Alwar Travel Guide

Once an ancient Rajput state, 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.

The Fort:
This ancient fort perched on a steep cliff about 304 meters high built by Nikumbh Rajputs in 928 A.D and was later occupied by Mughals and Jats. 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 around it to strengthen its defences. If this is not enough, there are 3,359 kanguras, each containing two loopholes for musketry. The fort has several gates - Jai Pol, Suraj Pol, Laxman Pol, Chand Pol, Kishan Pol and Andheri Gate.

Government Museums:
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) and Waqiat-I-Babri (autobiography of the Mughal emperor Babar).

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 Maharaja 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.