The princely state of Alwar was founded by Rao Raja Pratap Singh at Machedi in the year 1775 CE. He died in 1790 CE. His adopted son Rao Raja Bakhtawar Singh ascended the thsrone of Alwar in 1790 at the age of 15. He died in 1814 CE.
This prince, during one of his rural campaigns, happened to see a village girl with whom he was totally infatuated and took her 'dola' to his palace. She became Maharaja's favourite mistress and was known as 'Moosi Maharani'. In 1808 CE, she gave birth to a son named Balwant Singh and a girl named Chand Bai. It was her wish that her offspring should be married into pure Rajput families. Accordingly, Balwant Singh was married to a daughter of the Chauhan Thakur of Kishanpur near Silisedh lake and Chand Bai was married to Chauhan Thakur of Tatarpur.
After the death of Bakhtawar Singh, territory of Alwar state was divided into two parts. Two-third of the territory with capital at Alwar city was awarded to his nephew Maharaja Viney Singh, and the remaining one-third of the territory consisting of the Parganas of Tijara, Kishangarh, Mandhan, Karnikot and Mundawar – with its capital at Tijara – was awarded to Maharaja Balwant Singh.
The jagir of Tijara and Alwar had been given to Alawal Khan, a Khanzada, by Bahlol Lodi of Delhi. Alawal Khan was succeeded by his son Hasan Khan Mewati, who sided with Ibraham Lodi and Rana Sanga in their battles against Babar, the founder of Mughal dynasty. This was in the years 1525 CE and 1527 CE respectively. The Khanzadas had converted to Islam under Firuz Shah Tughlaq's.
In 1835 CE Balwant Singh started the construction of a fort-palace after the name of his mother Moosi Maharani as well as a grand Hawa Mahal. Famous architects and masons from Kabul and Delhi were engaged with construction. Because of the premature death in 1845 CE – probably from murder, the construction remained incomplete.
Maharaja Balwant Singh was very kind hearted and benevolent ruler. He was very popular among the citizens. There were famous artists and poets in his court. Before starting the fort-palace complex on the hills, he has laid out gardens and constructed a beautiful palace for himself. He was a lover of elephants and horses. In the absence of a road, the large double pillars of the Rani Mahal and the Mardana Mahal could only have been carried uphill by elephants. It is said that his most favourite elephant and a parrot did not accept any food or water at the death of Maharaja and died in mourning.
Tijara Fort-Palace is an unfinished marvel, built in the Rajput Afghan style with early colonial influences. Maharaja Balwant Singh, born from a muslim mistress, was an illegitimate but flamboyant and charismatic prince. The British encouraged the division of Alwar to strengthen their hold. Their control over much of Rajputana had already been established with a Treaty of Offensive and Defensive Alliance which had been signed in 1818 CE. Consequently, Alwar State was divided and Balwant Singh set out with one-third of its treasury to create a new architectural wonder at Tijara.
Even today, the countryside of Tijara is strewn with important stately cenotaphs resembling those of Lodi Tombs at Delhi as well as the samadhi of Emperor Hem Chandra Vikramaditya who was the last Hindu ruler at Delhi, ruling briefly from 1501 to 1506.
All the wealth, weapons and assets at Tijara were transferred back to the Alwar State after the death of Balwant Singh. His famous 'Indra Viman' chariot, which used to be drawn by four elephants during the Maharaja's procession is now being used during the fair of Jagdishji at Alwar and is drawn by a tractor rather than elephants.
