Udaipur has always delighted visitors with its glamorous setting and easy-going, small-town atmosphere. Its position is wonderfully romantic, set beside the blue waters of Pichola Lake, which glimmers against the green of the surrounding hills. Its most famous hotel is the Lake Palace, which stands right in the centre of the lake above its watery reflection. Since its founding by the Maharaja Udai Singh in 1567, it has been a centre for Mughal miniatures, a highly specialised and delicate art form. The City Palace, now in part a museum, occupies a prime position and has its own collection of miniatures. The leafy, winding streets are still full of little galleries and bookshops, perfect for browsing. There are forts, temples and museums to visit - it's a lovely place for simply pottering about - and you would never guess that the modern city has a population of half a million people.
Rajasthan, North India