Do you think that you were born to be a tourist? Do you have an invincible love for the different places in India as well as the rest of the world? If that is so, then you must accept the fact that there is no more diversity in the rest of the world as in India and each and every corner of it has a specifically unique grandeur. If you really want to visualize the real beauty of India, then you should go for the Golden Triangle Tour because this is one tour that you would never dream to miss. As it is, the three places, namely Delhi, Agra and Jaipur consist of the Golden triangle and a visit to this triad is incredibly amazing. But in order to have the most of it, you need to go through a brief guide to know the places that you shouldn’t miss, the places where you can stay in and the transportation mode as well as the cost of the same. Places That You Should Not Miss During This Tour There are many places that you will be visiting when you are a part of the golden triangle tour. But here are a list of places which is a must see and if you miss any by chance then you would have to regret later. The places have been listed below as follows: The Akshardham Temple - This temple is one of the famous buildings in Delhi and is considered as the culmination point of art and architecture. The temple was built between 2000-2005 on the banks of Yamuna river and took 3 days short of five years to complete. Swaminarayan Akshardham temple has become the main attraction for tourists that visit Delhi as more then 70% of tourists include Akshardhaam temple in their itinerary. Akshardham temple also holds the Guinness world record of being the largest Hindu temple in the world. This temple was built according to the ancient Vastu shastra and Pancharatra shastra that has specific instructions on how to construct a building and the later on how to carve idols of deities. No steel was used for the structure in line with ancient texts that were followed for its construction. This temple is a must visit even if you follow a different faith as it is one of its kind in the world. The Lotus Temple - Another massive tourist attraction in Delhi is the Lotus temple whose name comes from the shape of the temple itself which is built to resemble a lotus flower. If you have a bird’s eye view of the temple, then you will find that it looks just like a blooming white lotus. The main point of attraction as far as this temple is concerned is the amazing architectural aspect of the building which is very unique and original in design. Also this place is renowned for its spirituality and peaceful ambiance. If you are visiting Delhi, then missing it would be a great blunder. Make sure you stay off the grass because security guards don't allow people to walk in the lawn (I have never understood why). Use the pathways and don't take shortcuts. Chhatarpur Temple - This temple is one of the largest temples in the whole of India and is a great spot for tourists and devotees alike. Situated in a serene atmosphere, this temple has a number of traditional engravings all over the building and pillars are beautifully hand crafted. The peak time for tourists is when the celebrations for the Navratri, Mahashivratri and the Janmashtami takes place as that is the time when the lots of religious rituals take place. This temple is dedicated to the Goddess Katyayani. Jama Masjid - Built in the 1656, this is one of the most beautiful sights that Delhi has to offer. The masjid was built by the emperor Shah Jahan and Delhi is proud of its presence till date. Located just off Netaji Subhash Marg, this is one of the largest mosques in India. The intricate designs of this building will remind you about the art and culture of the contemporary age in which it was built. Once you step inside, you will not feel like moving out as the ambiance is totally alluring. Don't forget to sample some food from little restaurants near Jama masjid which includes the famous Karims besides other very popular outlets. The street food is also amazing around this area and this place is always very busy with lots of people. Parking is a problem and your taxi would have to be parked in one of the MCD parking grounds which are a long way from the masjid. Red Fort - This is of course the much known world heritage site built by Shah Jahan in the year 1638. It has been designed with red stones and that is where the name arises. It is situated in the northern end of the right bank of the Yamuna. The architecture used in the process of building the fort demands appreciation. According to the historical evidence, this fort was actually the residence of the Mughal Empire till the year 1857 when the British sent Bahudar shah to Rangoon in Burma (present day Myanmar) as a prisoner ending the long reign of Mugals over India. The Red Fort is a lovely sight to behold and it has the capability to make you nostalgic the second you take a look at it. There is a light and sound show in the evening which is a must if you are interested in knowing the details of this fort and the history it has. Qutub Minar - Delhi is almost like a warehouse of beautiful monuments and the Qutub Minar is obviously one of the best kinds. This particular monument was built by the famous Qutub- ud- din- Aibak and is also declared to be a world heritage site by UNESCO. It is also considered to be the second highest minaret in India after the Fateh Burj with a height of about 73m. Once you take a glimpse, you will not be able to move away without a word of appreciation.There is another foundation of a tower that is believed to be an attempts to build a new tower that would be twice the hieght of the orignal Qutub minar but it did not see the light of day. Humayun’s Tomb - The son of the famous emperor Babur, Emperor Humayun was burried here. Now if you are thinking about what is in a tomb to be seen, then we can tell you that it is a lot more than a tomb. The whole area is surrounded by beautiful gardens and the ambiance is serene. The story goes that when the emperor passed away, then his wife Haji Begum commissioned the creation of the first garden. This place is so unique, that it has also been declared as the UNESCO world heritage site. Humayun's tomb is very similar to the Taj mahal in design and looks apart from the fact that Taj Mahal is covered with white marble and Humayun's tomb is made up or red stone. India Gate - You do not have to travel far and wide in order to see this particular monument that was built in the memoir of the dead soldiers at war. It has a beautiful archway that is located astride the Rajpath. The architecture that you will see on it is indeed fascinating and you will be able to feel the element of nostalgia. As the story goes, this gateway is a tribute to the 9000 Indian soldiers, also known as the ‘AmarJawan' who died in World War 1 who fought for the British in Europe and present day Myanmar besides some other battles. It is 42 meters high and is indeed a great tourist spot. There are large lawns on both sides of the road where many locals come to spend the evenings and for picnics. Raj Ghat - This is another unique place that Delhi gifts you when you go there. This is the exact spot where the body of Mahatma Gandhi was cremated and is treated as the Mahatma Gandhi memorial. It is located on the banks of the Yamuna River and the place is really beautiful. The memorial has beautiful lawns and pathways surrounded around it. It was built in the year 1948 and is a place where you should go at least once. Once you step in, you are bound to feel the peace inside you. The list is really long for the sightseeing places in Delhi so let us just name some others like the Lodhi Gardens, Safdarjung Tomb, Purana Quilla, Chandni Chowk and so on. LET US NOW MOVE TOWARDS SOME OF THE GREAT SIGHTSEEING PLACES IN AGRA. Taj Mahal - Once of the most unputdownable place in which you cannot afford to miss while you are going to Agra is of course the Taj Mahal built by the famous Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the years 1628- 1658 in the memoir of his wife Mumtaz Begum. The name goes with the look of the palace as because Taj Mahal means the ‘king of palaces’ in the Arabic language. This palace is a monument that you will remember for the rest of your life once you take a look of the same. It is considered as the purest symbol of love. Agra Fort - The second most famous places in Agra is definitely the Agra fort which is located on the right bank of the Yamuna. The Fort is located about 2.3 km away from the Taj Mahal. The interiors are complete with engraved designs and the grandeur of the place is bound to stun you all. Not only that, this fort stands since the 11th century and flaunts the remarkable dimension of architecture in the contemporary period. If you visit Agra, then this is a place where you should go at least for once. Sikandra Fort – Agra is considered to be the place for the maximum forts and in all of those one of the remarkable ones is definitely the Sikandra Fort which is dedicated to the famous Sikandar Lodi. This fort is located in the western periphery of the city at a distance of about 10km from the center of the city. This fort is filled with a number of architectural samples and that will definitely stun you. This fort was built by the Emperor Jahangir in 1613 AD and it is a patron of the tradition, culture, philosophy as well as science. Fatehpur Sikri - This is the fort that was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar built in the memory of the victories over the provinces Chittor and Ranthambore. This is indeed a beautiful place with amazing scenic beauty and this is the place that you should not be missing in any way. During the tour, you will find that this place can allure you with its simplicity and you can feel the pride of the victory or ‘Fateh’ as soon as you go there. NOW LET US TALK A BIT ABOUT THE VARIOUS PLACES THAT YOU SHOULD SEE IN THE PINK CITY JAIPUR. The City Palace- Jaipur is just the place for a lot of palaces spread around the area and among them; the most beautiful one is the City Palace that is located in Jalebi Chowk. Not only is it a palace, but it is also the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum and is a warehouse of historical evidence. It is also the residence of the royal family of Jaipur. It has a number of artifacts that will interest anyone who is ever ready to gain some knowledge. Hawa Mahal– The Hawa Mahal is one of the most interesting and magnificent examples of the Rajasthani art and culture. It is also known as the palace of winds because you will feel the windy atmosphere even when you are in the most interior part of the palace. The design of this palace has been done cleverly to bring out this effect only. It is a very famous landmark of Jaipur and inside it, you will find a museum in which a number of Rajasthani paintings, crafts, coins and sculptures that belong to the early age. Jantar Mantar- This is one of the buildings that is bound to blow your mind by the design and the architecture. This is because this building is a true example of the unimaginable advancement of science in India during that age. The whole of it is created in marble and the look itself is stunning. Not only is it scientifically made, but you will also get to see that it can be considered as the peak level of art as well. When you visit Agra, you should be visiting this place as well in order to feel the beauty and the royalty of the place. Laxmi Narayan Temple - This is a very beautiful temple in the city of Jaipur that is made up of white marble. This temple has intricate designs on both the interiors as well as the exterior parts and the designs are all related to the Hindu Mythology. The temple has a lot of celebrations every year and on those days; there is a collaboration of a lot of religious people at a go. Jaipur itself is a beautiful city and what makes it even more beautiful is the presence of these temples in it. Planning the Golden Triangle Tour Now that you know all the places that you should be visiting, you will have to plan in order to make the trip a total success. The foremost plan will be to know about the hotels in which you will be able to reside. Now we are going to list some hotels and their specifications from which you can pick up the one according to your budget. Hotels In Delhi: Hotel Good Times - As the name suggests, you will definitely have a good time staying here within reasonable prices. The staffs are very cooperative and are always at your beck and call. The Prime Balaji Deluxe - This is a very comfortable hotel that you can opt for during the golden triangle tour guide because of its excellent hospitality and reasonable charges. Hotel Sri Nanak Continental - If you are looking for a delightful stay, then this is just the right sort for you. You can book yourself a room in the same at a decent amount. Hotel Prince Palace - If you are looking for a cheap hotel at Rs. 349 and an easy stay, then this is just the right kind of hotel that you are looking for as the hospitality and the service will stun you. Hotel Milan Continental - The fooding and lodging of this place is very good and you will get the best services at very cheap prices so that you can leave happy. Hotels In Agra: Hotel Delight Inn - This is the hotel in which you will love to reside because of the service that you get over here. The staffs are cooperative and the price of hotel rooms is really cheap. Hotel Sunrise - This is another amazing hotel where you can go and have the comfort of living and that also without having to pay more. So if you visit Agra, then you can go to this hotel. Joshi Resort - If money is no matter, and then you can go to this resort that will provide you with all the luxury that you crave for. No wonder you will enjoy your trip a lot. Lauries Hotel - The room rates of this hotel range from 1000 to 1500 bucks. You can have a very comfortable stay over there and you will enjoy your trip. Hotels In Jaipur: Hotel Bissau Palace - If you want to spend your time in luxury, then you should go to this hotel. The room charges range from 3000- 6000 but the service that you will get in return is worth the money. Hotel Khetri House - If you want a relatively cheap hotel, then this hotel is the best of the kind. It is a small hotel, but is enough to satisfy your basic needs perfectly. Maharaja Hotel - This is also a hotel with reasonable charges and once you go there, you will be stunned by the service that you get there. The staffs are very cooperative and will be just at your beck and call. Mode Of Transport Throughout The Trip: If you want to go for the golden triangle trip, then it is important that you know the mode of transportation of this trip. This is because of the fact that even if you find one way closed, you can actually find out an alternative way to travel. The best way that you can travel in Delhi is the taxi way. In Delhi, the taxi fare is Rs. 20 to 25 for every kilometer that you travel depending upon which company's cabs you use. Uber would work out cheaper.. So this way you can calculate the distance you are travelling and the charges that you have to pay. Also the whole of the Delhi is connected with the help of metro and there you get a metro every 59 seconds. It is also a very easy way to travel over there. If you are going to Agra, then you can go to the buses and autos over there. If you talk about Jaipur, then I can say there you can get the buses and autos, but you will not get taxis in plenty there. In order to move from Delhi to Agra, you can go for either a bus or a train. See to it that you get seats reserved over there so that the journey does not seem tiring at all. In the golden triangle trip, you will get a lot of options to choose from and that is the reason why you will not be out of ways as far as travelling is concerned. The weather of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur is indeed very fluctuating and that is the reason why you should not go in the summer or the winter season as because it will be too hot or too cold for you to enjoy. The best time for having this tour is during the spring season as because then the weather is moderate and you can actually enjoy the weather rather than getting irritated by the same. In the peak tourist time if you go there, you will get to see a number of people in the above mentioned locations and you will definitely see a small phase of the diversification that India is full of. If you really need to have this trip, then it is the best thing to go for a specific reliable travel agency so that your journey can be hassle free and you do not have to look out for the hotels and transportation modes all by yourself. Also, you will see that availing a travel agency will cost you a lot lesser than if you go individually. Almost every person should go for this golden triangle trip of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur at least once in their lifetime. So get hold of a travel agency and move out to have a fun trip of the Golden triangle of India and by the time you return, you will be a lot more knowledgeable person with an amazing experience. Distance between Delhi, Agra and Jaipur Delhi to Agra - 210 Km Agra to Jaipur - 240 Km Jaipur to Delhi - 260 Km As you can see distance between all three destinations is more or less the same but the stretch from Delhi to Agra will be the easiest if you are taking a taxi due to the Yamuna expressway where traffic goes very fast and roads are almost empty on that toll road.
For the shopping lovers, I would like to add some shopping places when visiting Delhi. Flea markets are common in Delhi and one market I would suggest is in Janpath, you would get lots of good stuff there but remember to bargain. Another food cum shopping place to visit is Dilli Haat opposite the INA market. This place gives you a taste of food from all the states in India with each stall representing each state. There are a lot of shops there too which sell things from clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories, small antiques and more and not to forget the entertainment there which is generally during the evenings. One religious place I would like to suggest visiting in Delhi is Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, this is a Sikh temple and people from all across the world come and visit this holy place.
