Start your tour by visiting some of the most famous landmarks in Delhi. After breakfast, head towards the Red Fort (UNESCO, closed on Monday). This historic monument used to be the main residence of the Mughal emperors. Next, visit one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid. The mosque is so vast that it can hold as many as 25,000 people in the courtyard. After that, it’s time to witness a grand mausoleum, the Humayun’s Tomb (UNESCO). This tomb belongs to the second Mughal king. After lunch, visit Qutb Minar (UNESCO). This is a towering brick-made minaret that looks beautiful against the blue Delhi sky. Mark the end of your day with a visit to the Lotus Temple (closed on Monday). This temple is Asia’s only Bahai House of Worship.

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

On the second day, drive to Mandawa which is a small town situated in Rajasthan’s Shekhawati region. What brings travellers to this isolated town is the presence of the painted havelis (merchant’s houses). The walls of the havelis are full of stunning paintings which is why people often call the town an “open-air art gallery”. 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 well-maintained and open to the exploration. While visiting Shekhawati, if you want to spend your night in one of the havelis then you are welcome to stay at Mandawa Castle. You can treat yourself to some nearby eateries of Mandawa and enjoy exploring the town to the fullest.

Tour highlights: Mandawa havelis and castle

From Mandawa, drive to Nawalgarh and enjoy the visit of Nawalgarh Havelis. Nawalgarh is another small town of Shekhawati which is enriched with havelis and museums retaining unique architectural designs and artworks of ancient Rajasthan. After that, head to the capital of the princely state of Rajasthan, Jaipur, and visit two of the most stunning landmarks - Albert Hall Museum and Nahargarh Fort. The Albert Hall Museum is the oldest museum in Rajasthan. Several artefacts belonging to different ages like the coins of ancient Gupta and Kushan dynasties and an Egyptian mummy are housed in this museum. Next, visit the Nahargarh Fort. It is located on the Aravalli hills and it dominates the whole Jaipur. You can enjoy the sunset and a fantastic panoramic view of the Pink City from the fort.

Tour highlights: Nawalgarh havelis, Albert Hall Museum, Nahargarh Fort

In the morning, drive to Jaipur’s Hawa Mahal, the first attraction to visit today. The name Hawa Mahal literally means Palace of Winds in Hindi because the 953 windows make it well-ventilated and airy. The palace has a unique architectural design incorporating windows and latticework. It remains cool during the summer days. Next, visit the City Palace. The extensive palace houses stunning buildings, lush gardens, and vast courtyards. The palace also has a museum which retains the artefacts of the royal families. Next, head to Jantar Mantar (UNESCO), a site for astronomical observation built in the early 18th century. This observatory houses the world’s largest sundial. Then, visit the Amber Palace (UNESCO). Overlooking Maota Lake, the palace is a great place to explore striking gates, cobbled paths, and imposing ramparts. The view from the palace is breathtaking.

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

On the way to Agra, take a detour and visit Chand Baori - one of the deepest and largest stepwells in the country. The stepwell has 3,500 steps which make as many as 13 levels. The staircases lead you to the water at the bottom of the well. After witnessing the ancient stepwell, it’s time to visit Fatehpur Sikri (UNESCO). Settled close to Agra, this forsaken city was once resided by the royal Mughal family. Once a bustling city, its edifices are mostly built with red sandstone that gives the entire city a sense of uniformity.

Tour highlights: Chand Baori, Fatehpur Sikri

Today is the time to explore three of the greatest landmarks of the city. Start your Agra exploration with the most visited tourist attraction, the Taj Mahal (UNESCO, closed on Friday). This dome-shaped Mughal mausoleum is an architectural marvel built by Shah Jahan. After the Taj Mahal, visit the Agra Fort (UNESCO), a red sandstone monument that was used by the Mughals as their royal residence. It is also known as the Red Fort because of its scarlet appearance. After exploring this historic fort, head to Itimad-Ud-Daulah. This is also a mausoleum built by Mughal empress Nur Jahan. It is said that Itimad-Ud-Daulah inspired the design of the Taj Mahal which is why it is also referred to as Baby Taj.

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

It is time to head back to Delhi. As you travel from Agra and reach the outskirts of the city, you come across the mausoleum of the Mughal emperor, Akbar. The Akbar's Tomb, situated in Sikandra, reflects Indo-Islamic architecture at its finest. The tomb is encircled by a natural sanctuary which offers shelter to animals like deer, peacocks and monkeys. The visit to Akbar’s Tomb before arriving in Delhi makes the memories of the trip even more colourful.

Tour highlights: Akbar's Tomb in Sikandra