Alwar is the gateway to the northern Aravallis, and most visitors know it for just one reason: Sariska, the tiger reserve that lost all its tigers early this century and has been slowly repopulated since. But the district holds more than safaris. A fort crowns the ridge above Alwar city, a nineteenth-century palace complex sits below it, and Siliserh lake, with its white palace on the embankment, is one of the prettiest spots within a day's drive of the capital. A trip to Alwar and Sariska by road is also short enough for a weekend, which is why Delhi and Gurgaon families book it so often. This guide covers the routes, what RutzIndia.com charges in 2026, safari booking, the seasons, and a two-day plan that includes Bhangarh.
Alwar and Sariska by road: distance, time and fares from Delhi
Alwar is about 165 km from Delhi, typically 3.5 to 4 hours by car, and the Sariska tiger reserve gate is roughly 35 km further on the Jaipur road. A one-way sedan to Alwar costs Rs 5,940 Pay Now to Reserve and an Innova Crysta Rs 9,410 Pay Now to Reserve. A two-day round trip is billed on 500 km: Rs 18,000 Pay Now to Reserve in a sedan. Prices exclude 5% GST.
We price outstation trips by kilometre, at Rs 36 for a Dzire-class sedan, Rs 57.6 for an Innova, Rs 84 for a Fortuner and Rs 78 for a Tempo Traveller. A round trip is charged on actual kilometres or 250 km per calendar day, whichever is higher. A Delhi-Alwar-Sariska-Delhi day with a safari is about 400 km (Rs 14,400 Pay Now to Reserve in a sedan, Rs 22,800 Pay Now to Reserve in an Innova); a relaxed weekend is billed at the 500 km two-day minimum. Tolls, parking and any reserve entry fees for vehicles are added at actual cost. Before you set out, our Delhi taxi service and Gurgaon taxi service handle pickups anywhere in NCR.
What to see in Alwar and around Sariska
Bala Qila
The fort on the ridge above Alwar is older than the city's princely state, and its walls run along the hilltop for several kilometres. Access has at times required police permission because part of the complex was used as a wireless station; check the current rules locally. Even from below, the ramparts at sunset are a fine sight.
City Palace and museum
Below the fort, the City Palace complex blends Rajput and Mughal styles around a large courtyard, much of it now used as government offices. The museum inside holds miniature paintings, manuscripts, arms and armour. Behind the palace, the Sagar tank is surrounded by small temples, and the Moosi Maharani ki Chhatri, a cenotaph of red sandstone and marble, stands at its edge.
Siliserh lake
About 15 km from Alwar, this lake is ringed by forested hills. The former royal hunting lodge on its bank is now a state-run hotel, and boating is often available. It is a peaceful place for lunch between the fort and the safari.
Sariska Tiger Reserve
Sariska covers dry deciduous forest, grassland and rocky hills, with tigers, leopards, striped hyenas, sambar, chital, nilgai and a large population of peafowl. After tigers disappeared from the reserve in the mid-2000s, animals were relocated from Ranthambore, and the population has been recovering. The reserve also contains the Kankwari fort, the Pandupol Hanuman temple and the ruined Neelkanth temple complex on a plateau. The Sariska Tiger Reserve article on Wikipedia explains the reintroduction programme in more detail.
Bhangarh
About 50 km south of the Sariska gate, the ruined seventeenth-century town of Bhangarh, with its bazaar street, temples and palace, is a protected monument popular for its ghost stories. The ASI does not allow visitors inside between sunset and sunrise, so plan a daytime visit.
Safari booking and reserve rules
- Book online. Safari seats in gypsies and canters are sold on the Rajasthan forest department's FMDSS portal. Weekends and holidays sell out quickly.
- Your car stays outside. Private cars do not do the safari routes. Your chauffeur drops you at the Sariska gate on the Alwar-Jaipur road and waits.
- Pandupol visits. Pilgrims have traditionally been allowed to drive private vehicles to the Pandupol Hanuman temple on specific days, with an entry fee. Rules change; confirm at the gate before assuming your car can go in.
- Seasons. The main tourism zones typically close during the monsoon, roughly July to September. Check the portal for the current year.
The roads from Delhi and Gurgaon
There are two practical routes to Alwar and your chauffeur will choose based on traffic:
- Via Sohna and Nuh. From Gurgaon, the Sohna road leads south through the Mewat region on the Gurgaon-Alwar highway. It is the shortest route from South Delhi and Gurgaon, through small towns and farmland, with one or two slow market stretches.
- Via NH-48 and Bhiwadi. Take the Delhi-Jaipur highway to Dharuhera, then cut across through Bhiwadi and Tijara to Alwar. It is often smoother on weekday mornings when the Sohna road is busy with trucks. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway also passes through the district, and some drivers use it for part of the journey.
From Alwar, the Jaipur road runs south-west through the Aravalli hills past Siliserh to the Sariska gate at Thanagazi tehsil. The final section winds through forest and is a pleasant drive. If you are coming via Neemrana, see our Neemrana by road guide: Neemrana to Alwar is roughly 75 km.
Food stops are best in Alwar city, where the famous kalakand (milk cake) is sold at old sweet shops near Hope Circus; highway dhabas near Sohna and Tijara are fine for tea.
When to visit Alwar and Sariska
- October to April is the best period overall. Winter mornings in an open safari vehicle are cold, so pack a jacket. The forest is green after the rains until about December.
- March to June is hot, but visibility improves as the forest thins and animals come to waterholes, so wildlife enthusiasts often prefer late spring.
- July to September is the monsoon. Safaris in the main zones usually stop, the hills turn green and Siliserh fills up.
- Festivals. The Alwar Utsav (Matsya festival) has traditionally been held in winter with cultural programmes. The Alwar district portal publishes official notices and tourism information.
RutzIndia.com chauffeured services for Alwar and Sariska
- Weekend round trips from Delhi, Gurgaon or Noida with the car and chauffeur staying for the safari and sightseeing.
- One-way drops to Sariska resorts, Siliserh or Alwar city, or onward to Jaipur (about 110 km from Sariska).
- Safari combo trips linking Sariska and Ranthambore for serious wildlife watchers; see our Ranthambore by road guide.
- Airport pickup at IGI with flight tracking and a name board, with 60 minutes of free waiting after international arrivals and 30 minutes after domestic ones.
- Groups and school trips in a Tempo Traveller from Delhi.
- All outstation terms are set out on our outstation cabs page.
| Vehicle | Delhi to Alwar one way (165 km) | Safari day trip (about 400 km) | Two-day weekend (500 km billed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dzire-class sedan | Rs 5,940 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 14,400 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 18,000 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Innova Crysta | Rs 9,410 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 22,800 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 28,500 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Toyota Fortuner | Rs 13,860 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 33,600 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 42,000 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Tempo Traveller | Rs 12,870 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 31,200 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 39,000 Pay Now to Reserve |
These fares are before 5% GST. Tolls, parking and reserve vehicle fees are charged at actual cost, and the chauffeur's night allowance of Rs 1,500 is added for each night away. Cars are within four model years. Pay by card or UPI in the booker; companies planning offsites get GST invoices.
Our cancellation policy: cancel more than 72 hours before pickup and nothing is charged; 10% within 72 hours; 50% within 48 hours; 100% within 24 hours or for a no-show.
A two-day Alwar, Sariska and Bhangarh itinerary
Day 1: Delhi to Alwar and Siliserh (about 185 km). Leave Delhi at 7 am, reach Alwar by about 10:30 am. Visit the City Palace museum and the Moosi Maharani chhatri, then take in the fort ramparts from the viewpoint. Buy kalakand in the old market. Continue to Siliserh for lunch and an evening by the lake, or check in to a resort near Sariska.
Day 2: Safari, Bhangarh and home (about 320 km). Take the early safari from the Sariska gate. After breakfast, drive about 50 km to Bhangarh for a daytime walk through the ruins, then return to Delhi via Alwar, arriving in the evening.
This plan totals about 505 km, so it is billed on actual kilometres just above the 500 km minimum: about Rs 18,180 Pay Now to Reserve in a sedan or Rs 28,790 Pay Now to Reserve in an Innova, plus the night allowance, tolls, parking and GST.
Practical tips
- Book the safari first, then the car; safari slots are the bottleneck.
- Wear muted colours and carry a scarf against dust on the forest tracks.
- Monkeys at Pandupol and around temples snatch food; keep bags closed.
- Bhangarh rules: stay out after sunset, as the ASI prohibits entry then, and respect the site.
- Network coverage is patchy inside and around the reserve; share your plans with your chauffeur in advance.
- Fuel is easy in Alwar but scarce near the reserve; your driver refuels in town.
Where to stay and who this trip is for
Accommodation falls into three clusters. In Alwar city there are business hotels and a few heritage havelis, convenient if the palace and fort are your focus. Around Siliserh, the lakeside state hotel and a handful of resorts suit couples who want a quiet evening by the water. Along the Jaipur road near the Sariska gate you will find jungle lodges and larger resorts with pools, which work best for safari-focused trips because early pickups are only minutes away. Most have space for cars and Tempo Travellers.
The trip suits Delhi and Gurgaon families wanting a wildlife weekend without the longer drive to Ranthambore or Corbett; school and college groups studying conservation; photographers who prefer Sariska's quieter tracks; and travellers heading to Jaipur who want to break the journey with a forest night. Foreign visitors on a Golden Triangle tour sometimes add Sariska and Bhangarh between Delhi and Jaipur; our Golden Triangle tour by car itineraries can accommodate that extra day with the same chauffeur throughout.
