Golden Triangle Drive
Road trip · Delhi → Delhi (loop via Agra & Jaipur)
India's most popular touring circuit links three of the north's great cities — Delhi, Agra and Jaipur — in a loop of about 720 km. Fast expressways connect them, so the driving is …
Best season
October to March
Duration
5–6 days
Distance
~720 km
Ideal vehicle
Any car; a comfortable sedan or SUV is ideal for the highways.
The route
5 stops along the drive.
- 1Delhi
Start in the capital; take the Yamuna Expressway south to Agra.
- 2Agra
The Taj Mahal and Agra Fort — go early to beat the crowds.
- 3Fatehpur Sikri
The 16th-century Mughal ghost-city on the road toward Jaipur.
- 4Jaipur
Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal and the bazaars.
- 5Delhi
Return to the capital to close the loop.
Overview
India's most popular touring circuit links three of the north's great cities — Delhi, Agra and Jaipur — in a loop of about 720 km. Fast expressways connect them, so the driving is easy and the distances short, leaving time for the Taj Mahal, the forts and palaces of Jaipur, and the ghost-city of Fatehpur Sikri. It is the classic first road trip in India, and a good introduction to Mughal and Rajput history.
Highlights
The Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Jaipur's Amber Fort, City Palace and Hawa Mahal.
Road conditions
Excellent — the Yamuna Expressway (Delhi–Agra) and the Delhi–Jaipur highway are wide, multi-lane toll roads; only the city centres and Fatehpur Sikri approach get congested.
Driving tips
Book monument tickets online to skip queues, and reach the Taj Mahal and Amber Fort early to beat the heat and crowds. Keep small change for tolls, avoid driving into the walled old-city cores, and hire local guides at the major sites.