Bala Quila also known Alwar Fort is a fort in Alwar district of Rajasthan. The fort located on a hill of Aravalli Range, is 5 kms long and 1.5 kms wide at an elevation of 1000 feet. The fort situated above the town of Alwar was originally constructed by Nikumbh Rajputs in 928 AD. In 1492 AD Khanzada Alawal Khan won Bala Quila from Nikumbh Rajputs to stop practice of human sacrifice, but the fort was completely destroyed. The fort was re-constructed in 1521 AD by Hasan Khan Mewati, and later it was taken control by the Mughal rulers.
After Mughal power waned, Bala Quila or Alwar Fort was captured by the Jat ruler Suraj Mal and then by Rajput ruler Maharao Raja Pratap Singh of Alwar State. It is believed Raja Pratap Singh entered the fort through the massive Laxman Pol, the only gate that connects the Alwar fort with the namesake city. Bala Quila literally means or Young Fort with lot of scope of growth. But the sheer size of the fort clearly shows that the fort is by all means a mature and giant fort. Bala Quila towers majestically over the city of Alwar.
The literally impregnable fort includes 446 openings for musketry, with 8 huge bastions to fire massive 10-foot cannons most notable being the Hanuman ji cannon with motif of Lord Hanuman on it, 15 huge towers and 51 small towers make up the forts’ boundaries. The fort is known for its masonry works and grandiose structural design. There are six gates that allowed people entry into the fort and till date stand majestically as a testimony to the gallantry and raw courage of the Rajput rulers. These are Jai Pol, Laxman Pol, Andheri Gate, Krishna Gate, Surat Pol, and Chand Pol.
The fort is located at the centre of the ‘Golden Triangle’ of tourism in India; Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. All this makes the Alwar Fort, a popular tourist destination known for its architectural design. This gigantic fort, built mainly in Kayamkhani style, as well as Indo-Islamic style owing to ownership by several rulers; the fort has been built in a manner that it allows the ruler of the fort to fire at the enemy down below with maximum power. The fort offers a panoramic and spectacular view of the entire Alwar city down below, and as the oldest building still standing in Alwar it is considered a guardian to the city of Alwar.
Thanks to its strategic location in the Aravalli Range, overlooking an extremely fertile stretch of land with lots of greenery and ample supply of water, the control over the fort has been much sought after by many ruling dynasties. As such it has been captured from time to time by Marathas, Khanzada, Yadavas, Jats, Mughals, and Kachwaha Rajputs. The Kachwahas Rajputs who eventually took over control of the fort and held it till 1947 laid the foundation of Alwar city in 1775. The fort has long history with Mughal ruler. It is said 1st Mughal ruler Babar, stayed at the fort for atleast 1 day. Later Emperor Jehangir, when he was still Prince Salim during his exile over dispute with his father Emperor Akbar, stayed in the fort for 3 years. The building where he stayed inside the fort is called Salim Mahal.
Considered as one of the largest forts of Rajasthan, the Alwar fort has beautiful scriptures and sculptures engraved all across the fort. Beside Salim Mahal, other notable buildings inside the fort are Suraj Kund, Slim Nagar Talav, Jal Mahal, Nikumbh Mahal Palace, Salim Sagar, and Salim Baradari. The fort is located at a distance of 12 kms from the current city of Alwar. There are many temples built inside the magnificent fort; including the Kuldevi Temple of Kumbha-Nikumbha, Karni Mata Temple, Chakradhari Hanuman Temple, Sitaram Mandir, and Jai Ashram. The inner part of the fort is divided into various parts and each part is connected to other part with several stairs.
There are numerous places worth visiting for tourist in the vicinity of the fort. Some of these include Alwar City Palace, Moosi Rani Ki Chhatri, Tomb of Fateh Jang, Purjan Vihar, Vijay Mandir Palace, Bhangarh Fort, Sariska Tiger Reserve, Siliserh Lake, Bharatpur or Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Kesroli Hill Fort, and Neemrana Fort. The fort located at a distance of 10 kms from Alwar Railway Station, the easiest access point; is open 7-days a week from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. The entry fees is INR 10 for Indians and INR 100 for foreigners. Tourist have to pay INR 20 extra if they wish to enter the fort in their own 2 wheelers. Tourist also have option of go around the fort on a Jeep Safari, which is also charged.
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