150km from Jaipur and 170km from Delhi, Alwar is nestled between a cluster of small hills of the Aravali 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 Mewar, Alwar was nearest to the Imperial Delhi. The people of the state did not accept any external interference and daringly resisted against foreign invasions. In the 12th and 13th centuries they formed a group and raided Delhi.

But finally Sultan Balban (1276-A.D.- 1287a.D.) suppressed them, bringing the area under the a Muslim rule. In 1771 A.D. 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 valley thickly wooded in parts. Some of the finest variety of birds and animals are spotted here. Alwar has one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan - Sariska, which is an excellent tiger country.
Known as THE TIGER GATE of Rajasthan surrounded by Aravali hills, it has a perfect picture postcard setting and looks as if carved magnificently out of rocks. Lush green deciduous forests and lakes, dotted with architectural splendors, surround the harsh hills. The deep valleys and the thick forest cover is a haven for many species of birds and animals.

It is one of the oldest cities of the state and its prehistoric and historic sites are an archaeologists delight. Paradoxically Alwar is both the oldest and the newest of the Rajput Kingdoms of Rajasthan. On the one hand, it traces its tradition back to the kingdoms of Viratnagar that flourished here around 1500 B.C. It is also known as Matasya Desh where the pandavs. The mightly heroes the Mahabharata, spent the last year of their 13 year exile.

The city of Alwar is believed to have founded by a member of the Kachh family who hailed from Amber, but control was wrested from the Kachhwahas of Nikumbhas. The grandeur, beauty and delicacy of design of innumerable forts and palaces of the region, the tranquil lakes, stately hunting lodges, sites of archeological importance, thick forests with several of birds and animals intermingled with an equally diverse socio-cultural configuration have made this region a traveler delight.

Places to See in Alwar
Bala Qila
Fort, which bound the people to watch its magnetic beauty, towering on a hill dominating the town, is the BALA QILA (young fort). Amazing fortifications surround the NIKUMBHA MAHAI PALACE at the top, which has graceful Bengal caned marble columns and delicate latticed balconies. The fort is 595 mts. above the city, and extends about 5 Kms from north and south and 1.6 Kms from east and west. The fort has 15 large and 51 small towers, which contains 446 loopholes for the musketry, its eight towers all around defend it.

The most magnificent were 3,599 kanguras, each containing two loopholes for musketry. The fort can be entered through six gates, namely JAI POL, SURAJ POL, LAXMAN POL, LAXMAN POL, CHAND POL, KRISHAN POL and ANDHERI GATE. This huge fort with its ramparts stretching 5 km from east to west, stands 304 meters above the city and 595 meters 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 is called Salim Mahal.

Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1775 A.D finally annexed the fort. It is a forbidding structure with 15 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 and Andheri Gate. Also there are remains of Jal Mahal, Nikumbh Mahal, Salim Sagar, Suraj Kund and many temples.

City Palace
The City Palace was built in 1793 A.D. by Raja Bakhtawar Singh. It represents a intermingling of Rajput and Mughal stvles. It has graceful marble pavilions set on lotus flower bases in the central courtyard.
Once this palace was part of the Maharajas ornate lifestyle and housed, among other things, a drinking cup cut out of a single emerald in its treasury and a mammoth, double storied four-elephant carriage in its stables. Today however the palaces has been converted into the district's collectorate, and its hall and chambers have a been turned into government offices

Rani Moosi Chhatri
This impressive centopath (chhatri) on the banks of SAGAR a beautiful lake is dedicated to Bakhtawar Singh mistress who performed sati here. The centopath reflects Indo-Islamic style of architecture. The upper portion in marble with columned pavilions and domed arches with exquisite floral tracery rests over the pillared red sand stone story.

Mythological and court scenes in fading gold leaf painting and sculpture adorn the ceiling. The memorial is rated as one of the finest in its class. The picturesque SAGAR is concrete catchments with a pattern of stairs and tiny kiosks in perfect symmetry along the sides.

The Museum
The palace Museum has a wonderful collection of exhibits of the personal wealth of the Maharajas of Alwar and some rare manuscripts including an illustrated Mahabharata on a 200 -foot-long scroll, Others prize pieces here after illustrated manuscripts of GULISTAN, SHAH NAMA, and on EMPEROR Babur's life.

There are also some fine RAGAMALA paintings and miniatures from the Alwar, Bundi, and Mughal school it has an armory section, which has some historic swords belonging to the likes of Sultan Muhammad Ghori, Emperor Akbar and Aurangzeb. The museum has finest collection of Mughal and Rajput painting dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries and some rare ancient manuscripts in Persian., Arabic, urdu and Sanskrit gulistan (the garden of rose) Waqiat-I-Babri (autobiography of the Mughal emperor Babar) and Bostan the garden of spring) are some of the notable once amongst the collection.

It also has a copy of the great epic 'Mahabarat' painted by the artist of the Alwar school. A rich collection of the Indian armory is among other exhibits of the museum. Behind the city palace is an artificial lake built in 1815 A.D. by Maharaj Vinay Singh with few temples along its banks. A marvelous chhatri with unusual Bengali roof and arches, also known as the Moosi Maharani Ki Chhatri is situated in this area. Tomb of Fateh Jung

This spectacular tomb has a massive dome, which is a fine blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles. Fateh Jung was a minister of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and related to the Khanzada rulers of Alwar.

Purjan Vihar
The beautiful garden was laid out during the reign of Maharaja Shiv Dan Singh built in1868 a most picturesque place locally known as Simla (the Summer House), was added to lush greenery of this garden do not give the blazing sun a chance to peep in. The garden was originally named Company Garden, later on Maharaja Jai Singh changed it to PURJAN VIHAR.

Vijay Mandir Palace
It is the royal residence of Maharaja Jai Singh built in 1918. The largely uninhabited palace is a window on the life style of the royals. Migratory' birds and waterfowls can be obsened feeding on fish in the small lake, beside the palace. Vijay Mandir, a sprawling, coupled palace with 105 rooms and a beautifully laid out garden lies 6 miles outside Alwar Reflected picturesquely in the waters of Vijay Sagar Lake, it is said to have been designed along the lines of a ship like all the ventures of its builder, the sinister and dazzling Maharaja Jai Singh.

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