North India Travel Guide: The Best Places, Routes & Itineraries
For a first trip to North India, start with the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra and Jaipur) and add one region: Ranthambore for tigers, Varanasi for the Ganges, or Udaipur and more of Rajasthan. Seven days covers the Golden Triangle plus one extra stop, ten days two extensions, and fourteen days a fuller Rajasthan or Varanasi journey. Travel between October and March.
How to Use This Guide
North India is huge, and the most common mistake is trying to see too much. This guide gives you the big picture (the key places, how they connect and sample routes) and links to our detailed guides for each destination. Everything here comes from planning trips from our base in Agra, the middle of the classic routes.
The Best Places to Visit
Delhi
India's capital and the usual arrival point: Mughal monuments, the bazaars of Old Delhi and the avenues of New Delhi. See our Delhi travel guide.
Agra
Home of the Taj Mahal, and much more: Agra Fort, the Baby Taj, Mehtab Bagh and nearby Fatehpur Sikri. Start with the Taj Mahal travel guide and our guide to Agra beyond the Taj Mahal.
Jaipur
The Pink City and capital of Rajasthan: Amber Fort, the City Palace, Hawa Mahal and lively bazaars. Read the Jaipur travel guide.
Ranthambore
A tiger reserve with forest, lakes and a clifftop fort, between Agra and Jaipur. See the Ranthambore safari guide.
Varanasi
The sacred city on the Ganges: the evening Aarti, sunrise boat rides and Sarnath. Read the Varanasi travel guide.
Udaipur
Rajasthan's city of lakes and palaces, a romantic finale to a longer trip. See the Udaipur travel guide.
Rajasthan Extensions
Beyond Jaipur and Udaipur, Rajasthan rewards extra days: Jodhpur, the Blue City beneath Mehrangarh Fort; Jaisalmer, the golden fort in the Thar Desert; Pushkar, a holy lake town; and quieter places such as Bundi, the Abhaneri stepwell and the painted havelis of Mandawa. If you are unsure whether to add Rajasthan, read Golden Triangle vs. Golden Triangle + Rajasthan, and browse our Rajasthan tours.
7-Day Route: Golden Triangle Plus One
The Golden Triangle takes about five days; the remaining two go to one extension.
- With Ranthambore: Delhi → Agra → Ranthambore → Jaipur → Delhi. See the Golden Triangle with Ranthambore itinerary.
- With Varanasi: Delhi → Agra → Jaipur, then fly to Varanasi. See the Golden Triangle + Varanasi itinerary.
10-Day Route
- Days 1–2: Delhi.
- Days 3–4: Agra, with the Taj Mahal at sunrise and Fatehpur Sikri.
- Days 5–6: Ranthambore safaris.
- Days 7–8: Jaipur.
- Days 9–10: fly to Varanasi for the Aarti and a sunrise boat ride, then fly home via Delhi.
Alternatively, swap Varanasi for Jodhpur and Udaipur, as on our 10-day Royal Rajasthan tour with the Taj Mahal.
14-Day Route
- Days 1–2: Delhi.
- Days 3–4: Agra and Fatehpur Sikri.
- Days 5–6: Ranthambore.
- Days 7–8: Jaipur.
- Days 9–10: Jodhpur, then Ranakpur on the way south.
- Days 11–12: Udaipur.
- Days 13–14: fly to Varanasi, then home via Delhi.
If you prefer fewer hotel changes, drop either Jodhpur or Varanasi and spend longer in the places you keep.
Getting Around North India
- Private car with driver: the most comfortable way to cover Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Ranthambore and Rajasthan. Your driver stays with you for the whole road trip.
- Trains: excellent between Delhi and Agra (around two hours by express train), and useful for some longer legs. Book through the official IRCTC website or app.
- Domestic flights: the practical way to reach Varanasi, and useful between Rajasthan and Delhi or Mumbai.
Approximate road times: Delhi–Agra 3.5–4 hours, Agra–Jaipur 4.5–5 hours, Jaipur–Ranthambore 3.5–4 hours, Jaipur–Udaipur 6–7 hours. Read more on our transportation page.
Best Time to Visit North India
October to March is the best season across the region. December and January are cold in the mornings, with fog that can delay trains and flights. April to June is very hot on the plains, though it can be good for tiger sightings. July to September is the monsoon: green landscapes and fewer tourists, but Ranthambore's main zones usually close and river levels rise in Varanasi. See our full guide to the best time to visit.
Planning Tips for First-Time Foreign Visitors
- Visas: most nationalities need a visa or e-Visa; check our visa information and the official government website.
- Don't overpack the itinerary: two nights per stop is a good minimum.
- Plan around closures: the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays and many Delhi monuments on Mondays.
- Dress modestly for temples, mosques and gurdwaras; see our packing guide.
- Stay alert to scams, especially around monuments and stations; read our safety and scam-prevention advice.
- Use licensed guides and one trusted operator for transport.
Private North India Tours From Agra
We are an Agra-based team of government-certified guides. Compare our Golden Triangle tours, North India tours and multi-day tours, or ask us to design a custom private journey around your dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur (the Golden Triangle), plus one or more of Ranthambore, Varanasi and Udaipur.
Seven days covers the Golden Triangle plus one extension. Ten to fourteen days allows Varanasi, Ranthambore and more of Rajasthan.
October to March. April to June is very hot, and July to September is the monsoon.
A private car with driver for Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Rajasthan, the train between Delhi and Agra, and domestic flights to reach Varanasi.
Usually, yes, because most international flights arrive there. Agra is 3.5–4 hours away by road or around 2 hours by train.
