Alwar Tour

Alwar Tour 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.

Places to see in Alwar

Alwar Fort
Commonly recognized as the Bala Quila Fort, the Alwar Fort is located amidst a steep hill that is spotted at an elevation of 300 from the Alwar city. Built prior to the commencement of the notable Mughal era, this fort was established during the 16th century. While getting to know about this attraction, people are going to come across many historical connections associated with it.
As entailed, this huge setup was once used by Babur to avoid and protect himself from his enemies. Later, it was taken over and looked after by Rana Pratap Singh during 1775. The place is opened for its tourists right from sunrise till sunset and thus, they can enjoy the beautiful sceneries from up there whenever they feel like. This beautiful tourist attraction in Alwar has often been regarded as Alwar’s guardian as well as the oldest creation and thus, it has already added up to the curiosity of the visitors who are intending to come here.

Alwar City Palace
The majorly renowned Alwar City Palace is spotted right below the gigantic Bala Quila and the foothills of Aravalli. It was created in the 18th century showcasing the most perfect fusion of Rajput and the Mughal architecture. No doubt on this, the travellers are going to get awestruck with the finest beauty that they will be witnessing here. There is an existence of a man- made lake in the vicinity of the City palace that is pristine at its utmost.
The lake was formed by Maharaja Vinay Singh in 1815 and is presently the most beautiful thing existing in the palace. Within the Vinay Vilas Mahal, the traveller will have a sight of an elevated pavilion with its shape resembling as a door acting as an epitome of honour and pride associated by the Rajputs. Presently, there is a historic museum created on the other floors except the first one since it is used as the government offices. The museum exhibits varied treasures such as furniture and the manuscripts used during the reign period of Mughal and Rajput kings.

Siliserh Lake Palace
The Siliserh Lake is the most convenient place for a person to relax and spend some time full of serenity while listening to the sound of moving waves arising from the lake. This water body is extended across a wide area of 7 square kilometres and you can have a heart stealing view of the same from the ravishing Siliserh Lake Palace. People from all across India frequently travel to this spot for staying away from the hustle bustle of their city and get a pinch of refreshment here.
Bordering the water reservoir is the Siliserh Lake Palace that is responsible for the creation of fun activities nearby this lake. It has now been converted into a heritage hotel and thus, it has now been acting as a perfect accommodation for the travellers who need to spend their time amidst the Aravali hills. The property is located at a distance of approximately 16 kms from Alwar and is now preferred by abundant roamers to cool off their minds from the excessive heat in other regions.

Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary
Also known as the Sariska Tiger Reserve, the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is settled in the mighty Aravali Hills and is spread across a huge expansion of 800 sq. km. It covers a notable space covering the dry deciduous forests, rocky landscapes, rugged terrains and grasslands. During the ancient days, it played the role of a hunting preservation for the very renowned ‘Maharaja of Alwar’.
The National Park is a home to the Royal Bengal Tigers and other very rare as well as common species like Wild dog, Jackal, Tiger, Hyena etc. However, not only are the wildlife species spotted here, the travellers also see the ruins belonging to Garh-Rajor’s temples known to have existed during 10th and 11th centuries. Since many years, this wildlife sanctuary has been declared amongst the most visited Natural reserves in India due to its peaceful environment, strong historical background, and a truly exquisite wildlife experience. Thus, this is not solely a perfect place for the nature enthusiasts, instead it is also the most favoured one by the history buffs.

Alwar - Location
About 170 kms south of Delhi, lies Alwar, in the state of Rajasthan. It is about 150kms from Jaipur, the capital city.

Alwar - When To Visit
Compared to other cities in Rajasthan, Alwar is not too hot. Though summers are still hot (April to June), winters are quite pleasant and last from November to February. Best time to visit Alwar is in the winters.

Alwar - History In Brief
The city of Alwar was supposedly founded by someone belonging to the Kachh family. It was under the rule of Rajputs, then Mughlas. Interestingly the city has also been ruled by Jats. After Independence Alwar, which was a part of the state of Matsya, was merged with the state of Rajasthan.

The major tourist attractions of Alwar are the Bala Quila and the City Palace Complex or Vinay Vilas Mahal. You can also visit the lake, which is next to the City Palace and is also a favorite among the visitors. If you wish to see the antiques and the relics of the former age then you can head to the Government Museum, which is located in the City Palace Complex. There is also the tomb of Tarang Sultan, which can be visited.

Alwar - Excursions
While you are on a tour of Alwar, if you have time to spare, then you can travel to the town of Silisher, which is famous for its lake and palace. Hill Fort Kesroli can also be visited, which is merely 12 kms from Alwar. The famous Sariska Tiger Reserve can also be visited since it is about 37kms from Alwar. Only 6 kms from the city, is Jai Samand lake which is also the perfect place to visit while you are in Alwar.
If you are in Alwar for a longer period, then you can tour the Fort palace of Neemrana. These are few of the major attractions that are close to Alwar.

Alwar - Getting There
One can reach Alwar either by train or by road. There are frequent buses from Jaipur, Bharatpur and Deeg to Alwar. Since Alwar lies on the Delhi-Jaipur line, it is accessible by train. One can also take the Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi Express.
There is also a steam locomotive called Fairy Queen that runs from Delhi to Alwar. The toy train takes 3-4 hours to reach Alwar but is ideal for people who are not short on time and wish to enjoy the scenic beauty on the way. In Alwar, commuting is quite easy. People can travel by auto-rickshaws, local buses or cycle-rickshaws. Tourists can also hire bicycles to tour the city.

Alwar - Shopping
Alwar is known for its pottery and jewelry. Particularly the wafer-thin (kagzi) pottery is very famous and mainly comes from this town. Tourists can buy a lot of souvenirs and gifts for their friends back home.

Most of the hotels in Alwar are located on the Manu Marg (Road), which is close to the bus stand. There are many good hotels in Alwar and visitors can easily find accommodation according to their budget.

Alwar - Cuisine
All kinds of food is available at Alwar. One can relish Rajasthani, Indian and Mughlai cuisine. While at Alwar, do not miss the chance to try Alwar Mawa, which is a sweetmeat, prepared with milk. There are numerous eateries and restaurants in the city that serve most kind of dishes.