Delhi to Agra then Jaipur

I'm going to be in Delhi from 6-13 Jan 2006. I want to go to agra for a day then spend a few days in Jaipur within this period. I'm going crazy reading stuff on the internet - theres so much info to take in! Can anyone advise me on the best way to go from delhi to agra to jaipur? Thank you x

You can catch a train to both Jaipur and Agra. To Jaipur is 5,5 hours. I should say that it would be a good idea to make it a daytrip to Agra from delhi (as the shatabdi exp. takes you only in 2 hours). Agra is not a pleasant place to stay because its a black-hole (in exception of Taj-Mahal). Have a nice time there....

Click on the 'Train Information' link below, listed in that thread are links to many train routes including Delhi - Agra - Delhi, Agra - Jaipur - Agra, and Jaipur - Delhi - Jaipur, train times and costs are detailed.

Would you guys cosider this "golden triangle" one of the most tourist-oriented routes, obscured by tourist traps and too many tourists?

I ask because,
soon is my first time arival in Delhi, and I was planning on doing this exact route, to start my adventure with.

If you mean western tourists you dont see many of them in proportion to the population , at least i didn't when i was there - its not like going to say the effeil tower or times square where tourists outnumber locals

Tourist traps: if you mean touts ect yes they all over you in Jaipur...Delhi not so much except in the train station in my personal experience.

I did a day trip to agra and then went to Jaipur via the 600 am (or something) train - i found it a nice trainride once you get an hour or so away from delhi the country really opens up and you see a lot.

Thank you Mca2005, for the quick reply.
I dont mean to hijack this thread, however fruitloop and I are going to be in Delhi at the EXACT same time! That is Jan 13th.
(again, traveling the same route!)

Fruitloop,
have you checked out the LP 2005 edition? It has great information on how to travel about in each particular city.

So I hear Rajasthan is the "most touristy state in India", so naturally, Jaipur will be the "capital of tourism"...
However, I am sure tourism and consequencial touirst traps, groups of westerners, tourism-geard-everything, reflects the season....

So when Fruitloop and I are in this "golden triangle" around Jan13,
what are we to except?

Thanks for the speedy replies - my first time one one of these sites, can't believe how helpful people are!
I'm going to go to agra early in the morning, spend the day there and then either stay a night and leave early for jaipur - or head out to jaipur the same evening. From what I've read there seems to be a 50/50 split between those saying trains are better and those saying cars. My instinct is to go for car because although trains seem cheaper individually, there are three of us and so the difference is not that great.
I'm slightly worried about keeping the costs down because i'm actually flying in from mumbai on the 6th Jan and am thinking of booking into a cheap hotel in delhi to use as a base - i dont fancy lugging my baggage around agra and jaipur and i dont think a taxi will be able to take three suitcases... but it seems like a waste of money to be paying for a room in delhi and one whilst we're staying in jaipur too. Any ideas - do hotels allow guests who will be staying with them in a few days time let them leave baggage in a storage room?

some hotels do some don't also the train stations have storage - but it isnt' teh most secure thing i have seen - i was iffy about leaving my bags there a few hours...
if there are three of you you may consider hiring a driver - somettimes it can be something like forty-fifty dollars a day - in jaipur btw, i highly recommend the pearl palace - others here have had great experiences there tooo - and LP recommends it... i wouldn't worry too much about luggage - porters are cheap and abundant in train stations...

My 2nd class ac (quite comforatable) train ticket to Jaipur from Delhi was 11.68 US one way (sorry I dont have the rupee amount its from my cc statement) you can book online also (see other threads about that) for things like agra - the train is faster than driving so unless there is something you'd like to see along the way the train is probably the way to go...

If you look like a Tourist and Act like a tourist then you'll be the big attraction for every tourist tout in town,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

True and very wise words

Trains or buses are always preferable. Trainticket from Delhi to Jaipur (5,5 hours) is only 77 rupees (um 1,5 euro). If you want to keep costs down....take the train and meet other Indians....(atleast no touts in trains)....

So true, I visited Jaipur a few years ago, (arrived Mumbai, went to Ranthambhore then to Jaipur), It felt like I was hounded by touts in some parts of Jaipur, I was still a relative newby to India and didn't really know how to handle the touts.

I went back to Jaipur last year, this time I was at the end of a 5 week trip, I asked my hotel manager why I wasn't getting ANY hassle from the touts, he said that I looked very comfortable with India so the touts know they would be wasting their time with you.

I therefore think that Agra/Jaipur may be better enjoyed towards the end of a trip.


For foreign tourists, but absolutely not for Indian tourists, and to put things into perspective, Indian tourists outnumber foreign tourists by about 20 to 1. (if not more)

Hi, I would like to suggest you that take taxi from Delhi, so you can visit Fatehpur Sikri and Bharatpur (Bird Sanctuary) while driving from Agra to Jaipur. Have a nice time in India.

Agra is not so grim as most posters make out.

We spent three full days there last December. The Taj is, of course, the main attraction -- and we visited it each day, at different times, to enjoy its changing colors. Early morning was best: we had the place almost to ourselves.

In addition to the Taj, the Fort is worth a long exploration; the "Baby Taj" across the river is interesting; and Akhbar's tomb, a bit outside the city is beautiful. Additionally, Fatehpur Sikri -- an hour or so away -- is endlessly fascinating.

Shopping is good in Agra, too; and we were little bothered by touts.