Where to Stay in Alwar, State of Rājasthān

What is Alwar known for?

In the hills of northeast Rajasthan in India, between Delhi and Jaipur, it grew under a great hilltop fort, and it keeps the long walls of the Bala Qila above the town, the old city palace and its museum, the carved cenotaph of the Moosi queen, and the tigers of the Sariska forest nearby. The dry hills ring the town. A great fort crowns the ridge.

What are the main landmarks in Alwar?

The Bala Qila is the pride of Alwar. The long fort walls winding along the ridge above the city, among the oldest in Rajasthan, are the emblem of the town, downtown. A cenotaph stands by the tank.

The carved chhatri of the Moosi queen rises by the Sagar tank below, while the city palace, the Sariska tigers, and the haunted fort of Bhangarh mark the country around Alwar.

What is the history of Alwar?

Alwar rose under its hilltop fort. Long ago the Bala Qila was raised on the ridge above the valley, held in turn by Rajputs, Mughals, and Jats, and the town grew under its walls. It became a Rajput princely state.

In the eighteenth century the Rajput kings of Alwar built a fine city palace below the fort and ruled a rich state on the Delhi road. The kings left palaces and cenotaphs. Below the fort they raised the Vinay Vilas palace and the graceful cenotaph of the Moosi queen by the tank, and filled the city with fine things.

The hills held wild game. In the forests around lay Sariska, where tigers still roam, and the ruined fort of Bhangarh stood empty in the ranges, so Alwar grew as a fort and palace city of the Aravallis, keeping its citadel, its palace, and its forests. The fort still watches the town.

Alwar keeps its hill city in the Aravallis.

Where is Alwar?

Alwar lies in the northeast of Rajasthan in India, in the Aravalli hills. The city sits in a valley among dry rocky ranges, on the edge of the plains between Delhi and Jaipur, with the hills rising around the town and the Sariska forest spreading south. The dry ranges wall the valley.

Rocky hills close in around.

What is the climate of Alwar?

Alwar's climate is a desert one, dry and hot for much of the year. Blazing summers and cool winters cross the hills, with fierce heat before the monsoon and cold clear days in the winter. Heat grips the dry hills.

In winter the cold sets in once the sun goes down.

How do you get to Alwar?

Alwar lies in northeast Rajasthan in India, on the road and rail between Delhi and Jaipur. Trains run to it down from Delhi in a few hours, and roads lead to Sariska and the hills. Jeeps run out to Sariska.

Delhi lies north up the line.