Glimpses of Mewar: Jaipur, Udaipur & Mount Abu

After breakfast, drive along the Maota Lake gorge to the hilltop Amber Fort & Palace. Explore the mirrored halls of the Sheesh Mahal and the Diwan-i-Aam. Continue upward along the ridge to visit Jaigarh Fort (home to the massive Jaivana wheeled cannon) and take in panoramic valley views from Nahargarh Fort. On the descent, pause for a photo stop at the water palace, Jal Mahal, and visit the white-marble Birla Mandir. Overnight stay in Jaipur.

Depart early after breakfast toward southern Rajasthan. En route, make a brief detour to the holy lake town of Pushkar to visit the rare Brahma Temple and take a walk along the stepped ghats. Continue along the four-lane highway through Chittorgarh/Bhilwara into Udaipur, the "City of Lakes." Check into your hotel and spend a relaxing evening by the illuminated waterfront. Overnight stay in Udaipur.

After breakfast, tour the sprawling City Palace Complex, the largest palace in Rajasthan, overlooking Lake Pichola. View the royal crystal collection at the Crystal Gallery, then step outside to the 17th-century carved stone Jagdish Temple. Head to the ornamental fountain gardens of Saheliyon ki Bari. In the late afternoon, take a scenic boat cruise on Lake Pichola past Jag Mandir and the Lake Palace, followed by a drive up to Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace) for panoramic sunset views over the Aravallis. In the evening, watch the traditional folk dance and puppet performance at Bagore ki Haveli. Overnight stay in Udaipur.

Check out after breakfast and drive into the lush valleys of the western Aravalli Range. Stop at the secluded 15th-century Ranakpur Jain Temple, acclaimed worldwide for its 1,444 uniquely hand-carved marble pillars. Continue the winding mountain climb to Mount Abu, Rajasthan's only hill station. Check into your hotel. In the late afternoon, enjoy a relaxing pedal-boat ride on Nakki Lake and take a sunset walk to Sunset Point or Toad Rock. Overnight stay in Mount Abu.

Begin your morning with an unhurried visit to the Dilwara Jain Temples, celebrated for their translucent, lace-like marble carving that rivals the Taj Mahal. Drive up to Guru Shikhar (5,650 ft), the highest peak in the Aravalli Range, offering sweeping views across the surrounding plateaus. On the way down, explore the historic ruins of Achalgarh Fort and the ancient Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple. Spend a tranquil evening walking the forest trails near the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary or relaxing at the local market. Overnight stay in Mount Abu.

Enjoy breakfast overlooking the hills before checking out. Drive down the ghat road back to Udaipur. Depending on flight or train departure timings, stop for last-minute shopping for miniature paintings and silver jewelry before direct drop-off at Maharana Pratap Airport Udaipur (UDR) or Udaipur City Railway Station.