India’s Golden Triangle 10-day Itinerary
India
Where to go and what to see in India’s Golden Triangle to get the most from your trip – a 10-day itinerary from destination expert and leading travel writer Amar Grover.
Best things to do & places to stay:
India
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur – the so-called ‘Golden Triangle’ – lie at the heart of many Indian cultural tours and form the backbone of most first-time visits to India. These three destinations pack in most of India’s most bucket list experiences and all of its unique cultural essence.
Delhi, the capital, presents two distinct faces: Raj-era New Delhi boasts neat tree-lined boulevards and most of the best hotels, while Old Delhi distils a frantic, earthier atmosphere and is dotted with medieval monuments.
Agra is synonymous with the iconic Taj Mahal while Jaipur is the vibrant capital of Rajasthan, an exotic desert state hosting massive forts and exquisite palaces. A few hours from Jaipur is the Ranthambore National Park, one of the best places in India to see wild tigers.
There are good transport links between the three destinations, but for a real treat, take the luxury Mahajaras Express train which shuttles you between the main stops in blissful comfort, as you stare out at India’s uniquely exotic and evocative scenery.
The capital, Delhi, lies in the north of the country. Despite differing characters, New Delhi and Old Delhi have merged into one great city, with Connaught Place (now officially renamed Rajiv Chowk) at its heart.
Agra – home of the Taj Mahal – stands 170km south with the Yamuna River linking both cities.
To the west stretches the huge desert state of Rajasthan whose capital, Jaipur, and nearby Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, remain easily accessible.
Our writer’s recommended itineraries for this destination
India
Where to go and what to see in India’s Golden Triangle to get the most from your trip – a 10-day itinerary from destination expert and leading travel writer Amar Grover.
The bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination
Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
India’s iconic landmark and one of the world’s most beautiful buildings readily matches, if not exceeds, the hype. Built in 1653 by the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to entomb his wife, Mumtaz.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India
Experience the thrill of spotting one of the world’s last remaining wild tigers on a game drive in the Ranthambore National Park, one of India’s most picturesque and easily-visited reserves.
Best for ages: 8+ | £25 | 3 hours
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
One of Rajasthan’s great maharaja fortress-palace complexes, dating back to the 16th century, set amidst a spectacular backdrop of stark hills.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
India's Golden Triangle, India
Relive the era of the British Raj on this fabulously luxurious train – and discover the highlights of Rajasthan, from the Taj Mahal and the magnificent royal palaces, to tiger safaris at Ranthambore.
Best for ages: 13+ | £3,000 | 4+ days
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest
Bhangarh, Rajasthan, India
A small, part-ruined medieval ‘ghost-town’ – reputedly one of India’s most haunted places – in picturesque countryside near Sariska Tiger Reserve.
Best for ages: 13+ | £1
Deeg, Uttar Pradesh, India
A little-visited lakeside summer resort and palace complex that was built in 1772 for the Jat kings of Bharatpur, as a luxurious retreat. Its architecture fuses Mughal and Rajput styles.
Best for ages: 18+ | £1
Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
A welfare centre that looks after and rehabilitates formerly captive and abused elephants, and an education centre that teaches the importance of elephant conservation.
Best for ages: 8+ | £15
Delhi, India
The former bungalow residence of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is now a slightly macabre museum. Assassinated here in 1984 by her bodyguards, even that very spot remains spotted with blood.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers
New Delhi
$847 | Rating 4.76 / 5 [13 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
New Delhi
₹18,500 | Rating 4.96 / 5 [31 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
New Delhi
$224 | Rating 4.86 / 5 [72 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
New Delhi
₹21,500 | Rating 4.89 / 5 [128 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay in this destination
Delhi, India
A small but comfortable B&B with the ambience of a homestay, featuring recently-renovated rooms and super-friendly hosts.
Official star rating:
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Characterful and charming heritage hotel in central Jaipur – a haveli, or mansion, originally built for a wealthy noble family. Excellent value for money.
Official star rating:
Sherpur, Rajasthan, India
Superb understated ‘jungle camp’ and eco-lodge close to the rugged hills of Ranthambore, with an excellent conservation ethos.
Official star rating:
Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, India
A good value lodge with comfortable ‘cottages’ in a quiet garden surrounded by tranquil farmland, ideally situated for tiger-spotting safaris in nearby Ranthambore National Park.
Official star rating:
The main tourist season runs from October to March, though September and April are also fine – clear skies with warm to hot days.
May and June bring extreme heat and are worth avoiding while the July and August monsoon cools things slightly but brings more humidity.
Peak season is Christmas and New Year as well as the Indian festival of Diwali in late autumn. Mid-December to early February can deliver surprisingly cool nights and Delhi is prone to fog.
Although technically you could start in any of the three cities, Delhi is the main international gateway, and the departure point for most tours including the Maharajas Express. It’s easiest to start there.
See our separate guides to Delhi, Jaipur and Agra for destination-specific travel advice.
Delhi’s new metro has revolutionised public transport there, though buses, autorickshaws and taxis remain popular in Delhi, and are essential in Agra and Jaipur. Unless using pre-paid booths at the railway station you’ll need to be firm about getting a metered fare for taxis and autorickshaws.
A private car with a driver – usually arranged through a travel agency – is the most relaxed, convenient and flexible way of touring the Golden Triangle. Trains are another characterful means of transport, with fairly reliable services to/from Agra and Jaipur.
India generally remains an extremely safe and crime-free country for tourists. At worst lone female travellers may receive unwanted and unwarranted attention from younger men. Road accidents are common though rarely involve tourist vehicles.
Always drink bottled water or soft drinks (and drink plenty in the heat) and, except in good restaurants, treat salads, ice cubes and ice cream with caution. Follow medical advice on vaccinations and malarial prophylactics.
Other guides relevant to this destination
Uttar Pradesh, India
Home to the iconic Taj Mahal, the relentlessly congested and clamourous city of Agra and its hinterland host an array of superb Mughal architecture, along with vigorous bazaars.
India
India’s intense sight- and monument-filled capital is a compelling blend of the modern Raj-influenced New Delhi, and the sights, sounds and smells of Old Delhi’s heaving and exotic lanes and bazaars.
Rajasthan, India
Rajasthan’s state capital is a compelling blend of huge hillside forts, extravagant palaces, bustling bazaars, memorable heritage hotels and almost comically thronged streets.