Are you planning a trip across the gorgeous and very popular Golden Triangle in India? This one is a very common trip from Delhi, to Agra to Jaipur. It has marvelous and huge forts, delicious food, and perfect bazaars to shop. Planning a trip is one thing but how much does a trip to the Golden Triangle actually cost?
It truly depends on you. You could travel cheap and survive on ₹50 samosas and zostels. Or you travel in style, ride in a private taxi, check in the palace hotels, and drink. Both kinds of budgets are possible.
So let’s see how you can travel cheap and yet have the most amount of fun during this trip. If you’re backpacking, you can get by on around ₹1,000–₹1,500 a day. This will include a place to stay, food, and basic transport. Hostels are everywhere and also quite popular among the youth. You can find amazing hotels, with great amenities and a community with rooftop cafés, Wi-Fi, even yoga in the morning. You can find decent rooms for ₹500–₹700.
Best travel tips
Food Budget for the trip
Now India is a heaven if you love eating but on a budget. Whether it is a hot thali (a proper meal with rice, dal, veg, and roti) or something indo Chinese food or a plate of Biryani, these meals might set you back ₹120. The best part about Indian transport is how cost effective and fast it is and saves a lot of time.
Hotels for tour
Now, if you want to travel with comfort, your own bathroom, you’ll find cute boutique hotels or clean 3-star spots for ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 a night. You will get basic amenities such as air conditioning and breakfast buffet. For food, restaurants in Delhi’s Connaught Place or Jaipur’s old city charge ₹300–₹1500 for a good meal.
Here instead of hopping trains or buses, you can hire a driver for the entire Golden Triangle tour. It’s surprisingly affordable when you split it between two or three people roughly ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 for the whole trip, car and driver included.
When it comes to Golden Triangle tour cost, the mid-tier is a sweet spot that will cost around₹25,000 to ₹35,000 for a week, which will cover hotels, transport, sightseeing, and food.
But hey, what if you’re not worried about rupees and really want to treat yourself? That’s where the Golden Triangle luxury tour comes in.
And it’s a whole different vibe.
We’re talking palace hotels in Jaipur, candle-lit dinners near the Taj, and waking up in a suite where maharajas once slept. Places like Rambagh Palace or The Oberoi Amarvilas don’t just give you a room, they give you an experience. Prices? ₹15,000 to ₹50,000 per night. But people don’t book these places for savings, they book for stories.
Then there’s transport. Forget buses. Luxury travellers either hire premium SUVs with private chauffeurs or ride one of India’s grand luxury trains like the Palace on Wheels. That train alone is a journey worth taking, with plush cabins, personal butlers, and curated excursions in each city.
Dining takes another leap too. Fancy rooftop restaurants in Jaipur serve Rajasthani thalis under the stars, and five-course meals with wine pairings are easy to find in Delhi’s luxury hotels. At this level, expect to spend around ₹2,000–₹3,000 per meal.
All in, a Golden Triangle luxury tour will likely cost between ₹60,000 and ₹1.5 lakh per person for a 6–7 day itinerary. That covers five-star stays, private drivers, fine dining, guided tours, and a whole lot of pampering.
Now, you might be wondering what’s the catch? Where do the hidden costs sneak in?
Good question. One thing most travellers forget to factor into their Golden Triangle tour cost is monument entry fees. Foreigners pay significantly more than locals. For example, visiting the Taj Mahal costs ₹1,300 if you’re not from India, and that doesn’t include the extra ₹200 to access the main mausoleum.
Then there’s tipping. It’s not mandatory, but it’s expected. Drivers, porters, guides they all appreciate a little extra. It adds up.
And don’t forget shopping. The Golden Triangle is a trap in the best way for people who love textiles, jewellery, or antiques. Jaipur’s markets are full of hand-printed fabrics, silver, and pottery. Agra has marble inlay work that’s hard to resist. Even if you tell yourself, “I won’t buy anything,” you’ll probably leave with an extra bag.
Which option is right for you?
If you love the energy of the streets, don’t mind a bit of dust, and want the most bang for your buck, budget travel in India is your playground. It’s chaotic, colorful, and full of surprises. And you’ll have stories that no luxury hotel can buy.
If you’re looking for ease, maybe travelling with parents or a partner, then mid-range gives you the best of both worlds. A private driver, clean hotels, some local flavour, and not too many headaches.
But if you’re here to celebrate or just love being spoiled, the luxury route won’t disappoint. And let’s be real: there’s nothing like drinking chai on a marble terrace while the sun rises over the Taj.
At the end of the day, the Golden Triangle isn’t about how much you spend. It’s about how deeply you dive into the experience. Whether you spend ₹15,000 or ₹1.5 lakh, the magic of Delhi’s streets, Agra’s romance, and Jaipur’s royalty will still find you.
Just choose your pace, pack your curiosity, and let the journey take care of the rest.
