A weekend in Alwar

Tripoto
22nd Dec 2013
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 1/15 by Radhika Murthy
Bala Quila from a view point near it
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 2/15 by Radhika Murthy
Bala Quila
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 3/15 by Radhika Murthy
View of Alwar city form Bala Quila
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 4/15 by Radhika Murthy
Inside Bala Quila
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 5/15 by Radhika Murthy
Moosi Rani ki Chattri
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 6/15 by Radhika Murthy
Outside Moosi Rani ki Chattri
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 7/15 by Radhika Murthy
Siliserh Lake
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 8/15 by Radhika Murthy
A deer at Sariska Tiger reserve
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 9/15 by Radhika Murthy
Peacocks at Sariska
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 10/15 by Radhika Murthy
Roof carvings at Shiva Temple
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 11/15 by Radhika Murthy
Elaborately carved entrance of Shiva temple
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 12/15 by Radhika Murthy
Carvings on the temple
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 13/15 by Radhika Murthy
Ruins outside the temple
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 14/15 by Radhika Murthy
A view on the way back from Sariska
Photo of A weekend in Alwar 15/15 by Radhika Murthy
City Palace

Alwar is a former princely state at a distance of around 160kms from Delhi. I visited Alwar in December 2013, and it was almost totally void of tourists at that time. This let us have an amazing experience of the place, enjoying all that it had to offer without the hassles of overcrowding. Though I suppose this also has a downside. Since it isn’t a very famous tourist place, the monuments there were not very well kept. I think that was the only downside of the visit.

We decided to visit Alwar on a whim, in the days before Christmas to relax a little, away from the hustle of Delhi. We took a train to Alwar, which was around an hour of travel. We reached in the late evening, and spent the night settling in. The next day we set off to explore the city and the places around it. We saw places like Bala Quila, and Moosi Rani ki Chattri. We spent the day there and got back early to be able to get up early for Sariska Tiger reserve the next day.

Sariska was a long, but beautiful drive. We also had the chance to visit a Shiva temple built in the 9th century which was located somewhere near the reserve. On the way back to the room we were also able to visit the museum, which is a breathtaking experience for anyone interested in history. The extensive collection of weapons, paintings and other artefacts from the period of the Rajas is stunning.

It is a place for people who love history and culture, and to some extent, adventure.

The road to the fort is not very good, but the views from it are amazing. Also, there are no eateries or anything near the fort, so carry your own food and water. But, carrying on, the fort itself is beautiful. the fort was under renovation when we visited, so we weren't able to see the interior, but the outside was enough to wow us. There was a view point behind the fort, accessible through a slight trek. The view of both the fort and the city from here are wroth the trek. Definitely a must visit for anyone going to Alwar.
Photo of Bala Quila, Alwar, Rajasthan, India by Radhika Murthy
Photo of Bala Quila, Alwar, Rajasthan, India by Radhika Murthy
Photo of Bala Quila, Alwar, Rajasthan, India by Radhika Murthy
Photo of Bala Quila, Alwar, Rajasthan, India by Radhika Murthy
This is another beautiful, must visit place in Alwar. The red sandstone and and white marble cenotaph is beautiful because of its architecture and carvings. It is a must visit for anyone who loves architecture and history.
Photo of Moosi Maharani Ki Chhatri, Alwar, Rajasthan, India by Radhika Murthy
Photo of Moosi Maharani Ki Chhatri, Alwar, Rajasthan, India by Radhika Murthy
The drive to the lake is long and nothing special. The lake itself is overcrowded and, it seems, the only place tourists to Alwar want to visit. There are facilities for boating in the lake, and it has a serene ambiance.
The trip to Sariska and back takes almost a full day, so it is advisable to keep aside a day for this. Also, an effort should be made to go earlier in the day to be able to view the most animals. There is a Hanuman mandir inside the reserve which is also pretty famous. But the best part of Sariska for me was a 9th century Shiva temple which our driver took us to. The road to the temple was horrible, but it was so worth it. The temple is stunning example of ancient architecture and carvings. I would recommend it to everyone (but i don't know the exact name of the place).
Photo of Sariska National Park, Alwar, Rajasthan, India by Radhika Murthy
Photo of Sariska National Park, Alwar, Rajasthan, India by Radhika Murthy
Photo of Sariska National Park, Alwar, Rajasthan, India by Radhika Murthy
Photo of Sariska National Park, Alwar, Rajasthan, India by Radhika Murthy
Photo of Sariska National Park, Alwar, Rajasthan, India by Radhika Murthy
Photo of Sariska National Park, Alwar, Rajasthan, India by Radhika Murthy
The city palace is home to government offices, as well as the government museum. Because of the offices, the condition of the palace is very bad, but the museum is surprisingly good. There is huge collection of artifacts from the period of the royals, and is worth visiting.