India6 days
India's Golden Triangle: Delhi, Agra & Jaipur — 6 Days
Medieval forts, Mughal tombs, and the Taj Mahal across three North Indian cities
The Golden Triangle connects three cities that anchored India's medieval and Mughal empires. Delhi holds the political monuments of successive dynasties — Qutab Minar, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate — alongside newer structures like the Lotus Temple. Agra is defined by a single structure: the Taj Mahal, commissioned by Shah Jahan in 1632 as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, which sits on the Yamuna's south bank as an ivory-white marble statement of Mughal architectural ambition. The fort there was the Mughal court's main residence until the capital shifted to Delhi in 1638. Jaipur contains the City Palace (still partly inhabited), the Jantar Mantar astronomical instrument collection, and the Hawa Mahal, a structure completed in 1799. The route between the three cities passes through Fatehpur Sikri, a 16th-century capital city built and abandoned within decades. The itinerary allows a day in each location, with transfers by private vehicle and guided walking tours of the major sites.
Highlights
- Humayun's Tomb in Delhi — 16th-century Mughal monument designed by Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas
- Qutab Minar, Delhi — UNESCO World Heritage site and 73-meter tower begun in 1193
- Taj Mahal in Agra — ivory-white marble mausoleum commissioned in 1632 on the Yamuna river
- Agra Fort — principal Mughal court residence until the capital's relocation in 1638
- Fatehpur Sikri — 16th-century political capital built by Emperor Akbar, 1571-1585
- City Palace in Jaipur — active royal residence with the adjoining Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal
- Jantar Mantar in Jaipur — collection of 19 astronomical instruments completed in 1734
- Hawa Mahal in Jaipur — five-story pink sandstone structure completed in 1799
- Amber Fort near Jaipur — begun in 1592 by Raja Man Singh I, expanded through the 18th century
- Jal Mahal — 18th-century palace set in Man Sagar Lake, renovated by Maharaja Jai Singh II
Day by day
1Arrival in DelhiDelhi airport · your hotel
Your driver meets you at Delhi airport for a private transfer to your hotel. Check in for your first night in the capital.
2Delhi: Mughal and Colonial MonumentsHumayun's Tomb · Qutab Minar · India Gate · Rashtrapati Bhavan · Lotus Temple · Delhi's bazaars
Guided tour of Delhi begins after breakfast. Visit Humayun's Tomb, constructed in 1569–70 by Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghias, a significant example of Mughal architecture. Qutab Minar, a 73-meter tower commissioned in 1193, marks the establishment of Indo-Islamic architecture in the subcontinent and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. India Gate, the war memorial on Rajpath, and Rashtrapati Bhavan (formerly the Viceroy's House) represent the British colonial administrative center at the western end of New Delhi's ceremonial axis. The Lotus Temple, completed in 1986, is a Bahá'í House of Worship recognizable by its flowerlike architectural form. Evening time is free for independent shopping in Delhi's bazaars or rest at the hotel. Overnight in Delhi.
3Agra: Taj Mahal and Agra FortTaj Mahal · Agra Fort · Delhi to Agra · a local restaurant · Agra's markets
Transfer from Delhi to Agra by road, approximately three hours. Visit the Taj Mahal, an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the Yamuna's south bank, commissioned in 1632 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Lunch is arranged at a local restaurant. Agra Fort follows, a historical complex that served as the main residence of Mughal emperors until the capital shifted to Red Fort in Delhi in 1638. Evening time is free for shopping in Agra's markets, which stock marble work, jewellery, and carpets. Overnight in Agra.
4Transfer to Jaipur via Fatehpur SikriFatehpur Sikri · Agra to Jaipur · hotel in Jaipur
Departure from Agra to Jaipur by road after breakfast. En route, stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the 16th-century city built by Emperor Akbar and occupied from 1571 to 1585 as the political capital. Check in to your hotel in Jaipur in the evening. Overnight in Jaipur.
5Jaipur: Palaces, Observatories & ArchitectureCity Palace · Jantar Mantar · Hawa Mahal
Guided tour of Jaipur begins after breakfast. Visit City Palace, a complex that includes the Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal, functioning as both a royal residence and museum. Jantar Mantar, completed in 1734 by Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II, is a collection of astronomical observation instruments and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Hawa Mahal, a five-story pink sandstone structure built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, was designed to provide privacy for royal women while allowing them to observe street activity. Evening time is free for shopping or rest. Overnight in Jaipur.
6Amber Fort, Jal Mahal, and Return to DelhiAmber Fort · Jal Mahal · Delhi Airport · Jaipur to Delhi
After breakfast, visit Amber Fort, a hilltop fortress in Jaipur's royal heritage area. Construction was initiated by Raja Man Singh I in 1592 and continued through the 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.
In the late morning, visit Jal Mahal, a palace structure situated in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. The palace was renovated and enlarged in the 18th century. Its position in the lake provides views reflected across the water.
In the late afternoon, depart Jaipur for Delhi, an approximately five-hour drive through Rajasthan. Your driver will arrange your evening drop-off at Delhi Airport according to your flight schedule, concluding your six-day Golden Triangle itinerary.
Where you go
- 1Taj Mahal
- 2Agra Fort
- 3Fatehpur Sikri
- 4City Palace
- 5Jantar Mantar
- 6Hawa Mahal
- 7Amber Fort