Make an early start to visit some of the most famous tourist spots in Delhi. Marvel at the Red Fort (UNESCO, closed on Monday) to begin the day. Once used as the main residence of the Mughals emperors, the Red Fort is an iconic landmark where the Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag on Independence Day. After this, visit the Jama Masjid. The mosque is so vast that it can hold as many as 25,000 people in the courtyard. Next, it’s time to witness a beautiful garden tomb, Humayun’s Tomb (UNESCO). This mausoleum belongs to the second Mughal king. Stop for lunch before you visit Qutb Minar (UNESCO). The gigantic brick-made minaret looks stunning against the sky. End your day with a visit to the Lotus Temple (closed on Monday), the temple is a modern architectural wonder and Asia’s only Bahai House of Worship.

Tour highlights in Delhi: Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Humayun's Tomb, Qutb Minar, Lotus Temple

After breakast, travel to Mandawa from Delhi. Mandawa is a small town that lies in Shekhawati of Rajasthan. On reaching your destination for the day, you’ll notice the stark difference between the throbbing city life and Mandawa’s laid-back charm. An isolated semi-arid town, Mandawa is well-known for its beautiful havelis (wealthy merchant’s houses). The specificity of the havelis is that the walls are uniquely painted, displaying different cultural themes. Jhunjhunwala Haveli, Chokhani Double Haveli, Bansidhar Newatia Haveli, Sneh Ram Ladia Haveli, Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli and Mandawa Castle are the few Havelis that are still preserved and open to the public for exploration. Munch on Rajasthani food from the restaurants of Mandawa and enjoy exploring the contemporary art of the bygone days.

Tour highlights: Mandawa Havelis and Castle

Depart from Mandawa. The first destination of the day is Nadine Le Prince Haveli, formerly known as Nand Lal Devra Haveli, in Fatehpur. The mansion gained its new name Nadine Le Prince Haveli after a French artist of the same name. She took on the duty to conserve the architecture and artwork of the haveli. After lunch, leave Shekhawati and visit the next destination, Bikaner. Visit the famous Karni Mata temple. What makes this temple unique is that it is home to around 25,000 black rats with a countable number of white rats. It is believed that spotting a white rat is lucky.

Tour highlights: Nadine Le Prince Haveli in Fatehpur, Karni Mata (Temple of Rats)

This morning, explore the city of Bikaner and its temples and forts, including the Junagarh Fort which was built by Raja Rai Singh at the end of the 16th century. Then, head west towards the Thar Desert and Jaisalmer, the famous Golden City. Rising above the city, the Jaisalmer Fort (UNESCO) is almost a millennium old and consists of narrow streets with several Hindu and Jain temples.

Tour highlights: Bikaner, Jaisalmer Fort

The day in Jaisalmer includes exploring havelis, desert and lake. First in line are the Jaisalmer Havelis, mainly the Patwon ki Haveli, Salim Singh ki Haveli and Nathmal ki Haveli. These mansions are home to the royal families, however, open for the tourists to visit. Next is the Great Indian Desert or the Thar Desert. Travelling across the desert is a must have experience while visiting Jaisalmer. Finally, head to Gadisar Lake and visit the temples and shrines around it. Constructed in the 12th century, the artificial lake was the only source of water for Jaisalmer until recently.

Tour highlights in Jaisalmer: Jaisalmer Havelis, Thar Desert, Gadisar Lake

Depart from Jaisalmer and head towards Jodhpur. The first visit to Jodhpur will be to the Old Blue City. Settled in the centre of Jodhpur, the entire Old Blue City is painted blue. This ancient city is full of stories and historical edifices to explore. The second site visit is to the Umaid Bhawan Palace. The interesting fact about the palace is that the architectural layout was co-designed between a British architect, Henry Lancaster and Umaid Singh, the then-ruler of the state.

Tour highlights in Jodhpur: Old Blue City, Umaid Bhawan Palace

The first destination of the day is Mehrangarh Fort on Bhakurcheeria hill. It is one of the largest forts in India, laying across 1200 acres of land. Renowned movies were filmed at this fort. The second destination is Jaswant Thada, a memorial for the royal families built by Maharaja Sardar Singh for his father. The outlook of the edifice is elevated with the presence of a lake in front and a garden around it. Next, head south towards Udaipur and stop at the magnificent Ranakpur Jain Temple. It is a Svetambara Jain temple which is among the top five holiest Jain temples in India. Then, drive further south to reach Udaipur and visit Lake Pichola. This 700-year-old artificial lake is situated on the lap of the Aravalli Range and is wrapped by serene surroundings.

Tour highlights: Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Ranakpur Jain Temple, Lake Pichola

After breakfast, visit the majestic City Palace of Udaipur. Located on the eastern banks of Lake Pichola, the large palace complex was built between the 16th and 18th century. Then, head to the Jagadish Temple. Constructed by Maharaj Jagat Singh, this is the largest Hindu temple in Udaipur. Next, visit the Bagore Ki Haveli, which has now been converted into a museum including sections about puppets, turbans, wedding depiction, etc. In the afternoon, head to your next destination - the holy city of Pushkar.

Tour highlights in Udaipur: City Palace, Jagdish Temple, Bagore Ki Haveli

In the morning, visit Pushkar and its famous lake surrounded by ghats. The city houses one of the oldest Brahma temples in the country. It also has Gurudwaras for visits. Then, travel to your next destination - Jaipur, the Pink City. In Jaipur, the capital of the princely state of Rajasthan, you get to visit Albert Hall Museum and Nahargarh Fort. The museum houses several artefacts, notably the coins of ancient Gupta and Kushan dynasties and an Egyptian mummy. The Albert Hall Museum is the oldest museum in Rajasthan and also the state museum. Your next stop is the nearby Nahargarh Fort. The fort is located on the edge of the Aravalli hills and watches over the city. Several Bollywood films were shot in this picturesque fort. The panorama of the entire Jaipur from here is even more impressive at sunset.

Tour highlights: Pushkar Holy City, Albert Hall Museum, Nahargarh Fort

The day in Jaipur is full of breathtaking attractions. You start with the Hawa Mahal which means Palace of Winds in Hindi language. A palace with 953 windows and red and pink sandstone as its base architectural elements. The high velocity of the winds makes the palace cool and refreshing even during the summer. Then, visit the City Palace. With large pavilions, lush gardens and scenic courtyards, the palace is a marvellous place to stroll around. Next, visit the Jantar Mantar (UNESCO). This observatory is home to the world’s largest stone sundial and also has 19 giant astronomical devices. Finally, visit Amber Palace (UNESCO) to mark an ideal end to the day. With the small Maota Lake that reflects the amber hues of the palace, the view is breathtaking.

Tour highlights in Jaipur: Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Amber Palace

This morning, head toward Agra. On your way, take a quick detour and visit Chand Baori. The place with symmetrical and triangular staircases consists of as many as 3,500 steps which makes it 13-level deep. After the stepwell, it’s time to visit Fatehpur Sikri (UNESCO), the capital of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century. Located close to Agra, this abandoned city once echoed with hustling-bustling life, but now is reminiscent of a unique blend of Hindu and Islamic styles of architecture.

Tour highlights: Chand Baori, Fatehpur Sikri

The Taj Mahal (UNESCO, closed on Friday) is a magnificent white-marbled architecture that symbolises endless love. The Taj Mahal and its presence is an exemplar of architecture that catches the heart of its visitors forever. Moving on, you arrive at the Agra Fort (UNESCO). The Lal Quila is built from red sandstone. Operated as a royal residence by the Mughals, the Agra Fort lies on the banks of River Yamuna. Your day’s next visit is Baby Taj, the Itimad-Ud-Daulah. This site is the tomb of Nur Jahan’s parents.

Tour highlights in Agra: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Itimad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj)

Head back to Delhi. On the way, on the outskirts of the city of Agra, visit Akbar’s Tomb. This grand mausoleum of the Mughal emperor is surrounded by lush green forest where deer, peacocks and monkeys can also be seen. The Indo-Islamic edifice completes this unforgettable 13-day road trip.

Tour highlights: Akbar's Tomb in Sikandra