Introduction
Alwar presently is one of the popular tourist destinations in Rajasthan. But in ancient India it was an important political center. Several fights have been fought by warrior clans to bring Alwar district under their control. Finally it was the Rajputs who brought political stability to the district. As a historical district it had been a witness to the exile of the Pandavas and numerous wars of succession. A part of the Matsya Desha, it was also the capital of the princely states even under the British rule. Post independence the capital of Rajasthan was shifted to Jaipur. As the travelers enter Alwar they will find a quaint district nestled at the foot of the Aravalli Hills. Besides the historical importance Alwar District is also a charming sight to behold.
Location of Alwar District
The district of Alwar is located in the northeastern part of Rajasthan. Situated at the foothills of the Aravalli ranges the pictorial beauty of Alwar is impressive. It is accessible from both Jaipur and Delhi. From Jaipur it is located at a distance of 150 kilometers. Trains are also available from most of the Rajasthani cities to arrive at Alwar.
History of Alwar
Alwar is considered the oldest kingdom in Rajasthan. The history of Alwar is steeped into mythology and folklore. In ancient India it was a part of the Matsya Kingdom, which the Kauravas embarked on the cattle-rustling mission, which resulted in the famous war of Kurukshetra with the Pandavas. The history of Alwar dates back to 1500 BC when it was formed a part of the Matsya territory of Viratnagar. The region of Viratnagar also included Karauli, Bharatpur and Dholpur.
Hence the very foundations of the district are rooted in the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. With a history that is 3500 years old the district of Alwar still stands tall as a popular tourist destination in Rajasthan. The name Matsya Desh simply means the `land of the fish`. It is in this place that the Pandavas spent the 13th year of exile. The local people of this land helped the Pandavas in their battle against Kauravas.
During the medieval era Alwar rose to prominence. Because of its strategic location the state was a source of interest to the Mughals, Marathas, the Jats of Bharatpur, Nikumbha and Kachhawaha Rajputs and the British. All of these groups have ruled Alwar. As a result the cultural influences of Alwar are quite varied. The first to occupy the throne of Alwar was the Nikumbhas. They had also built a fort. The ruins of this fort are still visible within the district. As far as the Mughals are concerned they made Alwar their base and from here they had fought many crucial battles against Ranthambore. After the Mughals it was the turn of the Jats to rule this district.
Finally Alwar received political stability in the hands of Thakur Pratap Singh belonging to the Kachhawaha Rajputs from Jaipur. Even with an average economic condition this ruling class was able to gift the district with splendid palaces and led a life in utmost luxury. However, such squandering nature resulted in the downfall of the Kachhawaha Rajputs. This disgruntled the masses.
However, it cannot be denied that it was Pratap Singh who rescued Alwar from a political instability. He became an ally of the British and he was awarded the title of Maharaja by the British. In the year 1771 Alwar became the youngest Rajput Kingdom. After Maharaja Pratap Singh Bakhtawar Singh succeeded to the throne of Alwar. As historical evidence his chhatri is to be found in the city of Alwar.
Raja Banai Singh is another commendable name in the history of Rajasthan. He ruled Alwar from 1815 to 1857 AD. He was a great lover of art and contributed significantly in the beautification of Alwar. However the greatest name in its history has to be Maharaja Jai Singh. the succeeded to the throne in the year 1902 AD. He ruled for 30 years and is well known for his sophisticated lifestyle. He was deposed by the British. Post independence Alwar merged with the dominion of India.
Economy of Alwar District
Agriculture is the chief contributor towards the economy of the district. Alwar occupies an important place in the agricultural production of Rajasthan state. The total geographical area of the district is 7, 82,897 hectares which is about 2.5 percent of the state. A number of crops arte grown here at Alwar. In the Kharif season, bajra, maize, jowar, Kharif pulses, arhar, sesamum, cotton, guar etc. are sown in about 3,29,088 hectares (42 percent). In the Rabi season wheat, barley, gram, mustard, Rabi pulses etc. are sown in about 4, 52,527 hectares (58 percent). Thus, the total cropped area of the district is 7, 81,615 hectares. The prime source of irrigation here are wells and tube wells. An area of around 192861 hectares is being irrigated by 26064 tube wells, and 57196 wells irrigate about 265169 hectares. By other sources like canals and tanks, an area of about 404 hectares is irrigated.
The average normal rainfall in the district is around 657.3 mm. The distribution of rainfall in the district is uneven and scattered. This results sometimes in flood and sometimes in draught situation which has a detrimental effect on agricultural production. The cropping pattern in Kharif and Rabi season is greatly affected by the uneven pattern of rainfall, and therefore agriculture as a whole is dependant on the vagaries of monsoon.
The industrial scenario in the district is on a gradual rise. There are a total of fifteen industrial areas developed by RIICO at Alwar district. Large and medium scale industries figure at 287. Most of them are located in the various industrial areas of Alwar district.
Foreign export plays an important role in the economy of Alwar district. A wide range of products are being exported by the industries established in Alwar district. These include shaving blades, hand tools, surgical blades, synthetic blended fabrics, empty hard gelatin capsules, leather shoes, subscriber carrier system, tyre-tube, picture tube, chemicals, sanitary items, crockery, suiting, slate tile, different chemicals like calcium cyanide, alkalies, salt, PVC cable sanitary ware, readymade garments etc.
Keeping in view the location of the district, availability of most of the required infrastructural facilities and resources, a few units of large/medium scale apart of the units of small scale sector have been proposed for the district. The work of industrial promotion and development has been assigned mainly to the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Ltd. (RIICO). Apart from this main organisation, there are a number of other organisations, such as the Rajasthan Financial Corporation (RFC), Commissioner of Industries and the Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (RSIC), Rajasthan Consultancy Organisation Ltd. (RAJCON) etc, which are actively involved in promotional work for the development of industries in the Alwar district.
Proposals have been made to organise industrial promotion campaigns at Alwar, Khaithal, Kherli and Shajanpur to create awareness among local people of the areas about the benefits of industrialization, along with the various package of concessions, facilities and services offered by the Government and other concerned institution for the development of industries in their district.
Tourism in Alwar District
The best time to visit Alwar would be from November to March. The district of Alwar is well connected by air and road with the rest of Rajasthan. The nearest airport is Jaipur, located at a distance of 143 kilometers. Since summers are quite hot in Alwar light clothes will be comfortable. As far as the winters are concerned light woolen clothes are recommended.
Monuments Of Alwar
The monuments of Alwar are an impressive display of the architectural splendour of the Rajput rulers. The greatest draws of Alwar are its forts and palaces, apart from other places of religious worship constructed centuries back. The monuments of Alwar are a top draw for tourists visiting any part of Rajasthan. Also known as the tiger gate of Rajasthan, it is protected on all sides by a rampart and moat, except where the hills crowned by the fort secure it from attack. There are five gates to the city, within which lie the chief buildings. It is perched amidst a cluster of hills on the Aravalli mountain range.
A number of monuments are found in Alwar, all of them a glowing tribute to the architectural heights achieved by the Rajasthani sculptors. A number of religious monuments are also to be found at Alwar. Most of these are dedicated to Hindu gods since the Rajput rulers of the region were Hindu by faith.
An ancient Jain temple is also to be found at Alwar. It is dedicated to the eighth Trithankar Shri Chandra Prabhu Bhagwan. It is adorned with elaborate carvings, paintings, exquisite pillars, and arches. It is an important site of Jain pilgrimage.
Another pilgrimage site found here is that of Bharathari. It revolves around the legend of King Bharathari who is said to have wandered about in this region in exile. He did this as penance for harboring suspicions against his younger brother Vikramaditya, the renowned king of Malwa.
Also when taking off from Tehla village, along the way, is seen a remarkable sight of ruins which are several centuries old and marvelously carved temples which are studded on a small hillock. There is a highly venerated temple of Lord Shiva here which is worshipped even today. Equally remarkable is a giant statue of the 23rd Jain Trithankar, locally known as the Nogaza. It has been carved out of a single block of stone.
Some Muslim tombs are also to be found here. The Tomb of Fatehjang built in 1647, is a local landmark, with a huge dome and internal plasterwork ornament in low relief. The Tomb of Tarang the brother of Emperor Firuz Shah Tughlaq is also found here. It was built in the mid seventeenth century and is called the Tripolia. Besides these religious monuments a number of historical monuments are also to be found in Alwar.
The monuments of Alwar bear ample testimony to the heights reached by the Rajasthani craftsmen in the field of art and architecture. They evidence the might and majesty of the fearless Rajput warriors and excellent artistry and engineering skills of the sculptors of the age.
Accommodation in Alwar are varied. While some of these are heritage hotels others can be categorized into budget accommodations. The services in these accommodation units are world class. Most of the hotels are located near the city center. Hence the travelers will have no trouble in finding them out.
Places of Interest in Alwar
The Rajputs had built several interesting places of tourism such as monuments at Alwar. Though these are not as grand as the ones in Jaipur or Udaipur, they worth the tourist`s visit. Bala Qila, City Palace and Neemrana are some of the places that comprise of the sightseeing in Alwar.
Places Around Alwar
Other than the sites located within the district there are tourist spots that are situated outside Alwar. Located at a short distance from Alwar they are quite well known amongst tourists. Excursion tours are available from the district to these nearby attractions.
Sariska National Park: One of the most popular tourist destinations it is famous for tigers. These majestic animals are easily visible at Sariska. This is probably the reason why it is thronged with tourists. Besides tigers other wild animals are also easily visible here. The flora of the national park is impressive. Safaris will make the trip to Sariska more appealing.
Deeg : It is located at a short distance from the distance of Alwar. Here the travelers will come across forts, lake palaces and a bird sanctuary that lies close by. The architecture of the Deeg fort will remind one of the Mughal architecture. The other constructions also reflect an impact of the Mughals.
Siliserh Palace and Lake: It is at a distance of 13 kilometers from Alwar city. It was built by Maharaja Vinay Singh in the year 1845. This picturesque lake becomes the abode of migratory birds in summer. The entire surrounding of the reposeful is transformed as these guests keep chirping and add colors to the lake. Cenotaphs had been constructed at the banks of the lake. Today a tourist bungalow had been built.
Vijai Mandir Palace: The palace is located 10 kilometers away from Alwar. There is a temple with idols of Lord Ram and Sita, his wife. Maharaja Jai Singh built the palace in 1981. The scenic beauty of the surrounding place is outstanding.
Talvrakash: It is a popular tourist destination and is situated on the Sariska-Alwar road. The hot sulphur spring is also worth checking out. Pilgrims who came here take a dip in it. Watch out for the langurs that roam freely here.
