SHAHPURA BAGH

This is a home stay with former nobility-high points are the outdoor activities, great food, and relaxed fun.  It is an ideal rest-stop for tourists on a whistle-stop tour of Rajasthan.  It should also be a great weekend destination for people wondering where to take/send their tired relatives.  The things to see and do are row on Khirsagar lake and look at birds and flowering lotuses.  Cycle along the Nahar Sagar reservoir embankment and picnic at the farm.  Visit the Joshi family in Shahpura, acclaimed painters of phad (epic scrolls).  Ramble through the kitchen garden identifying vegetables and herbs (for a pair of neurotic pair of geesel).  Wander through the Shahpura bazaar and buy a pair of mojaris (Rajasthani shoes).  Sit in the sun with chai or a beer and a good book and find youself snoozing.  Soak in the bathtub with the bath salts provided and a glass of wine on hand.

GETTING THERE by road Shahpura is 220 km from Jaipur or Udaipur about four hours on excellent uncongested roads.  If you are driving from Delhi, turn off NH79 just short of Ajmer, at Nasirabad.  Drive on and again turn of the highway at Gulabpura for the last 40 Km.  You could drive the full eight hours straight from Delhi.  By train Ajmer (120km) is the nearest station.  CONTACT:  Sat Singh 9828122012, Maya Singh 9828122013, www.shahpurabagh.com

Alwar

Alwar is not the most tourist-friendly destination, which is likely a good thing for those seeking classic Rajasthani attractions without the classic Rajasthani tourist hordes. Once the northern entryway to the region, Alwar's strategic location meant that it saw plenty of warfare in its time, until the 17th century when the Rajputs seized it from the jats. Today, Alwar's many palaces and forts reveal its Mughal and Rajput history, and its cuisine and hospitality characterise the best of Rajasthan. The main attraction is Bal Quila, a towering fort that affords a 300m-high view of its surrounds. Just below lies Sagar tank and the City Palace, worth visiting particularly for its museum, which contains a fine array of courtly memorabilia, weaponry, and Arabic and Sanskrit manuscripts. For the dose of Mughal culture, the gold-leaf decoratons and elegant balaconies of Vinay Vilas Palace are nice. Alwar is also the access point to Sariska National Park.

Alwar is 2hr30min from Delhi: Tourist Reception Centre: 0144-2347348.