Of History,Value,Tigers and Folk-Tales. Review on Alwar

The Calling ~

Termed and Defined as Vacation, Tourism, Holidays is Undermining the Power of Happiness Received from Travelling. The Evolving of the Mind, Learning of the Soul and Realizing that There is much more to the World than just you and your personal Universe. People living in better/worse conditions, tips of survival, what is it Like to be in a Place where Human Beings, Animals and Birds stay together in Harmony. Where Hospitability is Too Big a Word and If you Order Pasta, Soup and Bread for Dinner, its not Considered a Meal!!

The Place~

Alwar is a place which takes more than one visit to empathise with the place, soak city-tired eyes with welcome sights of village simplicity-considering the fact that most of them would still be dressed in traditional costumes, Hukka is still very much in vogue and People still think that Mall is an alien space in their city. What distinguishes the City from other Cities of Real Rajasthan, is that it has Sufficient Greenery and Rainfall! What Puts it a Notch Above all of Them- The Maximum Number of Forts, some dating right back to 1100 AD. It is believed that perhaps Alwar is the only place in whole of Asia where fifty two fort and fortress were assigned by it’s rulers with the purpose of defense and management of their royal state. Apart from history, Alwar also offers an opportunity to explore exotic variety of avifauna, natural beauty with the sightings of Holy Grail the Royal Bengal Tiger, recently re-introduced in Sariska Tiger Reserve to bring the glory back and to re-establish the Royal Bengal Tiger in its western most natural habitat in India. Alwar was a dense forest area during the time of Mahabharat and it is still visible with its thickly wooded Aravalli mountains. According to forest statistics of Rajasthan 2009, fifty eight sq. km. of very dense forest has been ascertained only in Alwar district. Because of its strategic location near imperial Delhi and its position as a gateway to old Rajputana, almost every dynasty and ruler tried to win this part of ancient Matsya Mahajanpad. That’s why the Mauryas, Guptas, Gurjar-Pratihars, Nikumbhs, Khanjadas, Mugals, Jats and kachhwahas ruled this area. The foundation of first city known as Alpur was laid by Maharaj Alaghrai, son of King Kankildev of Amber in 1049 AD. Which was destroyed by Sultan Balban to bring the area under Muslim rule and suppress the populace , who did not accept any external interference and stood up in arms against foreign invasions. The ruins of old Alpur can be seen near Alwar fort, The Bala Quila.

The Rock Paintings~

Since Alwar is cradled in the oldest mountain range of the world it is obvious to find the traces of  earliest human civilization here. The road behind Alwar fort leads to village Hajipur-Dadhikar where prehistoric rock paintings were made by early men. These paintings are situated at the western skyline of village Dhani Dadhikar and the area is known as Shyamsa forest. Some of the rock paintings are really amazing; one of them shows the knowledge of early men about process of photo-synthesis of vegetation. A local NGO Nirvanavan Foundation is doing efforts to protect these rock paintings of great archaeological and anthropological importance.

The Stay~

Dadhikar Fort is again a Lineage from the Past, built by Raja Chaand when he decided to Leave his native city in the lieu of Floods, and shift to Dadhikar. The Pictures of the Fort ruins suggested that Mr Ram Kaushik, now the proud owner of this Fort brought it literally back from the ruins! Nestled in the Valley of Beautiful Mountains, the Village Dadhikar- situated 9 Kms away from the City and Fort can go easily amiss by an Onlooker. Its does not advertise its Regal Lineage- neither you would see a Flock of crazy people falling upon each other. With 11 very well-appointed Royal Suites and Jacuzzis overlooking the Natural Habitat, the Experience is Of Getting a Well-Deserved and Invigorating Travel-Cure. Besides the Human Beings the place also Belongs to the Peacocks, which are the Natural Sparrows of Alwar. The Calls wake you up in the Morning, stay with you the day and in the Evening they as the Winds set in- they turn more consistent and urgent!  The Food is Excellent and So is the Service, with all the “Ghaddi-Khamma” , Dal-Baati-Choorma-dipped in Ghee and Kachori-Kadhee combinations cooked by their Rasoi , one cannot ask for a Better Living. In the Owner’s words as he put it to me with slight moisture in his eyes “It took me a Lot of Courage to Bring this Place back from it was, and despite everybody suggesting me against it and my own Friends telling me that it’s a Useless task, I stayed put”. To tell you He without any course in Architecture or Real Estate has Created a Perfect Instance of One!

Spotting the Tiger~

Still working on the Skills of Spotting One after many visits to Jim Corbett and Ranthambore, Our Fates are still restricted to Deers, Birds, Wild Rabbits, Boars, Monitor Lizards. Considering the Fact that Sariska has very few and all the efforts of Re-habitating ones have failed.

The Fact and The Fiction~

There is no end to the Places to Visit considering the Historical Lineage of this City but for the Traveller like Me these are not just Facts and Places to Visit, but the Fiction attached to it, which Draws me like a Magnet. As one from Natni ka Baara where a Woman-A Natni,walked on a Tight Rope tied between two mountains, when she saw her daughter crying and telling her the distance and height she walked upon, she died due to heart attack. Now here one can see the river Rooparel the main source of water to UNESCO world natural heritage site Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur and Jaisamand Lake Alwar.

Travel Such as These Tells One Things About One-self More Than Any..