Wish upon a star

One of the most common complaints that we hear in a city is the lack of a starry night sky and city dwellers often end up missing on important space events because visibility is very poor due to pollution. Like me, if you too are a self-proclaimed stargazer then a trip to Stargate Observatory in Rajasthan should be on your weekend getaway bucket list.

Situated at the Alwarbagh resort by Aamod near Sariska National Park, this observatory can easily be located between the Sariska Tiger Reserve and Alwar city on the Alwar-Jaipur road. The night sky at Sariska is one of the decent skies for planetary observation and is merely three-four hours away from Delhi-NCR.

Equipped with an 8-inch robotic GOTO telescope, this observatory offers views of galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, planets, and moon. Set in the lap of nature, the facility is surrounded by the Aravalli Mountains, giving it the perfect setting for a magical experience. Spread over seven acres, the resort portrays a heritage look equipped with modern amenities.

Indulge in cosmic wonders
If you are space nerd or generally inquisitive about planets and constellations, a weekend exploring the Stargate Observatory could be a memorable experience for you. Stargate Observatory at Alwarbagh is the second observatory opened by Stargate after Kausani in Uttarakhand. It is India’s first chain of private observatory open to the general public and is equipped with world class equipment. People can come for solar observation and watch the sun through the telescope using solar filters. After sunset, one can watch craters, mountains, terrain and other surface features on the moon with an 8 inch GOTO telescope. One can also watch planets like Saturn with its beautiful rings, planet Jupiter with its four Galilean moons, planet Mars as a red ball and planet Venus, which is also known as evening and morning star in its phases. Other than watching planets and moon, one can also peep into the outer solar system and can watch galaxies, nebulas and star clusters several light years away.

The observatory is open on all seven days for general public and schools kids. Space and astronomy museum is a part of the observatory where tourists and students can experience interactive sessions and enjoy and examine exhibits related to astronomy and space sciences. The place is popular among people who visit especially to experience professional equipment for observation, astrophotography and research projects. One can also learn to capture milky way and do night photography at various workshops offered by Stargate Observatory. Private booking of observatory facility is also available.

The observatory can be visited any time of the year except monsoons as the skies are mostly cloudy during the rainy season making visual observations difficult. Anuj Chandok, GM, Aamod Resorts, mentions, “The Stargate Observatory is the latest addition to the facilities at the resort that allows you to gaze endlessly at the space. Guests have the option to choose from a variety of indoor and outdoor activities such as a specially crafted in-house adventure rope course and paintball. The open ground allows you to play sports such as cricket, football, etc. One can also spend time by the poolside or play badminton, pool table, board games etc. Sariska is also popular for holding magnificent events and has become a hot favourite among guests for destination weddings. There are different packages for a person at the observatory starting `600.”

Place of interest around Sariska
There are several interesting places apart from the Sariska National Park, which is home to a different variety of birds and animals. To begin with, one can visit Alwar — once known to be the gateway of the Rajputana. Alwar has been amongst the oldest cities in Rajasthan and it’s prehistoric as well as historic existence is an archaeological delight. The presence of the Aravalli Range also provides Alwar with a lot of picturesque locations. There are deep valleys and a deep forest cover where you can spot several species of birds and animals. Alwar was once a part of the kingdom of Matsya and is believed to be one of the oldest kingdoms of the state. It was here in the city of Virat Nagar, the court of king Virat, where the mighty Pandavas (the heroes of the great Indian epic Mahabharata) spent the last 13 years of exile.

There are monuments named after the Pandavas which still exist around Sariska. There are several places to visit around Alwar including ancient temples, medieval forts, palaces, and gardens. The resort organises nature trails and short walks to the foothills of Aravallis. On request, the resort can also arrange jungle safaris at Sariska National Park, trips to Alwar city markets, Alwar fort, Bhangarh Fort, Vijay Mandir Palace, Siliserh Lake, etc.

How and When to reach?
The property is located out of the city and can be reached by a short cab ride from the Alwar railway station. From Delhi, it is about 180kms which turns into a three to four hours drive.  

Alwar can be visited throughout the year and the clear skies allow stargazing at any time of the year besides monsoon when it gets cloudy. Check out the calendar of special space events such as meteor showers, full-moon nights and planetary alignments in advance before you plan a trip to the observatory for a better experience. Wildlife enthusiast can visit the Sariska National Park throughout the year but if you want to avoid the scorching heat, it is advised to make plans between October to March. The park is open to the public from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm but stays closed on most national holidays.

However, if you are fond of experiencing local culture, time your trip according to the local festive celebrations like Holi, Diwali, Janamashtmi, etc, which are an integral part of the socio-cultural life of the city. The festivals of Alwar are not only popular in the city but across the entire state of Rajasthan. Some of the major festivals you can look for are the Alwar Festival, Sawan Teej, Mahavir Jayanti, Laldas Maila, Jagannathji Fair, Chuhar Sidh, Bhartrihari, Sahibji ka Maila and Bilali Fair. The Alwar Festival is celebrated in February and is associated with a variety of handicrafts and folk music. It is an integral part of the cultural tradition of the place.