The Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle is India's most famous tourist circuit and the recommended first introduction to North India for almost every international visitor. The route forms a near-equilateral triangle on the map: Delhi (the political and culinary capital) → Agra (home of the Taj Mahal, 230 km south by Gatimaan Express) → Jaipur (the Pink City of Rajasthan, 240 km west of Agra by road) → back to Delhi (260 km north of Jaipur). The triangle can be comfortably covered in 6 days, though 8 days at a relaxed pace works better for first-time visitors who want sunrise visits to the Taj plus a full day at Amer Fort.

For vegetarian travellers, the Golden Triangle is exceptionally rewarding. All three cities have deep pure-veg traditions: Delhi gives you the Awadhi thalis of Pandara Road and the Mughlai-veg of Karim's nearby alleys; Agra gives you the Mughal-era vegetarian tradition plus the famous petha sweets; Jaipur gives you the full Rajasthani thali (dal-baati-churma, gatte ki sabzi, ker-sangri) and the legendary pyaaz kachori at Rawat Mishtan Bhandar. Three consecutive days of pure-veg royal feasts is unique to this circuit.

Best season is October through March; the desert summer (April-June) makes Rajasthan unbearable. Travel logistics are excellent: the Gatimaan Express covers Delhi-Agra in 100 minutes; Agra-Jaipur is a 4-5 hour comfortable cab or train ride via Bharatpur; Jaipur-Delhi is 4-5 hours by the new Delhi-Jaipur Expressway or 4 hours 35 minutes by Vande Bharat Express.

Budget-wise, a comfortable mid-range trip (3-star heritage hotels, AC trains, private cab for sightseeing, all meals at quality vegetarian restaurants) costs ₹35,000 – ₹55,000 per person for the 6-day circuit, excluding international flights to Delhi. Luxury palace-stay variants (Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, Oberoi Amarvilas at the Taj) push this to ₹2 lakh+ per person but deliver a genuinely once-in-a-lifetime experience. The circuit also pairs perfectly with a 3-day Varanasi extension at the end (overnight train Jaipur-Delhi-Varanasi) for travellers wanting the full North India introduction.