Alwar, Rajasthan
Alwar is one of the oldest cities in Rajasthan. Paradoxically, the city is also the most recent of the Rajput kingdoms. Nestled amongst green hills of the Aravalli range, it is home to many palaces and forts. The deep valleys and thick forest cover of the hills are a haven for many species of birds such as grey partridge and white-throated kingfisher and animals, most notably, the Bengal tiger and golden jackal. Alwar is a where the journey of the Fairy Queen – the oldest working engine in the world and one of India’s national treasure – ends. Fairy Queen leads a train from Delhi encampment to Alwar in Rajasthan. The engine was built in 1855 and acquired by the Eastern Indian Railways from a British firm. The train that harnesses this engine is now used for tourism. Some of the tourism attractions are Bala Qila, City Palace, The Palace Museum, Purjan Vihar, Garbhaji Falls, Neemrana Fort, Sariska Tiger Reserve and more.