You will not only come across huge forts, magnificent palaces, bustl ing colourful bazaars and lots of traditional local food. Golden Triangle is also known for its gourmet delights. You will get to relish in some genuine flavour of this versatile country. Old deserted cities, impressive architectural structures, prehistoric and historic forts, ancient arts as well as some more UNESCO Globe Heritage sites. A confluence and depiction of three major classics of Northern India, might be very cliche, but it is never out of demand among tourists. These three are one of the most flourishing in the travel industry since the ages. Rhythm of this city surprises at every single step with a plethora of sights that garner incredible allure. From vibrant history to deepest mysteries.
The Golden Triangle Itinerary will definitely sweep you off to the love capital, Agra with the enigmatic and majestic Taj Mahal at the centre. The splendour of nearby Fatehpur Sikri. On the banks of the beautiful Yamuna River, Agra is where the fast-paced travel on the other hand, urban Delhi slows down to the romance of the past. This romance continues to Jaipur, the royal capital with a blush of the city which is made of red sandstone. Jaipur’s City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar are a shift to the elaborate and equally enviable architecture of the Rajputs. Also added with Jaipur’s delicacies that feel like they’ve come straight out of the royal kitchen that makes the Golden Triangle Tour a full experience of the ancient and modern wonders of India. Get ready to be swooned by the cultural heritage and ethnic diversity of the country.
Best time to explore and experience the iconic golden triangle:
India has four major seasons which includes summer, monsoon, winter and spring. Also, there is no fixed time to visit, but usually the best ideal time to experience the golden triangle is from October to March. At that time it's relatively colder and pleasant as compared to the other months. That is why it is prefered from the pre winter months of October to the start of summer which is march. However, all the seasons hold something special and different for the tourists across the globe.
April to June to very harsh summer time where the temperatures soars above 45 degrees. But these months are pretty much ideal for the exotic species to come out in search of water. You will definitely encounter tigers and lions. But make sure that you are well prepared to endure the heat and keep yourself hydrated.
Starting from the end of June and lasting till September, the season is perfect to plan a trip cheapest, as it's not much of a touristy season. You can experience one of the best long drives accompanied with the fragrance of the wet soil, eye-soothing greenery all around and many natural waterfalls flowing with surprising forces.
But above all, make sure to plan your golden triangle holidays between October to December as you will get plethora of opportunities to witness he festival of lights, fests, Diwali celebrations in Delhi, elephant and camel rides in Jaipur and boating in Agra with the Taj Mahal in the backdrop makes your trip unforgettable and so much more.
Where to go in the golden triangle package:
In Delhi- Delhi is an epitome of past and the present together. From centuries old monuments, ancient forts, a part of the city’s daily life. From the fascinating glimpse of Old Delhi, its labyrinth of narrow lanes, old havelis, and colourful bazaars. Those small alleys of Chandni Chowk will amaze you more then before. There is so much authenticity from the fragrant spices to the local food. From the lanes of Sarojini Nagar to DLF. From the Asia’s best institutions to the companies and what to! You will go berserk for sure. And travelling in Delhi is not at all confusing because a well-planned and extensive Metro network connects all corners of Delhi. You can also buy some rich, woven silks, handicrafts, or ethnic cushions for your home. This capital city is the symbol of the country’s rich Mughal past and modernised present. From UNESCO World Heritage site of Qutub minar which is 72 metres high, constructed in 1193 A.D to Mughal tombs which stands in all glory of past since 2000 years. Make sure to visit Humayun’s Tomb, one of the most spectacular monuments in Delhi which is Set amongst huge gardens, and with intricate carvings and one of the best art in the national capital of India. And how can you miss the Jama Masjid? It is the largest mosque in India that can accommodate to 25,000 people all together. It’s literally massive, the beautiful blend of intricately carved white marble and red sandstone makes this site just incredible in terms of religious significance and also for explorers. You will witness the best spiral staircase of the minaret to get the best view of Old Delhi from the spiral staircase of the minaret.
Local food you must try in Delhi:
Delhi food is something which will leave you astounded, it has finger authentic taste. Here are few of the must try food you should try your hands on these such as Parathas in Paranthe Wali Gali in Chandni Chowk, Moolchand too. Chaat at Daulat ki Chaat, Chandni Chowk; Natraj Dahi Bhalle Wala, Chandni Chowk, butter chicken at Moti Mahal Daryaganj, kababs at Ghalib Kebab Corner, Nizamuddin; Salim’s Kebabs, Khan Market. Chole bhature at Sitaram Diwan Chand, Paharganj, Chache Di Hatti Kamla Nagar. Biryani at Al Kakori Al Kauser, R K Puram, Deez Biryani & Kebabs, Defence Colony. Nihari at Karim’s near Jama Masjid. And the last but not the least momos at Yashwant Complex, Chanakya Puri, Majnu ka Tilla, North Campus.
Key highlights of Delhi:
- Red Fort
- Qutub Minar
- Gurdwara Bangla Sahib
- The Lotus Temple
- India Gate
- Jama Masjid
- Humayun's Tomb
- Purana Qila (The Old Fort
- Gandhi Smriti and the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial
- The National Museum, New Delhi
In Agra:
Taj Mahal is the one attraction that sits at the top of every tourist's travel itinerary. It is made of white marble with tomb-like archways. It is one of the seven Wonders of the Modern World and also one of the most beautiful monuments of India. It’s the pride of our nation, that's why every year countless travellers swarm to witness this beauty of undying symbol of love. It is the home for the three major gems such as Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort are three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Fatehpur Sikri was founded by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1569, and its red sandstone building and Persian-inspired architecture. Fateh pur Sikri this ancient walled city will leave you astounded for sure. And not just that Agra is also known for its plush scapes such as, Ram Bagh and Mehtab Bagh are two of the most famous plush gardens. Also there are certain entry fees and timings Such as:
In Taj Mahal:
Ticket windows for Taj Mahal open one hour before Sunrise & close 45 minutes before Sunset. No entry fee for children below 15 years (both Indian & Foreigners). Taj Mahal is closed on every Friday. for Indians entry fees is INR 45 ( Additional INR 200 to see the main mausoleum). For BIMSTEC AND SAARC INR 535 ( Additional INR 200 to see the main mausoleum). And for foreigners INR 1050 (Additional NR 200 to see the main mausoleum).
Timings for entry and closing : open to visitors from 6 AM to 7 PM every day, except on Fridays. The best part is every full moon from 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM, plus two days after and before the full moon it remains opened. Isn’t it a good idea for some night photography.
In Agra Fort:
Citizens of India and visitors of SAARC (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar) - Rs. 30 per head. And it's open from sunrise to sunset.
Timings for entry and closing: opening hours are between 6 am to 6 pm, all seven days in a week.
In Fatehpur Sikri:
visiting hours are from sunrise to sunset. And for Indians the entry fees are INR 35. For BIMSTEC AND SAARC INR 35, for foreigner INR 550 and kids below 15 is free.
Timings for entry and closing: visiting hours starts from 6 am to 6:30 am.
Local food you must try in Agra:
apart from rich heritage and culture. Agra is also known for its gastronomic delight such as Bedai and Jalebi at Devi Ram Sweets, Parantha is a famous street food in Agra at Rambabu Paranthe Wale, Bhalla at chaat wali galli in Sadar Bazaar, Mughlai cuisine is a famous food of Agra and it has to be because it has so much of Mughal influence, Dalmoth is a savoury dry snack that is a famous food of Agra and Petha is a must try delicacy when In Agra.
Key highlights of Agra:
- Taj mahal
- Fateh pur Sikri
- Agra Fort
- Mehtab Bagh
- Ram Bagh
- Itimad-ud-Daulah
- Akbar's Mausoleum
- Agra walks
- Kinari Bazaar
In Jaipur:
Rajasthan the land of vibrant colours, cultures, traditions, bright radiance, history, art, warriors, tint of modernism and so much more. Rajasthan is known as the “land of Maharajas''. There is a pinch of mughal era royalty, especially when it comes to the detailed intricate designs of its palaces or the culmination of desserts made with love like Ghewar and Boondi Laddoos, that are fit for everyone’s palate. From gigantic doors to the artistic beautiful architecture with unspoken and unsung poetry of history. Amidst all the hustle bustle and chaos, this city never fails to capture your heart. The markets will surely drive shopaholic with their authentic handcrafted fabrics, jewellery, mojris, and handicrafts wrapped in rainbow colours. Indeed, it’s the colours that has most fascinated any tourist or travellers travelling to Jaipur. The colours of turbans with elephants prints and polka dots, women’s bangles, their traditional attires and even the cities are named by its colour such as Jaipur as pink city, Jodhpur as blue city, Udaipur as white city and Jaisalmer as golden city. This pink city is really charismatic, and the best part is it's perfect for spending the weekend. Also a perfect place to do some pre wedding shoots for couples and also its a great place for destination marriage in pure Rajasthani style.
Start off some famous landmarks such as Hawa mahal made with red and pink sandstone. It also showcases Rajputana architecture on the edge of the City Palace. You can also see numerous jhakrokas or you can also see windows which are used for ventilation.
Amber fort, Perched on a hilltop is one of the most famous palaces. It is constructed in Mughal style architecture, witness all the elegance and vibrance through intricate artistic cravings. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was the bastion of the Kachwahas of Amber.
Visiting early in the morning or late at night will be best to capture and experience some outstanding views. Do not miss the Light and Sound Show in the evening, it is a must watch. Albert Hall Museum , is the state museum of Rajasthan. It is an example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. Nahargarh Fort perched on the ridge of the Aravalli Hills, is known for the best view of the city. You should not miss the glittering view of the city lights, at night.
Also there are certain entry fees and timings Such as:
In Hawa Mahal: fees are 50 per person for Indians, 200 per person for Foreign Tourists. Timings are 9 am to 5pm all seven days.
GaltaJi Temple : it has free entry and its opened all seven days from 5 am to 9 pm.
jaipur City palace: it is open all seven days and the timings are 9:30 am to 5pm for day visit and 7 pm to 10 pm for night visit. Also it has different fee structure too according to nationals and internationals. Such as:
This is for Indian Nationals:-
Museum Composite Museum at Night Royal Grandeur Royal Splendor
Adult 200 300 500 1500 3000
Child (5-12 years) 100 200 250 1000 1500
Adult (Senior/ Defence) 100 200 380 - -
This is for foreign nationals:-
Composite Museum at Night Royal Grandeur Royal Splendor
Adult 700 1000 2000 3500
Child (5-12 years) 400 500 1500 2000
Adult (Senior/ Defence) 430 780 - -
In amber fort: it is opened all the 7 days and the timings are 8am to 5:30 pm for day time. They also offers night shows and their timings are English shows: 7:30 pm
Hindi shows: 8:00 pm.
They provide elephant rides too and the timings are 7:30 am to 12:30 pm.
And they have different structure of fees according to the activities you want to get indulged here such as: entry fee 25 per person for Indians, 10 per person for Indian Students, Entry fee 550 per person for Foreign Tourists, Entry fee 100 per person for Foreign Students, Fees for 200 per person for Light Show in English, fees for 100 per person for Light Show in English, 1100 per couple for Elephant Ride.
Panna Meena ka Kund: it is a great location for shooting some amazing pictures. It is free and open all seven days from 12 am to 12pm.
Chandpole: it is open Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. And entry fee is as such: Rs 2 per person for Indian Adults, 10 per person for Foreign Adults, 0 Free entry for Children, 30 for Still Camera, 70 for Video Camera.
The Nahargarh fort: it is open all seven days from 9am to 5pm. And entry fees are as such: Rs 50 per person for Indians, 5 per person for Indian Students, 200 per person for Foreign Tourists, 25 per person for Foreign Students.
Jal Mahal: it's a great place for photography too especially sunrise and sunset shots. It is opened all 7 day from 6m to 6pm.
The Albert Hall: it is open all seven days for day time it is 9 am to 5pm and night time is 7pm to 10 pm. And there are different kinds of entries and shows and fees are mentioned accordingly.
For general entry:- 40 per person for Indians, 20 per person for Indian Students, 300 per person for Foreign Tourists, 150 per person for Foreign Students.
For composite entry:- 300 per person for Indians, 40 per person for Indian Students, 1000 per person for Foreign Tourists, 200 per person for Foreign Students.
For Night entry :- 100 per person for Indians, 100 per person for Indian Students, 100 per person for Foreign Tourists, 100 per person for Foreign Students.
In Jaigarh Fort: it is open from Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 4:30pm. And entry fees are:- 35 per person for Indians, 85 per person for Foreign Tourists, 50 for Still Camera, 200 for Video Camera
Local food you must try in Jaipur: How can you miss out the blend of traditional spices when in jaipur. It is also known for the historical evidence of royal families in the past. You should eat Laal Maans cooked in mutton curry cooked in yogurt and typical Rajasthani spices at Handi, Daal Batti churma at Chokhi Dhani, lassi at Lassiwala at Mirza Ismael. Pyaz Kachori at Rawat, it’s very near to the major bus stands. Palak Paneer & Missi Roti at Sharma Dhaba at Jaipur-Sikar Highway.
Key highlights of jaipur:
1. Hawa Mahal
2. GaltaJi Temple – Monkey temple
3. Jaipur City palace
4. Amber fort
5. Johari Bazaar
6. Chandpole
7. Tripolia
8. Sireh Deori
9. Bapu bazaar
10. Panna Meena ka Kund
11. The Nahargarh fort
12. Jal Mahal
13. Jantar Mantar
14. The Albert Hall
15. Jaigarh fort.
Accessible routes for the Golden triangle :
By Air: The golden triangle is accessible from all the major airports and its better if you have the itinerary and details beforehand.
The nearest airports to reach out for the Golden Triangle include the Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal of Delhi, as well as Jaipur International Airport from where commuting to the most favorable place becomes convenient. The Indira Gandhi International Airport of Delhi is the biggest airport terminal of India and also handles significant web traffic every day. Some of the significant major international airline that’s stops here are Etihad, British Airways, Gulf Airways, and also Lufthansa, Oman Air etc. As Delhi is the capital of India, it has its easy and flexible connectivity with all the major destinations of the world comprising of London, Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, New York, Rome, Istanbul, Dubai, Muscat and a lot more. On the other hand, the Jaipur International Airport is smaller in size and obtains trips from just a few International locations like Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat, and Bangkok and much more.
By Railways: This route is very well interconnected with all the major railways from the northern part of India. Rajdhani Express is one of the fastest trains on the Delhi-Jaipur journey. Ajmer Shatabdi is also a specific train as well as covers the range between these 2 cities in 4 hrs 20 mins. You will also find trains from Delhi to Agra but we recommend you can drive by yourself too. As its not much far.
By Roadways: The journey from Delhi to Agra is a good long drive on the Yamuna Expressway. Wetness a glimpse of the Yamuna River, over which this bridge passes. Agra is located at a distance of 233 km from Delhi and it normally takes 4 hours to cover this distance. The distance from Delhi to Jaipur on the other hand, is 281 km which takes around 5 hours to cover. You can take up Rajasthan-run state buses called RSRTC or private Volvo buses which are a lot more comfortable for traveling. Also, Agra to Jaipur is 238 km and also takes a little over 4 hours to cover. You can take the RSRTC (Rajasthan) or UPSRTC (Uttar Pradesh). Also, here is a major tip: make sure to check out the fares in advance.
Most favourable weather to explore and experience the golden triangle:
The best time to make this iconic trip is from october to February last. As the weather conditions are much favourable. From April to June, the temperature soars over 45 degrees which is quite sunny and harsh to move out. During these months if you go out make sure to be hydrated otherwise there are chances of heat strokes. From July to September these cities demand rain to have some respite from the harsh sun rays and burnouts. but you can definitely go for some good rain drives and witness the whole lot of different landscapes.
Experience the festivity in the golden triangle circuit:
- The Artistic Taj Mahotsav, Agra: it is organised in the 2nd week of February at shilpgram.
2. Ram Barat, Agra: experience the magical Ramleela from September- October.
3. Kailash Fair and Festivals, Agra: takes place in the Kailash Temple 12 km away from Agra, from August and September.
4. kite festival, jaipur: is a cultural luxury but make sure you plan your trip in the month of february
5. Jaipur Literature Festival: it's the treat for all the Literature enthusiasts across the world. It was organised last January at Diggi Palace Hotel.