Bala Quila

Bala Quila is the ancient fort that dominates the ridge above Alwar city, rising to 595 metres above sea level and accessible via a steep road or on foot. The fort's walls stretch for some 5 km along the ridge, enclosing six gates and a series of towers, palaces, and temples within. The forest on the slopes is inhabited by leopards, sloth bears, and sambar deer — you may hear langurs alarm-calling as you approach.

The fort is currently managed by the Army and access to the interior is restricted, but the exterior walls and the approach road offer excellent views over Alwar and across the Aravalli hills. The best light is in the early morning or late afternoon, when the stone glows against the sky and the city below is still quiet.

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A story
Bala Quila is one of the few hill forts in Rajasthan that predates the Mughal period — its foundations are said to date to the 10th century, making it older than most of the famous Rajputana forts. The Mughals used it as a prison, and the Maratha leader Daulat Rao Scindia briefly held Alwar from it in the early 19th century before the British took control of the region.