Lake palaces in the heart of Rajasthan
Udaipur was founded by the Mewar rulers in the sixteenth century around a chain of artificial lakes, and it remains the most graceful city in Rajasthan. The City Palace sprawls along the shore of Lake Pichola, its courtyards full of mirrorwork and painted miniatures, while the Lake Palace and Jag Mandir sit on islands in the water. Take a boat at sunset, browse miniature-painting studios in the old town and climb to the Monsoon Palace for views over the Aravalli hills.