BUNDI

A small Brahmin-blue town in Rajasthan, it takes a little work to get there (five-hour bus from Jaipur) but is well worth the effort. Built around a man-made lake, it’s the sort of place where children fly kites and monkeys bound across rooftops, pinching shoes and any washing left out by unsuspecting travellers. Not many shops, but plenty of temples and an extravagant old fort, slowly going to ruin. Rudyard Kipling spent some time here, and you can go and visit his lakeside house. Bundi is one of those places where not very much happens, and when you’re travelling for a few weeks, you need spots like that. Our hotel had installed solar-heated plumbing to be proud of – all the water in our bathroom came out scalding hot, even in the loo. One flush and the next occupant would get a nicely steamed butt.