Page 376 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

374  WESTERN INDIA

of Alwar’s maharajas, include
rare and exquisite copies of the
Persian poet Sa’adi’s Gulistan
(written in 1258) and the Babur
Nama or “Memoirs of Babur”
(1530), superb Mughal and Rajput
miniatures and an awesome
armoury. Particularly intriguing
Gate of the Tomb of Fateh Jang is a macabre coil called nagphas,
used for strangling enemies.
6 Alwar Another unique exhibit is a
silver dining table with dividers,
Alwar district. 150 km (93 miles)
NE of Jaipur. * 260,300. £ @ through which shoals of metal
n RTDC, Nehru Marg, opp fish can be seen swimming. A page from famous Persian poet
railway station, (0144) 234 7348. The cenotaph of Maharaja Sa’adi’s Gulistan
_ Jagannathji Fair (Mar/Apr). Bakhtawar Singh (r.1790–1815)
lies behind the palace, across Mughal emperor Akbar’s heir
The former princely state of a magnificent kund (tank). who was exiled here after he
Alwar is now a dusty, provincial It is locally known as Moosi plotted to kill Abu’l Fazl, the
town, visited by few tourists Maharani ki Chhatri, after his emperor’s official historian.
except those on their way to the mistress, who committed sati Near Alwar’s railway station is
Sariska National Park. Never the- here after he died. An elegant another fine monument, the
less it has some remarkable monument that blends brown Tomb of Fateh Jang, one of
monuments, built by its wealthy sandstone with white marble, Emperor Shah Jahan’s ministers,
rulers in the 18th century, that its ceilings are adorned with built in 1647. This magnificent
are worth seeing. The most gold-leaf paintings. five-storeyed structure is
significant of these is the City On a steep hill above the city dominated by an enormous
Palace, whose architectural is the rugged Bala Qila, a fort dome, and its walls and ceiling
features include a profusion with extensive ramparts, massive feature raised plaster reliefs.
of curved bangaldar roofs and gateways and some spectacular Alwar’s green lung, Company
chhatris (pavilions) as well as views from the top. Originally Bagh, is a lovely garden with
delicate Mughal floral tracery a 10th-century mud fort, it was a greenhouse.
and jalis. The palace, built in added to by the Mughals and
1793, now houses the District Jats, and captured by Pratap P City Palace
Collectorate and Police Head- Singh of Alwar in 1775. Within Near Collectorate. Open daily. &
quarters, and is best viewed the fort is a pretty frescoed E City Palace Museum
from the central courtyard with palace, the Nikumbh Mahal, Open Sat–Thu. Closed public hols.
its lovely marble pavilions. The in the courtyard of which a & ^
lavishly decorated Durbar Hall police wireless station is rather
and the Sheesh Mahal, on the inappropriately sited. Also visible T Moosi Maharani ki Chhatri
first floor, can only be viewed are the ruins of the Salim Mahal, Open Sat–Thu. Closed public hols.
&
with special permission. named after Jahangir (Salim),
A door to the right of the T Bala Qila
courtyard leads to the City Open daily. Written permission not
Palace Museum, spread over required any more. The visitor’s name
three halls on the palace’s upper is entered in a register at the office
storey. Its treasures, which bear of the Superintendent of Police,
witness to the opulent lifestyles City Palace.
T Tomb of Fateh Jang
Near railway station.
Open daily.

The elegant marble pavilion at Moosi Maharani ki Chhatri
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p699 and pp712–13

374-375_EW_India.indd 374 26/04/17 11:46 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm