Home » Rajasthan Palaces » Vinay Vilas Mahal Alwar
The City Palace was built in 1793 A.D. by Raja Bakhtawar Singh. It represents a intermingling of Rajput and Mughal styles. It has graceful marble pavilions set on lotus flower bases in the central courtyard. Once this palace was part of the Maharajas ornate lifestyle and housed, among other things, a drinking cup cut out of a single emerald in its treasury and a mammoth, double storied four-elephant carriage in its stables. Today however the palaces has been converted into the district's collect orate, and its hall and chambers have a been turned into government offices.
Once this palace was part of the Maharajas ornate lifestyle and housed, among other things, a drinking cup cut out of a single emerald in its treasury and a mammoth, double storied four-elephant carriage in its stables. Today however the palaces has been converted into the district's collectorate, and its hall and chambers have a been turned into government offices. This huge fort with its ramparts stretching 5 km from east to west, stands 304 meters above the city and 595 meters above the sea level, constructed before the rise of the Mughal empire .Babar had spent a night at this fort and took away the hidden treasures to gift to his son, Humayun. Akbar's son, Jahangir had also stayed here for some time during his exile. The place where he stayed is called Salim Mahal.
The ancient city of Alwar nestled at the foothills of the Aravali Range is a buzzing industrial town today. However its rich history is reflected through its many temples, forts, tombs, gardens and palaces. The monument of the city gives you a perfect example of the Indo Islamic architecture. Perched atop the hill is an ancient and derelict fort that is taken to be the landmark of the city. Sariska wildlife sanctuary lies in close proximity to Alwar. For historians and Heritage lovers Alwar is an ideal place where you can take a leisurely walk through the many forts and tombs that tells of a bygone era. City Palace, Alwar, was set up by Raja Bakhtayar Singh in 1793 A.D. It is a perfect blend of Indo Islamic architecture. This imposing structure has a central courtyard has a lotus flower base constructed in marble. In its hay days it is said to have housed some of the great Mughal kings like Babar and Jahangir.
The Architectural Splendor
Situated just below the fort, the palace complex is a large and imposing one with massive gates. Vinay Vilas Palace is a glorious blend of Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture. Maharaja Bakhtawar Singh built most of it in 1793, later added on by his successors. The checkered Central Courtyard is where marble pavilions are set on lotus bases and walls lined with canopied balconies. If one could go back in time, one could even have seen dancing girls perform here by moonlight. As you enter you'll come upon the splendid Durbar Hall, with its walls and ceilings richly decorated with ornate arabesques. In a little chamber beyond is an exquisite frieze of miniature paintings running along the wall and sealed under glass. Visitors need special permission form the Maharaja of Alwar (at Alwar House, New Delhi) to see this section. The evocative zenana (women's apartments) was the setting for the 'Antony and Cleopatra' scene in the famous Merchant-Ivory film, Shakespeare Wallah. Its cupolaed pavilions and trellised balconies formed a good background for the actors.
The Picturesque Garden
Adjoining the palace is a beautiful garden, Purjan Vihar (Company Garden). The lush cool shades make it hard to believe that it is so close to the Great Indian Desert. Laid by Maharaja Shiv Dan Singh in 1868, the garden was once watered by a channel from the Siliserh Sagar 10km away (see Siliserh). However, the duct is no longer functional. The Company Garden even has a pretty nook called Shimla which was a later addition by Maharaja Mangal Singh in 1885. We don't know why it was called Shimla; it may have had something to do with the British. After all, it was too the hill station Shimla where they all rushed to when the heat of the plains got too much.
Museum
The upper storey of Vinay Vilas Palace houses a Museum which is divided into three sections, each housed in a big hall. This is where quite a few of Alwar's legendary treasures are displayed. This includes one of the finest collections of Mughal and Rajput painting dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, objects made from jade, ivory and silver. Some of these testify to the wealth of the kings of Alwar, like a pair of ivory slippers and a silver dining table with legs shaped like a lion’s feet. There’s also beautiful brass and pottery works from Jaipur, Multan (now near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border), Bengal and Ceylon (Sri Lanka). In the armoury section are kept the swords of Sultan Mohammad Ghori (the late 12th century ruler of Delhi) and of the Mughal emperors Akbar and Aurangzeb. There is also a fine collection of Rajput weapons like various kinds of shields, swords, pistols, rifles and daggers. Among the musical instruments kept in the museum is a sitar (large string instrument) in the shape of a peacock. The stone exhibits include a 11th century sculpture of Vishnu (the Preserver of the Creator-Preserver-Destroyer Trinity).
The Ancient Manuscripts in Museum
There are also some ancient manuscripts in Persian, Arabic, Urdu and Sanskrit. Don't miss the illustrated copy of the Mahabharata painted by the artists of the Alwar School. It is a 200-feet long scroll made from a single length of paper. But the most valued piece is perhaps the copy of the Gulistan (or Garden of Roses, originally written by Sheikh Saadi), a masterpiece of calligraphy. Originally written in 1258AD by Sheikh Muslihuddin-Sadi, this copy was commissioned by Vinay Singh in 1858, and the scribes spent 12 long years over it!
Once this palace was part of the Maharajas ornate lifestyle and housed, among other things, a drinking cup cut out of a single emerald in its treasury and a mammoth, double storied four-elephant carriage in its stables. Today however the palaces has been converted into the district's collectorate, and its hall and chambers have a been turned into government offices. This huge fort with its ramparts stretching 5 km from east to west, stands 304 meters above the city and 595 meters above the sea level, constructed before the rise of the Mughal empire .Babar had spent a night at this fort and took away the hidden treasures to gift to his son, Humayun. Akbar's son, Jahangir had also stayed here for some time during his exile. The place where he stayed is called Salim Mahal.
The ancient city of Alwar nestled at the foothills of the Aravali Range is a buzzing industrial town today. However its rich history is reflected through its many temples, forts, tombs, gardens and palaces. The monument of the city gives you a perfect example of the Indo Islamic architecture. Perched atop the hill is an ancient and derelict fort that is taken to be the landmark of the city. Sariska wildlife sanctuary lies in close proximity to Alwar. For historians and Heritage lovers Alwar is an ideal place where you can take a leisurely walk through the many forts and tombs that tells of a bygone era. City Palace, Alwar, was set up by Raja Bakhtayar Singh in 1793 A.D. It is a perfect blend of Indo Islamic architecture. This imposing structure has a central courtyard has a lotus flower base constructed in marble. In its hay days it is said to have housed some of the great Mughal kings like Babar and Jahangir.
The Architectural Splendor
Situated just below the fort, the palace complex is a large and imposing one with massive gates. Vinay Vilas Palace is a glorious blend of Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture. Maharaja Bakhtawar Singh built most of it in 1793, later added on by his successors. The checkered Central Courtyard is where marble pavilions are set on lotus bases and walls lined with canopied balconies. If one could go back in time, one could even have seen dancing girls perform here by moonlight. As you enter you'll come upon the splendid Durbar Hall, with its walls and ceilings richly decorated with ornate arabesques. In a little chamber beyond is an exquisite frieze of miniature paintings running along the wall and sealed under glass. Visitors need special permission form the Maharaja of Alwar (at Alwar House, New Delhi) to see this section. The evocative zenana (women's apartments) was the setting for the 'Antony and Cleopatra' scene in the famous Merchant-Ivory film, Shakespeare Wallah. Its cupolaed pavilions and trellised balconies formed a good background for the actors.
The Picturesque Garden
Adjoining the palace is a beautiful garden, Purjan Vihar (Company Garden). The lush cool shades make it hard to believe that it is so close to the Great Indian Desert. Laid by Maharaja Shiv Dan Singh in 1868, the garden was once watered by a channel from the Siliserh Sagar 10km away (see Siliserh). However, the duct is no longer functional. The Company Garden even has a pretty nook called Shimla which was a later addition by Maharaja Mangal Singh in 1885. We don't know why it was called Shimla; it may have had something to do with the British. After all, it was too the hill station Shimla where they all rushed to when the heat of the plains got too much.
Museum
The upper storey of Vinay Vilas Palace houses a Museum which is divided into three sections, each housed in a big hall. This is where quite a few of Alwar's legendary treasures are displayed. This includes one of the finest collections of Mughal and Rajput painting dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, objects made from jade, ivory and silver. Some of these testify to the wealth of the kings of Alwar, like a pair of ivory slippers and a silver dining table with legs shaped like a lion’s feet. There’s also beautiful brass and pottery works from Jaipur, Multan (now near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border), Bengal and Ceylon (Sri Lanka). In the armoury section are kept the swords of Sultan Mohammad Ghori (the late 12th century ruler of Delhi) and of the Mughal emperors Akbar and Aurangzeb. There is also a fine collection of Rajput weapons like various kinds of shields, swords, pistols, rifles and daggers. Among the musical instruments kept in the museum is a sitar (large string instrument) in the shape of a peacock. The stone exhibits include a 11th century sculpture of Vishnu (the Preserver of the Creator-Preserver-Destroyer Trinity).
The Ancient Manuscripts in Museum
There are also some ancient manuscripts in Persian, Arabic, Urdu and Sanskrit. Don't miss the illustrated copy of the Mahabharata painted by the artists of the Alwar School. It is a 200-feet long scroll made from a single length of paper. But the most valued piece is perhaps the copy of the Gulistan (or Garden of Roses, originally written by Sheikh Saadi), a masterpiece of calligraphy. Originally written in 1258AD by Sheikh Muslihuddin-Sadi, this copy was commissioned by Vinay Singh in 1858, and the scribes spent 12 long years over it!