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Rajasthan

Karauli

Red sandstone city palace and the Kaila Devi pilgrim road

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Best time to visit Karauli

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March and October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to June

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Karauli season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

At 10-25 C the painted courtyards of the City Palace and the Chambal ravines below the town are at their best.

Summer March to May Shoulder

March is the last bearable month; April-June hits 44 C in the ravines, and even the Chaitra Kaila Devi mela is a crush in that heat.

Monsoon June to September Mixed, read the detail

July-September greens the ravines, but Kaila Devi sanctuary, part of Ranthambore reserve, is closed until 1 October.

Autumn October to November Prime time

October-November is clear and quiet, and Karauli is a genuine stop on the road between Bharatpur and Ranthambore.

What Karauli is actually like

Small red-sandstone town on the Braj edge of Rajasthan: one heritage hotel, basic lodges, and no other travellers.

Things to do in Karauli

The local places worth your time in and around Karauli, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Karauli City Palace

    Palace · in town

    Red sandstone palace of painted chambers and mirrored halls, parts still in royal use; a guide waits at the gate

  • Madan Mohan Ji Temple

    Temple · in town

    Krishna image the town treats as its real ruler, in the palace courtyard; darshan hours only, leather and phones outside

  • Kaila Devi Temple

    Temple · 23 km out

    Shakti shrine in the ravines that pilgrims walk to for the Chaitra fair; jeeps and buses from Karauli take about an hour

  • Shri Mahavirji

    Temple · 50 km out

    Big Digambar Jain pilgrimage temple in red stone near Hindaun, with a March fair; buses go via Hindaun City

  • Timangarh Fort

    Fort · 40 km out

    Ruined 12th century fort swallowed by scrub deep in the Dang ravines; needs a jeep and a local, nothing at all up there

Getting to Karauli

Hindaun City railhead 30 km; buses from Jaipur about 5 h and Bharatpur 3 h, autos to Kaila Devi 23 km.

Practical ways in: trainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
1 day
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
275 m
State
Rajasthan
Coordinates
26.4956, 77.0275

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Karauli?

November to February is peak season in Karauli. March and October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to June. October-November is clear and quiet, and Karauli is a genuine stop on the road between Bharatpur and Ranthambore.

How many days do you need in Karauli?

1 day is the usual stay. Small red-sandstone town on the Braj edge of Rajasthan: one heritage hotel, basic lodges, and no other travellers.

How do you get to Karauli?

Hindaun City railhead 30 km; buses from Jaipur about 5 h and Bharatpur 3 h, autos to Kaila Devi 23 km. Practical ways in: train and road.

Is Karauli expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

Is there a festival in Karauli?

Mar/Apr: Kaila Devi lakhi mela. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Karauli?

Karauli City Palace, Madan Mohan Ji Temple, Kaila Devi Temple, Shri Mahavirji and Timangarh Fort. Red sandstone palace of painted chambers and mirrored halls, parts still in royal use; a guide waits at the gate.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Rajasthan

All 49 destinations in Rajasthan