Bala Qila Alwar

At a distance of 10.5 km from Alwar Jn Railway Station, Bala Quila also known Alwar Fort is a large fort in Alwar in the state of Rajasthan. It is situated on a hill in the Aravalli Range, 300 m above the town of Alwar.

Bala Quila meaning the young fort is Alwar's oldghal emperor had spent a night here and also taken away sizeable amount of treasure to gift his son Humayun. Later Jahangir stayed there for some time when he was banished by his father, Akbar for planning to kill one of his courtesans Abul Fazal. The place where he stayed came to be called Salim Mahal. In 1775 AD, Kachwaha Rajput Pratap Singh captured it and laid the foundation of Alwar city.

The fort is 5 km long and is about 1.5 km wide. The est structure. It was built by Hasan Khan Mewati in 1550 AD. In the following centuries it went into the hands of Mughals, Marathas, Jats and Kachwaha Rajputs. Babur, the MuFort has 6 gates, namely Jai Pol, Laxman Pol, Suraj Pol, Chand Pol, Andheri Gate and Krishna Gate. The fort has 15 large and 51 small towers, which are surrounded by 8 enormous citadels. Built in a typical Indo - Islamic style of architecture, the walls of Bala Quila are adorned with beautifully crafted ancient sculptures and scriptures. The fort also houses many other stunning structures such as Nikumbha Mahal Palace, Suraj Kund, Salim Sagar Pond, Jal Mahal and 15 striking temples including Chakradhari Hanuman Temple and Sita Ram Temple. Surrounded by the majestic Aravalli Hills, each structure inside the fort represents the opulence of the bygone era, especially the Nikumbha Mahal Palace, which is built using Bengal caned marble pillars along with large latticed balconies. Bala Quila is now in dilapidated condition and houses the radio transmitter station. One can still see the huge gates, arches and battlements.

A Brief History of Alwar

The history of Alwar dates back to 100CE. Alwar was earlier called Alpur. It was founded by the King of Amer under his name. The city eventually became Alwar. This place has seen the rise and fall of numerous Rajput clans. It was under the rule of Khanzada Rajputs, Nikumbh Rajputs, Badgujar Rajputs and finally Naruka Rajputs. Pratap Singh, a Rajput, took possession of Alwar from Jat Raja of Bharatpur through an agreement. Alwar developed into a princely state during the British era. On March 18, 1948, the state of Alwar was merged with the three neighboring princely states of Bharatpur, Dholpur, and Karauli. On 15th May, Alwar merged with Ajmer and another princely state to form modern-day Rajasthan. Later, it became a part of the National Capital Region owing to rapid development in this area.

What is the Best Time to Visit Alwar?

The best time to visit Alwar is between the months from October to March. Since Alwar is in the desert state of India, summers can be scorching hot, so if you do visit Alwar during this time, make sure to stay hydrated! Winters are cool, calm, and pleasant. But if you want, you can also visit Alwar during the festival of Rakshabandhan that usually takes place in August. Rakshabandhan is celebrated in Alwar with kite flying competitions. Watching thousands of kites rise in the air at the same time is a beautiful sight!

Monuments in Alwar

Monuments in 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.