Alwar city

Alwar is a where the journey of the Fairy Queen ends! The oldest working engine in the world and one of India’s national treasure, Fairy Queen leads a train from Delhi encampment to Alwar in Rajasthan. The engine was built in 1855 and acquired by the Eastern Indian Railways from a British firm. The train that harnesses this engine is now used for tourism.

The journey of the city of Alwar and its origins can be traced back to 1500 BC. Nestled in the lap of the green hills of the Aravalli range, it is home to beautiful palaces and forts from an era long gone. The deep valleys and thick forest cover of the hills are a haven for many species of birds such as grey partridge and white-throated kingfisher and animals, most notably, the Bengal tiger and golden jackal. It is this splendour and exquisite architecture, along with the calm lakes, royal hunting chalets, dense jungles and a socio-cultural environment unlike any other that makes Alwar a traveller’s delight.

Alwar is one of the oldest cities in Rajasthan. Paradoxically, the city is also the most recent of the Rajput kingdoms. Its traditions can be traced back to the realms of Viratnagar that flourished here around 1500 BC. Also known as Matasya Desh, this is where the Pandavas, the mighty heroes of the Mahabharata, spent the last years of their 13-year exile.

Tourist Attractions of Alwar

Alwar Fort
Also called as Bala Quila, this is the largest fort in the land. It is located on the Aravalli ranges, just 300m above mean sea level. The fort spans for 5 km long and has six gates, 15 large towers, 51 small towers, 8 citadels, 15 temples and many others. The fort is open from 10 in the morning until 4 in the evening.

Alwar City Palace
Built in 18th century, this palace is a good example of Rajput and Mughal styled architecture. It is famous for lotus-shaped courtyard, pavilion, mahals and many others. The top floor of the palace is converted into a city museum. The museum holds 18th and 19th century AD paintings, manuscripts in various languages, rare artifacts, armors, weapons and a unique copy of Mahabharata. The garden inside the palace is famous for summer strolls. Very close to the palace, you can find an artificial lake, which is famous for the number of temples on the banks. Entry fee to the palace is INR 5 for locals and INR 50 for foreigners. It is open from 10 in the morning until 4:30 in the evenings, except on Fridays.

Siliserh Palace and Lake, Alwar
Located on the Sariska – Alwar highway, this lake palace was built in 19th century. The lake was once a major water source of the region. Two dams were erected to collect water for the dam. The place is today, a haven for migration birds. Tourists can enjoy sailing, fishing, sailing, boating and other activities. The palace close to the lake is converted into a luxury hotel. Tourists love to take a sunset boat ride and enjoy a lavishing dinner in the palace hotel. The services are open from 8 in the morning until 5 in the evening.

Sariska national park, Alwar
Although a little away from Alwar, it is considered as an iconic attraction of the region. This is the most popular tiger reserve of the region. Once a hunting land of the rulers, today, it is an important tiger reserve region holding 28 tigers. The park comprises of forests, rocky regions, cliffs and grasslands. Apart from tigers, you can spot striped hyena, sambar, antelope, jungle cat, leopard and other animals. In bird genre, top birds spotted are Indian peafowl, white-throated kingfisher, grey partridge, crested serpent eagle, India eagle-owl and others. Apart from the animals, you can find Kankwari fort, old temples and other structures inside the park. The best time to visit the park is from November to end of March.Safari is available between 6:30 in the morning until 10 in the morning and from 2:30 in the evening to 6 in the evening.

Bhangarh Fort, Alwar
Built in 16th century, this fort was a major structure in the past. Today, it is an important haunted monument of the country. The fort and the region are believed to be haunted. The department of tourism requests the tourists to get out of the region before sunset. Today, the fort is almost in ruins. You can spot structures of gardens, gates, natural springs, havelis, a few temples and others inside the fort. The fort is open from 6 in the morning until 6 in the evening. Entry fee is INR 25 for Indians and INR 200 for foreigners.
Vijay Mandir Palace, Alwar
Built in 20th century, this palace is famous for architecture, art and decoration. This is the royal residence of the king of the region. This palace has 105 rooms and the palace is surrounded by a large garden with trees and flowers. Very close to the palace, you will find a large Vijay Sagar Lake. The temple inside the palace, Sita Ram temple is famous during Ramanavami.

Pandupol
The bridge of Pandupol is related to the Pandavas who spent part of their time in exile here secretly. At one place, there are two hills meet together. The way was obstructed which was broken upon by Bheem, the most powerful of the Pandavas with his Gada (mace). Situated midst the game century of Sariska, the place has special charm. Temples here draw pilgrims round the year, though it is most popular during a September fair.

How to Reach Alwar
By Rail: Alwar is on the broad gauge network of the western Railways. It has suitable connections from Delhi and Jaipur. An exotic train runs from Delhi to Alwar. It is the well-known Fairy Queen, which is the oldest running steam locomotive in the world. The hospitality and the luxury of this train are exceptional. It takes about 3-4 hours to reach Alwar. One can enjoy the scenery of the surroundings en route.

By Road: Alwar is well connected by road to the various parts of Rajasthan. Regular bus service operates between Alwar and major cities like Kota, Udaipur, Ajmer, Jaipur, Delhi, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur.

By Air: The nearest airport to Alwar is Jaipur which is about 148 km from Alwar.