Golden Triangle Express: Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur in 3 days
Amber Fort in Jaipur
After spending over a month in Southern India, it was time to go North to explore the Golden Triangle: Delhi, Agra, & Jaipur.
The Golden Triangle is India's most popular tourist route, and it rightfully deserves the credit. These three cities take you back in time to the majestic, decadent, and fascinating world of the Moguls and Maharajas. They left behind some of the world’s best architecture and a lineage of riveting history.
We only had 3 days to explore the Golden Triangle, but we made it happen. We stayed in Delhi for 3 nights and took day trips to Agra and Jaipur. It was hectic and required a lot of driving but it was worth every second in traffic - it’s part of the India experience, right? Check out our Golden Triangle Express guide below!
Delhi
New Delhi was our home base during our Golden Triangle travels. Delhi was a different vibe from Southern India — more congestion, less smiley locals, and you could really see the huge gap between the rich and poor. The city of New Delhi is a growing megalopolis - the population is young and the economy is dynamic while Indian roots still hold firm.
Hauz Khas Fort
STAY: Haveli Hauz Khas B&B
We loved our stay at Haveli Hauz Khas located in Delhi’s Hauz Khas Enclave. The B&B is a heritage mansion with 5 large rooms designed with traditional Indian art and photographs.
The B&B is owned by a lovely couple who were former employees of the Indian Administrative Service. We met the husband Teji who was very helpful with local recommendations and was happy to answer any of our questions. He even showed us some of his published books and educated us on Delhi's rich history.
EXPLORE: Hauz Khas Village
The Hauz Khas neighborhood is a residential area located in South Delhi. Hauz Khas reminded us of a gentrified/ hip American neighborhood, but surrounded by ancient Indian ruins and traditional tuk-tuks. Hauz Khas isn’t the ideal place to soak in traditional Indian culture, but it's a great place to live like a Delhi local!
Unfortunately we didn’t spend much time in Delhi aside from Hauz Khas Village. Hauz Khas Village is in the middle of the city’s Deer Park and the area is filled with art galleries, boutiques, trendy restaurants, hip cafes, and vibrant bars. It’s one of the most popular places for locals to hang out, foreigners to have a fun night out, and families to spend quality time together.
Livin' like a Delhi local (minus the camera)
Aside from its creative complex, there’s a lot of history and nature that surrounds the area. Be sure to visit the Hauz Khas Fort which was built in 1284 by Alauddin Khiliji. The fort isn’t in the best condition, but its secret paths and ruins are fun to explore.
Once you’ve explored Hauz Khas Fort, take a nice stroll through Deer Park and Rose Garden - similar to Central Park in NY, the park is very green and a perfect place to seek refuge from the city’s chaos and heat.
Agra
Agra is the home of the wondrous Taj Mahal. Not only did the Moguls leave behind this magnificent mausoleum, they also left behind Agra Fort and other fascinating tombs in the city. But with great beauty comes with great crowds - Agra is a hectic, tourist epicenter filled with persistent souvenir vendors, unofficial guides, mindless tourists, and shameless beggars. But once you’re staring at the Taj Mahal, none of that really matters.
The view of the Taj Mahal from Agra Fort
TAJ MAHAL & AGRA FORT DAY TOUR
Unless you're Princess Diana, the only way to snap the best photos of the Taj Mahal is to arrive first thing in the morning. Out of the best tours we found on Viator, we chose the 'Private Tour of the Taj Mahal at Sunrise & Agra Fort Day Tour from Delhi' so we could be first on line - early bird gets the worm, right?
We were picked up from our Delhi B&B at 2:30am to arrive in Agra by 6am. The car was air-conditioned and comfortable so we slept like babies during the ride.
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is regarded as the symbol of India’s rich history. It was commissioned by Mogul emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal who died during the birth of their 14th child. It took almost 20 years and 53 billion Indian rupees (approx. $827 million USD) to complete this 42-acre, ivory, white-marble mausoleum. It's now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The Taj Mahal attracts almost 8 million visitors per year. Before the skies changed colors, the lines were already packed. Experiencing the Taj Mahal during sunrise is one for the bucket-list. Our eyes were half open but just a slight glance of the Taj was already stunning. We had to pinch ourselves several times to realize we were staring at THE Taj Mahal (and also to wake up). The timeless marble structures were just as beautiful as we imagined - it's pure magic.
The Taj appears extraordinarily grandiose from the outside, but the inside was a lot smaller than expected. But it's certainly big enough to house two royal tombs, and even a whole city. The Moguls really had a good eye for taste and space, even for their after-lives.
Agra Fort
I'm pretty sure our camera's memory card was over capacity by the time we left the Taj Mahal. But thankfully we had enough space for our next stop - Agra Fort. Agra Fort is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the main residence of the emperors of the Mogul empire till the 16th century. The fort comprises of several palaces, audience halls, mosques, and our favorite of them all- green parrots. Agra Fort doesn't look as regal as the Taj Mahal, but the fort certainly has more historical depth.
Marble table designs
Breakfast & Marble Factories
Once we visited the two main attractions of Agra, we had breakfast at a local hotel. After breakfast we visited a few marble and textile factories. If you weren't already convinced by the Taj Mahal, Agra is known for the best white marble in the world - and to us it's even better than Italian marble. So when in Agra, buy anything made of white marble!
The only way to beat the crowds and scorching Indian heat is to start at the break of dawn at the Taj Mahal. We highly recommend this tour if you're looking for a Taj Mahal/ Agra Fort day tour from Delhi. A visit to the Taj Mahal is a once in a lifetime experience and you deserve the best pictures.
$120 per person for 'Private Taj Mahal at Sunrise & Agra Fort Day Tour from Delhi’
(Includes transport, guide, entrance fees, & breakfast)
Jaipur
Aka the Old City, aka the Jewel City, and most notably, aka the Pink City. Jaipur’s streets weren’t always pink. During the state visit from Prince Albert Edward in 1877 the reigning Maharaja of Jaipur, Sawai Ram Singh II, ordered all buildings in the city to be painted pink (which was more like terra-cotta). The rosy, pink buildings once charmed Prince Albert and it continues to captivate the hearts of us all.
Inside City Palace
JAIPUR DAY TOUR
We went back and forth on whether or not we should visit Jaipur on such a short trip. But after scanning through numerous articles and photos we were just too curious not to go. We took the leap and booked a 'Private Jaipur Day Trip from Delhi'.
We were picked up bright and early for a 3.5 hour drive to Jaipur. Driving in India is normally very stressful, but the drive was easier than expected. Mostly because our driver Ravi put so many thoughtful touches to his car - free wifi, pillows, vanity/ first aid kits, and a basket filled with snacks and water bottles.
Amber Fort
Once we arrived in Jaipur, we were introduced to our guide at Amber Fort. Amber Fort or Amer Palace was the residence of the Rajput Maharajas and their families. It's the most popular attraction in Jaipur perched on a hill overlooking the desert city.
The fort is made with red sandstone and marble consisting of four opulent palaces inside. Indian palaces are by far the most decadent and decorated in the world. Our favorite part of the fort was the hall of mirrors in the Jai Mandir temple.
Hawa Mahal: Palace of the Winds
Next stop was Hawa Mahal aka the Palace of the Winds. Hawa Mahal is the women’s section of Jaipur's enormous City Palace. This 5 story palace is constructed with red and pink sandstone. The Palace of the Winds literally took our breath away - it's an architectural gem.
Lunch & Shopping
We took a quick break and had lunch at a local restaurant recommended by our guide. The restaurant wasn't anything fancy or well known but it was the best meal we had during our North India travels.
Lunch is always best served as Thali - which is an Indian-style meal made up of various small dishes (i.e. vegetables, curries, curd) with rice and bread served on a platter or banana leaf. It's pretty much Indian tapas on a huge plate. We never usually know what we're eating, but it always tastes heavenly.
After lunch, we went to a few textile and jewel factories. Jaipur is known for its world renowned textiles and jewels (hence its nickname "Jewel City"). So many stunning pieces, if we didn't already do jewelry shopping damage we would've done it here. Jaipur jewels will make anyone feel like royalty.
City Palace
After a quick break from sight seeing, next on the itinerary was City Palace. The palace was the seat and royal residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur.
The palace complex incorporates an impressive and vast array of decorated courtyards, gardens, and buildings. In addition, it houses a museum on all things Jaipur.
Jantar Mantar Observatory
A collection of 20 astronomical instruments commissioned by Maharaja Jai Singh II. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features the world's largest stone sundial. Not only did these Maharajas have a taste for luxury decor, they also were very interested in astrology and cosmological concepts. For astrology lovers out there, this is a really neat sight to see.
Anything goes on the streets of India
Jal Mahal: Water Palace
Our last stop and last palace visit in Jaipur was Jal Mahal aka the Water Palace. The palace is in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. It's a 5 storied palace made of red sandstone - fun fact: the 4 stories are fully submerged when the lake is full. Whether they're perched on top of a hill, in the middle of the city, or in this case, in the middle of a lake, Jaipur's regal lineage created beautiful and innovative architecture.
This day tour took us to all the main sites in Jaipur, but there's so much more to explore and we would've loved to stay there a couple of nights. Jaipur's majestic and vibrant pink streets were a great way to complete the Golden Triangle experience.
$120 per person for 'Private Jaipur Day Trip from Delhi’
(Includes transport, guide, entrance fees, & lunch)
QUICK TIPS
A trip to India isn't complete without visiting the Golden Triangle. It was hectic visiting all 3 cities in 3 days, but we had to include the entire trifecta. But after learning the stressful way, here are some quick tips for your future Golden Triangle travels:
1) Use this route: Delhi -> Agra -> Jaipur. And stay the night in each city!
-Since we drove back and forth from Delhi, we were in the car the majority of our trip . You'll save a lot of time and miles if you take this route + stay the night in each city.
2) If Delhi is your home base, book at least 4-5 days!
-3 nights in Delhi were not enough to fully explore the Golden Triangle. The day trips to Agra and Jaipur were great, but we barely spent time in Delhi. We would've done the same tours and B&B, but would've added at least 1 more night in Delhi.
3) Stay a few nights in Jaipur to explore more of Rajasthan
-We loved our B&B stay in Delhi and didn't care to stay the night in Agra, but we would've loved to stay longer in Jaipur and explore more of Rajasthan. But if you're on a time crunch like we were, the Jaipur Day Tour from Delhi is totally worth it.
Entrance to Amer Palace
There is no place in the world as chaotic and tranquil as India - especially Northern India. From the vibrant colors, to the eclectic noises, to the dynamic/ spiritual vibrations, and to the flavorful spices— this country is overload for the senses. In spite of the chaos and madness, you could still find peace and that's what makes India infamously incredible.
What are your tips and tricks on a trip to India's Golden Triangle?
