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Alwar
Alwar is a city in the Rajasthan state of western India. It is the administrative
headquarters of Alwar District, and was formerly the capital of the princely
state of Alwar or Ulwar in British India. The city is located around 160
km south of Delhi, and around 150 km north of Jaipur (Capital of Rajasthan).Alwar" was formerly known as "Alor". This placed it in last position in alphabetically ordered lists, so a king renamed it to "Alwar" to bring it to the top. The princely state of Alwar was founded by Pratap Singh, a Rajput of the Kachwaha lineage, in the second half of the 18th century. His adopted son, Bakhtawar Singh, aided the British against the Marathas. After the battle of Laswari (1803), Alwar became the first state of Rajputana to sign a treaty of 'Offensive and Defensive Alliance' with the British East India Company [1]. A few years later, Bakhtawar Singh ventured an armed incursion into neighbouring Jaipur, the senior Kachwaha state, and the erstwhile overlord of his predecessor. Bakhtawar Singh was defeated; a fresh engagement was made with him by the HEIC, prohibiting him from political intercourse with other states without British consent. During the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, Raoraja Bane Singh sent a force comprised mainly of Muslims and Rajputs, to relieve the British garrison in Agra. The Muslims deserted and the rest were defeated by the rebels. Pran Sukh Yadav, who fought beside Rao Tula Ram of Rewari in 1857, settled along with the kinsmen of dead soldiers at Village Nihalpura, Behror Tehsil, of Alwar District.
Following the independence of India in 1947, Alwar acceded unto the dominion of India. On March 18, 1948, the state merged with three neighbouring princely states (Bharatpur, Dholpur and Karauli) to form the Matsya Union. This union in turn merged unto the Union of India. On May 15, 1949, it was united with certain other princely states and the territory of Ajmer to form the present-day Indian state of
Rajasthan.The former rulers of Alwar before its accession
· Pratap Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1775 - 1791) Rao Raja of Alwar
· Bakhtawar Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1791- 1815) Rao Raja of Alwar
· Bane Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1815 - 1857) Maharao Raja of Alwar
· Sheodan Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1857 - 1874) Maharao Raja of Alwar
· Mangal Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1874 - 1892) Maharaja of Alwar
· Jai Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1892 - 1937) Maharaja of Alwar
· Tej Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1937-1971) Maharaja of Alwar.
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.
Reaching Alwar
By Air: The city does not have an airport of its own but Delhi (170 km) and Jaipur (145 km away) are the nearest airports. They are connected to the city by good motorable roads.
By Rail: The city has a railway station and has suitable connecting trains from across the nation via Delhi and Jaipur.
By Road: Buses and taxis are available from Delhi and Jaipur in convenient terms.
Best season to visit:
Though the city is an all time destination, still visiting it from March to October is advisable for maximum comfort and scenic excellence.
Places of interest in Alwar:
Bala Quila - the Fort
This huge fort is famous for its history, which predates the Moghul rulers.
It runs 5 km from north to south, and nearly 2 km from east to west, standing
304 meters above the city. Some of the Moghul rulers (like Babar) are
reported to have stayed there before it reverted back to the Rajput rulers
in the 18th century. The fort is circumscribed with several gates (called
Pols) a few of which are named after various personalities. e.g. Jai Pol,
Laxman Pol, Suraj Pol. Vinay Vilas Mahal (the palace complex)
The palace complex is situated just below the Fort but a part of it has been converted into Govt. offices. As a blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture the palace dates back to the 18th century.
In one corner of the complex the museum is maintained where a rich part of it's history has been preserved.
Government Museum
The museum has a wonderful collection of Mughal and Rajput paintings, rare art objects and miniature writings. The weaponry in use at the time can also be seen and is a reminder of the bloody battles that have been fought in these beautiful surroundings. The museum remains closed to the public on Fridays and public holidays.
The surroundings has marvelous places where the visitors can make side trips to enhance their visiting pleasure. Vijai Mandir Palace is just 10 km away. For information regarding permissions needed for visiting the palace the local tourist office can be contacted.
The Siliserh Lake, 13 km away is an enchanting spot. As elsewhere in Rajasthan, an ancient palace located at the lake has been converted to a hotel. In this way the history is preserved, by simultaneously providing the necessary finances to the erstwhile ruling families.
Sariska Tiger Reserve and National Park
Spread over nearly 800 sq.km of forests, the Sariska Reserve is one of
the reserves, which is governed by the regulations prevalent in Project
Tiger. Together with the Ranthambhore National Park, it provides an opportunity
for seeing wildlife in Rajasthan. The wooded forests are home to the tiger,
nilgai (blue bull), sambhar, cheetal, four horned antelope and wild boar.
Within the park there are ruins of ancient temples. A palace built by
the rulers of Alwar State has now been renovated into a luxury hotel -
Sariska Palace. The park is notable for enjoying wildlife at night and
the best season to visit the park is November to June. Jai Samand Lake
A beautiful artificial lake constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1910 A.D., this is a popular spot for outing and picnics. During monsoon, sprawling greenery all around makes it a feast for the eyes. The park is easily accessible by road from Alwar.
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