Todgarh is a small town in the Aravalli hills of central Rajasthan, set in a patch of Beawar district that is surrounded by Pali and Rajsamand districts. It is said to take its name from James Tod, the 19th-century British officer who wrote the Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, and it is the base for the Todgarh-Raoli Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the quieter protected forests in the state.
The sanctuary was established in 1983 and covers about 495 sq km of dry deciduous forest and grassland across Ajmer, Pali and Rajsamand districts. Leopard, sloth bear, striped hyena, chinkara and Indian wolf are recorded there, and more than 140 bird species were counted in a 2013 survey. It is much less developed for visitors than better-known parks, and you should plan for rough roads and arranged access rather than a ready-made safari.
The sights inside and around the sanctuary are modest and rewarding. Dudhaleshwar Mahadev is a Shiva shrine with a perennial spring in the middle of the forest, reached by the winding Katar Ghati road. Bheelberi Falls, a waterfall of about 55 m, flows mainly in the rains. Dewair, nearby, is a historic battlefield linked with the Mewar Maharanas and their wars against the Mughals.
This is a place for travellers who enjoy quiet landscapes and do not need much infrastructure. With a hired car, a confirmed forest permission and one night at a rest house or in Beawar, it makes a satisfying side trip from Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh or Ajmer.
Before you plan
Todgarh at a glance
- Best months
- November to February is the most…November to February is the most comfortable. October and March are workable; April to June is very hot. The monsoon (July to September) is best for Bheelberi Falls.
- Ideal trip length
- 1 to 2 days: one for the sanctuary,…1 to 2 days: one for the sanctuary, Dudhaleshwar and Bheelberi, one for Dewair and the drive
- Airport
- No scheduled airport at Todgarh itselfNo scheduled airport at Todgarh itself. Kishangarh (KOH), Udaipur (UDR) and Jaipur (JAI) are the usual options, each a long drive of several hours.
- Railway station
- BeawarBeawar (BER) and Ajmer Junction (AII) are the nearest railheads; Beawar is about 75 km away by road
- Getting around
- A hired car with driver is the only…A hired car with driver is the only practical way; jeep access inside the sanctuary needs forest department permission
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,500 to ₹3,500 per person…Roughly ₹1,500 to ₹3,500 per person per day excluding the room, mostly for a car; forest rest-house tariffs vary
- Senior comfort
- Limited: roads are windingLimited: roads are winding, facilities are basic and the nearest hospitals are in Beawar or Ajmer
- Language
- Hindi and Marwari/Mewari-influenced…Hindi and Marwari/Mewari-influenced local speech; English is little used
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Todgarh: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Todgarh itinerary
One good day
1 day in Todgarh
Arrange permission with the forest department beforehand, then drive in early. Take the Katar Ghati road to Dudhaleshwar Mahadev, spend an hour at the spring and shrine, and walk a short forest track with a guide. If you are visiting in the rains, add Bheelberi Falls. Eat packed food and leave the forest before dark unless you have booked a rest house.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Todgarh
Enter the sanctuary in the morning, visit Dudhaleshwar Mahadev and the forest tracks around it, rest at midday, and look for birds and tracks in the cooler late afternoon.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Todgarh
Drive in from Beawar, Ajmer or Udaipur, check in to a rest house or hotel, and take a gentle walk near the town at dusk.
Day-by-day plan →
