Vijay Mandir Palace

Vijay Mandir Palace is the royal residency of Maharaja Jai Singh. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the splendid architecture of the place along with its historical importance make it a must visit during Alwar tours. This sprawling place constitutes 105 rooms. It is surrounded by lush green garden (6 miles in length) and a quaint lake. Within the palace complex is a beautiful Sita Ram temple, generally crowded with devotees and visitors alike. The picturesque lake overlooking the palace makes it a fascinating sight.

History of Vijay Mandir Palace
It is believed that the palace was constructed as a result of the whims of the unconventional ruler - Maharaja Jai Singh. Built during 1918 AD, Vijay Mandir Palace was built because the Maharaja was disappointed with the construction of another palace. Maharaja Jai Singh was an art lover and had a very deep passion for beautiful palaces and forts. During his reign, he ordered the construction of Yaswant Niwas in an Italian style of architecture. However, when the construction of the palace was complete, he was very displeased and as a result, he ordered the construction of another palace – Vijay Mandir Palace immediately.

Attractions of Vijay Mandir Palace
Besides the palace itself, there are a number of other features that tourists can also visit. The garden surrounding the palace is filled with a large number of vibrant flowers and lush trees. It is very poplar among tourists. There is also a famous temple inside the palace called the Sita Ram Temple. It is dedicated to Lord Ram and his wife – Sita. The best time to visit this temple is during the festival of Ramnavami, when the entire temple is beautifully decorated and thronged with thousands of devotees. This festival over here is celebrated with a lot of zest and till date, remains as one of the major attractions of Alwar. Another popular attraction is the Vijay Sagar Lake, which is located right next to the palace. It is said that when the sky is clear and the weather is agreeable, entire reflection of the palace can be seen in the lake.

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.