Sunday, December 29, 2002		Travel

A picturesque princely resort
Tarun K. Roy

RAJASTHAN is popularly known as a land of formidable forts, magnificent palaces, colourful havelis, exquisite temples, famous wildlife preserves and idyllic lakes. Each monument is reminiscent of our age-old cultural, artistic, traditional and natural heritage.

Rajasthan was ruled over years by many raja and maharajas. Most of them were fond of shooting and hunting. Accordingly, they had developed their own hunting preserves throughout the state. As the Keoladeo Ghana National Park at Bharatpur, Ranthambore National Park near Sawai Madhopur, Sariska Tiger Reserve at Alwar, etc.

Siliserh is an idyllic lake among those, was artificially created by Maharaja Vijay Singh for waterfowl shooting. His majestic hunting resort was constructed in the year 1845 besides the lake.

Siliserh is splendid with commanding and breathtaking view from the resort where royal ambience and tranquillity prevails! The lake, covering an area of 10.5 sq. km, nestles at the foothill of the Aravalli mountain range and is surrounded by small hills with lush dry deciduous forests. During the monsoon, the dry-deciduous forest shades the leaves and revives with greenery but in spring the leaves start falling and the naked trees are camouflaged with the pale brown rugged mountains. Monsoon rain refills the lake and during autumn and winter, Siliserh becomes a delight of the tourists and water birds’ heaven which attracts an incredible number of migratory species.

The hunting resort is flanked on a spur of the Aravalli Mountains besides the lake and has now been converted into a heritage hotel named Lake Palace run by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. The resort, overlooking the lake is a marvellous place for tourists to stay, to experience the opulent lifestyle of the maharajas of yesteryear and to enjoy the tranquillity of nature. The princely resort offers impeccable services to the tourists.

The resort provides both A.C. and non-A.C. suits and modern restaurant facility with Indian and continental food. The tourists may enjoy the sunrise, sunset and in winter, get tanned after enjoying a sun-bath in a romantic passion on the terrace or be close to the nature with binoculars to enjoy the romance of the migratory birds.

Siliserh also offers recreational facilities like pedal-boating or speed-boating for cruising on the lake. The enthusiastic tourists may explore the surrounding picturesque hamlets by trekking around the lake.

For a weekend, Siliserh is really a tranquil royal retreat where tourists get the opportunity of romancing in a princely lifestyle or to be in communion with nature. The tourists also can visit the other places of interest like Bala Quila (fort), Puran Vihar, Jaisamand lake, Vinay Vilas Mahal, City Palace, Museum, etc in and around the historical city of Alwar and obviously the Sariska National Park or what is the tiger country.

This feature was published on December 22, 2002