Karauli itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Karauli

1. 01

   Day 1: Palace, Madan Mohan and Kaila Devi

   Start at the City Palace early, before the stone warms up, and give it a slow hour or two, including the Diwan-i-Am, the Rang Mahal and the rooftop terrace. Walk to the Madan Mohan temple next door for the morning darshan crowd, then take a long lunch break. In the afternoon, drive about 23 km to Kaila Devi; if time allows, continue a little way into the sanctuary road for a feel of the forest before returning at dusk.

Plan 02

2 days in Karauli

1. 01

   Day 1: The old town

   Spend the morning in the City Palace and the neighbouring Madan Mohan temple, then rest through the afternoon. Walk the lanes near the palace gate towards the river in the late afternoon, and visit Madan Mohan again for the evening aarti if you would like to see the town at its most devotional.

2. 02

   Day 2: Kaila Devi and the sanctuary edge

   Leave early for Kaila Devi, about 23 km away, so that you reach the shrine before the queues build up. Afterwards ask your driver to continue along the forest road through the Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, stopping only where the forest department permits. Return for a late lunch and a quiet evening.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary	Half a day with the temple	Easy	November to March

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 03

3 days in Karauli

1. 01

   Day 1: Palace and Madan Mohan

   Visit the City Palace in the morning and Madan Mohan temple beside it. Use the afternoon for rest, then return for the evening aarti.

2. 02

   Day 2: Shri Mahavirji

   Drive towards the Hindaun side of the district to Shri Mahavirji, the Digambar Jain complex on the Gambhir river, and allow a couple of unhurried hours for the main temple and the neighbouring shrines. Time your return to avoid driving on rural roads after dark.

3. 03

   Day 3: Kaila Devi or Timangarh

   Choose one. Kaila Devi and the edge of the sanctuary make an easy morning. Timangarh, near Masalpur on the old Agra road, needs a fit traveller, sturdy shoes and a driver who knows the track; it is best done early in the cooler months.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Karauli trip for parents and children

• Hire a car and driver for the whole stay. Sights are spread across the district and public transport between them is thin.
• Keep the City Palace to a slow morning and ask about the stairs before committing to all levels; there is no lift and floors are uneven in places.
• Avoid Kaila Devi during the Chaitra fair unless your main purpose is the fair. Queues and crowds are extreme; weekday mornings outside fair season are far calmer.
• Skip Timangarh if walking on rough ground is difficult. There are no benches, shade or toilets on site.
• Carry water, snacks, medicines and a basic first-aid kit on every outing; services thin out quickly beyond the town.
• Choose the cooler months. The district is hot and exposed from April to June, and midday sightseeing is tiring.

Karauli with elderly parents: the full guide →