India7 days
India's Golden Triangle & Mandawa — 7 Days
Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Mandawa
This seven-day route moves through Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Mandawa by road. The itinerary includes the Taj Mahal at sunrise, the Mughal architecture of Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, Jaipur's eighteenth-century grid and its palaces, and Mandawa's distinctive merchant havelis with their hand-painted facades. Ground transport is by private vehicle with a driver and guide; accommodation is in mid-range hotels in each city. The pace is deliberate, with half-days and full days of sightseeing balanced against transfer time and rest.
Highlights
- Taj Mahal at sunrise from inside the monument with a guide
- Agra Fort, a sixteenth-century Mughal fortress overlooking the Yamuna River
- Fatehpur Sikri, an abandoned capital west of Agra
- Amber Fort near Jaipur, approached by elephant from the car park to the main gate
- Hawa Mahal, the five-storey pink sandstone palace in Jaipur's old city
- Jantar Mantar, Jaipur's eighteenth-century astronomical observation site
- Mandawa's painted havelis, merchant houses decorated with frescoes and murals
- Rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, Delhi's historic bazaar in Old Delhi
Day by day
1Arrival in DelhiDelhi airport · Delhi airport to hotel
A driver meets the traveller at Delhi airport with a nameplate and transfers them to their hotel. The remainder of the day is unscheduled. Overnight in Delhi.
2Old and New Delhi — Guided TourHumayun's Tomb · Qutub Minar · India Gate · the President's House · Sabdarjung's Tomb · Chandni Chowk
After breakfast, a guide and driver meet the traveller at the hotel to begin a full-day tour of Delhi's principal monuments. The itinerary includes Humayun's Tomb (a sixteenth-century Mughal mausoleum), Qutub Minar (a twelfth-century tower in South Delhi), India Gate, the President's House, and Sabdarjung's Tomb. The tour concludes with a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, the bazaar in Old Delhi. Return to hotel for overnight.
3Transfer to Agra — Half-Day SightseeingItimad-Ud-Daulah · Mehtab Bagh · hotel in Agra · Delhi to Agra
After breakfast, the driver and traveller depart Delhi for Agra, a 200-kilometer drive taking approximately four hours. Upon arrival in the afternoon, the traveller checks into their hotel. Later that day, a guide and driver conduct a half-day tour of Agra's secondary monuments: Itimad-Ud-Daulah (a seventeenth-century marble mausoleum) and the Taj Mahal viewed from Mehtab Bagh at sunset. Overnight in Agra.
4Taj Mahal at Sunrise, Agra Fort, and Transfer to JaipurTaj Mahal · Agra Fort · Fatehpur Sikri · Agra to Jaipur
The traveller is collected early in the morning to visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise with a guide. After returning to the hotel for breakfast, the tour continues to Agra Fort, a sixteenth-century Mughal fortress. In the afternoon, the traveller departs Agra for Jaipur (240 kilometers, approximately four hours), with a stop en route at Fatehpur Sikri, a sixteenth-century abandoned capital. Arrival in Jaipur in the evening. Overnight in Jaipur.
5Jaipur — Guided City TourAmber Fort · Jal Mahal · Hawa Mahal · City Palace · Jantar Mantar · Albert Hall Museum · local markets
After breakfast, a guide and driver conduct a full-day tour of Jaipur. The itinerary includes Amber Fort (with an elephant ride from the car park to the main gate), Jal Mahal (a palace set in a lake), Hawa Mahal (the five-storey pink sandstone palace), City Palace, and Jantar Mantar (an eighteenth-century astronomical observation site). In the evening, the traveller may visit Albert Hall Museum and local markets. Overnight in Jaipur.
6Transfer to Mandawa — Painted Havelis and Evening ReturnMandawa's merchant havelis · Jaipur to Mandawa · Mandawa to Jaipur
After breakfast, the traveller departs Jaipur for Mandawa, a 170-kilometer drive taking approximately three hours. Upon arrival, a guide conducts a tour of Mandawa's merchant havelis — traditional houses decorated with hand-painted frescoes and murals. The traveller returns to Jaipur in the evening. Overnight in Jaipur.
7Return to DelhiBirla Temple (the White Temple) · Delhi airport · Jaipur to Delhi
After breakfast, the driver collects the traveller from the hotel and proceeds to Birla Temple (the White Temple) in Jaipur before departing for Delhi, a 260-kilometer drive taking approximately five hours. The traveller is dropped at Delhi airport according to their flight schedule.
Where you go
- 1Itimad-Ud-Daulah
- 2Taj Mahal
- 3Agra Fort
- 4Fatehpur Sikri
- 5Amber Fort
- 6Hawa Mahal
- 7City Palace
- 8Jantar Mantar