Alwar |
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Alwar lies equidistant from Delhi and Jaipur. Alwar is a city carved out of the jagged, rocky Aravalli Hills where gruesome battles were fought. The city nestles between several small hills, on the most prominent of which stands a dramatically forbidding fort. |
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| The royal ambience
still pervades the city, marked by a number of structures of historical significance.
Lakes and valleys thickly wooded in parts, have made this area the haunt of animals and
birds. Rich in wildlife, Alwar has one of the finest sanctuaries in Rajasthan. Alwar, amongst the Rajput principalities was closest to imperial Delhi, influencing the people and history of the region, formerly known as Mewat. The people of Alwar never submitted to alien rule and often rebelled as they had developed a hardy, but carefree attitude to life. During the 12th and 13th centuries, they often acted as adventurers and marauders and used to raid Delhi at night. The western gates of the capital had to be completely shut every evening to bar them from entering. Sultan Balban (1267-1287) finally crushed their disorganised resistance and as a result they came under Muslim rule. In 1771, Maharaja Pratap Singh won back Alwar and founded a principality of his own. ACCESS Delhi, which is 163 km away is the nearest airport and there are good connections from prominent locations in and around the State by train. Regular bus services link Alwar with key destinations in Rajasthan and with Delhi. PLACES OF INTEREST Alwar Fort, City Palace or Vinay Vilas Mahal, Government Museum and Purjan Vihar or Company Garden. EXCURSIONS Vijai Mandir Palace (10 km), Siliserh Lake and Palace Hotel (13 km), Jai Samand Lake (6 km), and Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary (37 km). SHOPPING Jewellery and other handicraft items. A sweet-meat speciality made of milk Kalakand is not to be missed. Market areas are Hope Circus, Bazaza Bazar, Sarafa Bazar, Malakhera Bazar, and Kedalgunj Bazar. ACCOMMODATION Neemrana Fort Palace, Phone: 01494-6005-6-7-8 or A-58, Nizamuddin East, New Delhi, Phone: (91) 4616145, 4625214. RTDC Hotel Lake Palace, Siliserh. Phone:86322. Sariska Palace (a heritage hotel). Phone: 014441322. RTDC Tiger Den , Sariska. Phone: 014441342. RTDC Meenal. Phone: 22852, 22991. Aravali. Phone: 3328831. Also a choice of several budget hotels at Alwar. |