Alwar Tours
The city of Alwar was built by the Kachawa Rajput of Macheri - Rao Pratap Singh in 1775. For a brief while the Marathas as well as the British took possession of Alwar. In the year 1949, Alwar was amalgamated with the state of Rajasthan.
The principal attraction of Alwar is the city Palace which is known as Vinay Vilas in the local parlance. This magnificent palace was built in 1840 and is located in a triangular hill top. The palace is 300 m high. The architecture of the palace is distinctly Mughal and the palace is replete with buildings, monuments, museums and shimmering lakes.
There is a museum inside the palace and on display at the museum are authentic miniature paintings, rare manuscripts, ivory items, and a rich collection of weapons. The museum also has in its possession 700 rare manuscripts in Hindi, Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian language. The 24 m Bhagavat and Arabic Koran are some of the museums priceless artifacts and national treasures.
Also on display at the museum is the replica of Sheikh Shadi's Gulistan copy which is simply marvelous. Another priceless item of the museum is the biography of Babur - "Baburnama". The museum also has a fine collection of royal armories, of particular significance are the swords of Shah Abbas, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan, Dara Shikoh, Nadir Shah and Aurangzeb.
Alwar Sightseeing
PLACES OF INTEREST ARE:
The Fort: This huge fort with its ramparts stretching 5 km from north to south and 1.6 km from east to west, stands 304 metres above the city and 595 metres 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, Jahangir had also stayed here for some time during his exile. The place where he stayed as called Salim Mahal. The fort was finally annexed by maharaja Pratap singh in 1775 A.D. It is a forbidding structure with 15 large and 51 small towers and 446 opening for musketry, along with 8 huge towers encompassing it. The fort has several gates, Jai Pole, Suraj Pole, Laxman Pole. Chand Pole. Kishan Pole and Andheri Gate. Also there are remains of Jal Mahal, Nikumbh Mahal, Salim Sagar, Suraj Kund and many temples.
City Palace: Built by Maharaja Vinay singh in the 18th Century, it is one of the most attractive palaces of Rajasthan. Its architecture is a blend of the Rajput and the Mughal styled. The lower floors of the palace are now occupied by government offices whereas the upper floors are used as museum. This Museum has one of the finest collections of books (Sanskrit & Persian), archaeological finds, paintings (Mughal and Rajput school), and armory (swords, shields, daggers, rifles, pistols and other arms.) Maharaja Vinay Singh Was a great patrons of the arts. He has a great taste for books and has an excellent collection in his library. It is said that he once paid a large amount of rupees fifty thousand to acquire a single manuscript of sheikh Sadi.
Behind the Alwar Palace is a mammoth tank (sagar) which nestles in the lap of the surrounding Aravallies. The Kund is just outside the Palace, but a part of the complex, has a number of chhatries & small temples with steps on all three sides. In the backdrop is the Moosi Rani Ki Chhatri. It was built in the memory of Moosi Bai, queen of Maharaja Bakhtawar Singh. This cenotaph was erected by Maharaja Vinay Singh in 1816 A.D. the entire complex with the backdrop of the Aravallies envelopes you in its grandeur.
Hope Circus: This is another monument that attracts the attention of the visitors to Alwar. Located almost midway between the railway station and the city palace, this is a circular figure having flight of steps leading to the top from all four sides. It was named after Miss Hope, daughter of Lord Linlithgow, the then Viceroy of India, on the occasion of his visit to Alwar in 1939-40 A.D.
Purjan Vihar (Company Garden): A Picturesque garden, laid out during the reign of Maharaja Shiv Dan Singh In 1868 A.D. the Garden has an enchanting setting called 'Shimla' which was built by Maharaja Mangal Singh in 1885 A.D. The lush surroundings and the cool shades make it the idyllic visiting spot during summers.
MUSEUMS & ART GALLERIES:
Government Museum: Housed in the old City Palace, it has a unique collection of arms, bidri work, lacquered and ivory work, musical instruments, stuffed animals, beautiful brass and pottery works from Jaipur, Multan, Bengal and Ceylon, miniature paintings and Persian and Sanskrit manuscripts. The museum is divided into three major sections, each housed in big hall. The first section contains various archaeological finds chiefly sculptures and inscriptions from the region. Items presented by the ruler of the former Alwar state include mounted skins of wild animals like tiger, leopard and lion shot by them during their local and foreign excursions. The second section is the most important one as it contains various manuscripts in Persian including Gulistan of S'adi as well marvelous paintings of Mughal and Rajput Schools. The paintings have been further divided into various sub-styles. The third section of the museum contains the armory of State rulers. Various kind of shields, swords, pistols, rifles, daggers and other items are on display.
EXCURSIONS
Vijay Mandir Palace: Situated at a distance of about 10 kms. from Alwar, this grand architectural wonder is a reminder of the regal opulence and glory of yesteryears. It was built by Maharaja Jai Singh in the year 1918. The beautiful stately palace stands atop a hilly platform on the northern embankment of the lake created by the Vijay Sagar Bundh Dam. The Bundh is supported by two hills on the tributary of the Chuhar Siddh and was constructed in 1903. The Palace houses a Sita-Ram Mandir, which attracts thousands of devotees during the Ramnavami celebrations.
Siliserh Lake: Siliserh Lake is only about 13 kms. from the city of Alwar. The Lake was built in 1845 A.D. by constructing an earthern dam between two hills to store the water of a small tributary of river Ruparel. When full, the total water spread covers an area of about 10 sq kms. Adorned with domed cenotaphs, Siliserh Lake is picturesquely set amidst the forested slopes of Aravalli hills. The Open Terraces of the Siliserh Palaces Provide a breathtaking view of the water spread of the lake and its surrounding environment. This tastefully built old palace is now converted into a tourist hotel and is managed by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. The basement of this four storied palace leads to the water level of the lake. A boat trip in the lake, particularly during winter season, is a rewarding experience.
Tijara: Tijara is a historic town situated 48 kms North East of Alwar. Its old name was Trigartur. Tijara Fort situated on the crest of a hill has been famous for excavation of hidden treasure recently. It was the capital of Mewat and has a long and glorious history of bravery and sacrifice. There is a popular Jain Temple, visited by lakhs of pilgrims every year.
Neemrana Ki Baori: Besides the old Fort, which is today a Heritage Hotel, Neemrana, located on the Jaipur-Delhi Highway & about 2.5 hours drive from Jaipur, also boasts of and old and very magnificent nine storied baori (step well). This stepwell was constructed around 1700 A.D. by Thakur Janak Singh and the local population informs the visitors that there are nine storey above and tow below the water lever. It has 170 steps and as you descent, the entire construction becomes telescopic and the felling of entering the grotto overwhelms. From the water source, you can see the rising tiered structure and the open key. The atmosphere is moist and cool. Both sides of this flight of steps are storey of verandahs which allowed the people to rest and relax. The pillars have a strong similarity to the architectural design of the pillars of the old temple at Qutub Minar complex outside Delhi which was constructed by Prithviraj Chauhan. Legend has it that Neemrana, at one time, was the home of Chauhan Rajputs and one descendant of Prithviraj converted to Islam and settled in Neemrana. This Baori is still in use, both for consumption of water by humans and for irrigation. The backdrop of the Neemrana Fort adds to the scenic environment.
Sariska: It is located on the Delhi - Alwar - Jaipur road (37 Km), nestled in the quaint surroundings of Aravalli this thickly wooded part throbs with life. It is a marvel of ecological adaptation and endurance. It is not only a delight for wildlife lovers but also for the followers of art and archaeology. The Sariska Tiger Reserve, has a rich and varied animal population, the key fauna is the tiger. The sanctuary houses ruined temples, a fort, pavilions and palace. The Sariska Palace, built as a royal hunting lodge is a magnificent piece of architecture.
Jai Samand Lake: To harved the flood waters of river Ruparel, Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar started construction of a dam across the river. This picturesque lake was completed in 1920 A.D. and was name Jai Samand Lake. The 1.5 km. long embankment of the lake also serves as a drive way. Around a dozen beautiful chhatris dome shaped Minar etc were built on the embankment of the Jai Samand Lake. Each Chhatri was built on a seven feet high raised lotus shaped platform carved out of red sandstone. A man-made island in the lake has a beautifully laid out garden and spacious, lush green lawns. These lawns and the garden were used by the Maharaja for organizing special parties. The Jai Samand Lake is now controlled by the irrigation department of the state and has a good rest house.
Kesroli (12 km): The Hill Fort, Kesroli, sited atop the rare, dark Hornstone Breccia rocks, commands splendid agrarian views from its ramparts which rise to 50-65 meters/ 150-200 feet. Kesroli Fort makes an ideal base to visit the neighbouring palaces, museums and sanctuaries of Alwar & Sariska. The origins of the seven-turreted Hill Fort Kesroli are traced back to over six centuries. It is reputed to have been built by the Yaduvanshi Rajputs, descendants of Lord Krishna, who converted to Islam in the mid-14th century to be called Khanzadas. It subsequently changed hands, being conquered by the Mughals and the Jats before reverting to the Rajputs in 1775 when the princely state of Alwar was founded. It saw its golden period under the Ranawat Thakur Bhawani Singh (1882-1934), renowned for his equestrian skills. Now it has been converted into a heritage hotel.