Alwar A legacy of Rajasthan

The former hunting reserve of the maharaja of Alwar, the Sariska valley is home to a spread of flora and fauna. The park has populations of tigers, nilgai, sambar, chital etc. One can spot Indian porcupine, striped hyenas, leopards during evenings. The place may be a paradise for bird lovers because it shelters an outsized population of Indian peafowl, crested serpent eagles, sand grouse, golden backed woodpeckers, great Indian horned owls, tree pies, vultures and lots of others.

Most of the landscape of the sanctuary is formed of dry deciduous forests, which flank the serene Siliserh Lake within the north east. The sanctuary is strewn with ruins of ancient temples dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries. a number of the highlights are the ruins of the Kankwari Fort and therefore the 10th century Neelkanth temples. The thanks to the temples is rough but the architecture and therefore the Khajuraho-like carvings will simply leave the visitor in awe of the place. The temples are 30 km inside the reserve wherein one can spot beautiful birds like peacocks. there's also a monolithic stone statue of the Jain tirthankar, Shantinath, about 100 m faraway from the temples. Another interesting site of spiritual importance within the Sariska Sanctuary is that the Pandupol, which is believed to be the place where Bhima (the strongest of the Pandavas) defeated the large demon Hidimb and earned the hand of his sister Hidimba. it's also believed that Bhima took refuge here while the Pandavas were on their exile. One can find variety of langurs, peafowl, spur fowls within the area.
Declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1955 , Sariska acquired the status of a park within the year 1979. the simplest time to go to the sanctuary is from October to June.

What was once a ruined fort dating back to the 14th century has now been became a heritage hotel. The fort is perched on an outsized rock and boasts a splendid layout and style . With robust walls running around, it’s mostly made from granite and has numerous pillars supporting it. Everything about this structure is large and spacious– halls, windows, roof and verandahs. It can house quite 100 people and from here one can get a gorgeous view of the town . Keeping in mind its historical significance, the fort has been declared a heritage site by the govt of India.

Today, a lavish hotel, visitors can come here to explore nature and obtain a sense of how royals of the past lived. The Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary nearby may be a great place to go to .
It is believed that the fort was built by the Yaduvanshis (the descendants of Lord Krishna). it had been initially captured by the Mughals, followed by the Jats before it came into the hands of the Rajputs in 1775. It assumed prime importance under the ruler Ranawat Thakur, Bhawani Singh (1882-1934).

Nestled within the Aravalli range, the large Bala Qila fort is nothing but a grand monument. Built because the guardian of the town by Hasan Khan Mewati, Rajput ruler of Mewat, within the 15th century, the fort is perched at a height of 300 m. The structure is strongly fortified and boasts marble columns complemented by delicate latticed balconies. the dimensions of the fort are often imagined by its six grand gates, namely Pol, Suraj Pol, Laxman Pol, Chand Pol, Krishan Pol and Andheri Gate. Today, tourists climb up to the fort, from where they will get sweeping views of the town of Alwar.

The Bala Qila or the young fort, was an influence centre during its golden days and was skilled dynasties like Yadavas, Marathas and Kachwaha Rajputs, who sought to rule the region. In fact, the inspiration of the town of Alwar was laid down by the Kachwahas in 1775 after they captured the fort. one among the few forts inbuilt the state before the increase of the Mughals, it's indeed a treasure. it's said that Mughal emperors Babur and Akbar have also stayed here.
At present, the fort features a transmitter station and only a couple of parts are often visited upon the permission of the Superintendent of Police at the town Palace Complex.

The historical region of Bairath is understood for the excavated remains of a circular Buddhist temple, one among the earliest known shrines of its kind in India, Ashokan inscriptions and a monastery. Relics of the Mughal, Rajput and Mauryan periods have also been found here. In past , Bairath was called Viratnagar and was the then capital of Matysa king, Virat. Legend has it that the Pandavas, of the epic Mahabharata, spent a year here during their exile. 

Chinese traveller, Xuanzang, considered Bairath an excellent place for Buddhist pilgrimage. Other excavations reveal that it had been a neighborhood of the Mauryan empire and a Buddhist centre from the 3rd century BC to the first century AD. this is often proved by two rock edicts found here, which are believed to be among the 84,000 rock edicts and pillar inscriptions that were engraved during the rule of Ashoka to spread and preach the teachings of Lord Buddha. The town was also a crucial centre during the rule of Mughal emperor, Akbar, who built a coin factory here.