Alwar

This article is about the municipality in Rajasthan, India. For its namesake district, see Alwar district. For the Hindu saints, see Alwars.

Alwar अलवर
—  city  —
Alwar is famous for its scenic landscape
Alwar
Coordinates: 27.34°N 76.38°E / 27.34; 76.38
Country	India
State	Rajasthan
District	Alwar
Elevation	268 m (879 ft)
Population (2011)
• city	315,310
• Metro	341,383
Languages
• Official	Hindi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	3010 01
Telephone code	+0144
Vehicle registration	RJ-02
Website	http://alwar.nic.in/

Alwar (Rajasthani: अलवर) is a city and administrative headquarters of Alwar District in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is located around 160 km south of Delhi, and about 150 km north of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. India's highest ever recorded temperature of 50.6 °C was measured at Alwar on 10 May 1956.

Alwar was formerly the capital of the princely state of Alwar. It was formerly spelt as "Ulwar" in British India. This placed it in last position in alphabetically ordered lists, so a king changed the spelling to "Alwar" to bring it to the top.^{[citation needed]}

Neemrana

History

Main article: Alwar State

The princely state of Alwar was founded by Pratap Singh, a Rajput of the Kachwaha lineage, in 1770. His son, aided the British against the Marathas. After the battle of Laswari (1803) Alwar became the first state of Rajputana to sign a treaty of 'Offensive and Defensive Alliance' with the East India Company. A few years later, Bakhtawar Singh ventured an armed incursion into neighbouring Jaipur, the senior Kachwaha state, and the erstwhile overlord of his predecessor. Varun Talwar was defeated; a fresh engagement was made with him by the East India Company, prohibiting him from political intercourse with other states without British consent. During the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, Raoraja Bane Singh sent a force consisting mainly of Muslims and Rajputs, to relieve the British garrison in Agra. The Muslims deserted and the rest were defeated by the rebels. Pran Sukh Yadav, who fought beside Rao Tula Ram of Rewari in 1857, settled along with the kinsmen of dead soldiers at Village Nihalpura, Behror Tehsil, of Alwar District.

Alwar acceded unto the dominion of India following the independence of India in 1947. On 18 March 1948, the state merged with three neighbouring princely states (Bharatpur, Dholpur and Karauli) to form the Matsya Union. On 15 May 1949, it was united with neighbouring princely states and the territory of Ajmer to form the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan.

Rulers of Alwar state

• Pratap Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1775–1791) Maharao of Alwar
• Bakhtawar Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1791–1815) Maharao of Alwar
• Bane Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1815–1857) Maharao of Alwar
• Sheodan Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1857–1874) Maharao Raja of Alwar
• Mangal Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1874–1892) Maharaja of Alwar
• Jai Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1892–1937) Maharaja of Alwar
• Tej Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1937–1971) Maharaja of Alwar (titular Maharaja from 1971–2009)

Theories behind the name of Alwar

There are many theories behind the name of Alwar
1. The name from Salwapur
2. The second derivation is related from geographic location
3. The third derivation is from theory of Alaval Khan of Mewati
4. The fourth derivation is from research of Maharaja Jai Singh

Geography

Alwar is located at 27.57°N 76.6°E / 27.57; 76.6. It has an average elevation of 271 metres (889 feet).

Mineral resources

Alwar is fairly rich in mineral wealth. It produces marble, granite, feldspar, dolomite, quartz, lime stone, soap stone, barites, copper clay, copper ore and pyrophylite.

Demographics

According to 2011 census the population of Alwar is 315,310.

Religions in Alwar[citation needed]
Religion			Percent
Hindus			77%
Muslims			17%
Jains			4.7%
Others†			1.3%
Distribution of religions †Includes Sikhs (0.2%), Buddhists (<0.2%).

Administration

Alwar district has 12 tehsils:

• Alwar
• Bansur
• Behror
• Kathumar
• Kishangarh Bas
• Kotkasim
• Laxmangarh
• Mundawar
• Rajgarh
• Ramgarh
• Thanagazi
• Tijara

Villages in Alwar

A full list of all villages in Alwar district is available.

Agriculture

Alwar has an important place in Agriculture production in Rajasthan. Total geographical area of the district is 7,83,281 hectares which is about 2.5 percent of the State. In 2010–2011 the net cultivated area is 5,07,171 hecters from which about 83 percent area viz. – 4,51,546 is irrigated and remaining 17 percent area viz. – 82,903 is unirrigated. Double cropped area is 2,52,049 hectares of which 32,230 hecter (12%) area is irrigated and remaining 2,19,819 hecter (88%) area is unirrigated. Thus, the total cropped area of the district is 8,12,873 hecters. In Kharif season Bajra, Maize, Jowar, Karif pulses, Arhar, Sesamum, Cotton, Guar etc. are sown in about 3,29,088 hectare (42%) and in Rabi season Wheat, Barley, Gram, Mustard, Taramira, Rabi pulses etc. are sown in about 4,52,527 hectare (58%). The main source of irrigation are wells and Tube Wells. By 26064 Tube Wells about 192861 hectare area is being irrigated and by 57196 Wells about 265169 hectares area is irrigated. By other sources like canals, tanks about 404 hectares area is irrigated. About 35470 electric motors and 66502 Diesel pump sets are being used for Irrigation purposes. The normal rainfall for the district is 657.3 mm. The average rainfall in last ten years in the district is 724 mm. The rainfall distribution in the district is uneven and scattered which resulted some times flood problems and some time draught position which affect the Agriculture production as well as cropping pattern in Kharif & Rabi season. Thus, the Agriculture in the district by and large depends on rainfall distribution. The average rainfall in 2011 up to sep. is 217 mm.

Culture

Ethnicity

The Residents of Alwar are from different communities. Alwar was a part of Matsya region. The principal communities are the Ahirs, Meos, Rajputs, Gujjars and Jats. Baniyas. Mali (Saini).

Cuisine

Alwar is famous for its Kalakand (Milk-Cake), a world famous dessert. This is a special desert made of Milk. Its demand from all over the world has given Alwar a special name on the map of world.

Kite Festival

The people of Alwar celebrate the festival of Rakshabandhan enthusiastically by flying kites. In this sport they compete to cut each other's kite.

Ayurvedic Medicines

Alwar is famous for variety of Ayurvedic and Unani Medicinal Products. Many ayurvedic firms originated here. One of the oldest ayurvedic firm is 'Lokopkarak Pharmaceutical Works'

Local attractions and excursions

Museum near Alwar fort with Aravalli hill in background

Alwar rail station outside

Alwar Junction

Alwar contains many interesting and historical monuments. The city has a beautiful lake and a picturesque valley. The Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in the Aravalli hills only a few kilometres away from Alwar. The sanctuary, which is a Project Tiger reserve, also boasts of many other species, including rare birds and plants. The military cantonment of Itarana lies on the outskirts of Alwar. Hill Fort Kesroli now a heritage hotel is also near by.

Raj Rishi College has existed in Alwar for over a hundred years.

Fairy Queen

Fairy Queen is the oldest working engines in the world and one of national treasure (cultural artifacts) of India. The engine was built in 1855 and acquired by the Eastern Indian Railways from a British firm. Now the train is used for tourism purposes that departs from the Delhi encampment and reaches its destination at Alwar, in Rajasthan.

Tourism

The Sariska Palace within Sariska Tiger Reserve

Siliserh Lake surrounded by green Aravalli Hills

• The Alwar fort (Bala Quila)
• Sariska Tiger Reserve
• Sariska (horse)
• Siliserhlake
• City Palace, Alwar
• Jagannath Temple
• Narayani Mata
• Ajabgarh
• Bhangarh
• Vijay Mandir Palace
• Jain Mandir, Tijara
• Naldeshwar
• Karni Mata Temple
• Pandupole
• Bharathari
• Taal-Vraksh
• Jaysamand Lake
• Saagar, Dam
• Barrod – Fort and Rundha, Old Sikar Gaha
• Moti dungri
• Itarana
• Jambhu-Sana
• Bhagat Singh Circle
• Dehmi

List of River in Alwar

• Sahibi River, North Aravali Region
• Ruparail River, North Eastern Aravali Region, Neelkanth

• List of rivers of Rajasthan

• List of Dam of Rajasthan

• List of Barrage of Rajasthan

• List of Dam of India
• List of lakes in India
• List of dams and reservoirs in India
• Reservoirs in India

Colleges in Alwar

• • Gauri Devi Govt. College for Women
• Babu Shobharam Govt. Arts College
• Siddhi Vinayak College, Alwar
• Laxmi Devi Institute of Engg. and Tech.,Chikani
• Institute of Engg. and Tech.,MIA: Institute of Engineering & Technology
• Sunrise University
• Govt. Shastri Shanskrit College, Alwar
• Alwar Institute of Engg. and Tech.,MIA
• Modern Institute of Technology and Research Centre
• karam mano vikas sansthan special college of D.ed sc(MR) and B.ed sc (MR)

References

• Powlett, P. W. (1838). Gazetteer of Ulwur (Alwar). London : Trübner & co. 

External links

• Official website
• Brief history of princely Alwar
• History of District Alwar
• Brief History and Coins of Princely State: Alwar
• Alwar Information
• Gazetteer of Ulwur
• Alwar and Sariska National Park
• One of the oldest ayurvedic firm