Alwar City Guide
Location:-
Northern India, 170 Km from Delhi,150 Km from jaipur.
General Overview :-
Alwar 
is a City in the state Rajathan. Known mostly for the splendid City palace, the city has its own radiating charm that exuberates. Alwar is a beautiful city Surrounded by Aravalli hills, the erstwhile state of Mewat, Alwar is crowned by a magnificent fort that has been a witness to many-a-battles and wars in the turbulent history of Alwar. A Rajput state for a long time, its nearness to the Mughal capital of Delhi, did not let the city rest in peace until it went into the hands of the Muslims in the 12th and 13th centuries, when Sultan Bulban managed to crush the revolutionary groups with the iron hand.
Alwar found its place in Mahabharata, where it has been mentioned as the kingdom of Matsya,.which was once a hiding place for Pandavas during their exile for thirteen years.In 1771 A.D. Maharaja Pratap Singh, a hero belonging to a Kuchhwaha Rajput (warrior class) clan of the rulers of Jaipur, won it back and laid the foundation of a principality of his own. Apart from the tiger-like Rajput soldiers, Alwar is also home to the real tigers (which can be seen in the wildlife sanctuary nearby) due to its rich natural woods, splendid lakes and valleys. Thus, it is also known as 'The Tiger Gateway To Rajasthan'.
Places Of Interest:-
The City Palace :-
The Fort is the large, imposing City Palace Complex, its massive gates and its tank lined by a beautifully symmetrical chain of ghats with four pavilions on each side and two at each end. Today, most of the complex is occupied y government offices, but there is a museum housed in the former City Palace . To gain the access to the tank and the cenotaph of Maharaja bakhtawar singh, take the steps on the far left when facing the palace.
The Alwar Fort :-
The fort stands majestically 595 meters above the sea level and was constructed long before the rise of the Mughal Empire. It is said that the fort has never been seiged but passed on through treaties and negotiations. The legends about the fort include one that says that Babar spent a night at this fort and because of his greed; he plundered the treasures of the fort to give them to his son, Humayun. Salim Mahal within the premises of the fort had been home for Akbar's son, Jahangir, during his exile.
Other attraction :-
Tiger Reserve
A famous tiger sanctuary established under the project tiger. Held in the memory of the revered Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti, it is an occasion for thousands of believers to congregate at the shrine and offer their prayers. All of Ajmer seems to take on a festive air and several programs are organized to mark the festivals.
Must to See :-
Government Museum
This government museum is on the top floor of the City Palace complex, up a ramp from the main courtyard. Exhibits include royal vestments in beautiful brocades; stuffed animals, including an enormous bear; Kashmiri lacquer work; and stone sculptures, such as an 11th century sculpture of Vishnu.A separate exhibition hall has a well-preserved collection of paintings. Photography is not permitted.
Siliserh Lake :-
Located 13 kms from the city of Alwar, the enchanting Siliserh Lakewas built in 1845 AD by Maharaja Vinay Singh for his Queen Shila . The lake was built by constructing an earthen dam between two hills to store the water of a small tributary of river Ruparel.The lake is picturesquely set amidst the forested slopes of Aravalli Hills. The lake attracts a lot of migratory birds adding colour and music to the scene. But for the hustle of the whispering woods and chirping birds, the place promises total calm and is ideal for a trek.
Vijay Mandir Palace :-
Situated 10-km away from the city this palace is a splendid palace, built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1918 AD. A picturesque lake overlooking the palace makes it a fascinating sight. A fabulous Sita Ram Temple in the palace attracts number of devotees, especially during Ramnavami. While the ground floor have been converted into govt. offices and district courts, upper apartment is presently a museum. One needs prior permission form the Secretary to visit the palace.
How to reach:-
Air :-
Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Udaipur have airport and are linked to almost all the metros of India. Indian Airlines, Jet airways and Sahara operated their flights to Rajasthan. They have regular flights to and from from Rajasthan.
Rail :-
You can find a train to Alwar from all the major cities of India. From Delhi, you can catch Shatabdi Express, Intercity Express and Mandore Express. Fairy Queen Express, the train that makes your trip a fairy tale experience, includes Alwar on its itinerary list.
Roads :-
Alwar is well connected by the network of roads to Delhi and all the major cities of Rajasthan.
Hotels :-
Alwar has famous restaurants that serve you with pure vegetarian food (that excludes even onion and garlic) and organically grown vegetables. Palang Torh or the milk cake of Alwar is a delicious dessert that one would not like to miss. Though the restaurants may not have just the right kind of client dealing manner but the mouth-watering delicacies like allu parathas (a type of bread stuffed with potatoes), oil free gaajar ka halva (carrot dessert), mirchi ka achaar (chilli pickle) and kheer (a preparation of milk and rice) make up for their rustic hospitality.
Shopping Attractions :-
At Alwar, silver jewellery and Rajasthani handicraft items can be found at their best. Anyone who loves sweetmeats definitely cannot keep their hands off Alwar's specialty - 'Palang Torh' (the milk cake). A bite of this dish will justify the saying that goes around in this region that anyone who tastes this just once, cannot refrain himself from stuffing himself from it so much that when he lies down on the bed, the bed breaks in two! An exaggeration, indeed, but what a cute manner to express the deliciousness of the dish! The main shopping spots are the market areas of Hope Circus, Bajaja Bazar, Sarrafa Bazar, Mala Khera Bazar and Kedalganj Bazar.
