The colossal City Palace is representative of the affluence of the royal family that resided in it. Constructed in the 18th century, the palace still retains the old world charm of the glorious yesteryears of Alwar. It stands on the fringe of the Aravalli mountain range as one of the primary Alwar attractions. It is also called the Vinay Vilas Mahal of Alwar - Rajasthan .
The construction of the City Palace of Alwar was completed in the year 1793 during the reign of Raja Bakhtayar Singh. The design of the palace is a blend of the Indo Islamic architectural style. The central courtyard of the palace houses the shiny marbled lotus flower base. There are 51 small towers and 15 magnificent towers within the palace that overlook the city that lies below. The palace is fortified on all sides with ramparts that rise to great heights and stretch to great lengths. There are 446 musketry opening that reflect the strong security of the palace.
Earlier, the home to the royal family, City Palace at Alwar now houses the office of the district collectorate. The palace was once visited by the great Mughal emperors. As an evidence of their visit, Salim Mahal was named after Jahangir who resided in its premises. The palace has several entrances each of which carry a name of meaning and significance to the people of the city. Some of the entrances are Kishan Pol, Laxman Pol, Jai Pol, Chand Pol, Suraj Pol and Andheri. The palace still retains the container that was carved out of a single emerald.
A visit to the City Palace will reveal the affluence of the royal family that resided and ruled in the region in the earlier centuries.
Last Updated on 19 December 2011
