Jaipur

Jaipur is the easiest weekend a North Indian group can plan. Forts in the morning, bazaars in the afternoon, rooftop thali at night — and it all fits into two days without anyone taking extra leave. Trains and buses from Delhi run through the night, so the trip effectively starts on Saturday morning.

A two-day plan that works

Day one: Amber Fort early to beat the crowd, Jal Mahal on the way back, Panna Meena ka Kund if the group likes photographs. Day two: City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal from the cafe across the road, then Johri and Bapu Bazaar. Nahargarh at sunset is where most groups end up, so reach a little early if you want space on the wall.

Where to stay

Heritage havelis near the old city are surprisingly affordable when a group books two or three rooms together, and they keep you within walking distance of the bazaars. Hotels near MI Road are the convenient middle ground.

Tickets and timing

The composite ticket covers Amber, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Nahargarh and a few more sites over two days and pays for itself if the group plans to see three or more. Summer afternoons are genuinely harsh, so keep sightseeing to mornings and evenings between April and June.