3. Solo Road Trip to MP, Day (3)...Gurugram-Alwar (4th Jan 2021)

#alwar #balaquila #solorodtripmp #roadtripmp #roadtrip #roadtripindia #soloroadtripindia #amritsar
4th Jan, 2021, Monday…Day (3) Basant Dhaba (NH-8) Bilaspur Kalan (Gurugram)-Tauru-Tijara-Alwar (158 km)
Night stay inside the car at the parking of Basant Dhaba, Gurugram on NH-48 was peaceful and disturbance free.
It was chilly and cold night, got up only once for natures call.
A few kilometers into a pleasant drive on the wide and busy Delhi-Jaipur highway (NH-48), got into a huge traffic jam near Sidhrawali.
A helpful policeman advised me to reverse and go via another road as the jam was likely to swell more as the day would progress due to farmers agitation.
Turned google map on, followed it through the the bad and bumpy Haryana country roads, interesting scenes and beautiful landscapes to finally join Biwadi-Alwar Road.
No damage done, in fact enjoyed everything, especially the authentic villages.
Fell in love with Alwar immediately.
Nice straight roads, wide circles, lots of colors and activity. I was told the old city was congested and since it was too early, better drive to Bala Quila first.
Lying inside the Tiger Reserve and perched on the Aravalli Hills over looking Alwar, Bala Quila was around 12 kilometers from the town.
Drove past, the winding road bypassing the old town, through a populated mohalla and a thick forest to the entrance gate of the Reserve Forest.
Paid an entry fee of Rs.60- (Rs.10- per person plus Rs.50- for car, no walking or two wheeler allowed) and drove through a beautiful winding road till the end of the road which was further reserved for safari into the Tiger Reserve Forest.
Rani ka Mahal nearby was in shambles and did not seem to be a favorite of visitors and so was Hanuman temple little down the road.
There were lots of birds though, hopping and chirping, scented soothing breeze, silence, jungle, beautiful Aravalli Hills and few Alwar buildings peeping through the mountain pass openings.
A forest guard nearby guessed correctly that I was missing the main fort, pointed in a direction and told me to visit the fort before I left the place.
The road made a Y-sign after hundred meters or so, turned left and soon was at the main gate of a Fort, famously known as Bala Quila, meaning the Young Fort.
The 15th century fort is five kilometers long and 1.6 kilometers wide and has been home to many dynasties from time to time.
The best thing I liked about Bala Quila was the mesmerizing views, the green valleys, beautiful Aravalli Range, chirping of birds, silence and the magical setting.
It began drizzling as I drove down to the city.
Spent bulk of the evening loitering around the vibrant bazaars, trying to figure out what to eat and suitable place for parking the car and sleep inside the car.
Found a nice place near a group of guest houses, filling station, police control room, parked the car and kept walking, thinking, observing and enjoying FREEDOM, until felt like sleeping…!!!
For more travel stories, pls check joyclubsunil.wordpress.com