 20°C to
a maximum of 49°C, summers are not the preferred months for
travel. The winters though, with temperatures hovering between
maximum temperatures within mid twenties to 5-6°C at the
lowest are a great time to visit.
Best time to visit: An extensive green cover ensures a
pleasant season during spring and early winter. The best
season to visit the city though remains between October and
March.
Places of interest
The
'Gateway to Rajasthan' or the 'Tiger gate of Rajasthan' is
dotted with tourist attractions. The fascinating forests are
home to wide variety of birds and animals. Being one of the
oldest cities in the Indian state there are a number of
archaeological sites too.
Bala Quila
Amongst the must visit places in Alwar is the Bala Quila.
As the name suggests this tourist attraction is a huge fort.
It is located at a steep cliff. Once there you may enjoy
breathtaking views of the city. The fort has been a star
attraction in Alwar since ages. It has stood in testimony of
the gallantry and courage of the rulers of Alwar. The fort has
offered shelter to the Mughal emperor Babur, Akbar the Great
and Prince Salim.
The City Palace/Vinay Vilas Mahal
The City Palace of Alwar is yet another places to see. This
tourist attraction is also referred to as Vinay Vilas Mahal.
The palace was constructed way back in the 18th century. This
must visit palace displays a combination of Mughal and Rajput
styles of architecture.
Inside the City Palace you must check out the museum. The
Palace museum is renowned for its exquisite collection. Rare
manuscripts, paintings, several weapons and objects made of
jade, ivory and silver find their place in the museum.
Government Museum
One of the must visit tourist attractions in Alwar is its
Government Museum. The tourist attraction is home to large
collection of Rajput and Mughal painitings that date back to
the 18th and 19th centuries. Several ancient and rare
manuscripts are also preserved in the museum. All in all, the
entire museum can easily be termed as rich treasure house.
Sagar
Just outside the tourist attraction of City Palace there are
numerous temples. All these temples are located on the banks
of a beautiful lake or 'Sagar'. On the other side of the lake
is the worth visiting cenotaph referred to as Moosi Maharani
Chhatri.
Company Garden/ Purjan Vihar
In the amazing city of Alwar the Company Garden or the Purjan
vihar is a major tourist attraction. The breathtakingly
beautiful garden came into existence way back in 1868 during
the rule of Maharaja Shiv Dan Singh.
Amongst the other tourist places in Alwar are Vijay Mandir
Palace and Moti Doongri fortress.
Special Festivals
Alwar Festival |
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