Amber Fort at opening time

Amber was the capital of the Kachhwaha rulers until Jaipur was founded in 1727. The fort you see was largely built from the late 16th century under Raja Man Singh I, a general of the Mughal emperor Akbar, and extended by his successors. It climbs a ridge above Maota Lake in four courtyards, each more private than the last, from the public hall of audience to the women's quarters at the top.

We leave the hotel at about 7.30 am so you reach the gate as it opens. Your guide walks you up through the Sun Gate, across Jaleb Chowk and into the Diwan-i-Aam, then to the Ganesh Pol, whose painted gateway leads to the private palace. The Sheesh Mahal, a hall lined with convex mirror work, is the best-known room; the quieter Zenana courtyard is often the most moving.

After the fort, we drive five minutes to Panna Meena ka Kund, a 16th-century stepwell with criss-cross staircases, and on the way back stop at the Jal Mahal viewpoint on Man Sagar Lake. You are back at the hotel by late morning. Opening times and ticket rules change, so check current status before you travel.