ALWAR
– abode of royalty
With its magnificent regal palaces, beautiful lakes, luxurious spaces and huge garden areas, Rajasthan is well known for its famed fairy tale weddings. And when one of your friend breaks open the news of his destination wedding, there is absolutely no way you can sit tight. After all, who can resist a destination wedding and that too in Alwar, Rajasthan!
A wedding was the reason for rendezvous with this lovely city which subsequently made me realize why Alwar is a perfect weekend getaway from NCR.
How to reach:
The nearest airport is Sanganer Airport, Jaipur which is around 165 kms from Alwar.
Where to stay:
If you want to feel like royals then you should plan staying in Ram Bihari Palace which provides a perfect hospitality experience. However there are many places to stay like Neemrana, Dadhikar Fort with some inexpensive options like hostels and camps. If Sariska is in your itinerary then the ideal way would be to spend a night inside the sanctuary.
The journey:
While packing, a perennial thought bombarded me as to how a princess would dress in a royal mansion. Needless to say that I was super excited to begin the trip and the day arrived soon. We (a group of 16) started our journey from Gurgaon in three different vehicles. Since, in such groups coordination becomes a challenge, we hit the highway by 2:00 p.m.
The roads are terrific with occasional petrol pumps and roadside dhabas.
We took a halt at Baba Bharti Dhabha, searched online by a Zomata rank holder (just kidding!!!) and we were not disappointed by the food. We continued our drive through a number of villages, passing the yellow farms, meeting villagers, crossing antediluvian temples and buildings adorned with impeccable Aravallis background. While the groom was anxious waiting for his gang, we on the other hand were thoroughly enjoying this road trip.
We reached just in time for sangeet and had an absolutely amazing evening with dance performances, DJ and the unmatched Rajasthani food.
Completely in awe by the Rajasthani hospitality!
‘D’ Day:
Next day, we decided to explore the city which we have heard so much about. All of us know that the state boasts of Havelis and Forts which has countless stories to share. Traveling in Alwar is a joy ride amongst pristine architectural monuments, bountiful lakes and lively markets. It is adorned with expansive stretches of dense forests inhabited by rich flora and fauna.
Places to visit:
The city was ruled by Rajputs for a long period of time before Mughals took over. If legends are to be believed Pandavas spent the last years of their exile in this Matasya Desh (earlier name) ruled by Suryavanshis. Some of the places that you shouldn’t miss are –
Moosi Maharani ki Chaatri: It was a ten minutes ride from our hotel. Though February is generally cold in North India but we found the city warm in the afternoon. We parked our vehicle and hired a guide.
The splendid architecture of the structure boasts of iconic Rajput royalty. “Moosi Maharni ki Chhatri” was built by Maharaja Vinay Singh in memory of his father Maharaja Bakhtawar singh and his wife Maharni Moosi who had committed Sati (self-immolation). Building boasts of a double layered Indo-Islamic architecture with a pillared red stone cenotaph. Interiors of the architecture has intricate carvings with the upper structure made of marble. The raised Chhatri encloses the foot prints of both late king and queen and are worshipped by locals.
The only sad part was its neglected maintenance because of the contamination of water in the bawri (lake). Our guide told us that it is better known as a suicide point these days because of the increased cases of people jumping in the water (as it is around 45 feet deep).
We took a brunch break at Gilgi- Restaurant & Bistro Café which is located in Moti Doongri, a 10 minutes’ drive and where you can also find host of other eateries. We ordered Italian pasta, Punjabi Chhole Bhature, North Indian Paneer, Dal Makhni, Yellow Daal, South Indian Dosa and what not… and everything tasted heavenly, the only sad part being its snail paced service. Might be they were not accustomed serving a voracious group like us.
Siliserh Lake:
Our next drive was this picturesque lake which was 30 minutes away from Moosi Maharani ki Chahatri. This panoramic lake poses an imposing backdrop to the Silisirh palace which is converted into a heritage hotel.
The most endearing thing to do in this lake is to indulge in some boating. There is a nominal ticket fee at the entrance if you want to do boating depending upon the type of boat you choose. The lake has an inspiring mix of breathtaking beauty and architectutal charisma. We took a boat and enjoyed the serenity of this lake.
It was almost evening when we returned to our place of stay for getting a groove in the wedding.
Last day:
Ceremony was a blast with friends showing their killer moves in baraat, teasing the adorable Dulha and Dulhan (bride and groom), enjoying finger licking food and the wonderful décor. We woke up quite late and thought of visiting the city’s oldest known structure Bala Quila.
Overlooking the city, Bala Quila is the city’s oldest known structure. As you walk through the giant gates you will find ancient scriptures painted on its walls. Ruins of the fort would tell tales of this magnificent beauty against the test of the times.
After spending some time in the fort we went to the nearby market for eating and shopping. There is an entire market named after a dish “Kalakand Market” with the famous shop ‘Baba Thakur das and sons where you can taste the iconic milk cake and buy handicrafts and jewellery. I forgot to click the pictures as I was too tired and hungry.
Well, needless to say it was a super trip with loads of fun and city exploration. If you have sufficient time then you should definitely consider adding Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary in your itinerary. Till then…
Happy hitchhiking !!!
