Bairat

Bairat is a small town of Rajasthan, preserving precious relics from its rich ancient past. It is situated 25 km west of Sariska Tiger Reserve and 85 km north of Jaipur. Bairat, the erstwhile An important Buddhist city, Viratnagar, still possesses some of the oldest Buddhist sculptures of the world including the ruins of an ancient monastery. Archaeologists have hinted that most of the relics belong to the 3rd century including a chaitya or chapel.

History:
The history of Bairat can be tracked back to the times of Mahabharata, some 3,500 years ago. It is believed that Pandavas and Draupadi spent their thirteen year term of exile in King Virat's kingdom. Viratnagar was the capital of Mhajanapada Kingdom of Matsya. In the 5th century, the kingdom came under the Chhedi kingdom and later under the Mauryan empire.

Sights:
The main attraction of the town is the Viratnagar Museum, where you can see the shadow of a glorious past in its exhibits. Some of the priceless artifacts excavated from the place are ancient coins, seals, sculptures, pottery and other metallic pieces.

Getting There and Away:
One can reach Bairat by buses traveling from Jaipur to Alwar. From Jaipur to Bairat will take you 3 ½ hours, while from Alwar to Bairat will take you around 1 ½ hours.