|
Bala Qila
Fort, which bound the people to
watch its magnetic beauty, towering on a hill dominating the town, is
the BALA QILA (young fort). Amazing fortifications surround the NIKUMBHA
MAHAI PALACE at the top, which has graceful Bengal caned marble columns
and delicate latticed balconies. The fort is 595 mts. above the city,
and extends about 5 Kms from north and south and 1.6 Kms from east and
west. The fort has 15 large and 51 small towers, which contains 446
loopholes for the musketry, its eight towers all around defend it. The
most magnificent were 3,599 kanguras, each containing two loopholes for
musketry. The fort can be entered through six gates, namely JAI POL,
SURAJ POL, LAXMAN POL, CHAND POL, KRISHAN POL and ANDHERl GATE.
City Palace
The City Palace was built in 1793 A.D. by Raja Bakhtawar Singh. It
represents a intermingling of Rajput and Mughal stvles. It has graceful
marble pavilions set on lotus flower bases in the central courtyard.
Once this palace was part of the Maharajas ornate lifestyle and housed,
among other things, a drinking cup cut out of a single emerald in its
treasury and a mammoth, double storied four-elephant carriage in its
stables. Today however the palaces has been converted into the districts
collectorate, and its hall and chambers have a been turned into
government offices.
The Museum
The palace Museum has a wonderful collection of exhibits of the personal
wealth of the Maharajas of Alwar and some rare manuscripts including an
illustrated Mahabharata on a 200-foot-long scroll, Others prize pieces
here after illustrated manuscripts of GULISTAN, SHAHNAMA,
and on EMPEROR Babur’s life. There are also some fine RAGAMALA paintings
and miniatures from the Alwar, Bundi, and Mughal school it has an armory
section, which has some historic swords belonging to the likes of Sultan
Muhammad Ghori, Emperor Akbar and Aurangzeb.
Rani Moosi Chhatri
The centopath reflects Indo-lslamic style of architecture. The upper
portion in marble with columned pavilions and domed arches with
exquisite floral tracery rests over the pillared red sand stone story.
Mythological and court scenes in fading gold leaf painting and sculpture
adorn the ceiling. The memorial is rated as one of the finest in its
class. The picturesque SAGAR is concrete catchments with a pattern of
stairs and tiny kiosks in perfect symmetry along the sides.
Tomb of Fateh Jung
This spectacular tomb has a massive dome, which is a fine blend of Hindu
and Islamic architectural styles. Fateh Jung was a minister of Mughal
Emperor Shah Jahan and related to the Khanzada rulers of Alwar.
Purjan Vihar (Company Garden)
The beautiful garden was laid out during the reign of Maharaja Shiv
Dan Singh built in1868 a most picturesque place locally known as Simla
(the Summer House), was added to lush greenery of this garden do not
give the blazing sun a chance to peep in. The garden was originally
named Company Garden, later on Maharaja Jai Singh changed it to PURJAN
VIHAR.
Vijay Mandir Palace- It is the
royal residence of Maharaja Jai Singh built in 1918. The largely
uninhabited palace is a window on the life style of the royals.
Migratory1 birds and waterfowls can be obsened feeding on fish in the
small lake, beside the palace. Vijay Mandir, a sprawling, coupled palace
with 105 rooms and a beautifully laid out garden lies 6 miles outside
Alwar Reflected picturesquely in the waters of Vijay Sagar Lake, it is
said to have been designed along the lines of a ship like all the
ventures of its builder, the sinister and dazzling Maharaja Jai Singh.
 |
|
