By Manjot Kaur · 15 October 2026
Leave Gurugram on Sohna Road before the office traffic starts. In under an hour the towers are behind you and the Aravalli ridges begin to show. Follow that line south through Haryana's Mewat country into Rajasthan, and by late morning you reach Alwar. A little further on is the forest gate at Sariska. Sariska Tiger Reserve reopened for safaris on 1 October after its monsoon break, and with the Dussehra long weekend coming, it is one of the easiest real wildlife trips you can drive from the city. With a self-drive car rental in Gurugram, you set the start time, choose where to stop and decide how long to stay.
This guide covers the route, the safari rules that matter most for drivers, a sensible two-day plan, and Siliserh Lake, which makes a good last stop. Book a self-drive car in Gurugram once your safari permit is confirmed, then use the plan below.
Key Takeaways
- Distance: Gurugram to Alwar via Sohna Road is roughly 130 to 150 km, depending on where you start. Sariska's main gate is about 35 km beyond Alwar. Allow 3.5 to 4.5 hours each way with a breakfast stop.
- Your car stays at the gate: private vehicles cannot be used for a Sariska safari. You book a forest department gypsy (six seats) or canter (20 seats) through the Rajasthan FMDSS portal.
- October safari slots: the timings listed for October are about 6:30 to 10 am and 2:30 to 6 pm. From 1 November they shift to about 7 to 10:30 am and 2 to 5:30 pm. Confirm when you book.
- Avoid Wednesdays: the safari is listed as closed every Wednesday. That includes 21 October, the day after Dussehra.
- Best plan: do the afternoon safari on day one, stay near the reserve, and visit Siliserh Lake or take a morning safari on day two before driving home.
Why Sariska works so well from Gurugram
Sariska covers about 1,203 square kilometres of the Aravalli hills in Alwar district, with a core area of 881 square kilometres. It is mostly dry deciduous forest, with dhok trees, rocky ridges, grassland and lakes that fill in the monsoon. Its recent history is a comeback story. Tigers had disappeared from Sariska by 2005. Animals were moved in from Ranthambhore from 2008 onwards, and the reserve's population was reported at around 30 by 2023. Even without a tiger sighting, a drive here brings sambar and chital, nilgai, wild boar, langurs and peafowl, and in the quieter corners, raptors and owls.
For anyone in Gurugram, the advantage is simple. Sariska is close enough for a two-day trip, and you do not need a flight or train connection to reach it. The road takes you directly to the gate. A car also lets you build the trip around the safari slot rather than a bus timetable. You can leave early, reach the gate on time, and drive back after breakfast the next morning.
The route: Sohna, Mewat and into Alwar
The most direct approach from most of Gurugram is south on Sohna Road (NH248A), past the Ghamroj toll, then on through Nuh and Firozpur Jhirka towards Alwar. Some drivers use the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, which begins near Sohna, and then turn off towards Alwar. Check your navigation app on the morning you leave, because the best choice depends on where you start and on that day's traffic.
A few things make this road easier:
- Start before 7 am. Sohna Road and the Golf Course Extension junctions are much calmer early, and an early start gives you a relaxed lunch in Alwar before an afternoon safari.
- Expect slow sections. Past Sohna the road passes through small towns and market stretches. Tractors, trucks, two-wheelers and cattle all share the road, so do not plan your timing on highway speeds alone.
- Fuel up in Alwar. Fill the tank in Alwar before the forest stretch, so you do not have to look for a pump near the reserve at dusk.
- Carry FASTag balance and some cash. There are toll plazas on the Haryana and Rajasthan sides. Dhabas and small shops along the way may prefer cash or UPI.
- Drive gently near the forest. The road beyond Alwar climbs through Aravalli scrub and forest. Animals can cross at dawn and dusk, so keep your speed down and do not stop on the roadside to feed or photograph wildlife.
How the Sariska safari works for self-drive visitors
This is the part that catches some drivers out. You drive to Sariska, but you do not drive in it. Safaris run only in forest department vehicles. The Rajasthan forest department's FMDSS online booking system lists two Sariska entry points, Sariska Gate and Tehla Gate. For a trip from Gurugram via Alwar, Sariska Gate on the Alwar–Jaipur road is the natural choice.
Booking a gypsy or canter
You book through the Rajasthan SSO login and the FMDSS wildlife tourism section. A gypsy takes up to six people and a canter up to 20. Holiday slots fill early, so book the safari first and the car second. Permits are generally non-refundable and non-transferable, so check your dates before you pay. Keep the same government photo ID you used for the booking with you, because it is checked at the gate.
Timings for October and November
The commonly listed October timings are 6:30 to 10 am for the morning trip and 2:30 to 6 pm for the afternoon trip. From 1 November to 31 January they move to about 7 to 10:30 am and 2 to 5:30 pm. A safari lasts about three to three and a half hours. Reach the gate at least 30 minutes before your slot so you have time to park, check in and use the washroom.
The Wednesday rule and the long weekend
Sariska's safari is listed as closed on Wednesdays. This weekend, Saturday 17 October to Tuesday 20 October (Dussehra) is the window that works. Wednesday 21 October does not. If you are taking an extra day off, add it at the start of your trip rather than the end.
Pandupol temple: do not plan to drive in
Pandupol Hanuman temple lies deep inside the reserve and draws large crowds on Tuesdays, Saturdays and full-moon days. In 2025 the reserve restricted private vehicles on the temple road, and the arrangements for pilgrims have continued to change since then. If the temple is part of your plans, check the current rules with the reserve before you go, and do not take your rental car into the reserve. On temple days, also expect more traffic near Sariska Gate.
A two-day plan that fits the safari slots
Day 1: Gurugram to Sariska, afternoon safari
- 6:30 to 7 am: pick up the car in Gurugram and leave by Sohna Road.
- Around 8:30 am: breakfast at a dhaba after Sohna.
- 10:30 to 11 am: reach Alwar. Fill the tank and have an early lunch.
- Around 1:30 pm: reach Sariska Gate, about 35 km from Alwar. Park and check in.
- 2:30 to 6 pm: afternoon safari by gypsy or canter.
- Evening: check in at a stay near the reserve and avoid a long night drive.
Day 2: morning safari or Siliserh, then home
If you have booked two safaris, the 6:30 am morning slot is usually the quietest. Afterwards, drive back towards Alwar and stop at Siliserh Lake for a late breakfast by the water. If one safari is enough, take a slow morning, visit Siliserh, and leave for Gurugram by early afternoon. That gets you home before the evening traffic on Sohna Road.
Siliserh Lake: the stop that rounds off the trip
Siliserh is an artificial lake a short way southwest of Alwar, close to the road you use for Sariska. Maharaja Vinay Singh of Alwar built it in 1845 by damming a tributary of the Ruparel River to supply water to the city. The palace he built beside it is now a Rajasthan tourism (RTDC) hotel, and boating is available nearby. After the monsoon the lake is full and the hills behind it are green, so October is a good month to visit. It suits a late breakfast on day two or a quiet sunset on day one if you choose the morning safari instead.
If you have more time, Bhangarh Fort on the reserve's southern edge is another possible stop, roughly 50 km beyond Sariska via Thanagazi. It is an Archaeological Survey of India site with sunrise-to-sunset entry, so plan it in daylight and do not squeeze it in on the way home in the dark.
Picking the right rental car for this trip
You do not need a large SUV for Sariska. The roads to the gate are paved, and once there the car stays in the parking area. What matters more is comfort over 350 km or so, reasonable fuel use and boot space for two days of bags. On 15 October 2026, the lowest rate on the Hire N Ride Gurugram page was ₹2,280 per day for a 2023 Hyundai i20, with 250 km a day included and a deposit from ₹5,000. Other cars listed included a Maruti Swift, a CNG Maruti Fronx and a Hyundai Verna. Rates and availability change, so check the live listing before you book.
- Kilometres: a two-day booking with 250 km a day included covers a typical round trip plus a detour to Siliserh.
- Fuel: fuel is not included. Note the fuel level at pickup and return the car at the agreed level.
- Documents: carry your original driving licence and a government photo ID. You need them at pickup, and your ID is also checked at the safari gate.
- Doorstep delivery: several Gurugram listings show doorstep delivery, which helps if you want to leave at 6:30 am.
What to pack for a Sariska safari in October
- A light jacket or shawl. Mornings in open gypsies feel cool even when afternoons are warm.
- A cap, sunscreen and water for the afternoon slot.
- Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens. Phones work well for landscapes but struggle with distant animals.
- Earth-toned clothes. Bright colours and loud voices reduce your chances of seeing animals.
- A small bag of snacks for the drive, plus a rubbish bag. Do not leave any litter in or near the reserve.
More drives from the same part of India
If Sariska makes you want more wildlife, our guide to Keoladeo's migratory season by car from Jaipur covers Rajasthan's best-known bird reserve, which you can reach with a self-drive car rental in Jaipur. For a heritage day closer to the capital region, read about a full Kurukshetra day by rental car.
Conclusion: a real forest, a morning's drive away
Few big cities have a tiger reserve within a morning's drive, and Gurugram is one of them. Leave early on Sohna Road, have lunch in Alwar, park at Sariska Gate and hand the next three hours to a forest guide. Spend the night nearby, then let Siliserh Lake be the calm last stop before the drive home. Book the safari first, avoid Wednesdays, and a self-drive car rental in Gurugram takes care of the rest of the trip.
Ready for the Aravallis? Book a self-drive car in Gurugram, check today's rates and deposit, and pick dates that work with your safari slot.
About the author: Manjot Kaur writes self-drive travel guides for Hire N Ride. She focuses on heritage and nature routes and on the practical details, such as permits, gate timings, daylight and parking, that help a rental car trip run smoothly.
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