Nawalgarh

	Nawalgarh, Jaipur
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Teetering on the edge of the hills 3km northeast of Jaipur, Nawalgarh, or "Tiger Fort" was built by Jai Singh II in 1734 as a retreat for his wives, the maharanis. Its unique design, regular and repetitive, stands in contrast to the other royal dwellings in Jaipur, and the views are breathtaking.

All the queens' apartments are identical, arranged around the central courtyard in perfect symmetry, each with a room for a personal maidservant. Ram Singh, who in 1868 built more apartments on the upper floor, continued Jai Singh's tradition of orderly design by constructing another set of identical rooms. These bear traces of paintings and slightly damaged stained-glass windows.

Vehicles of any kind can only get to the fort along a road that branches off Amber Road, a nine-kilometer journey from Jaipur. However, if you're feeling energetic, it's possible to walk there along a two-kilometer footpath that starts northwest of the City Palace. A very reasonably priced café by the fort serves meals and snacks.

If you want to stay somewhere a little out of the ordinary, the old buildings next to the fort hold one double room for rent (phone 0141/320538, best booked in advance; Rs300-400): the room is simple but the views spectacular, with six windows facing west and south.

Nawalgarh, or "Tiger Fort" (10am-4.30pm; Rs4)