 Situated in Rajasthan, the historic city of Alwar is just a short ride from Delhi. Most of the ride is on the arrow-straight NH8, the road is good but not great says AutoCar (Dec.’08). It’s beautifully tarred and if there were more bends it would be out of this world. The ever-changing greenery makes up for it as silver oaks give way to giant palms and red soil gives way to golden sand. Two-and-a-half-hours after Delhi, one is in Alwar.
Perched on a hill and surrounded by thick forests, the Bara Quila fort is one of Alwar’s most famous landmarks. The ride up is absolutely brilliant; it’s smooth and winds all the way up to the front. The fort itself is about 500 years old and while you can view its exteriors, you need police permission to go inside.
 Back downhill, the next stop for AutoCar (Dec. ’08) is the City Palace. Located in the centre of Alwar, the palace doubles as a museum and also houses administrative offices. Nearby the Sagar Lake and Moosi Rani ki Chatri present a pretty sight with the lake flanked by temples on one side and the palace on the other.
Silserh Lake around 25km south of Alwar is the perfect place to watch the sun spring up from behind the mountains. Also nearby is the famous Sariska Tiger Reserve. You’ll know you’ve arrived there by the numerous boards that read Tiger Safari. While the park has only two tigers, the opportunity of sighting them is rare but there is a lot of other wildlife to make up.
The ride back to Delhi via Sariska is phenomenal says the AutoCar (Dec. ’08) rider. The road through the national park is absolutely perfect – narrow, smooth, devoid of traffic, with plenty of bends to keep you grinning all the way home.
So, Alwar by bike is great if you’re looking for a weekend getaway where the focus is on the destination rather than the journey. There’ll be better rides, sure but once you get there, there’s no shortage of thrills.
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| Article By IndiaBike.com on 14th January 2009 |
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