History of Alwar


The history of Alwar dates back to 1500 BC, when Alwar was a part of the Matsya territory of Viratnagar. Alwar is one of the oldest kingdoms in Rajasthan, which is said to exist about 3500 years ago.

The early history of Alwar presents an interesting blend of mythology. The Kauravas are said to have embarked on a cattle-rustling mission in this region. In fact, the war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas is said to have taken place in Alwar. The battle fought in Alwar forms the basis of the epic, The Mahabharata.

Moreover, according to the historical facts about Alwar, Alwar was founded by the Kachh family of Amber. However, the Kachh family could not retain their control over Alwar for a long time and the territory passed on to the Bada Gurjara Rajputs. After the Bada Gurjara Rajputs, Khanzadas took control of Alwar. During this period, Alwar became a part of Mewat. It is interesting to note in this context that Bahadur Nahara of Mewat converted to Islam, in order to acquire the favor of the Emperor of Delhi.

Furthermore, in 1427, the descendants of Bahadur Nahara tried to fortify the territory against the Muslims. It is noteworthy in this context that due to the strategic location of Alwar, the territory witnessed a series of marauds. Aurangzeb is said to have granted Alwar to Sawai Jai Singh but the territory was restored to the Mughal empire after Aurangzeb's visit to Alwar.

The Jats, then, emerged into the political scenario of Alwar. The Jats, who had captured the Alwar fort, were driven out by the Lalawat Narukas between 1775 and 1782. The Lalawat Narukas drove the Jats under the leadership of Pratap Singh. In 1803, the Naruka thakur was awarded the title of Maharaja by the British.

After the independence of India, Alwar was merged with the princely states of Karauli, Bharatpur and Dholpur. Thus, the United State of Matsya was formed but in 1949, the United State of Matsya was merged with Rajasthan .



Last Updated on 19 December 2011