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Rajasthan

Alwar

Bala Qila ridge fort, palace cenotaphs and Siliserh lake

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Best time to visit Alwar

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March and September to October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to June

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Alwar season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

At 9-24 C this is the time to walk up to Bala Qila on the ridge and sit out the evening at Siliserh lake, 13 km away.

Summer March to May Shoulder

April-June runs 42-45 C in this gap in the Aravallis; the fort road bakes and there is no shade anywhere on the ridge.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

June bakes at 44 C, then July-September greens the hills and refills Siliserh while Sariska's core zones shut till 1 October.

Autumn October to November Prime time

October-November is clear and mild, Sariska's core reopens on 1 October and Bhangarh 85 km south is an easy day out.

What Alwar is actually like

Workaday district town with a superb palace museum: business hotels, no hostels, and very few other travellers about.

Things to do in Alwar

The local places worth your time in and around Alwar, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Bala Qila

    Fort · 8 km out

    Ridge fort 300 m above town with six gates and long walls; the 8 km hill track needs a jeep, start early.

  • City Palace & Government Museum

    Palace · in town

    1793 palace courtyards free to walk; the museum on the top floor keeps illustrated manuscripts and Rajput arms.

  • Moosi Maharani Ki Chhatri

    Heritage · in town

    Marble and sandstone cenotaph on a stepped tank behind the palace; pigeons, washing ghats, best in early light.

  • Siliserh Lake

    Lake · 13 km out

    1845 lake palace on the water, now a hotel with a terrace open to anyone; 13 km out, worth timing for sunset.

  • Fateh Jang Gumbad

    Heritage · 1 km out

    Five storey 1647 tomb of a Mughal noble standing alone near the station; unlocked, and usually you and the goats.

  • Hope Circus

    Market · 1 km out

    The old town's market circle; Alwar's kalakand and milk cake come from the sweet shops around it, sold by weight.

Getting to Alwar

Alwar Junction has frequent Delhi trains, about 3 h; Delhi and Jaipur airports are each roughly 150 km.

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
268 m
State
Rajasthan
Coordinates
27.5530, 76.6361

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Alwar?

November to February is peak season in Alwar. March and September to October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to June. October-November is clear and mild, Sariska's core reopens on 1 October and Bhangarh 85 km south is an easy day out.

How many days do you need in Alwar?

2 days is the usual stay. Workaday district town with a superb palace museum: business hotels, no hostels, and very few other travellers about.

How do you get to Alwar?

Alwar Junction has frequent Delhi trains, about 3 h; Delhi and Jaipur airports are each roughly 150 km. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Alwar expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

What are the best things to do in Alwar?

Bala Qila, City Palace & Government Museum, Moosi Maharani Ki Chhatri, Siliserh Lake, Fateh Jang Gumbad and Hope Circus. Ridge fort 300 m above town with six gates and long walls; the 8 km hill track needs a jeep, start early.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Rajasthan

All 49 destinations in Rajasthan