Sitting at the base of the Aravali range of mountains is the beautiful and picturesque city of Alwar. The city holds historical importance. Its history is reflected through its architecture in the form of temples, forts, palaces, gardens, etc. The City Palace is one of the main landmarks of Alwar. The City Palace is also known as the Vinay Vilas Mahal.

The City Palace is a perfect example of blend of Indian and Islamic architecture. The majestic structure now houses a museum. Touring the entire palace can take about 1-2 hours. The palace has been well maintained, and tourists can see the beautiful architecture as well as intricately carved and designed interiors of the palace.

History of City Palace

The City Palace was built in the year 1793. It was built by the Raja Vinay Singh. Tourists can climb up the museum located at the top of the palace. The palace has huge marble pavilions built on lotus bases. The palace was once a representation of the royal lifestyle of the maharaja and had a huge drinking cup carved from a sole piece of emerald. The palace today serves as the district collectorate. The halls and corridors of the palace have now been converted into government offices.

Architecture

The architecture of the palace is a typical blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles. The palace features huge gates and beautiful marble domes. The courtyard of the palace is its main feature. There is also a huge water tank in the complex that is used for supplying water. A hall in the palace is named as the Salim Mahal because Jehangir had spent a night in this hall. The ceilings and the walls of the palace feature beautiful murals along with intrinsic mirror work. The colours used in the murals are vibrant and give a fresh look.

The City Palace features as many as 15 tall towers and 51 small towers. There are several entry points to the palace. These points are named as Suraj, Jai, Laxman, Kishan, and Chand Pol and the Andheri Gate.

Major Structures

Museum

The museum is located in the top floor of the palace. The museum features three sections. The first section of the museum is dedicated to royal robes and clay models and toys. The second section has paintings and the third features an exhibition of weapons.

Durbar Hall

This is a pretty hall that has been beautifully carved. There is a small room in this hall that features beautiful frescos and carvings.

Nearby Tourist Attractions

• Moosi Mahrani ki Chatri
• Alwar Fort
• Siliserh Lake
• Jagannath Temple
• Ajabgarh
• The Haunted Bhangarh Fort

The City Palace in Alwar cannot be missed easily. It is one of the finest structures in the city and also among the most important landmarks. The city palace can easily be reached from any part of the city and is known for its museum and beautiful architecture.

How to Reach

The City Palace finds location below the Alwar Fort in the city of Alwar. Alwar can conveniently be accessed from all the main cities in India. The city is well connected by rail, road and air transport. Alwar has a good connectivity of roads and rails.

The city is connected by government and private bus services to all the main cities and towns of Rajasthan. The nearest major city to Alwar is Bhiwadi. Bus service is available from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Deluxe bus service and AC buses are also available from Alwar to Delhi and other main cities in Rajasthan.

Alwar has a railway station located in the centre of the city. Direct trains are available from Alwar to Jaipur and Alwar to Delhi. From the railway station tourists can take taxis to reach their destination in the city.

The nearest airport to Alwar is in Jaipur. The distance between Alwar and Jaipur is 151Km. Jaipur is connected to other major cities of India like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Jodhpur, Goa, etc. by flight. From Jaipur tourists can take taxis or buses; hiring a taxi can cost around Rs 1500.

The City Palace in Alwar is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on all days of the week except Monday. Tourists can get entry into the palace for a fee as small as Rs 5 per person for Indians and Rs 5o per person for foreigners.