Two weeks lets the north unfold at its own speed. You begin in Braj with five nights at Laladham, because a long road is better started with a pranam.
From there it is Agra and the Taj, Fatehpur Sikri, the forts of Jaipur, the small holy lake of Pushkar with its Brahma temple and dunes, and three nights in Udaipur for the palace, a boat on Lake Pichola, folk dance in an old haveli and a day out to Kumbhalgarh.
One car, one driver and a local guide in every town. It ends at Udaipur airport for the short flight to Delhi, or the car brings you back by road.
Best for: Travellers with two weeks who want Braj first, then the Taj, Jaipur, Pushkar and the lakes of Udaipur, without racing.
Itinerary, day by day
- A first evening in…Day 1, 7:30 pm
- Radha Raman TempleDay 3, 9:15 am
- GokulDay 5, 8:00 am
- Fatehpur SikriDay 7, 11:00 am
- Brahma TempleDay 10, 9:30 am
- Kumbhalgarh FortDay 13, 10:45 am
Land in Delhi, sleep in Braj
Airport pickup and the road to Mathura
- Pickup at Delhi airport (IGI) On the road
The driver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks the flight and does not mind if it is late.
- The Yamuna Expressway On the road
About three hours on a long, straight road, with a chai stop on the way.
- Late lunch at Laladham Meal
Dal, sabzi and rotis off the tawa. Then sleep; the flight needs it.
- A first evening in Braj Visit
A slow walk round the neighbourhood, the temple bells of Balajipuram, and an early night.
Mathura, the birthplace
Janmabhoomi, Dwarkadhish and a boat at sunset
- Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Darshan
The prison cell shrine where Krishna was born. Phones and bags stay in the car.
- Dwarkadhish Temple Darshan
A haveli temple of swings, colour and singing, busiest in the morning.
- Old Mathura on foot Visit
Holi Gate, the peda shops and the brass bazaar. Taste as you go.
- Lunch and the afternoon rest Meal
Temples close for a few hours, so we do too.
- A boat on the Yamuna Darshan
A wooden boat along the ghats as the sun goes down, then the aarti at Vishram Ghat.
- Kirtan in the courtyard Visit
Old bhajans at Laladham before dinner.
Vrindavan
Dawn on the river, the old temples and Prem Mandir
- Dawn at Keshi Ghat Darshan
Mist on the water and a short boat ride before the town wakes.
- Banke Bihari Temple Darshan
Darshan comes in glimpses as the curtain opens and closes. The lanes are busy, so stay close.
- Radha Raman Temple Darshan
A small old temple, calm after the crowd.
- Nidhivan Darshan
Twisted tulsi trees and the legend of the Rasa that is said to happen here each night.
- Prasad lunch in Vrindavan Meal
A thali near the temples, then rest.
- ISKCON Krishna Balaram Mandir Darshan
Marble halls and kirtan that rarely stops.
- Prem Mandir Darshan
White marble lit in changing colours, with the leelas carved on its walls.
Govardhan and Barsana and Nandgaon
Giriraj ji, the kunds and Radha's hill
- Daan Ghati, Govardhan Darshan
A pranam to Giriraj ji, then a stretch of the parikrama on foot or by e-rickshaw.
- Kusum Sarovar Darshan
Sandstone chhatris over still water.
- Radha Kund and Shyam Kund Darshan
Two kunds side by side, the quiet heart of Govardhan.
- Lunch at Govardhan Meal
Puri, aloo and a long rest in the shade.
- Shri Radha Rani Temple, Barsana Darshan
Up the steps to Radha's temple for the evening darshan, with Braj spread out below.
- Nand Bhawan, Nandgaon Darshan
Nand Baba's hill temple at sunset, looking back at Barsana. Then the drive home.
Gokul and the Laladham kitchen
Krishna's childhood, the cows and a cooking class
- Gokul Darshan
Nand Bhawan and the cradle shrine, where Krishna grew up.
- Raman Reti Darshan
Soft sand where the child played. Seekers sit in it, and some roll.
- Seva at a gaushala Visit
Feed the cows with rotis and jaggery. The calves will find you first.
- Lunch at Laladham Meal
Homecooked food and an unhurried afternoon.
- Cooking class in the Laladham kitchen Visit
Roll rotis, temper a dal and learn the slow kadhi of Braj. Dinner is what you cook.
On to Agra
Agra Fort, the Baby Taj and sunset across the river
- Mathura to Agra On the road
About an hour and a half down the highway.
- Agra Fort Visit
Red sandstone walls and white marble palaces. From the Musamman Burj the Taj sits far off down the river.
- Lunch in Agra Meal
Keep it light, or try petha, Agra's own sweet.
- Itmad-ud-Daulah Visit
The small marble tomb people call the Baby Taj, its inlay work older than the Taj itself.
- Sunset at Mehtab Bagh Visit
A garden on the far bank, facing the Taj. The marble goes pink, then grey.
The Taj at sunrise, then Jaipur
Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and the road west
- The Taj Mahal at sunrise Visit
The gates open around half an hour before sunrise. It is closed on Fridays, which is why this day never falls on one.
- Breakfast and check-out Meal
Back to the hotel to eat and pack.
- Fatehpur Sikri Visit
Akbar's red city on a ridge, about an hour from Agra: Buland Darwaza, the Panch Mahal and the white tomb of Salim Chishti.
- Lunch on the highway Meal
A dhaba stop on the way into Rajasthan.
- On to Jaipur On the road
About four hours to the Pink City, in by early evening.
Jaipur, the forts and the old city
Amer, the stepwell, the City Palace and Hawa Mahal
- Amer Fort Visit
Go early, before the heat and the buses. The Sheesh Mahal, the hall of mirrors, is what people remember.
- Panna Meena ka Kund Visit
A stepwell of criss-crossing steps, a short walk from Amer.
- Jal Mahal Visit
A palace sitting in the middle of Man Sagar lake, a photo stop on the way back to town.
- Lunch: dal baati churma Meal
Jaipur's own meal, if you are hungry enough for it.
- City Palace and Jantar Mantar Visit
The royal palace and, next door, giant stone instruments for reading the sky, built nearly three hundred years ago.
- Hawa Mahal Visit
The pink honeycomb front with its hundreds of small windows, best in the late light.
Jaipur to Pushkar
Block printing, then the holy lake
- Block printing in Sanganer Visit
Printers stamp cloth by hand with carved wooden blocks, and you try one yourself.
- Lunch, then the road Meal
An early lunch before the drive west.
- On to Pushkar On the road
About three hours, past Kishangarh and over the hills by Ajmer.
- Evening aarti on the Pushkar ghats Visit
Bells, conches and lamps on the lake as the town's temples sing together.
Pushkar
Savitri hill, the Brahma temple and the dunes
- Sunrise at Savitri Mata temple Visit
Up the hill on foot or by ropeway, with the lake and the desert below.
- Brahma Temple Visit
One of the very few temples to Brahma anywhere in India.
- The ghats and the bazaar Visit
Fifty-odd ghats around a small lake, and lanes of silver, cloth and rose sweets.
- Lunch in Pushkar Meal
The town is strictly vegetarian, so every menu is safe.
- Camel cart into the dunes Visit
A slow ride out to the sand for the sunset.
Pushkar to Udaipur
The long road south and the first evening on the lake
- On to Udaipur On the road
About five hours through the Aravalli hills.
- Lunch on the way Meal
A highway stop near Rajsamand or into Udaipur, depending on the road.
- Sunset at Ambrai Ghat Visit
The City Palace across Lake Pichola, lit up as the light goes.
Udaipur
The City Palace, Jagdish temple and a boat on Pichola
- City Palace Visit
Courtyards, painted rooms and balconies over the lake.
- Jagdish Temple Visit
A carved temple to Vishnu in the middle of the old city.
- Lunch in the old city Meal
Rooftop tables with a view of the water.
- A boat on Lake Pichola Visit
Past the island palaces as the sun drops behind the hills.
- Dharohar dance at Bagore ki Haveli Visit
An hour of Rajasthani folk dance in an old haveli courtyard.
Kumbhalgarh
The fort with the great wall
- Into the hills On the road
About two and a half hours to Kumbhalgarh.
- Kumbhalgarh Fort Visit
A hill fort ringed by a wall that runs for kilometres over the ridges. Walk a stretch of it.
- Lunch near the fort Meal
Simple food near the fort gate.
- Back to Udaipur On the road
Home by early evening for the last night.
Fly home from Udaipur
A slow breakfast and the airport
- Breakfast by the lake Meal
One more look at the water.
- Drop at Udaipur airport On the road
Flights to Delhi are short. Prefer the road? The car can drive you back over two more days.
Day 14 ends at Udaipur airport in the morning, for the short flight to Delhi (not included)
Included
- AC car or Tempo Traveller with one driver for all 14 days
- Delhi airport pickup, Udaipur airport drop
- Local guide in Braj, Agra, Jaipur, Pushkar and Udaipur
- 5 nights at Laladham and 8 nights in hand-picked hotels, twin share
- Breakfast and dinner every day
- Yamuna boat rides, cooking class and gaushala seva in Braj
- Boat on Lake Pichola and the Dharohar show
- Parking, fuel, tolls and state permits
Not included
- Lunches
- Monument tickets
- The flight from Udaipur to Delhi
- Camel cart in Pushkar
- Temple offerings
- Personal shopping
What to carry
- Aadhaar or any photo ID
- Comfortable cotton clothes, covered shoulders and knees for temples
- Slip-on footwear (you leave it outside every temple)
- Water bottle, cap or dupatta for the sun
- Small bag only: big bags are not allowed inside many temples
- Some cash for offerings, boat and prasad
- Passport, if you are visiting from abroad
- Sunscreen and a hat for the forts
- A warm layer for desert evenings in Pushkar
Places on this route
Questions, answered
How do we get back to Delhi from Udaipur?
Most people take the short flight, which is not included. If you prefer the road, the car brings you back over two more days at the day rate.
Can we stay longer in one place?
On a private trip, yes. Add a night anywhere and the plan moves with you.
How do I book this tour?
Open the tour in the app and choose a group date or a private day. You can also write to us on WhatsApp and we will set it up with you.
