The Golden Triangle & The Golden Temple, India

I created this once-in-a-lifetime holiday itinerary myself, covering the iconic Golden Triangle route (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur) with a final stop in Amritsar to see the Golden Temple. I travelled with my son and daughter, and together we experienced culture, chaos, beauty, and peace in equal measure.

Delhi - 3 Nights

Our first stop was Delhi, where we stayed at The Hotel Shandon. It was about a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute rickshaw ride to Connaught Place. The rickshaws were always our preferred way to get around. The hotel room was clean, spacious enough for the three of us, and the staff were friendly and polite. Just behind the hotel was a night market that sold fresh fruit, vegetables, spices, groceries, and street food.

Rickshaws are the most affordable and adventurous way to travel in India. I recommend trying them at least once because they are part of the experience. My partner, who didn’t come with us, is a huge cricket fan, so I picked up an official India cricketer’s jersey for him while we were in the city.

The sites we visited in Delhi included:

• Shri Laxmi Narayan Temple

• Gurdwara Bangla Sahib

• Rashtrapati Bhavan

• Kartavya Path

• India Gate

• Qutub Minar

• Lotus Temple

• Raj Ghat Memorial

• Humayun’s Tomb

• Red Fort

• Delhi Gate

• Lahori Gate

• Chandni Chowk

• Akshardham Temple

Agra - 2 Nights

In Agra, we stayed at The Taj Hotel & Resort. The hotel was okay, although we experienced a lot of mosquitoes, and our room was close to the lift so it was quite noisy. The restaurant food wasn’t to my taste, and although there was a pool, we didn’t use it as it felt too exposed being overlooked by diners upstairs.

The biggest advantage of the hotel was its location. It was only about a 10-minute walk to the East Gate of the Taj Mahal. We used rickshaws throughout our stay again, which was great for navigating the crowded streets. One highlight was visiting a popular street food area called Chaat Gali.

The sites we visited in Agra included:

• Taj Mahal

• Mehtab Bagh

• Agra Fort

• Red Fort of Agra

• Itmad-ud-Daula (Baby Taj)

• I Love Agra viewpoint

• The Red Taj

• Kanch Mahal

• Tomb of Akbar

• Sikandra Fort

• Gurudwara Guru ka Taal

Jaipur - 2 Nights

Our final stop in the Golden Triangle was Jaipur, also known as the Pink City because many of the buildings are painted in pink tones. We stayed at the Ramada by Wyndham. The hotel was very comfortable with clean, spacious rooms, friendly staff, air conditioning, and large windows with street views.

The highlight in Jaipur was an elephant experience at a sanctuary where we spent time with Laddu, a female elephant. We got to feed her, walk with her, learn some of the words she understood, paint on her (safely), and ride her. The elephants are well cared for and are often decorated for wedding events.

The sites we visited in Jaipur included:

• Jal Mahal

• Amber Fort

• Amber Palace

• Birla Mandir

• Hanuman Temple (with monkeys)

• Monkey Temple

• Hawa Mahal

• Jantar Mantar

• The City Palace

• Albert Hall Museum

• Bapu Bazaar shopping area

Amritsar – 1 Night

Our final destination was Amritsar, home to the breathtaking Golden Temple. Staying here was a dream come true. We booked a room at The Savode Hotel. Although the location wasn't ideal as it was under a flyover and along a busy road, the rooms were clean and spacious and the on-site restaurant served delicious food.

It was about a 15-minute walk to the Golden Temple square, which was filled with small shops, stalls, monuments, and lots of local life. We tried the local food and bargained our way through the market in the afternoon heat, which was tiring but fun.

The sites we visited in Amritsar included:

• Jallianwala Bagh

• Martyrs’ Sculpture

• The Golden Temple
  

Final Thoughts

This trip offered an amazing mix of culture, history, spirituality, and unforgettable experiences. Each city had its own vibe and charm, and travelling with my children made it even more meaningful. If you are thinking about visiting India, the Golden Triangle with a stop in Amritsar is a brilliant introduction to everything the country has to offer.