Golden Triangle Tour (Delhi - Agra - Jaipur)

Even after being a Delhiite I never got the privilege of exploring the treasures of Delhi until a foreign friend from Chicago, USA asked me to accompany her for a Golden Triangle Tour. 

She had come to India in a student foreign exchange programme for 3 months and due to pressure of studies couldn’t travel much around India. But after her final submission she had one week left for her flight back to Chicago, when she requested me to join her for the Golden Triangle Tour which would include Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

As we had developed a strong bond of friendship over a short span of time, I couldn’t deny her and took along other two friends of mine and prepared for the Golden Triangle Tour for next 6 days.

We started with sightseeing old Delhi which is considered to be the heart of Delhi. We departed early morning to satisfy our taste buds with Parathas of popular Gali Paranthe Wali in Chandni Chowk, then routed to the interiors of Chandni Chowk to see the hidden gems of Delhi. 

We walked to Mirza Ghalib ki Haveli in Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk which reserves some of the belongings of Ghalib (eminent Urdu & Persian poet) then took rickshaws to reach Red fort, and later to Jama Masjid. The scent of fuming kebabs and fried chicken hauled us to AL Jawahar Restaurant to refill our stomachs.

The following day we visited Gandhi’s Samadhi at Raj Ghat, India Gate, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar and at last Purana Qila.

Our next destination was Agra which was 200km and nearly 4 hours (by road) away from Delhi. After reaching to Agra, we wasted no time in delighting our eyes with the view of Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Other siting at Agra were Sheesh Mahal and Shah Burj in Agra Fort, Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, Jama Masjid of Agra, Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity, Dayal Bagh, and in the end Fatehpur Sikri.

Moving ahead in our Golden Triangle Tour, we left for Jaipur by road. It took us 5 hours and 242km drive to reach the pink city of India.

My father had guided me specifically for sites to travel in Jaipur and I used his guidance precisely. We started with Amber Fort and Palace which locates amidst the Aravalli Hills, followed by Hawa Mahal. Hawa Palace was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1798 in such a way that regardless of any time or season of the year, cool wind always makes its course inside the palace.

Our next stops in Jaipur were Jal Mahal, Rambagh Palace, Nahargarh Fort, Galta Monkey Temple and Birla Mandir.

My favorite spot remained Jal Mahal which is located in the center of Man Sagar Lake. It is a five-storey building; however, when the lake is full, its four storeys stay underwater.

The last day we kept particularly for shopping at Johari Bazar, Bapu Bazar and Mirza Ismial Road. We bought jewelry, Jaipuri footwear’s and some showpieces of blue pottery.

Promptly after stuffing our bags with Jaipuri goods we left for Delhi, giving an end to our Golden Triangle Tour.