Drive to Alwar, straight into the life and times of the Kachchawah Rajputs. In 1771, Maharana Pratap Singh wrested this kingdom from the clutches of the Jats, to whom it had passed from the Marathas. Alwar (formerly Mewat) has the forts and the palaces, the cuisine and, most important, the ancient tradition of hospitality that is so integral to Rajasthani culture. An outpost of the Mughal empire and a Rajput stronghold, Alwar has a number of palaces that, unfortunately, have yet to be opened for tourism. The medieval Alwar Fort and the City Palace are particularly arresting, the latter housing a small museum. Also worth a visit is the Vijai Mandir Palace on the outskirts of Alwar, as also the chhatri of Musi Rani. Visitors would also like to see Vinay Vilas Palace, now a college, the Purjan Vihar (or Company Bagh) gardens and the Tomb of Fateh Jang, a minister in Shah Jehan's court. Take a short trip to Jaisamand Lake. As elsewhere in Rajasthan, lakes form an integral part of palace landscapes in Alwar. Alwar, alas, is not a tourist-friendly destination, so it is both difficult to get around as well as to get into the monuments for sightseeing. Which is why it's best to use Sariska as a base and come here on an excursion. Alwar does have a few hotels if you must stay here. Among them, RTDC?s Hotel Meenal (Tel: 0144-2347352; Tariff: Rs 400-700) is your best option.

Barely 13 km from Alwar, Siliserh is a beautiful spot a lake surrounded by a ring of hills. Here, overlooking the lake, is a hunting lodge that has been taken over by Rajasthan Tourism to run as a hotel. The views from the Lake Palace, Siliserh, are impressive, but the accommodation and ambience are better by day than night. Also available at Siliserh are basic boating facilities. During the day, you may wish to carry a hamper to picnic by the lake's edge or go for walks along its shore. If you can brave the cold in winter, you'll have a higher chance of spotting crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks. Rajasthan Tourism's Lake Palace (Tel: 0144-2886322; Tariff: Rs 500-2,000) in Siliserh is a delectable hunting lodge Maharaj Viney Singh built for his queen. The only things you can shoot here now are photos of the hundreds of birds on the cool blue waters of Siliserh Lake.