Welcome to India’s Golden Triangle—New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur—where empires rose, poets found muses, and spices perfumed the streets. In just one week, you’ll move from the layered capitals of the Mughals and the British Raj to the rose-tinted palaces of Rajasthan.

New Delhi balances Old Delhi’s labyrinthine lanes and soul-stirring mosques with tree-lined boulevards and modern museums. Agra holds the Taj Mahal’s ethereal symmetry and Agra Fort’s red-sandstone power. Jaipur, “the Pink City,” dazzles with hilltop forts, gemstone markets, and royal observatories that measured the heavens.

Practical notes for March–April travel: mornings are pleasant and afternoons warm; carry water, sunscreen, and modest attire for religious sites. The Taj Mahal is closed to visitors on Fridays. Use digital wallets or cards where possible; the Delhi Metro is clean and efficient. For long distances, book trains or flights in advance.

New Delhi

Delhi is a palimpsest: medieval domes, Mughal gardens, colonial grand avenues, and cutting-edge galleries coexist. Highlights include the UNESCO-listed Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb (the Taj’s architectural forerunner), the Red Fort, and the kinetic bazaars of Chandni Chowk.

• Why go: World-class monuments, street food legends, museums, and a lively café culture.
• Don’t miss: A rickshaw ride through Old Delhi, sunset at Lodhi Gardens, and kebabs that rewrite your definition of “tender.”
• Neighborhoods to base: Connaught Place (central, metro access), South Delhi (leafy and artsy), Aerocity (airport-convenient, great dining).

Stay: Browse stays on VRBO New Delhi or hotels via Hotels.com New Delhi. Look at The Imperial (heritage), The Lodhi (design-forward), Andaz Delhi (Aerocity), or Haveli Dharampura (Old Delhi).

Getting in: Fly into DEL. Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Airport Metro Express to central Delhi takes ~20 minutes.

Day 1: Arrival, Connaught Place Stroll, and India Gate Glow

Morning: Travel day. Book your flight into DEL using Trip.com or Kiwi.com. On arrival, pick up a local SIM/eSIM and cash from an airport ATM.

Afternoon: Check in near Connaught Place for easy metro access. Coffee at Blue Tokai (fresh Indian single-origin espresso) or Perch (light, bright, and wine-friendly). Stretch your legs through CP’s colonial arcades and the underground Palika Bazaar for curios.

Evening: Sunset amble at India Gate and the Kartavya Path lawns, then dinner: choose Indian Accent (modern Indian tasting menus at The Lodhi), Sagar Ratna or Saravana Bhavan for classic South Indian dosas, or Nizam’s Kathi for iconic kathi rolls. Nightcap at PDA (speakeasy-style cocktails) or a quieter stroll in Lodhi Gardens.

Day 2: Old & New Delhi Icons (Guided Full-Day)

Maximize your time with a curated city tour that weaves Old Delhi’s bazaars with New Delhi’s monuments and a rickshaw ride.

Recommended tour: Private Full Day New and Old Delhi City Tour with Rickshaw Ride

Expect Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk by rickshaw, the spice market’s aromatic chaos, and New Delhi landmarks like India Gate, Rajpath, and the Presidential House. Many tours also include Humayun’s Tomb or Qutub Minar; confirm inclusions when booking.

Food tips en route: Breakfast at Sita Ram Diwan Chand (for chole bhature), mid-tour snack at Jung Bahadur Kachori Wala (fiery kachoris), and a late lunch at Karim’s (mutton burra and chicken jahangiri) or Haldiram’s for an air-conditioned sweets-and-chaat break.

Day 3: South Delhi Heritage, Lodhi Art, and an Old Delhi Food Walk

Morning: Start at Qutub Minar’s intricate 12th-century tower and the atmospheric Mehrauli Archaeological Park next door. Coffee at The Grammar Room (Mehrauli; lush views) or Blue Tokai (Saket). If time, swing by the crafts-focused Sanskriti Kendra Museum.

Afternoon: Explore Humayun’s Tomb (a serene Mughal garden-tomb) and then the open-air Lodhi Art District for India’s best street murals. Lunch near Khan Market: SodaBottleOpenerWala (Parsi fare—berry pulao, salli boti) or Town Hall (pan-Asian with great sushi).

Evening: Join this flavor-packed stroll through lanes most travelers miss: The Great Indian Food Tour: Old Delhi Food and Heritage Walk.

Sample jalebis fried in ghee, parathas in Parathewali Gali, and creamy kulfi. If you prefer a sit-down dinner, book Bukhara (ITC Maurya; open kitchen, legendary dal Bukhara) or the cooler, contemporary Indian fare at Varq (Taj Mahal Hotel).

Agra

Agra is the Taj Mahal’s city, but it’s also a treasury of Mughal architecture: the grand Agra Fort, the “Baby Taj” (Itimad-ud-Daulah), and across the Yamuna, Mehtab Bagh’s perfect sunset frame.

• Why go: Witness the Taj’s marble glow at dawn and trace Mughal power at Agra Fort.
• Good to know: The Taj is closed Fridays to most visitors. Sunrise is best for soft light and fewer crowds.

Stay: Search VRBO Agra or Hotels.com Agra. Consider The Oberoi Amarvilas (Taj-view splendor), ITC Mughal (resort-like), or Tajview Agra (value with views).

Getting there from Delhi (Day 4 morning): Take the Gatimaan Express (NDLS/HZR Nizamuddin → Agra Cantt) in ~1h40. Expect ~INR 900–1,600 ($11–$19) for AC Chair Car/Executive. Book via Trip.com Trains. A private car is ~3.5–4 hours via Yamuna Expressway (tolls apply).

Day 4: Delhi → Agra, Agra Fort, and Sunset at Mehtab Bagh

Morning: Early train to Agra; drop bags at your hotel. Grab breakfast on board or at Deviram Sweets (bedmi puri and nagori halwa) once in town.

Afternoon: Tour Agra Fort—palatial courtyards, jharokha balconies, and a distant glimpse of the Taj across the river. Break for lunch at Pinch of Spice (north Indian staples) or Peshawri (smoky tandoor meats, dal bukhara-style).

Evening: Head to Mehtab Bagh for that postcard Taj silhouette across the Yamuna at golden hour. Dinner at Esphahan (The Oberoi Amarvilas; set seatings, refined Mughal-inspired plates) or the inspiring Sheroes Hangout Café, run by acid attack survivors.

Day 5: Sunrise Taj Mahal, Baby Taj, and Fatehpur Sikri

Morning: Greet the Taj at dawn with a skip-the-line guide: Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line Guided Tour with Optional Add-ons.

Learn about Shah Jahan and Mumtaz, pietra dura inlay, and optical illusions built into the design. Afterward, breakfast at Joney’s Place (simple, traveler-friendly) or MCC Caffe (good coffee near the East Gate).

Afternoon: Visit Itimad-ud-Daulah (“Baby Taj”) for delicate marble latticework, then drive (~1 hour) to Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar’s abandoned sandstone capital—palaces, courtyards, and the grand Buland Darwaza.

Evening: Return to Agra. Dinner at Mama Chicken Mama Franky House (casual rolls) or a vegetarian thali at Shankara Vegis. Early night ahead of tomorrow’s transfer.

Jaipur

Jaipur is India’s first planned city (1727), laid out in a grid and painted a welcoming pink in 1876. It brims with astronomer-kings, artisan workshops, and photogenic palaces.

• Why go: Amber Fort’s mirrored halls, City Palace museums, textile and jewelry shopping, and Rajasthani thalis.
• Good to know: Shop responsibly—look for fixed-price emporiums or reputable stores for gems and block-prints.

Stay: Explore VRBO Jaipur or Hotels.com Jaipur. Consider Samode Haveli (heritage oasis), Rambagh Palace (royal grandeur), Trident Jaipur (Amber-side views), or Pearl Palace Heritage (boutique value).

Getting there from Agra (Day 6 morning): Train takes ~4–5 hours (Agra Fort/Agra Cantt → Jaipur). Expect ~INR 400–1,000 ($5–$12) in AC Chair Car/3A; book via Trip.com Trains. By car via NH21 is ~4.5–5 hours.

Day 6: Agra → Jaipur, City Palace and Jantar Mantar

Morning: Depart Agra by train or car. On arrival, check in and refuel at Tapri Central (tea lounge with views; try the vada pav and cheese chili toast) or Rawat Misthan Bhandar (pyaz kachori and mawa kachori for dessert).

Afternoon: Explore City Palace (royal apartments, textile and arms galleries) and Jantar Mantar, the 18th-century astronomical park with gigantic sundials. Photograph Hawa Mahal’s honeycombed façade from the cafés opposite.

Evening: Bazaar-hop: Johari (jewels), Bapu (textiles), and Tripolia (lac bangles). Dinner at Samode Haveli (Rajasthani classics in a courtyard), The Forresta (alfresco grills), or Bar Palladio (iconic blue interiors, Italian plates, and cocktails).

Day 7: Amber Fort, Stepwell, and Departure

Morning: Head to Amber Fort early to beat the heat; don’t miss Sheesh Mahal’s mirrored inlay. Pop over to Panna Meena ka Kund, an 8-level stepwell perfect for photos, then Jal Mahal’s lakefront façade en route back.

Afternoon: Lunch at Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar (Rajasthani thali, ghewar dessert) or Peacock Rooftop Restaurant (mixed menu, city views). Depart from Jaipur International (JAI) or take a 4–5 hour train/drive back to Delhi for onward flights. Compare air options on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com; trains via Trip.com Trains.

Evening: If time allows before your flight, toast the trip with masala chai and a plate of kachori-jalebi at a local mithai shop. Pack your finds: block-printed linens, spices, and a new appreciation for Mughal geometry.

Practical Pointers

• Entry fees (approx. for foreign visitors): Qutub Minar/Humayun’s Tomb/Agra Fort ~INR 600 each; Amber Fort ~INR 500–600. Combo tickets and digital booking kiosks often save time.
• Dress code: Shoulders/knees covered for mosques and temples; a light scarf is handy.
• Transport tips: Use Delhi Metro and app-based taxis; in markets, confirm rickshaw fares beforehand.
• Best times: Early mornings for monuments; evenings for markets and gardens.

Optional extra tours if you extend: If you add days, consider Golden Triangle bundles like the 3-Day Private Luxury Golden Triangle Tour or the 3-Day Delhi, Agra and Jaipur Private Tour for hands-off logistics.

In seven days, you’ll trace empires and artisans across India’s most storied corridor. Come for the Taj Mahal; leave with a palate trained on chaat, a camera full of arches and inlay, and a sense of time measured in domes and sundials.