The Golden Triangle
Want to go on a short break but not sure where? Then how about taking a 4-day trip to discover Delhi, Agra and Jaipur on The Golden Triangle tour of India and experience the history of the massive forts, the opulence and splendour of Rajasthan's palaces and the bustle and buzz of markets and bazaars.
DAY 1: Delhi
Land at Delhi Airport at midnight local time; the airport is still bustling with people in the early hours. After passing through customs and collecting the bags, I’m met by tour guide, Dilip Chauhan, who whisks me off to The Ashok, a government owned hotel.
2.30pm I am ready to start my first day’s adventure, where my tour guide Dilip takes me on a tour of Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb and The India Gate, a majestic structure, built in 1931 and designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and was inspired by the Arc de Triomphe. It commemorates India's war dead and houses an eternal flame.
India’s Golden Triangle is not just for the glittering palaces shining and sandstone forts glowing in the sunshine, but also for the memories you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
DAY 2: Delhi
9.00am, time to check out of The Ashok and head off to my next excursion through Old Delhi visiting the once water-filled square of Chandni Chowk, The Red Fort and Jama Masjid, Delhi’s oldest mosque.
After walking around for a couple of hours, I retire for lunch at a famous Delhi eatery, Chor Bizarre. After lunch, the excursion continues to the next stop, Connaught Place for some brisk shopping.
5.00pm, it’s time to set off for our next destination, Agra, which is around a 5-6 hour coach journey.
DAY 3: Agra
In Agra, you can visit the marble tomb that was saved for the greatest of the Mughal Emperors, Akbar's Mausoleum. Followed by a visit to the Taj Mahal, built in the 1640s as a memorial to the wife of Emperor Shah Jahan.
5.30am we set of for the Taj Mahal. The best time to visit the mausoleum is at sunrise, as my guide tells me that it is the most beautiful experience. Also sunrise is not as busy as sunset. As we near the Taj Mahal, the guide explains to us the dos and don’ts. Coaches have to park a kilometre away from the entrance to prevent pollution. We are ushered into electric powered buses, which take us up to the entrance.
8.00am life is beginning to pick up in Agra town centre, however it’s time to head back to the hotel. After a quick breakfast, it’s time to check out and see a few more sites before heading to the next destination, the city of Jaipur.
5.00pm we head out of Agra towards Jaipur. It’s a 6-hour coach ride. You can take a break along the way and stop en route at the one-time capital of the Mughal Empire, Fatehpur Sikri.
11pm we reach the historic city of Jaipur and check into the majestic Shiv-Vilas, a palace theme Resort located on the Delhi Jaipur highway. The Shiv Vilas has been constantly rated as one of the world's best luxury resorts.
DAY 4: Jaipur
Jaipur popularly known as ‘Pink City’ is full of Mughal history and beautiful forts and palaces.
7.30am it’s time to head towards Ambar Palace for the elephant ride up to the palace. After Ambar Palace, I made my way towards City Palace for some brief shopping.
After lunch it’s time to head back to Shiv-Vilas to pack the cases and head back to Delhi airport to catch the 2am flight. It was well worth the time and effort and a great experience, which I would surely do again, just for a quick getaway.
