The City Palace of Alwar was built in 1793 by Raja Bakhtawar Singh and is a handsome amalgam of Rajputana and Islamic architectural styles — arched pavilions, marble inlay, and intricately painted interiors. The lower floors of the palace complex house the government museum, which is one of the better regional collections in Rajasthan and rarely crowded.
The museum's highlights include miniature paintings from the Alwar school (a distinctive local style noted for its attention to naturalistic detail), royal weapons and armour, and a range of objects from the court's history. The palace complex also encloses several temples, and the lakeside setting — with Jai Samand Lake nearby — makes the approach pleasant in the cooler months.