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The three cities, plus two days on the ghats of the Ganges at Varanasi.
Best For: First-time India, Spiritual and cultural interest, Photography
A short flight from Delhi drops the classic route into Varanasi for two nights: a dawn boat ride past the bathing ghats, the evening Ganga aarti, and the Buddhist site of Sarnath nearby. Then fly on to Agra for the Taj and pick up the standard road route to Jaipur.
Airport transfer and time at leisure.
Old and New Delhi in the day, then an evening flight east; arrive in time for the Ganga aarti.
On the river at first light, then the old city on foot and the stupas of Sarnath in the afternoon.
Morning flight via Delhi to Agra; evening view of the Taj from the riverbank.
The Taj and Agra Fort, then on to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri.
Amber Fort, the City Palace, Jantar Mantar and the bazaars.
Back to Delhi by road for an evening flight.
PeakWarm
MonsoonPeakWarm days, cool nights and clear skies. December and January can be foggy in the early morning.
Very hot, regularly above 40°C. Sightseeing is limited to early morning.
Humid with heavy downpours, but the landscape greens up and prices drop.
Why this trip
It is enough for the three headline cities at a steady pace. If you want to slow down or add Ranthambhore or Varanasi, look at the seven-day versions on the tabs above.
Internal flights and a private boat on the Ganges included.