In a sleepy little village in Alwar, a dusty track leads to a gorgeous destination -Dadhikar Fort. A staycation had been on the cards for a long time, and I finally got an opportunity when I visited home this time. We booked ourselves a 1 day stay at this fort turned heritage stay where charm oozes out of each corner.
About Dadhikar Fort
The history of the fort dates back to the 9th-10th century, when the king of Abhaneri fled his kingdom after having lost everything in floods, and made a small residential camp in Dadhikar, Alwar .
This small but splendid fort is located amid green Aravali mountains, and affords beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.
The last 8km of the road is a village road, a small dusty track, almost non-existent in places. But it all adds to the rustic charm of the property, because you'll truly feel like you've left the world behind.
From the entrance, it is an uphill drive to reach their reception, which is just 200m from their car parking area.
The Rooms
They have 18 unique rooms, which are divided as per category into deluxe room- twin bed, deluxe room-double bed, club room and suite. We stayed in their club room with a toddler, and it was a pleasant experience. The decor of the rooms was reminiscent of the past, and the antique furniture made it seem as though we were actually living in a palace. There was a balcony with a sit out area as well. They don't usually offer room service, but we requested them to send our tea and dinner in the room and they obliged.
My father stayed in a deluxe room, and the deluxe rooms are a little different. They have a sitting area near the door, then 2-3 stairs to be climbed up and down inside the room to reach the best. While the room looked pretty cosy for couples, it may not be the best choice for families, or elderly people.
Finally we asked them to change the room and we got a room with 2 single beds for him.
Food
They have an in-house restaurant serving mainly Indian dishes. If they are running at higher occupancy, they will arrange a buffet for lunch and dinner else it will be freshly prepared on order. Breakfast is buffet style but it's served on your table. Food is homely, tasty and reasonably priced.
Activities
1. Folk Song and Dance
The property arranges folk song and dance performance on weekends. However, please check with them beforehand for this show.
2. Games
There are arrangements for badminton and table tennis, and some indoor games
3. Enjoy the view under the stars
There are tables and chairs placed on the terrace. You can ask them to arrange a romantic open-air dinner under the stars.
4. Explore the fort
The best activity is to explore the fort and click pictures at every nook and cranny because it is so gorgeous. It looks straight out of a fairy tale at night, when it is beautifully lit up.
5. Nearby Sightseeing
It is easy to explore many places in Alwar such as Bala Qila(6km), City Palace & Museum Alwar(6km), Vijay Mandir(8km), Siliserh Lake(20km), & Jai Samand Lake(14 km). However, the most exciting and off-beat place around here are some pre-historic rock paintings in caves around Dadhikar Village. These are around 2km from the hotel and date back 5000-7000 years ago.
6. Photoshoots
You can definitely organize your photoshoots at this place(we saw one happening), as each corner is splendid, and provides perfect backdrops for memorable pictures.
Vibe Check
It has a rustic laid-back vibe which will transport you back to an old era. It's a great weekend getaway from Delhi/NCR- perfect for a photoshoot, a staycation, or even some off beat sightseeing.
Ideal for
Couples, families
How to reach
You can drive here from Delhi by car. It's around 200km from Delhi, which will take around 3 hr 45 min to reach, and 160 km from Gurgaon, which will take around 2 hr 50 min to reach.
Best Time to Visit
It can be visited all the year round, but winter(Oct-Mar) is the best time to visit. You can also visit in monsoon(July-Sep), when the hills around Dadhikar come alive with greenery.
Cost and Booking
Rooms start from Rs. 4960 plus taxes per night.
For latest price, and to book online, click here.
For your next weekend getaway, consider this quaint fort and discover it's secrets. Share your own travel stories on Tripoto to earn credits and redeem them on exciting travel packages and experiences.
