The Golden Triangle

Who it is for

For a first trip to India, with the Mughal monuments and the forts of Rajasthan.

Not for anyone who wants calm and empty streets.

The strategy

Delhi, Agra and Jaipur form a triangle just a few hours apart by road. Agra sits in the middle so the Taj Mahal is seen at the start, before the heat and the line.

What you will see

• Red Fort, New Delhi. Shah Jahan's palace-fortress, built between 1638 and 1648, with 2.4 km of red sandstone walls and a World Heritage listing since 2007.
• Taj Mahal, Agra. Mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal, commissioned by Shah Jahan in 1632 and completed around 1653, in Makrana marble inlaid with semiprecious stones.
• Amber Fort, Jaipur. Palace-fortress started in 1592 by Man Singh I on Cheel ka Teela hill, 11 km from the center, with four terraced courtyards.

Day by day

New Delhi

1. 1
   Day 1: Shahjahanabad, from the fort to the spice market

   1. 1Red Fort (Lal Qila)Essential
   2. 2Jama MasjidUp to half an hourEssential
2. 2
   Day 2: Sultanate-era Delhi, from south to center

   1. 4Qutub Minar and the Iron PillarWorth a visit
   2. 7Lodhi GardenWorth a visit
3. 3
   Day 3: Mughals, Sufis and Lutyens's city

   1. 3Humayun's Tomb and Sunder NurseryEssential
   2. 9Kartavya Path and India GateIf there is time
   3. 6Rashtrapati Bhavan and Amrit UdyanWorth a visit
   4. 5Dargah of Nizamuddin AuliyaWorth a visit
   5. 8Gurudwara Bangla SahibUp to half an hourWorth a visit

Agra

1. 4
   Day 4: The Taj and the Fort

   1. 2Agra FortEssential
   2. 4Mehtab BaghWorth a visit
2. 5
   Day 5: Fatehpur Sikri and the marble

   1. 6Jama MasjidUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   2. 3Itimad-ud-DaulahUp to half an hourEssential
3. 6
   Day 6: Sikandra, the market and the left bank · if you have more time

   1. 6Jama MasjidUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   2. 8Chini ka RauzaUp to half an hourIf there is time
   3. 9Ram BaghUp to half an hourIf there is time

Jaipur

1. 7
   Day 7: The 1727 city, on foot

   1. 5Hawa MahalWorth a visit
   2. 2NahargarhEssential
   3. 4Jantar MantarUp to half an hourEssential
   4. 6Albert Hall MuseumWorth a visit
2. 8
   Day 8: The triangle of forts

   1. 9JaigarhIf there is time
   2. 8Panna Meena ka Kund and Patrika GateWorth a visit
   3. 2NahargarhEssential
   4. Jal MahalIf there is time
3. 9
   Day 9: Workshops, neighborhoods, and cinema · if you have more time

   1. 7GaltajiWorth a visit