Priya Sharma
Priya is a travel writer and Kashmir specialist who has spent three months each year in the valley for the past decade. She writes about culture, food, and offbeat destinations.
Day 1–2: Delhi — Where Empires Collide
Old Delhi and New Delhi tell two completely different stories. Spend your first morning in Old Delhi — auto-rickshaw through Chandni Chowk, breakfast at Karim's, then the Red Fort and Jama Masjid. Afternoon: switch to New Delhi's broad avenues and colonial grandeur — India Gate, Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar.
Day 3: Agra — The Taj at Dawn
The Taj Mahal must be seen at sunrise — arrive at the gates by 5:45am when they open. The first golden light on white marble is the most photographed moment in India, and rightly so.
Shah Jahan built the Taj in 22 years. You can see it in 2 hours. Neither is enough time.
Day 4: Fatehpur Sikri & Drive to Jaipur
Fatehpur Sikri — Akbar's abandoned capital — is 40km from Agra and entirely worth the detour. The mosque complex is one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture in India.
Day 5–6: Jaipur — The Pink City
Amber Fort (arrive early to avoid crowds), the mirror-palace Sheesh Mahal, Hawa Mahal for the signature shot, City Palace museum, and Jantar Mantar — the 18th-century astronomical observatory.