Alwar
About the city
Alwar lies equidistant from Delhi and Jaipur. Alwar is a city carved out of the jagged, rocky Aravalli Hills where gruesome battles were fought. The city nestles between several small hills, on the most prominent of which stands a dramatically forbidding fort. The royal ambience still pervades the city, marked by a number of structures of historical significance. Lakes and valleys thickly wooded in parts, have made this area the haunt of animals and birds. Rich in wildlife, Alwar has one of the finest sanctuaries in Rajasthan.Alwar, amongst the Rajput principalities was closest to imperial Delhi, influencing the people and history of the region, formerly known as Mewat. The people of Alwar never submitted to alien rule and often rebelled as they had developed a hardy, but carefree attitude to life. During the 12th and 13th centuries, they often acted as adventurers and marauders and used to raid Delhi at night. The western gates of the capital had to be completely shut every evening to bar them from entering. Sultan Balban (1267-1287) finally crushed their disorganised resistance and as a result they came under Muslim rule. In 1771, Maharaja Pratap Singh won back Alwar and founded a principality of his own.
Architectural wonders dot the city and leave you mesmerized. Ironically, Alwar in Rajasthan, India is the oldest as well the newest kingdom of the Rajputs. It is the oldest because its customs date far back to the kingdoms of Viratnagar, which flourished around 1500 B.C. Also known by the name of Matasya Desh. In this city, the Pandavas (heroes of Mahabharata) spent the last year of their exile of 13 years. It is believed that a member of the Kachh family belonging to Amber founded the city of Amber.
The city is an architectural delight. The numerous forts and palaces with their intricate decorations take away your heart. Apart from that, the tranquil lakes, grand hunting lodges, archeologically importance sites, numerous varieties of birds and animals, etc, make this city a must see on a tour of Rajasthan.
South west of Jaipur, Ajmer is an oasis wrapped in the green hills. The city was founded by Raja Ajay Pal Chauhan in the 7th Century A.D. and continued to be a major centre of the Chauhan power till 1193 A.D. When Prithviraj Chauhan lost it to Mohammed Ghauri. Since then, Ajmer became home to many dynasties. Today, Ajmer is a popular pilgrimage centre for the Hindus as well as Muslims. Especially famous is the Dargah Sharif-tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, which is equally revered by the Hindus and Muslims. It is a centre of culture and education, the British chose Ajmer for its prestigious Mayo College a school exclusively for Indian nobility. Ajmer is also the base for visiting Pushkar (11 km.), the abode of Lord Brahma, lying to its west with a temple and a picturesque lake. The Pushkar Lake is a sacred spot for Hindus. During the month of Kartik (Oct./Nov.), devotes throng in large numbers here to take a dip in the sacred lake.
Ajaipal Chauhan founded Ajmer in the seventh century. He constructed a hill fort "Ajaimeur" or the invincible hill. The Chauhans ruled Ajmer till the 12th century when Prithviraj Chauhan lost Mohammed Ghauri. Thereafter it became a part of the sultanate of Delhi. Ajmer was also favourite residence for the great Mughals. One of the first contacts between the Mughal King Jahangir and Sir Thomas Roe took place here in 1616. The Scindias took over the city in 1818 and then handed it over to the British and it became one of the only part of Rajasthan controlled directly by the East Indian Co.
The bus stand in Ajmer is located near the RTDC hotel Khadim. and the railway is further north and most of the hotels are west of the stations. Northeast is the main post office and most of the cities market is located behind and up to Agra Gate. Further north is a large artificial lake called the Anna Sagar.