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Voykit pocket guide · India
Alwar
Spend 1–2 days in Alwar: see Bala Quila Fort, Jaisamand Lake and Siliserh Lake, then head to Sariska Tiger Reserve or Jaipur.
Alwar is a mid‑size Rajasthani city set in the Aravalli hills. Its main sights – a pre‑Mughal fort, two lakes and a nearby tiger reserve – fit comfortably in a short stay. Use the rail link to Jaipur or Delhi for a day‑trip.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- May–Jul (high heat)
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,200–2,000 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Ambulance/Fire 102 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | ₹50–80 |
| Street snack (pyaaz ki kachori) | ₹30–50 |
| Meal at a budget veg restaurant | ₹100–150 |
| Entry to Bala Quila Fort | ₹200 (foreigner ₹400) |
| Auto‑rickshaw 2 km (1.2 mi)Auto‑rickshaw 1.2 mi (2 km) | ₹30–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- JAI · Jaipur International
- ≈150 km (93 mi) by road, 2–2.5 h bus≈93 mi (150 km) by road, 2–2.5 h bus
- DEL · Indira Gandhi (Delhi)
- ≈160 km (99 mi), 3–4 h bus≈99 mi (160 km), 3–4 h bus
Typical fares
- Alwar → Jaipur (Shatabdi)
- about ₹300–500, 1½ h (check)
- Alwar → Sariska (bus)
- ₹12, 1½ h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto‑rickshaws and local taxis dominate; city bus network connects main sights. Trains run hourly to Jaipur (≈1.5 h) and Delhi (≈2 h).
See and do
Known for
- Bala Quila Fort
- Jaisamand Lake
- Siliserh Lake
- Sariska Tiger Reserve
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sariska Tiger Reserve | Train to Alwar (≈15 min), then local bus ₹12, 1½ h | ≈2 h |
| Jaipur | Shatabdi train, 1½ h | ≈2 h |
| Delhi | Express train, 2 h | ≈3 h |
Sleep
- Ashoka
- Budget rooms, single ₹250–300, double ₹300–400, near Gopal Cinema
- MGB Hotel
- 35 rooms, pool, mid‑range; price check
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ़ कीजिएmaaf kijiye |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is it? | यह कितना है?yeh kitna hai? |
| Can I pay by card? | क्या कार्ड से भुगतान कर सकता हूँ?kya card se bhugtan kar sakta hoon? |
| Where is the toilet? | शौचालय कहाँ है?shauchalay kahan hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Bala Quila Fort was closed until 2023; check current status before visiting.
- Summer temperatures often exceed 40 °C; carry water and sun protection.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Alwar yet. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bala Quila Fort
- Jaisamand Lake
- Siliserh Lake
- Sariska Tiger Reserve
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Alwar, revision 5286965 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5286965
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/alwar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.