Alwar surrounded by Aravalli hills, the erstwhile state of Mewat, Alwar is crowned by a magnificent fort that has been a witness to many-a-battles and wars in the turbulent history of Alwar. A Rajput
state for a long time, its nearness to the Mughal capital of Delhi, did not let the city rest in peace until it went into the hands of the Muslims in the 12th and 13th centuries, when Sultan Bulban
managed to crush the revolutionary groups with the iron hand.
Alwar found its place in Mahabharata, where it has been mentioned as the kingdom of Matsya, which was once a hiding place for
Pandavas during their exile for thirteen years. In 1771 A.D. Maharaja Pratap Singh, a hero belonging to a Kuchhwaha Rajput (warrior class) clan of the rulers of Jaipur, won it back and laid the
foundation of a principality of his own. Apart from the tiger-like Rajput soldiers, Alwar is also home to the real tigers (which can be seen in the wildlife sanctuary nearby) due to its rich natural
woods, splendid lakes and valleys. Thus, it is also known as 'The Tiger Gateway To Rajasthan'. |
