The city of Alwar is referred to as the gateway to the historic and colorful state of Rajasthan. Alwarcity is located in the northeastern part of the state. It lies 170 km. south of Delhi and is 150 km. from Jaipur It is flanked by the barren hills of the Aravali range. The climate of Alwar is temperate, but compared to other cities and towns of Rajasthan it is not too hot.         

          The origin of Alwar city goes back to the time of the Mahabharata. It was a part of the ancient kingdom of matsya and it is said that legendary Panddava brothers had spent some time of their exile there. The ancient state of Alwar was probably the oldest kingdom in the state of Rajasthan. It is said that the city was founded by a member of the Kachhwaha  family hailing from the town of Amber. The local Rajput rulers of Alwar had a sweet-bitter relation with the rulers of Delhi in the early medival period and thier was a constant struggle to take control of Alwar. As Alwar was located at a strategic place, the Mughals annexed it and used it to mount military campaigns against the erstwhile Rajput principalitiesand states. The decline of the Mughal rule saw a brief stuggle between Jat and Rajput rulers. Later Pratap singh, a noble, restored parity in 1775. The descendents of Pratap Singh were great patrons of art and under their rule Alwar became an important cultural centre. The later rules forged an alliance with the British that oon broke off, with the latter taking over Alwar.

          Apart from its long history, The city has a rich natural heritage with some beautiful lakes and picturesque valleys thickly wooded in parts. It offers the traveler many sites of historical importance. The ride on the special train, the fairy queen is an added attraction of Alwar.

          There were five gates to enter the town which were named after the names of villages and towns they led to these gates except the Lal Darwaza, still exist in their dilapidated condition. The aera which was formerly occupied by Lal Darwaza and its ghughas now forms the main market, having circular shops around Kailash Burj, Which is commonly known as Hope circus. It was named after Miss Hope, daughter of Lord Linlithgow , the then viceroy of India, on the occasion of his visit to Alwar in 1939-40. It is a circular grotesque figure having flights of steps leading to the top from all the four sides. The spot is midway between the city palace and the railway station.

           About a furlong  from the Hope circus is the Tripolia. The portion between Hope circus and Tripolia is the Bajaj bazar as most of the shpokeepers there are cloth merchants. The Tripolia is a grand mausoleum which is said to have been erected in commemoration of Tarang Sultan, the grandson of Sauber pal alias Naharkhan in 795 A.H. (about 1417 A.D.) The original from had undergone changes and the building now stands with a roof of the flat domes and four gates, one on each side. On the eastern comer of the mausoleum is a Shiva temple. On the west of the Tripplia is Sarrafa bazar, on the north, munshi bazar and on the south is malakhera bazar.

PLACES OF INTEREST  

• City palace.

• Government Museum.

• Sagar.

• Balaquila (The fort).

• Salim Sagar Talab.

• Kishan Kund.

• Purjan Vihar (Company Garden).

SITES NEARBY

• Jai samand Lake (6 km.)

• Vijai Mandir Palace (10 km)

• Sita Ram Temple.

• Fateh Gumbad.

• Siliserh Lake Palace.

• Sariska (36 km.)

• Pandav Pol.

• Bhartrihari.

• Neemrana.