Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
After landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport, allow roughly 1–2 hours for immigration and baggage, then another 30–60 minutes to reach your hotel depending on traffic. Aerocity is the easiest first-night base if you want a simple arrival, while a pre-paid airport taxi or app cab is preferable to accepting unsolicited offers in the terminal. Keep some small rupee notes and expect airport traffic to be slow even over short distances.
Once checked in, take a gentle recovery walk at Lodhi Garden. Its shaded paths, lawns, and 15th-century tombs are a good antidote to a long flight; spend about an hour wandering rather than trying to cover every corner. It is generally open from early morning until evening, with free entry, though closing time varies slightly by season. A cab to the garden is easiest, usually around 25–45 minutes from Aerocity, depending heavily on traffic.
Continue by taxi or auto-rickshaw to Khan Market, allowing about 15–25 minutes from Lodhi Garden. Browse the compact lanes and settle in at Café Turtle or Blue Door Café for coffee and something light; the market is best enjoyed slowly, and many shops close around 8–9 PM. Prices here are noticeably higher than in neighborhood markets, but it is comfortable for a first Delhi afternoon and has reliable cafés, pharmacies, and useful travel shopping.
Finish with your booked dinner at Indian Accent inside The Lodhi on Lodhi Road, a short cab ride from Khan Market. Allow around two hours and budget approximately $35–60 per person before drinks; reserve well in advance, as same-day tables are not dependable. Dress smart-casual, arrive a little early for hotel security, and keep the evening unhurried—after dinner, return directly to your hotel rather than adding another sightseeing stop.
Start early at Jama Masjid, ideally around 8:00–8:30 AM, before Old Delhi becomes intensely crowded. Allow about an hour to admire the vast courtyard and city views from the minarets if visitor access is available. Non-worshippers may have restricted entry around prayer times, so check locally that morning; dress modestly, remove shoes, and expect a small camera or entry fee. From the mosque, walk a few minutes to Karim’s for an early Mughlai lunch—its mutton dishes, kebabs, and breads are the classics. Budget roughly $5–12 per person, and expect a bustling, no-frills meal rather than a leisurely restaurant setting.
After lunch, take a cycle-rickshaw through Chandni Chowk, allowing around 90 minutes for the ride and occasional stops. The lanes around Dariba Kalan, Kinari Bazaar, and the spice markets are atmospheric but extremely congested; keep bags and phones secure, and agree on the fare before setting off. Continue to Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, where visitors of all faiths are welcome. Cover your head, remove your shoes, and spend about 45 minutes quietly observing the prayer hall and community kitchen. If you wish, accept or contribute to the simple langar meal, following the volunteers’ guidance.
Walk or take an e-rickshaw onward to the Red Fort, allowing roughly 15–25 minutes depending on the lanes and traffic. Aim to arrive with at least two hours before closing so you have time for the Mughal courtyards and museums; security screening can be slow, and large bags may not be permitted. Tickets are generally several hundred rupees for foreign visitors and are best checked through the Archaeological Survey of India’s official booking channel, particularly on busy days. Afterward, leave Old Delhi before the evening rush peaks—an auto-rickshaw or app cab to your hotel may take 30–60 minutes. Wear comfortable shoes, carry water, and keep the rest of the evening light; Old Delhi is rewarding, but its crowds and noise make this a full day.
Allow 3–4 hours door-to-door from your Delhi hotel to Agra if taking the planned early train or a private car, so leave around 5:30–6:00 AM. A car is simplest if you have luggage and want hotel pickup; if using the train, arrange a prepaid auto-rickshaw or taxi from Agra Cantt to Tajganj. Aim to reach the Taj Mahal at opening time. Buy the official timed ticket in advance, as entry involves separate security queues and large crowds; allow 2.5–3 hours inside. The mausoleum itself is only one part of the experience—the long garden approach and views toward the Yamuna are worth taking slowly. Remember that Fridays have restricted visitor access, and large bags, food, tripods, and many electronic items are not allowed.
From Tajganj, take a 15–20-minute auto-rickshaw or taxi to Agra Fort Road for Agra Fort. Give the red sandstone complex about two hours, particularly the imperial apartments, audience halls, and river-facing sections where the Taj Mahal appears in the distance. The site is exposed and tiring after an early start, so carry water and use the shaded courtyards for breaks. For lunch, choose a simple thali or Mughlai meal near Sadar Bazaar rather than spending too long at a restaurant; allow roughly ₹300–₹700 per person and expect traffic to make even short rides take 15–25 minutes.
Continue by taxi or auto-rickshaw to Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb, usually called the “Baby Taj,” on the Yamuna’s east bank. The drive from Agra Fort takes about 15–20 minutes, and an hour is enough to appreciate its delicate marble inlay and quieter riverside setting. This is a good place to slow the pace after the morning’s major sights. Entry is generally inexpensive—roughly ₹30–₹300 depending on nationality and ticket category—but confirm the current fee locally; monument hours and ticket rules can change.
Return to your hotel to rest before dinner at Peshawri in the ITC Mughal, around a 15–20-minute drive from the riverside tomb. Reserve ahead, especially for a popular evening slot, and allow about 1.5 hours for its tandoori and North Indian specialties; budget approximately $25–45 per person before drinks. The restaurant is polished rather than casual, so smart-casual clothing works well. Arrange a hotel car or trusted taxi for the return, as app-based availability in Agra can be inconsistent after dinner.
Leave Agra around 6:00 AM by private car via NH21. The drive is usually 5–6 hours, but allow closer to 6–7 hours door-to-door for a breakfast stop, traffic, hotel check-in, and possible congestion entering Jaipur. Ask the driver to drop you at your hotel in or near the Pink City rather than attempting to drive between the monuments with luggage. After a quick refresh, begin at Hawa Mahal; allow about 45 minutes to admire the honeycomb façade from the street and browse the small lanes opposite. The best photographs are generally from the upper floor of a café across the road, but choose one with a clearly posted food-and-drink minimum rather than paying for an expensive “view” spontaneously.
Walk or take a short auto-rickshaw ride through the old city to City Palace, allowing around two hours for the courtyards, textile displays, and royal collections. Standard admission is commonly around ₹300–₹700 depending on the sections included; verify the current ticket category and book ahead through the official website if timed entry or special access is offered. Continue on foot to Jantar Mantar, immediately beside the palace, for roughly an hour among its enormous stone instruments. Try to arrive before late afternoon heat becomes intense, and keep your ticket until leaving—these attractions are close together, but the lanes between them are busy and slow rather than truly pedestrianised.
Head by auto-rickshaw or e-rickshaw to Lassiwala on MI Road—the original well-known shop is easy to confuse with nearby imitators—where a thick sweet lassi costs roughly ₹80–₹250, or about $1–3. It makes a good late-afternoon pause, though dairy drinks are best avoided if they have not been kept properly chilled. Finish at Rawat Mishtan Bhandar near Sindhi Camp, a casual institution for kachori and Rajasthani sweets; expect around ₹250–₹650 per person for a simple dinner. The restaurant is busy and informal, so leave valuables secured and use a pre-booked auto, app taxi, or hotel car for the final ride back rather than negotiating with the first driver outside.
Start around 7:30 AM with a pre-booked auto-rickshaw, taxi, or hotel car to Amber Fort in Amer—allow 30–45 minutes from central Jaipur, longer in peak traffic. Spend roughly 2½ hours exploring the courtyards, painted halls, and hilltop views. Use a licensed guide or official ticket counter rather than accepting unsolicited “guides” at the entrance; check current opening hours and ticket prices before leaving, and avoid elephant rides. From the fort, continue a few minutes to Panna Meena ka Kund, where 30 minutes is enough for the striking geometric stairwell and photographs. Access and viewpoints can be restricted, so follow local instructions rather than climbing onto closed sections.
Take a short uphill drive to Jaigarh Fort and allow about 1½ hours for the ramparts, dry landscape, and views across the Aravalli Hills, including the enormous Jaivana cannon. Carry water and wear shoes with grip—the distances are manageable but exposed and uneven. Then descend toward Amber for the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, allowing another 1½ hours to see the demonstrations and beautifully presented block-printed textiles. Verify the museum’s opening days and hours before committing, as this is the day’s key scheduling dependency; if it is closed, retain the Amer sightseeing and use the extra time for a relaxed lunch rather than trying to cram in another major attraction.
Return to the Pink City after lunch and rest, then reach Johari Bazaar around 4:30 PM, when the light is softer and the market is lively without the midday heat. Allow 1½ hours to browse jewelry, lac bangles, textiles, and handicrafts. Bargaining is expected, but compare several shops and ask for a bill and gemstone certification if buying anything valuable; use a cycle-rickshaw or app-based taxi for the final market approach, since parking is frustrating. Finish with dinner or drinks at Bar Palladio Jaipur inside Narain Niwas Palace, a short ride south of the old city. Reserve ahead for dinner, especially on popular evenings, and budget approximately $15–30 per person; the setting is more atmospheric than casual, so smart-casual clothing works well.
Take the earliest practical connection from Jaipur to Jodhpur; even the faster train is roughly 4¾ hours, and station-to-hotel transfers make this a 6–7-hour door-to-door move. If you choose a private car instead, leave around 6:00 AM and ask to be dropped at your hotel in the old city or near Gulab Sagar. After checking in and having a quick lunch, use an auto-rickshaw or app-based taxi to reach Mehrangarh Fort; allow 20–30 minutes from the central hotel area, with traffic and narrow lanes near the entrance.
Spend about 2½ hours inside Mehrangarh Fort, taking your time with the palace courtyards, carved sandstone screens, and elevated views over the blue-painted houses. The museum generally operates during daylight hours, but check the official listing before travelling because opening times and ticket arrangements can change. Indian visitors typically pay a few hundred rupees; foreigner tickets cost more, and an audio guide or camera fee may be extra. Buy tickets at the entrance or reserve ahead during busy periods, and wear shoes with good grip—the fort involves ramps, steps, and uneven stone.
Walk or take a short auto-rickshaw ride from the fort to Jaswant Thada, the quiet white-marble royal memorial nearby. Forty-five minutes is enough to see the cenotaph, lake, and gardens without rushing. From there, continue by auto into the old city toward Toorji Ka Jhalra; allow about 20 minutes, since vehicles cannot navigate every narrow lane. Spend half an hour at the restored stepwell, then wander a little around the surrounding blue-painted lanes and small workshops rather than trying to cover the entire old city after a travel day.
For dinner, walk toward Indique, near Clock Tower, or take an auto if your hotel is farther away. Its rooftop setting gives you one of the best evening views back toward Mehrangarh Fort; budget approximately $15–30 per person, and reserve a table if visiting in peak season. The old-city lanes are atmospheric but poorly lit in places, so use a reputable auto or taxi for the return, and avoid accepting unsolicited “guide” offers around the fort and stepwell.
Leave Jodhpur around 6:00 AM by private car via NH62/NH58. Door to door, allow 6–7 hours, including a breakfast stop, traffic, and hotel drop-off. If you are running on schedule, ask the driver about a short stop at Ranakpur Jain Temple; it is a worthwhile detour, but only attempt it if you can still reach Udaipur by mid-afternoon. The final approach into the Old City has narrow lanes, so arrange a drop near your hotel rather than expecting the car to reach the waterfront. A private car typically costs ₹6,000–₹10,000 per vehicle.
After checking in and having a quick lunch, walk to Jagdish Temple, an intricately carved Vishnu temple just above the Old City streets. Allow about 45 minutes; remove your shoes before entering and dress respectfully. Continue downhill to City Palace Udaipur, where two to three hours gives you time for the courtyards, balconies, royal galleries, and views across Lake Pichola. Entry is commonly around ₹400–₹600 for the main museum, with additional charges for certain galleries or camera use; confirm current fees at the gate. The palace can be busy, so keep valuables secure and expect some stairs.
From the palace, it is a short walk through the lanes to Bagore Ki Haveli Museum at Gangaur Ghat. Spend about an hour among its period rooms, costumes, and household collections, then make your way to Rameshwar Ghat for the Lake Pichola boat ride. Aim for a sunset departure, but reserve or confirm tickets earlier in the day: seats, lake conditions, and operating times vary, and sunset cruises can sell out. Allow roughly an hour for the ride and arrive 20–30 minutes early. Finish at Jheel’s Ginger Coffee Bar & Bakery in Lal Ghat, a relaxed lakeside spot for dinner or coffee; budget approximately $5–12 per person. The waterfront is atmospheric after dark, but use a rickshaw for longer returns through the winding Old City lanes.
Allow 5–7 hours door to door for the flight from Udaipur to Mumbai, including the airport journey, check-in, security, baggage collection, and transfer into South Mumbai. A morning flight leaves enough time for sightseeing, but keep the first stop flexible until you know your actual arrival time. From Mumbai airport, a pre-booked taxi is simplest with luggage; depending on traffic, allow 60–90 minutes to reach the Fort or Colaba area. Leave bags at your hotel if the room is not ready, then take a short taxi or local train connection to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Spend about 45 minutes admiring its UNESCO-listed Victorian-Gothic façade and grand interiors from the public areas—be mindful that it remains a working railway station, not just a monument.
From Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Crawford Market is roughly a 15-minute walk or a short auto-rickshaw ride. Allow about an hour to browse the covered market’s fruit, spice, household, and specialty stalls; trading hours vary by section, and many vendors wind down later in the day, so arriving before mid-afternoon is wise. Keep valuables secure and ask before photographing people or stalls. Continue by taxi toward the Fort district—traffic can make this a 20–30-minute ride—and spend around two hours at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, whose Indian art, sculpture, and decorative-arts collections make a calmer counterpoint to the market. Check its current opening day, hours, and admission before setting out; allow extra time for ticketing and security.
Walk or take a short taxi through Colaba to Leopold Cafe, a lively, historic choice for dinner and people-watching. Expect approximately ₹700–₹1,500 per person for a casual meal, depending on drinks and dishes; the kitchen is broad rather than refined, so order familiar Indian, continental, or café staples and treat the atmosphere as the main attraction. Afterward, keep the evening unhurried around the surrounding lanes and Colaba Causeway, but avoid packing in another major sight after a travel day. For taxis, use app-based Uber or Ola where practical, and carry small notes for short rides; Mumbai traffic is unpredictable even across short distances.
Start early at the Gateway of India in Colaba, ideally around 7:30–8:00 AM, before the waterfront becomes crowded and hazy. Spend about 45 minutes around the arch and harbour, then walk to the nearby ferry terminal for Elephanta Caves. The ferry crossing takes roughly an hour each way, and the island visit generally needs 2–3 hours, including the uphill walk, caves, and return boat—allow 4–5 hours overall. Ferry operations can be weather- and maintenance-dependent, so check the morning sailing schedule and entry conditions before committing; carry water, sun protection, and comfortable shoes. Expect ferry and island costs of roughly ₹300–₹500 per person combined, plus the archaeological-site entry fee, with queues possible for both tickets and boarding.
After returning to Colaba, take a short taxi or walk north toward Kala Ghoda and allow around 20–30 minutes depending on traffic and ferry timing. Spend about 1½ hours wandering the heritage streets, galleries, and public-art spaces rather than trying to see everything indoors—opening hours vary by gallery, and some may close on particular days. From there, walk or take a brief taxi ride toward Churchgate for K. Rustom Ice Cream, where the old-fashioned ice-cream sandwich is the thing to order; allow 30 minutes and roughly $1–3 per person. This is a useful light stop after the island excursion, but carry small change and expect limited seating.
Finish with dinner at The Bombay Canteen in Lower Parel. From Churchgate, a taxi or app cab usually takes 25–45 minutes, though evening traffic can make the journey longer; the suburban train to Lower Parel is quicker at peak times but less convenient if you are tired or carrying bags. Reserve ahead, especially for dinner, and allow about two hours for its inventive regional Indian menu. Budget approximately $20–35 per person before drinks. The restaurant is in a lively former mill-district area, so keep the evening relaxed rather than adding another major stop after dinner.
Make Marine Drive your final Mumbai promenade, ideally around 7:00–8:00 AM while the air is relatively cool and the promenade is lively with walkers. Allow about an hour to stroll south toward Girgaum Chowpatty, then return by taxi or app cab if your luggage is already stored at the hotel. There is no entry fee, but keep phones and wallets secure near the busier stretches; the sea wall can be slippery after spray or rain.
Book a cab from Marine Drive to a Bandra–Worli Sea Link viewpoint—roughly 45–75 minutes in normal traffic, but potentially longer late in the morning. Use a legal roadside viewing area or a hotel-facing vantage point rather than stopping on the bridge itself; stopping on the Sea Link is prohibited. Continue to Bandra Bandstand, where a relaxed hour along the promenade offers good views toward the water and a glimpse of the neighborhood’s grand homes. Finish with lunch at Candies in Bandra West, a colorful, informal local institution with several seating areas; allow about an hour and roughly ₹400–₹1,000 per person. Check the current branch hours before leaving, as service times can vary.
After lunch, collect your bags and leave Bandra for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport with a pre-booked cab. Allow 1–2 hours for the transfer, particularly if traveling toward the domestic or international terminal during weekday traffic, and arrive at least three hours before an international departure. Mumbai airport security and check-in queues can be slow, so do not rely on the minimum time; keep your passport, booking details, and any tax-refund paperwork accessible.
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