Start at Amber Fort before 8:30 AM using a pre-hired day vehicle since the fort is on a hilltop 11 kilometres from Jaipur city centre. Amber Fort is the finest example of Rajput and Mughal architectural fusion in Rajasthan. Construction began in 1592 under Raja Man Singh I and continued under successive rulers for over 100 years. The main approach is via a steep ramp or elephant ride (check welfare practices before choosing the elephant option). The Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors) is the most celebrated room in the fort; its ceiling and walls are covered in thousands of small convex mirrors that reflect a single candle flame as a starfield.

Also within Amber Fort complex: Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience), Ganesh Pol (painted gateway to the private apartments), Sukh Niwas (Hall of Pleasure, cooled by a water channel system), and Jas Mandir (hall with latticed marble screens for zenana use). Allow 2-2.5 hours for the full complex.

Jaigarh Fort, connected to Amber by an underground tunnel, sits on the hill above and is notable for housing the Jaivana cannon, the world's largest wheeled cannon (cast in 1720, never used in battle). The fort also contains the royal treasury rooms and offers commanding views of Amber Fort and the Maota Lake below. This is often skipped by visitors in a hurry, but worth 45 minutes for the strategic perspective it gives over the valley.

Nahargarh Fort, west of the city, is the third fort in the Jaipur protective triangle. Built in 1734 on the Aravalli Ridge, it offers the best panoramic view of Jaipur's walled city from the northern heights. The Madhavendra Bhawan inside the fort is a series of identical suites built for the king's wives, each with the same room layout. Reach Nahargarh by late afternoon to catch the golden hour when Jaipur's pink sandstone buildings glow warmly.

Lunch break in the city core between Amber and Nahargarh. Jaipur's MI Road has multiple established restaurants for a sit-down Rajasthani or North Indian lunch.

Sunset from Nahargarh is one of the best city-light views in India. The entire walled city, the Albert Hall museum's illuminated dome, the City Palace, and the Jantar Mantar complex are all visible in one wide panoramic sweep. Stay until the city lights stabilize (approximately 30 minutes after sunset) for the full effect.