Alwar - An Archeologist’s Delight

By Author: Rashmiranjan Patil
Total Articles: 261
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Alwar is a city in the Alwar District of Rajasthan, the North- Western State of India. It is located around 160 km from Delhi, and 150 km from Jaipur, the state capital. Alwar District comes under Delhi National Capital Region. In British India, Alwar was known as "Ulwar".

Alwar is a famous tourist destination, with a number of historical monuments and interesting places. The picturesque Aravali Hills and serene lakes add more charm to this historic city.

The 18th century City Palace of Alwar is a fine blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture. Rani Moosi Chhatri, the two storied cenotaph, within the City Palace fascinates the tourists with its architectural brilliance. Purjan Vihar (earlier known as Company Gardens) is an excellent picnic spot in Alwar. This lush green garden is adjacent to the City Palace.

The Alwar Government Museum established in 1908 is a must visit in Alwar. This museum has a rich collection of arts and artifacts.

Bala Qila (young fort) in Alwar is a beautiful fort on a hill top which can be entered through six gates namely Jai Pol, Suraj Pol, Laxman Pol, Chand Pol, Krishan Pol ...
... and Andherl Gate.

An important attraction in Alwar is the Tomb of Fateh Jung, which is a fine example of architectural grandeur.

Siliserh Lake is located 13 kms from the city centre and is a great stopover before moving to the Sariska Tiger Reserve. Nestled in the Aravali Hills, this prestigious park famous for its Bengal Tigers is spread in 866 km². Sariska is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.

17th-century Kankarwadi Fort built by Jai Singh II and the ancient temple of Lord Hanuman at Pandupole are located inside Sariska National Park. Private vehicles can enter the park only on Tuesdays and Saturdays to visit Pandupole and its Hanuman temple, which is believed to be associated with Pandavas. Narayani Mata Temple, the sacred pilgrimage site of Sain Samaj, is located on the edge of Sariska National Park.

Jagannath Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is famous for its annual Rath Yatra festival where Lord Jagannath is carried in a chariot called Indra Vimana.

Vijay Mandir Palace built in 1918 by Maharaja Jai Singh is a stunning palace with artistically orchestrated interiors. This palace is located about 10 kms away from Alwar city. Vijay Sagar Lake adjoining the palace and the temple dedicated to Lord Rama and Sita in the premises are the other attractions here.

Talvrakash, Bhartrihari Temple, Bhangarh, Neemrana, Tijara Jain Temple, Neelkanth and Naldeshwar are the other nearby attractions, which can be easily reached from Alwar. The most important thing which always disturbss the travelers is where to stay? Number of hotels in Alwar is available for the tourists.

No worry for how to reach Alwar because it is well-connected by rail, road and air. The Fairy Queen, world’s oldest steam locomotive in regular operation, runs between New Delhi and Alwar.