Experience the best of Alwar

Alwar sits in the Aravalli hills of north-eastern Rajasthan, about 160 kilometres south of Delhi. A fort crowns the ridge above the city, and below it stands the City Palace, built for the rulers of the former princely state of Alwar; part of it now houses a museum of miniature paintings, manuscripts and weapons. Moosi Maharani ki Chhatri, a marble and sandstone cenotaph beside a pool, is a favourite spot at sunset.

Siliserh Lake, with a small palace on its shore, lies south-west of the city. Sariska Tiger Reserve spreads across forested hills to the south, with tigers reintroduced from 2008 and temples and ruins among the trees. The ruined fort of Bhangarh, the subject of ghost stories, is in the same hills, and Neemrana, with its hill-fort palace, lies to the north.

Alwar is known for kalakand, a milk sweet of thickened milk and sugar, and Rajasthani meals of dal, baati and churma fill the restaurants. Summers are very hot, and the monsoon turns the Aravalli hills green.