Once you get to Sisarma, the scenery changes dramatically. Here the panorama opens up into the wide river valley stretching away to the surrounding mountain slopes. For those who enjoy hiking, cycling, bird-watching or merely relaxing in the peace and quiet, this area is simply perfect! Just beyond Sisarma are some of the prettiest country tracts; these are also the least well known. There are a variety of minor routes that climb mountain passes or thread through valleys where you may never see another vehicle, let alone another tourist. The mountainous area just west of Sisarma is a terrain that, towards the end of the monsoon season, resembles Wales with the gentle green hills dappled with patches of trees, dry stone walls, rocky outcrops and crystal-clear, gushing streams. It is only when one sees a passing or tribesman or an occasional palm tree that one is brought back to India. A five-minute stroll from Mountain Ridge through the village will take you to the western shore of Pichola where you can enjoy an uninterrupted panorama of the Old City, the islands and the palaces across the water. Sisarma is a charming, utterly traditional village of about 2000 people. It moves at the typical slow pace of such villages, and you may remark that a lot of people seem to spend a lot of time just sitting around chatting. Well, they do. Nobody here seems to die of stress! Udaipur is a fascinating city with much to recommend it, but as with all Indian cities, it is not peaceful, so even if you choose to spend the day shopping or sightseeing, it’s certainly recommended to travel the short distance to Mountain Ridge for a perfect evening and a peaceful night.