Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace)

Perched on a hilltop high above the city, the Monsoon Palace was built in the late 19th century by Maharana Sajjan Singh, originally intended as an observatory to watch the monsoon clouds roll in over the Aravalli hills. It never quite fulfilled that purpose — but it did become the best seat in Udaipur.

The palace itself is a weathered, romantic shell, but nobody comes for the interiors. They come for the view: a 360-degree panorama of Udaipur, its lakes glinting below, the hills stretching to the horizon, and one of the most spectacular sunsets in Rajasthan.

• ›The sunset — the whole reason to make the trip up.
• ›The sweeping views over Fateh Sagar and Pichola lakes.
• ›Wildlife spotting on the drive up through the sanctuary.

The palace sits inside a wildlife sanctuary; private vehicles are often restricted, with shuttle jeeps ferrying visitors up the final stretch. Go for sunset but head down before it's fully dark.