Why a checklist, not just an itinerary
A day-by-day itinerary tells you where to be; it doesn't tell you what needs booking weeks ahead versus what can wait until you land. This checklist is organized by when to act, not by day of travel, so nothing slips through.
Before you book flights
- Confirm e-Visa eligibility and apply: processing windows vary by nationality
- Decide train vs. private car between cities: popular trains sell out on peak dates
- Pick your season: October to March is the comfortable window for all three cities
- Book any sunrise-slot monument tickets in advance if visiting in peak season
- Check Delhi's air quality forecast if traveling Nov–Feb and pack accordingly
2-4 weeks out
- Lock in hotels in all three cities: best-located properties book out first
- Arrange airport and inter-city transfers, or confirm them with your travel designer
- Buy any composite sightseeing tickets that bundle multiple monuments
- Reconfirm your major monument ticket category and time slot
- Book a sunrise or sunset visit slot for the Taj Mahal if that's a priority
The week before departure
- Print and save digital copies of your visa approval, hotel confirmations, and e-tickets
- Check the weather for all three cities
- Reconfirm any private guide or driver bookings directly
- Download offline maps for all three cities in case of patchy connectivity
- Note monument closing days: some sites close one day a week
The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays: double-check this against your Agra day before finalizing the schedule.