The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c6.s1.24

c6.s1.24

Alwar—Matsya-deśa, the kingdom of Râjâ Virâṭa of the *Mahâbhârata*. The Alwar state formerly appertained to the territory of Jaipur. There is still a town called Machheri in this state which is a corruption of Matsya. The capital of Matsya-deśa was Virâṭa, now called Bairâṭ, forty-one miles to the north of Jaipur and one hundred and five miles to the south-west of Delhi. General Cunningham supposes that Alwar is a corruption of Śâlvapura. See Jaipur. But at the time of the *Mahâbhârata*, Alwar was called Saubhanagara or Śâlvanagara, the capital of the country called Mârttikâvata, the kingdom of Râjâ Śâlva who was killed by Kṛishṇa. See Mârta.