India's Golden Triangle: The Complete Travel Manual & Greatest Advice
20 August,2024
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From chaotic Delhi to the breathtaking Taj Mahal and beyond to Jaipur, a journey around the Golden Triangle of India is an experience you won't soon forget. It's intriguing and challenging. Northern India's Golden Triangle is home to some of the most stunning and important sites in the nation.
Are you considering a vacation to the Golden Triangle of India? We share our best advice with you in this trip guide: Which path around the Golden Triangle is the best for travel? What time of year is ideal for travel? Is traveling to India safe? In what way does A connect to B? Our in-house travel guide has the answers to all of these queries.
Sikri Fatehpur
Fatehpur Sikri 1. India's Golden Triangle: Synopsis & Crucial Travel Advice
What the Golden Triangle has in store
The most well-known tourist destination in northern India is the Golden Triangle, which connects the states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Within the Golden Triangle lies some of India's most popular tourist destinations.
As the name implies, you visit three places. The first is Delhi, the Indian capital. Naturally, one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal, comes next. And last but not least, Jaipur, the state capital of Rajasthan, also known as the "Pink City."
Travel Advice: Our Suggestion
While there are plenty of online resources for advice, we still strongly advise using a paper travel book. We didn't regret at all choosing the Lonely Planet Rajasthan, Delhi & Agra.
This Lonely Planet travel book is extremely organized and informative, much like all of their guides. It is also lighter and thinner than the comprehensive handbook to India. Strongly advised!
The trip guide is available for purchase at Lonely Planet Rajasthan, Delhi & Agra.
Traveling to India: Visa Guidance
To enter India, citizens of the majority of nations need to obtain a visa. The majority of them can easily apply online for an e-tourist visa no later than four days prior to your arrival.
It's strange but true that your application requires a square photo. Additionally, you must scan your passport's first page, which contains your information and photo.
The duration of the e-tourist visa is one month. As a little bonus, you can also apply for a one-year e-tourist visa. Even with a one-year visa, you must depart the country again because the maximum stay is only ninety days.
The cost of the e-tourist visa varies according to the season of travel: from April to June, it costs $10, and from July to March, it costs $25. As many agents impose a fee on top, we strongly advise applying for the visa via the official website.
India e-Tourist Visa Application's official webpage
Sunrise at Taj Mahal Agra Fort
Golden Triangle Transportation: How to Go from Point A to Point B
Options for Transportation
Of course, hiring a private driver is the most luxurious (and costly) way to travel. You are highly flexible and can end whenever you like. In terms of safety, a private driver is also a fantastic choice.
In India, taking the train is a great way to go from point A to point B. In our opinion, the train travel to Agra in the morning was excellent. We had great pleasure in observing the scenery as it passed.
The third choice is, of course, taking public transportation to go throughout India. To be honest though, that was a bit too daring for our first visit to India.
Purchasing Transportation Tickets Is a Good Idea
We personally chose to travel by train and hire a private driver, and we thought this was the ideal combo. Regretfully, it is difficult to purchase train tickets for India from Europe because doing so frequently requires having an Indian phone number.
But we do have a hint for you: booking is hassle-free with tajmahaltourtrips.com
If you'd like, you may also reserve tickets for buses or private drivers there.
You can reserve your transportation here: tajmahaltourtrips.com - Transportation in India
Personal or structured?
One of the most crucial things to figure out before visiting India's Golden Triangle is whether you want assistance with travel planning or prefer to go it alone. Naturally, each has advantages and disadvantages.
Our first trip to India was planned with erlebe, a German tour operator, because we didn't want to go there by ourselves. Erlebe helped us plan our transportation and made reservations for private transportation, lodging, and train tickets.
In this manner, we could navigate on our own while yet enjoying some luxury. An employee of a partner agency gave us all of the documentation when we got to Delhi. That makes sense, of course, as we weren't concerned about any of that while we were there.
Navigating the Cities
Our primary mode of transportation within the cities was the motorized rickshaw. Our typical payment was roughly 50 Indian rupees, given the duration of the journey. We also occasionally used cycle rickshaws.
We used the metro to get around Delhi. That is, in theory, incredibly easy and inexpensive: each journey cost about 10 rupees, and tickets were bought at the counter before entering. To get to your goal, you would typically still need to walk a considerable distance. Longer distances can be covered by taxis.
Experiences of Zugfahren Indien
Arriving in Agra 4. A route encompassing India's Golden Triangle
The three most notable locations in northern India can be reached by traveling around the Golden Triangle. The route is always the same in theory; all you have to do is choose which direction to go.
Delhi
Since Delhi is home to India's main airport, most travelers begin their journey around the Golden Triangle here. Despite the fact that Delhi may get extremely busy, we were able to adjust quite well. We advise you to spend three nights or more in Delhi.
For a more thorough travel manual, see Delhi Travel Tips
The Taj Mahal
We took a train from Delhi to Agra. Even though Agra is not particularly beautiful, all roads lead to it due of the Taj Mahal, India's national monument. Three nights is preferable, but two is plenty.
More thorough travel manual: The Taj Mahal at sunrise
Jaipur
Jaipur, popularly referred to as the Pink City, is the third and last destination on the Golden Triangle tour. From Agra, Jaipur is about a five-hour journey away. Make sure to stop at Fatehpur Sikri, and give yourself two or three hours to spend there. We spent two nights in the city of Jaipur. That was plenty of time, but three nights is a better option if you like a more leisurely visit.
A more thorough travel guide: Travel Advice for Jaipur
Experiences in Jaipur
Travel Advice for the Taj Mahal
Sikri Fatipur
Mosque of Fatipur Sikri
Overnight Stay: Lodging in the Golden Triangle
The problem with Indian hotels is that while many of them are extremely affordable, they unquestionably fall short of European standards. Regretfully, a lot of Indian hotels fall short, particularly in terms of cleanliness.
Many hotels in India have a very ostentatious and whimsical decor. You can anticipate an authentic, frequently stunning hotel because many hotels are also heritage hotels. The majority of these hotels are housed in a historic family home.
You should budget between 50 and 70 euros a night (for a double room) if you want a specific caliber of hotel in northern India. Usually, breakfast is included in the cost.
Hotel Advice from Delhi Bungalow 99
Fantastic, contemporary boutique hotel! Very cozy rooms with a lovely design are highly recommended!
The Coral Court Homestay in Agra
Clean, family-run homestay including a rooftop deck and delicious breakfast.
Jaipur's Heritage Pearl Palace: A Boutique Guesthouse
A little cheesy, but unique nonetheless. The rooms have a fantasy-like appearance, like a classic historic hotel.
India Travel Expenses
Money: Indian Currency and Payment Systems
India uses Indian rupees as its currency. Although we've found that most ATMs are broken, there are many of them. We also carried some cash in the form of euros, which we were quite glad to have. In many hotels, exchanging euros for Indian rupees is not an issue. The rate is frequently not the best, though. In most larger restaurants and hotels, credit cards are accepted.
Golden Triangle Travel Expenses
What is the price of … in India?
A comfortable double room costs between 50 and 100 euros a night.
Dinner and drinks in a classy restaurant for two: 600–700 Indian rupees
250 Indian rupees for a beer at a restaurant (alcohol is fairly pricey)
Taj Mahal entrance fee: 1,300 Indian rupees
First-class train fare from Delhi to Agra: around 1,500 Indian rupees
As you can see, India is a fairly affordable place to visit. For exquisite hotels and attractions, you might have to pay a little extra. However, going out to eat and traveling are quite inexpensive.
Take money out of India
Dining and Drinking in the Golden Triangle of India
Rajasthan and northern India have some of the best food in the world. We're sure you'll adore it! Given that India is known for its spicy cuisine, you should let them know when you place your order if you don't enjoy spicy food.
Vegetarian and vegan food abounds in India, where one may get both types of cuisine everywhere. In India, there are also a lot of vegetarian-only eateries.
Our favorite meal is Paneer Makhni. There are several ways to serve paneer, a kind of cream cheese. A creamy tomato sauce that is really delectable is used to cook Shahi Paneer. Of course, the innumerable lentil-based dal dishes are also a highlight. Dal Makhani is a northern Indian specialty that is really tasty.
Ordering a classic or garlic naan bread to go with the different curries and rice is also the finest option. Additionally, I heartily suggest the Thali, which serves a variety of foods in numerous little bowls with bread and rice to go with them.
A word about hygiene in India: It's common knowledge that visiting India can result in gastroenteritis. We were not having any problems in that area, so we are unable to corroborate this. We did, however, pay great attention to what and where we were consuming. We completely avoided eating anything from the street. The truth is that, despite following all precautions, it is regrettably easy to get a stomach illness in India.
Our Top Restaurant Selections
Peacock Rooftop Restaurant: We had three meals at this excellent Jaipur restaurant! Try the Thali! The food is delicious, the ambience is wonderful, and the coffee is excellent as well. You should make a reservation if you arrive in the evening.
Karim's: A popular local eatery in the heart of Delhi, offering excellent and authentic food. That Shahi Paneer is really tasty.
A lovely vegetarian restaurant with a rooftop terrace located in the heart of Agra is called Shankara Vegis Restaurant.
India Thali: Top Jaipur Restaurants Restaurant Advice Jaipur 8. Safety in India: How risk-free is a tour around the Golden Triangle?
Before our journey, we were quite dubious. The numerous unfavorable news stories regarding India caused our stomachs to turn a little. We can promise you that we never felt in danger while in Inia and that we had a positive time.
However, we don't want to minimize the risk, particularly for women who travel alone. Since we felt much safer traveling together, we were thrilled to have this arrangement. There's no doubt that India needs a healthy dose of common sense and caution.
Our specific Safety Advice
We made an effort to avoid going on lone walks in the nights. The majority of crimes happen after dark. We therefore made a concerted effort to avoid going out in the evenings. You want to go out to eat, of course. It was always a taxi ride for those distances. Booking the taxi through your lodging is the best option.
It is advised that all women dress appropriately. Kathi was always good at hiding things. We can advise against wearing low-cut tops, baggy apparel, and long pants. Ideally, you should always carry a thick scarf that you can throw over your shoulders as needed.
Regrettably, India maintains a strong patriarchal system. As a result, there are far more men than women on the street. There are moments when men are too close. In India, people have a different perspective on distance; that is, when you are conversing with someone, there is typically not much physical separation between you. You should use extra caution as a woman to avoid getting too close to other men. You can and ought to convey this in a confident, unambiguous manner.
Even with your modest attire, you still need to adapt to how other guys perceive you. There are also those that will attempt to sneak photos of you. Some, though, won't make an attempt to conceal it.
Traveling with a private driver is highly recommended if you feel extremely unsafe.
India's Clothes Woman
Taking Pictures in India
For those who enjoy photography, India's Golden Triangle is a photographers' heaven. Apart from the numerous magnificent structures and mansions, the people themselves provide for an incredibly captivating subject for photographs. There are instances when you have to pay extra to use your camera at the entrance to different sites.
We constantly get permission before taking a picture of someone. The best person to choose is someone you already sort of know, like your rickshaw driver or a merchant. Very few individuals will refuse your request if you ask nicely. (A very small percentage will decline.)
