If you are a first time visitor to India looking to explore and witness India’s cultural and royal heritage, then the Golden Triangle Tour is just right for you. This is one of the most popular trips in Northern India and covers 3 of the country’s most beautiful cities – Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. It also offers a glimpse of Rajputana, Mughal, and British royalty to make your experience complete and worthwhile.
With the unique and perfectly planned itinerary, you will be able to create some of the best memories during the Golden Triangle India Tour and take back a part of India’s rich culture and tradition with yourself.
Guide to The Golden Triangle Tour
CITY 1 – JAIPUR
Being the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is popularly known as the ‘Pink City’ due to its trademark building color and offers a glimpse of the beautiful Rajputana architecture, culture and heritage wherever you go.
1. City Palace
One of the most popular tourist destinations in the Golden Triangle India Tour is City Palace in Jaipur which is an 18th-century palace which belonged to Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and has now been converted into a museum with a part of it being a royal residence still. You will find several pavilions, temples and gardens along with the palaces here with the Diwan-E-Khas or Sabha Niwas being the most popular of them all.
2. Hawa Mahal
Another notable place to visit in Jaipur is the Hawa Mahal which was built in the year 1799 and is again a palace constructed mainly o pink and red sandstone and is a unique monument in itself. Sitting on the edge of the City Palace, it has 953 small windows known as jharokhas in it; each of which has been decorated with latticework.
3. Jantar Mantar
Completed in the year 1734 and built by the famous Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II, the Jantar Mantar is an 18th-century park and heritage site. A must-visit when on the Golden Triangle India Tour, this place boasts of 19 fixed architectural instruments which help make astronomical observations. The world’s largest stone sundial can be found at this place which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. Amer Fort
The Amer Fort is located in Amer and is just 11 kilometers from the city of Jaipur. Located on a hill, this is yet another frequently-visited tourist attraction in the Golden Triangle Tour. It offers elephant rides to the tourists and gives a glimpse of both Hindu and Muslim elements in the entire place. One of the most noteworthy parts of this Fort is the Sheesh Mahal which was a pavilion built for the royal family and boasts of immensely intricate mirror-work on all sides.
5. Jal Mahal
Do not miss out the Jal Mahal when visiting the Golden Triangle India which is a palace in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in this beautiful city. What is unique about this palace is that it is made mostly of red sandstone with most it being submerged under water.
6. A Rich Shopping and Eating Experience
Your Golden Triangle Tour is undoubtedly going to be incomplete if you do not shop at some of the remarkable shopping places in this city which offers an enriching shopping experience. To buy items unique to Jaipur, you must visit Johari and Tripolia Bazaar which is India’s most fabulous and largest market for jewelry of all types. The Chandpol Bazaar sells an array of handicrafts and handlooms while the Kishanpol Bazaar is known for its textile goods.
What’s more is that you can indulge in some authentic Rajasthani delicacies such as Dal Bati Churma, Gatte ki Khichdi, Rajasthani Kadi and Ker Sangri in these areas which are home to some extremely popular Rajasthani joints.
CITY 2 – DELHI
Being India’s capital territory, Delhi is a massive metropolitan area which forms the crux of the Golden Triangle India Tour. The tour starts and ends in this very city and allows you to witness some extremely ancient Mughal architecture at its very best.
1. Red Fort
The Red Fort in Delhi is undoubtedly one of the most amazing tourist places to visit. It is a 17th-century historic fort made of red sandstone which was the main residence of Mughal dynasty emperors for more than 200 years and is now home to several museums.
2. Qutb Minar
Another notable attraction is the Qutb Minar which is a 5-storey victory tower with balconies which was built way back in 1193 by the then ruler Qutab-Ud-din Aibak after he defeated Delhi’s last Hindu kingdom. Standing tall at 73 m, this minaret has now been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is flocked by tourists from all around the globe throughout the year.
3. Jama Masjid
When visiting the Golden Triangle India, one simply cannot miss the Jama Masjid. Being a 17th century Mughal-style mosque in the country’s capital, it is made completely with red sandstone and has a capacity of 25,000 individuals. The minarets are 40m high and this mosque is one of the largest in the country. It was built by Shah Jahan and is also known as Masjid-i Jahan-Numa.
4. India Gate
This tour also includes a visit to India Gate which is a triumphal arch and war memorial located quite near to the Rajpath. It was made to commemorate those Indian soldiers who were killed in the First World War and is 42 m high. Red-coloured Bharatpur stone forms a low base for this Gate as it rises in stages to give way to a massive molding.
5. Humayun’s Tomb
The tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun is known as Humayun’s Tomb. Humayun’s first wife Empress Bega Begum commissioned this tomb which is one of the greatest examples of Mughal-styled architecture in the city. Having been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1933, this is another top-notch tourist attraction in the Golden Triangle Tour.
6. Lotus Temple and Laxmi Narayan Temple
For those who wish to get a glimpse of the magnificent temples in the country when on the tour, must visit the Lotus Temple. This temple has a flower-like design and was opened in the year 1986. Another must-visit temple is the Laxmi Narayan Temple which boasts of some beautiful shrines. It is large Hindu temple covering around 7.5 acres and is home to some fountains and a garden along with the shrines.
The Parliament House, Lodi Gardens, and Chandni Chowk are some other tourist attractions worth visiting during the Golden Triangle India Tour. You are sure to enjoy shopping at the Chandi Chowk markets which sell an array of spices, silver jewelry, dried fruits and sarees along with much more at reasonable rates.
Treat your Taste Buds in Delhi like Never Before
When in the Chandni Chowk area, you must try out some authentic Delhi chat items at Lala Babu Chaat Bhandar, Bishan Swaroop and Shree Balaji Chaat Bhandar which will take out taste buds for a treat instantly!
CITY 3 – AGRA
Home to the iconic Taj Mahal, Agra is a small yet beautiful city in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Also known as The Taj City, Agra lies on the banks of the River Yamuna and is around 200 km south of Delhi. The presence of the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri together make Agra a major tourist destination and a vital part of Golden Triangle India. All the above-mentioned buildings are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
1. Taj Mahal
The Golden Triangle India Tour is incomplete without a visit to the Taj Mahal. It is an ivory-white marble mausoleum which was commissioned in 1632 by Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor as a tomb for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is located on the southern bank of the River Yamuna and boasts of one of the best 17th-century Mughal-style architecture. Its symmetrical gardens are quite famous too. Agra is also home to the famous Agra ort which boasts of richly decorated red sandstone fort complex. The sandstone used is semi-circular in shape while the fort has double ramparts in it. The Mughal Dynasty emperors used this ort as their main residence till 1638 after which the capital shifted to Delhi from Agra.
2. Tomb of I’timad-Ud-Daulah
The Tomb of I’timad-Ud-Daulah is yet another tourist attraction in the Golden Triangle Tour. Also known as the ‘jewel box’ or ‘Baby Taj’, it is a Mughal mausoleum made exclusively with white marble and inlaid with semi-precious stones.
3. Fatehpur Sikri
A trip to Fatehpur Sikri will help make your Golden Triangle Tour complete by all means as it is one of the best-preserved examples of Mughal architecture in the country. Founded in the year 1569 by Mughal Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri is home to the massive palace gate known as Buland Darwaza. It is made entirely of sandstone and is a beauty to visit. Literally, It means the ‘Gate of Magnificence’ and was built by Akbar to commemorate his victory over the state of Gujarat. The Tomb of Salim Chisti and the Jama Mosque are other great examples of Mughal architecture which were built during the 1570s and 1580s.
4. Jodha Bai’s Palace
The Jodha Bai’s Palace is a beautiful one made entirely of red sandstone and boasts of both Hindu and Mughal style of architecture. A central courtyard allows visitors to witness the beauty of the place at peace. Panch Mahal is a palace in Fatehpur Sikri while the Diwan-E-Khas was Emperor Akbar’s Hall of Private Audience. The main attraction of this is the carved central stone pillar.
When it comes to enjoying a nice meal and foodstuffs in Agra, you must try their unique Bedai and Jalebi which is both spicy and sweet and not easily available elsewhere. The Parathas in Agra are reminiscent of the Mughal culture and a must-have when in the city. Also try out items such as Bhalla, Dalmoth and the Pethas of Agra which are as famous as the Taj Mahal itself!
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Delhi
Arrive in Delhi for the Golden Triangle India Tour and check in to your hotel. Guided tour of full-day sightseeing tour of historical monuments like India Gate, Jama Masjid, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutb Minar Complex. Drive past Laxmi Narayan Temple, Parliament House, President’s House, Gandhi Memorial and Connaught Place shopping center. Enjoy the light and sound show at the Red Fort in the evening. Overnight in Delhi hotel.
Day 2 – Delhi to Agra
Drive down to Agra right after breakfast and visit the breathtaking Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Diwan-e-Khas and Itmad-Ud-Daulah with a guide. Overnight in Agra Hotel.
Day 3 – Agra to Jaipur
After breakfast in Agra hotel, drive down to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri where a guided tour of Jama Masjid, Panch Mahal, Jodha Bai Palace and Buland Darwaza awaits. Arrive in the last city of Golden Triangle India which is Jaipur, check into your hotel and relax. In the evening, go for sightseeing in the Pink City and visit Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and City Palace along with some of the best bazaars of Jaipur for a rich shopping experience.
Day 4 – Jaipur
Visit the old and beautiful Rajput capital which is the Amer Fort after breakfast. Enjoy an elephant ride and also catch up on some last minute shopping back in Jaipur. Indulge in a lavish dinner at Chokhi Dhani where you will relish authentic Rajasthani cuisine, folk dance, and music. Overnight in Jaipur.
Day 5 – Delhi
Return back to Delhi via direct flight and fly off to your next city of interest. Alternately, you can extend your stay if you wish to visit the other beautiful cities in the state of Rajasthan and beyond.
What are you waiting for? Book your Golden Triangle Tour today for the luxurious experience. If you have already been here, share your experience with us here in the comments section below.
