Alwar
Introduction
Alwar is a city in Rajasthan and the administrative headquarters of Alwar District. It sits roughly midway between two major northern cities, about 150 km south of Delhi and 150 km north of Jaipur, which makes it a convenient stop if you are travelling through this part of the state.
Getting there
Alwar sits roughly 160 km south of Delhi and about 150 km north of Jaipur, so it works well as a stop between the two. Buses are the most straightforward option, with frequent services from Delhi and Jaipur taking around three and a half to four hours, and from Deeg taking about two and a half hours.
- Buses from Deeg — about 2½ hours
- Buses from Delhi — about 3½ to 4 hours
- Buses from Jaipur — about 3½ to 4 hours
By rail, Alwar Junction is the station serving the city, on the North Western Railway network.
Getting around
Alwar is a compact city, and the older, traditional neighbourhoods are the best place to explore on foot, where narrow streets keep shops, services and sights close together. Once you move beyond the historic core, however, walkability drops off: the city has expanded outward, amenities are more spread out, and the infrastructure is less friendly to pedestrians. Treat walking as a good way to cover the old town, not as a realistic way to get across the whole city.
For point-to-point trips, auto-rickshaws are widely available and are the default choice for most short journeys; agree on the fare before you set off, as is customary. Taxis are another common privately operated option for medium distances, and ride-hailing services such as Uber are available if you prefer a booked ride and a set price to negotiating on the street. Bicycles and motorcycles are common and can be rented, but with no extensive dedicated cycling infrastructure and limited bike lanes, they suit shorter, leisurely rides better than commuting or longer trips.
Public transport within Alwar is less developed and is best treated as a supplement rather than your main way of getting around. Government-run buses are more useful for excursions beyond the city, connecting Alwar with nearby towns and villages, and longer-distance services run frequently from Deeg, Delhi and Jaipur, with journeys of roughly a few hours to each. These operate from the Alwar old Bus Station, a few kilometres from Alwar railway junction. A service called Alwar Vahini was introduced as an effort to modernize public transport, but overall the city's public transport is described as lacking in efficiency, dependability and coverage.
Alwar Junction, on the Delhi–Jaipur line, is the city's railway station and the anchor of its rail connections. The Fairy Queen, the world's oldest working locomotive engine and a national treasure of India, operates as a tourist luxury train between Delhi and Alwar, running on the same route as the Palace on Wheels. There is no metro or tram network in Alwar itself; a Delhi–Alwar metro via the Behror route has been planned, and the city's designation as part of the National Capital Region has brought development projects including rapid rail to Delhi, but these are proposals rather than services you can use today. Alwar has no airport of its own — the nearest options are Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, Jaipur International Airport, and an airport under development in Bhiwadi — so from either Delhi or Jaipur you will typically continue by train or bus, planning on a journey of a few hours.
Where to stay
< p>Alwar's accommodation is limited, with a handful of options concentrated in the city centre. Near Gopal Cinema you'll find the Ashoka, which offers single and double rooms and is handy for the central sights and transport links. < p>For something more substantial, the MGB Hotel provides thirty-five furnished rooms, including five suites, along with an outdoor swimming pool — a rare amenity in these parts and a welcome one when the weather turns warm and humid.Food & drink
For eating, Alwar keeps things simple and vegetarian. Prem Pavitra Bhojnalaya serves pure-veg food, and Inderlok Classic, near Nangli Circle, is a veg dining option. Both are straightforward places to sit down for a meal rather than destinations in themselves. For drinks, head to Tija Coffee House around Nangli and Ashok Circle, which stays open from morning until late and is known for coffee and lassi. And no visit to Alwar is complete without trying its milk cake, the sweet the city is famous for.What to see and do
Alwar rewards those willing to look beyond the obvious. Bala Quila Fort is one of the few forts in Rajasthan built before the rise of the Mughals, and visiting requires permission from the superintendent of police — easy enough to arrange, though the fort has been closed to visitors. The City Palace Complex houses the Government Museum, and Bhartrihari Temple is known as a TapoBhumi of Raja BhartriHari. Further out, Pandupol lies in Sariska Jungle, a place where the Pandavas are said to have stayed during their agyatvaas, and its Hanuman temple holds an unusual idol of Hanuman in a relaxed form. For time outdoors, Jaisamand Lake was constructed by the King of Alwar, while Siliserh Lake, about 14 km from the railway station, is a decent lake with a government hotel of the same name offering restaurant and boarding facilities; boating is available round the year except during the rainy season. Sariska Reserve and National Park, one of India's most famous national parks, is designated as a tiger reserve.When to go
Alwar has a hot semi-arid climate, so the timing of your visit shapes how much you can comfortably see. Summers are long and sweltering, with extreme heat at its worst; if you travel then, plan your sightseeing for the early morning or evening and rest through the middle of the day. The monsoon is short but brings most of Alwar's annual rain, concentrated in July and August, when you can expect frequent downpours and humid conditions.
Winter is the coolest and most comfortable time to visit, with short, warm to very warm days, though nights can turn chilly, so pack a layer for the evening. This is the season that best suits long days of exploring the city and its surroundings.
Three days in Alwar
Day one: Base yourself in Alwar, in Rajasthan, and use the city as your starting point for the district around it. Arrive via Alwar Junction on the North Western Railway, or by road from Delhi or Jaipur; buses and taxis both serve the city, and Uber is available. Once you have settled, treat the afternoon as an easy introduction: walk the streets near Gopal Cinema and stop for a meal at Prem Pavitra Bhojnalaya, MGB Hotel or Inderlok Classic. For coffee, Tija Coffee House is a straightforward place to pause.
Day two: Head out to Deeg, a short trip from Alwar, and return to the city by evening. Bicycles are one way to cover ground at your own pace, while public and government transport, taxis and Uber cover longer hops; the bus station and Alwar Vahini services are useful for local journeys. If you prefer a rail excursion, The Fairy Queen is a heritage option to keep in mind. Back in Alwar, eat near Nangli Circle or Ashoka before turning in.
Day three: Look beyond the city towards Behror, Bhiwadi and the edge of the National Capital Region, or plan your onward travel via Indira Gandhi International Airport or Jaipur International Airport. Both road and rail connections make Alwar easy to leave as well as reach, with Alwar Junction and the bus station handling departures. Use your last hours for a final meal at one of the places you have come to like, then set off.