The route
Delhi → Agra by the Gatimaan Express (1 hr 40 min, India's fastest train: book in advance). Agra → Jaipur by private car via Fatehpur Sikri (~4.5 hrs). Return to Delhi by train for international flights on Day 7.
Best season: November–March. The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. Delhi air quality is worst in November: if travelling then, carry a mask and check daily AQI.
Delhi: Days 1–2
Day 1
Old Delhi: Mughal city & bazaars
Morning: Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India (remove shoes; women may need to rent a robe at the entrance). Walk or take an e-rickshaw through Chandni Chowk's spice lane, Kinari Bazaar (wedding trimmings), and the silver-merchant quarter. Red Fort exterior and the Lahori Gate. Raj Ghat (Gandhi's memorial: quiet and dignified). Afternoon rest or explore Karol Bagh's street food scene.
Day 2
New Delhi: monuments & gardens
India Gate and the Kartavya Path ceremonial avenue. Humayun's Tomb: the Mughal garden-tomb that directly inspired the Taj Mahal design, and far less crowded; allow 90 minutes. Qutub Minar complex: the 72.5 m iron-rich sandstone minaret, built in 1193, is the tallest brick minaret in the world. Evening: Lodhi Garden walk through Sayyid- and Lodi-era tombs, then dinner in the Lodhi Colony restaurant strip.
Agra: Days 3–4
Day 3
Train to Agra & the Taj at sunset
Catch the Gatimaan Express from Hazrat Nizamuddin station (departs ~8 am, arrives Agra Cantt ~9:50 am: book 30–60 days ahead). Afternoon: Agra Fort: the red sandstone palace-fortress where Shah Jahan spent his final years imprisoned, with a view of the Taj from its tower. At sunset, cross the river to Mehtab Bagh, the Mughal garden directly opposite the Taj, for the reflection view without the monument crowds.
Day 4
Taj Mahal at sunrise & Fatehpur Sikri
Arrive at the East Gate 20 minutes before opening (sunrise) for the first light on the white marble: the crowds build fast after 8 am. Allow 2–3 hours inside. Note: shoe covers are provided with the international-visitor ticket at the mausoleum entrance (you can also go barefoot). Afternoon: optional day trip to Fatehpur Sikri (37 km west), Akbar's abandoned Mughal capital: the Friday Mosque and Buland Darwaza gateway are exceptional. Evening drive to Jaipur (~4.5 hrs via Fatehpur Sikri).
Jaipur: Days 5–7
Day 5
Arrival & Nahargarh at dusk
Arrive Jaipur by early evening (if doing the Fatehpur Sikri detour, expect a 4.5 hr drive). Check in to your hotel in the walled city. Head up to Nahargarh Fort for the dusk panorama: the pink-washed city spread below, the Aravalli hills behind.
Day 6
Amber Fort & the city's monuments
Amber Fort at 8 am. The palace complex sits on a hillside above Maota Lake: walk the ramp (or take the shared jeep) and allow 2–3 hours for the Sheesh Mahal, Ganesh Pol, and the rampart walk to Jaigarh Fort above. Back in the city: Jal Mahal (the water palace, viewed from the lakeside road), Hawa Mahal exterior, City Palace museum, Jantar Mantar (an 18th-century royal observatory with monumental stone instruments: UNESCO listed).
Day 7
Bazaars & return to Delhi
Morning in Jaipur's markets: Johari Bazaar for gems, gold, and Kundan jewellery (what Jaipur is genuinely famous for); Bapu Bazaar for block-print textiles, mojri shoes, and blue pottery. Afternoon train or car to Delhi (train: Ajmer Shatabdi, ~4.5 hrs; or private car, ~5 hrs). Evening international departure from Delhi.
Practical notes
Getting around: Gatimaan Express for Delhi–Agra (book via IRCTC at least 2 weeks ahead). Private car with driver for Agra → Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri, and for Jaipur day-trips. Return Jaipur → Delhi by Ajmer Shatabdi or Double Decker Express.
Taj Mahal logistics: Closed Fridays. The international-visitor ticket includes access to the mausoleum and shoe covers. Large bags, outside food, and tripods are prohibited: leave bags at the cloakroom near the gate.
Pair this with the Golden Triangle Packing List: Taj security rules, winter smog, and what to wear at monuments all covered.