5 must-visit places in Alwar on a weekend getaway from Delhi

Are you looking for a weekend getaway from Delhi? Have you considered visiting Alwar on a visit? Searching for places to visit in Alwar? Fret not! You have come to the right place.

For, we have you all covered in this post on the 5 must-visit places in Alwar.

Didn’t know that Alwar is a great destination near Delhi? Well, we weren’t too until recently.

So, while planning places to visit near Delhi on a weekend, we tried looking up for suggestions online.

We searched for the best places to visit near Delhi within 200 km, and surprisingly found that Alwar was easily accessible on a short trip from Delhi.

And so, recently, armed with all the information needed, on one of the weekend getaways from Delhi, we decided to visit Alwar.

Embarking on this road trip from Delhi, while driving on the highway to Alwar : flooded with fields of gently swaying yellow mustard and blooming sunflowers on either side, flanked by the lush rolling mountains of the Aravallis, was pure bliss!

For the uninitiated, our destination— Alwar, is a rich repository of Rajput architecture and flamboyance, and a place that is the genesis of ‘Alwar ka Mawa’ or Milk Cake. Interesting, right?

Come with me as I explore the must-visit places in and around Alwar, on a weekend getaway and a road trip from Delhi.

And, do have a glimpse of my Alwar sightseeing list, must-buy things, and more!

Weekend getaways near Delhi: Alwar

As I told before, on one of the long weekends, a couple of months back, we decided to embark on another of our road trips from Delhi.

Hitting the highway isn’t new to our family, as most times, we indulge in road-trips while transiting from one location to another, during our defence postings.

And, we have made quite a few road trips to places easily accessible from Delhi.

Here are a few suggestions for a weekend getaway from Delhi in a nutshell

Road trip to Alwar – One of the best getaways from Delhi

Having lived in Rajasthan for over six years, we have extensively traversed overland in this desert state. But, on this trip, the topography of Alwar struck as a pleasant surprise.

Cocooned away from the noisy urban landscapes, this ancient region of ‘Mathsya pradesha’ is beleaguered by the Aravallis from all sides.

And, the landscape en route is breathtaking with exuberant wild foliage, hairpin bends, and a landscape of Rajasthan that I last experienced in the Pali region. There is definitely a charm associated with road-trips especially when traversing and travelling in India.

On most of the family road-trips, as the husband drives the car, I sit beside with a keen eye on the maps(more recently with Google maps) lest we miss a road or two.

For a change, on this weekend getaway from Delhi to Alwar, we were happy to be the occupants of the back seat and enjoy the landscaped vistas, devoid of twitchiness, as our driver was well-versed with the routes and alleys of Alwar.

5 must-visit places in and around Alwar

Alwar is located in the oldest region of Rajasthan. This region was known as matsya pradesha aeons ago with its capital at Viratanagari (present-day Viratnagar or Bairat) ruled by the Suryavanshis. Lord Rama is a Suryavanshi!

We could not stay for more than two nights in Alwar, as we had to cover Bhangarh and Abhaneri as well on this trip. We had booked a cab on rental for the weekend and wanted to utilize their services to the fullest on this trip to Alwar, as a weekend getaway from Delhi. Anyways, here are the five must-see places in and around Alwar, an ancient region of Rajasthan that is sure to be worthy of your time and money.

Also, I haven’t included places under the Alwar sightseeing list, that are in dilapidated conditions or ones that have been converted into luxury heritage hotels. No point including them on this budget road-trip weekend getaway!

I have divided this list into two

• Alwar sightseeing
• Places to visit near Alwar

Alwar sightseeing

Alwar is a small town and it has just a handful of places to visit. Yet, it has an interesting blend of contemporary and ancient architecture all around the place.

Here a few of the best places that could make to the list of ‘Alwar Sightseeing’.

Bala Quila: The citadel overlooking Alwar city

Perched high on the craggy edge of the Aravallis overlooking the city of Alwar is the Bala Quila that has stood the test of times.

With a cloud of dust perennially canopying it due to the mining activities that go unchecked nearby, the fort is being resurrected to its old glorious form for the last decade or so.

The ongoing process of restoration is at a snail’s pace, but let this not deter you from hiking or driving to the hilltop that holds the Bala Quila.

Rajasthan Tourism has introduced a safari across this hill which is supposedly an extension of the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary that is in the vicinity.

One has to park the vehicle at the entrance and opt for the open-jeep safari which was around Rs.1200/- (for 6 people) a couple of months back during our visit.

The guide who accompanies as the chauffeur of the safari, would mostly double-up as the guide as well. I found this worth the cost. Definitely, do not miss this experience.

Moosi Maharani Ki Chatri

Rajasthan is all about royalty, masculine valour, Rajput war stories, and a patriarchal presence.

Though it also is known for its reverence to women in various divine forms, the infamous social practices of child marriages and Sati that once dominated the state cannot be ignored. 

So, one can understand my surprise when I got to know about a chhatri (memorial) named after a woman in the oldest Rajasthan territory of Alwar.  

The Moosi Maharani Ki Chhatri in Alwar was built by Maharaja Vinay Singh (1815-1857) in memory of his predecessor Maharaja Bakhtawar Singh and the latter’s wife Maharani Moosi, who had committed sati (self-immolation)’.

There are definitely interesting legends surrounding Moosi Maharani!

It is a double-storied red-stone and marble cenotaph and forms an interesting imaginary triangle with the Alwar City Palace and Sagar Lake.

Sagar Lake in Alwar

The Sagar Lake beside the Moosi Maharani Ki Chhatri offers a pleasant view of the Alwar city palace, the Bala Quila as well as the adjoining Moosi Maharani ki Chhatri. 

This 19th-century waterbody has survived the times and has been somewhat restored. And, the landscape that the Sagar Lake offers is an eclectic mix of red, white, pastel shades and the green of the water algae.

Sagar Lake is believed to have been constructed around the 6th or 7th century, and then renovated again by King Vinay Singh when he ordered the construction of the cenotaph of Moosi Maharani Ki Chhatri and the City Palace around 1815 CE. 

Siliserh Lake and Palace: one of the must-visit places near Alwar

Siliserh Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes on the outskirts of Alwar. It indeed is an oasis amidst the arid region of Alwar surrounded by the Aravallis.

To learn that it is a man-made lake built in 1845 by Maharaja Vinay Singh to cater to the needs of the people of Alwar was quite a revelation.

Just adjacent to the lake is a beautiful Lake Palace that the Maharaja got built for his wife Shila. This Lake Palace has served as the summer palace and hunting lodge of the royals for a long time.

The most endearing thing to do at the Siliserh lake is to indulge in some boating. There are motorboats that are operational and a ride in the boat offers a mesmerizing view of the palace facade, as well as the Siliserh lake, and helps in appreciating the thought which went into building the lake and the palace.

The Siliserh palace looks splendid from afar with its presence on the edge of the craggy Aravallis.

We were informed by the boatsmen that certain areas of Siliserh lake were out of bounds for boating due to the presence of crocodiles!

Bhangarh Fort

Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan is widely claimed to be the most haunted fort in India.

According to various travel advisories, the ASI has prohibited night halt/stay inside the fort as there have been incidents of people disappearing at night, paranormal activities witnessed inside the fort premises, and other such stories and anecdotes.

However, it has got beautiful temples built in the nagara style architecture.

Sariska wildlife sanctuary

Sariska wildlife sanctuary apart from being a haven for wild-animals and bird-spotting also houses impressive temples belonging to the 11th century. Unfortunately, we could not visit the place.

We gave a miss to Sariska as it wasn’t the right season to spot the animals. However, we hope to engage an inexpensive full day taxi in the coming monsoon season, and visit the place on another of our routine getaways from Delhi.

But, Sariska is one of the must-visit places in and around Alwar for sure.

With a hassle-free billing policy and a responsive customer helpline, Savaari has truly gained our trust. And, who wouldn’t want to sit back and enjoy the vistas of the Aravallis during the monsoons, while knowing that we are in safe hands!

What to buy in Alwar

Pamper your taste-buds with the indigenous ‘Milk Cake'(Kalakand) for which Alwar is quite famous.

You may drive towards the market area and buy some from Baba Thakur Das & Sons ( Address: Ganpati Tower, Company, Bagh Road, Nagli Circle). This is supposedly the original shop that popularized this dessert.

While here do have a stroll along the bylanes to spot beautiful Havelis with Rajasthani architecture similar to the ones that we explored at Kajra on this same trip.

Practical information on visiting Alwar

Alwar is just around 173 km from Delhi. Thus, it is one of the best options for planning weekend getaways from Delhi.

Best place to stay in Alwar

On this weekend getaway from Delhi to Alwar, we opted for AC rooms at RTDC run Hotel Meena in Alwar, to stay on this trip.

I found the RTDC property budget-friendly with courteous staff, serving freshly prepared food, and with ample parking space. There are a couple of other high-end boutique hotels too that one could choose.

Alternately, you could also try searching for stay properties on this highly functional site named CozyCozy that I stumbled upon recently. The site is extremely easy to use and comes up with a wide range of options: from hostels to home-stays, and hotel rooms to apartments. Also, I found their customisable search highly effective and handy, with results displayed on a map. Try it out, and let me know :))

How to reach Alwar

By Taxi or Cab

With the many must-visit places in and around Alwar to be covered and the lack of public transport in this region, I would suggest rental cabs as ideal option, if not a self-drive.

By Train

There are also trains that run from Delhi to Alwar. Do check the IRCTC site (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation ) for further details.

Hope you found this write-up around the must-visit places in Alwar, useful and informative.

Do let us know if you have been to Alwar on any of the weekend getaways from Delhi or on any of the road trips from Delhi or even otherwise. How did you like exploring the city of Alwar? Kindly, use the comment section below to air your views:)

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