Is it permissible to rest from the exhaustion of travel upon arriving in Mecca before performing the Tawaf, or is it obligatory to perform the Tawaf immediately upon arrival?

The Sunnah for a pilgrim (Hajj or Umrah) upon entering Mecca is to begin with the circumambulation (Tawaf) and not to occupy oneself with anything else, following the example of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Al-Nawawi and Al-Shafi’i mentioned that the pilgrim should not occupy himself with renting a house or changing clothes before the Tawaf. However, if there is hardship and fatigue from the journey, there is no harm in resting for a short while.