7 Days Golden Triangle Plus — Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Ranthambhore

The "Golden Triangle" (Delhi → Agra → Jaipur → Delhi) is the standard first-time India trip — three cities, a clear route, India's three most famous monuments (Taj Mahal, Amber Fort, Qutb Minar / Red Fort), and a tourism infrastructure that makes it easy to do without speaking the language. The "Plus" extension below adds two nights at Ranthambhore National Park between Agra and Jaipur for a real chance at seeing a tiger in the wild — an extension that turns the 5-day classic into a more rounded 7-day trip.

At a glance

• Total days: 7 (6 nights)
• Distance: ~1,300 km loop (Delhi → Agra → Ranthambhore → Jaipur → Delhi)
• Best season: October–March. April–June is hot (40+ °C in all three cities); July–September is monsoon.
• Visa: standard tourist e-Visa works fine.
• Permits: none required, but Ranthambhore safaris must be pre-booked.

Day 1 — Delhi: Old Delhi and New Delhi

Arrive Delhi (most international flights land in the morning at IGI Terminal 3). Drop bags at your hotel and split the day between the Mughal old city and the colonial-era core.

• Morning / midday: Old Delhi — start at Jama Masjid (India's largest mosque, 1656); cycle-rickshaw or walk through Chandni Chowk, the legendary Old Delhi bazaar; lunch at Karim's (the famous Mughlai restaurant near Jama Masjid) or one of the lanes off Chandni Chowk.
• Afternoon: Red Fort (Lal Qila) — Shah Jahan's 1648 capital fort. Allow 2 hours for the Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, and the museum.
• Evening: India Gate at sunset, then dinner in Khan Market or Connaught Place.

If jet-lag is overwhelming, skip the Red Fort and do it on Day 2 morning before driving to Agra.

Day 2 — Delhi to Agra (via Qutb Minar)

A morning sight in Delhi before the drive south.

• Morning: Qutb Minar (UNESCO, 1199, India's tallest brick minaret) and the surrounding Mehrauli archaeological park — about an hour.
• Late morning: drive to Agra via the Yamuna Expressway (200 km, ~3 hours). Lunch on the way or in Agra.
• Afternoon: Agra Fort (UNESCO) — the Mughal fort that overlooks the Taj across the river. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
• Evening: sunset view of the Taj from Mehtab Bagh across the river — the photographer's classic angle, especially in the late-afternoon golden light.

Day 3 — Taj Mahal sunrise, Fatehpur Sikri, drive to Ranthambhore

The big day — and a long one.

• Pre-dawn: Taj Mahal at sunrise (gates open at sunrise; the marble takes the early light beautifully). Buy tickets online ahead of time. Allow 2.5–3 hours including the queue.
• Late morning: drive to Fatehpur Sikri (UNESCO, 40 km west of Agra) — the briefly-occupied Mughal capital built by Akbar in 1571. The complex is huge but accessible in 1.5 hours.
• Lunch: in Fatehpur Sikri or back on the road.
• Afternoon: continue to Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambhore), 280 km / 5 hours from Fatehpur Sikri. Arrive late evening; book a hotel in the Sherpur or Khilchipur area near the park gate.

Day 4 — Ranthambhore: morning and afternoon safaris

A full day at Ranthambhore National Park — the headline reason for the "Plus" extension.

• Pre-dawn: morning safari — the park opens around 06:30 in winter. Pre-booked Gypsy or Canter (open jeep) safari, 3–3.5 hours.
• Late morning: breakfast and rest at the hotel.
• Afternoon: second safari at 14:30 (3 hours). The park is divided into 10 zones; zones 2, 3 and 4 around the lakes have historically been the best for tiger sightings.
• Evening: dinner at the hotel. Most tigers in Ranthambhore have names and known territories; ask your driver about recent sightings.

Day 5 — Sawai Madhopur to Jaipur

A short driving day with an optional morning safari before you leave.

• Pre-dawn (optional): one more morning safari if you didn't see a tiger on Day 4 (or even if you did).
• Late morning: drive to Jaipur (180 km, ~3.5 hours).
• Afternoon: check in. Walk Johari Bazaar in the old "Pink City" walled town for jewellery and bandhani textiles.
• Evening: dinner at Suvarna Mahal (Rambagh Palace) for a heritage-hotel experience, or Chokhi Dhani for a Rajasthani village-themed dinner.

Day 6 — Jaipur: Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal

The full Jaipur day.

• Morning: Amber Fort (Amer) — the hilltop Rajput palace 11 km north. Take the open jeep up, or walk. The elephant rides up are widely controversial and best avoided. Allow 2.5 hours.
• Late morning: Jal Mahal — the lake-palace photo stop on the way back into the city.
• Lunch: at LMB in Johari Bazaar (a 1727-vintage Rajasthani sweet shop and restaurant) or Niros in MI Road.
• Afternoon: City Palace (the Maharaja's residence and museum), Jantar Mantar (Jai Singh's 18th-century astronomical observatory, UNESCO), and a photo stop at Hawa Mahal (the iconic five-storey latticed façade — best from the street rather than inside).
• Evening: sunset at Nahargarh Fort above the city for the Pink City panorama, or a Rajasthani folk-dance show.

Day 7 — Jaipur to Delhi

Half day in Jaipur if there's anything left, then return.

• Morning: if not already done, the Albert Hall Museum (the Indo-Saracenic central museum), a hammam at one of the heritage hotels, or shopping at Anokhi for Rajasthani block prints.
• Afternoon: drive back to Delhi (270 km, ~5 hours via the new expressway). Or take the Shatabdi Express train (4.5 hours).
• Evening: Delhi airport for departure, or one final night in Delhi.

Practical notes

• Taj Mahal tickets: book online via the ASI portal in advance. The foreign-tourist ticket includes a small bottle of water and shoe covers. The Taj is closed on Fridays.
• Ranthambhore safari booking: opens 90 days in advance via the Rajasthan Forest Department portal. Book as early as you can — peak-season slots fill within minutes of opening. A registered tour operator can handle the booking for a small fee.
• Hotels: all three cities have accommodation at every level. Heritage hotels (Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, Oberoi Amarvilas with its Taj-view rooms in Agra, ITC Maurya in Delhi) are at the top end; mid-range and budget options are abundant.
• Driver vs train: the Delhi–Agra–Jaipur triangle is well-served by trains (Gatimaan Express Delhi–Agra in 100 minutes; Jaipur–Delhi in 4.5 hours). For Ranthambhore, you need a car or a train to Sawai Madhopur. A car-and-driver for the whole 7 days is the easiest option for first-time visitors.
• Heat: the temperature jump from October to April is huge. Plan around the season.

Variations

• 5 days (classic Golden Triangle): drop the two Ranthambhore nights and go Delhi → Agra → Jaipur → Delhi.
• 10 days: add Pushkar (the lakeside pilgrimage town with India's only major Brahma temple, 145 km from Jaipur) and Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (the Keoladeo Ghana wetland, near Agra — a UNESCO Ramsar site, especially good in winter).
• 14 days: continue from Jaipur into the Rajasthan desert circuit — see our 7 Days in the Rajasthan Desert → for that section.

Related guides

• Agra travel guide →
• Taj Mahal Entrance Fee →
• Jaipur travel guide →
• Delhi travel guide →
• All India Travel Itineraries →