NRI tour · 9 days · Delhi to Ayodhya

NRI Golden Triangle & Ayodhya Tour: 9 Days from Delhi to Ram Mandir

A private nine-day journey for NRI, PIO and OCI families: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur for the great monuments, then a short flight to Ayodhya for Ram Mandir darshan, Hanuman Garhi and an evening on the Saryu. Your own vehicle, a licensed guide in every city, and a pace that leaves room for prayer, rest and jet lag.

  • 9 days / 8 nights
  • Delhi · Agra · Jaipur · Ayodhya
  • Private vehicle & guides
  • Best: October to March

Last reviewed November 2026 · Planned by the Prime Value Tours team in Varanasi

  • Govt. of India approved
  • IATO member
  • Trusted since 1999
  • Private tours only

This tour covers Delhi (3 nights), Agra (1), Jaipur (2) and Ayodhya (2) in nine days. You travel by private AC vehicle through the Golden Triangle, then fly from Delhi to Ayodhya. Ayodhya comes last on purpose: you meet the monuments while your energy is high, and reach the temple town once your body clock has settled.

It suits first-time visitors, couples, and families with teenagers or grandparents, and it extends easily to Varanasi.

Duration9 days, 8 nights
RouteDelhi 2N → Agra 1N → Jaipur 2N → Delhi 1N → Ayodhya 2N
TransportPrivate AC vehicle on the road legs; domestic flight Delhi to Ayodhya
GuidesLicensed English-speaking guides in each city; Hindi on request
Hotels4-star as standard; heritage and 5-star on request
Best monthsOctober to March
PriceOn request. Written quote within 24 hours
Route at a glance

Four cities, one flight

  1. Delhi2 nights
  2. Agra1 night
  3. Jaipur2 nights
  4. Delhi1 night
  5. Ayodhya2 nights, by air
Day by day

Your 9-day itinerary

Every day is written to be adjusted. Tell us your arrival time and we will re-cut the plan around it.

Day01

Arrive in Delhi, and do almost nothing

Overnight: Delhi

Your driver meets you at Indira Gandhi International Airport with a name board. Long-haul flights often land in the small hours, so we can book your room from the night before, letting you lie down at 5 a.m. instead of waiting for a noon check-in. The rest of the day is free. If you feel strong by evening, a short drive past India Gate when it is lit is plenty.

  • Airport meet-and-greet
  • Optional early room
  • Rest day
Day02

Delhi: Mughal tombs and a Swaminarayan temple

Overnight: Delhi

Morning at Humayun’s Tomb, the garden tomb whose design foreshadowed the Taj, and the Qutub Minar complex. After lunch we visit Swaminarayan Akshardham, a favourite with diaspora families. It is closed on Mondays and keeps phones, cameras and other electronics outside, so we plan locker time and about three hours. On a Monday we swap it for Lakshmi Narayan (Birla) Mandir and Bangla Sahib Gurudwara.

  • Humayun’s Tomb
  • Qutub Minar
  • Akshardham
  • Temple visit
Day03

Delhi to Agra: the fort, then the Taj across the river

Overnight: Agra

Drive south on the Yamuna Expressway, about three and a half to four hours. After lunch we visit Agra Fort, the red sandstone palace-fortress above the Yamuna. At sunset we cross to Mehtab Bagh, the garden on the opposite bank, where the Taj Mahal glows in softening light without the crowds of the main gate.

The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. If your Taj morning would fall on a Friday, we visit it on the afternoon of Day 3 instead.

  • Agra Fort
  • Mehtab Bagh sunset
Day04

Sunrise at the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, then Jaipur

Agra to Jaipur · Overnight: Jaipur

Be at the Taj when it opens. The marble turns from grey to rose to white, and the queues have not formed. After breakfast, drive to Jaipur, about five hours with a stop at Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar’s red-sandstone capital, abandoned within years of its completion. You reach the Pink City by early evening.

  • Taj Mahal sunrise
  • Fatehpur Sikri
  • Drive about 5 hours
Day05

Jaipur: Amber Fort, City Palace and an evening aarti

Overnight: Jaipur

Go up to Amber Fort early, before the tour buses; ask us for a jeep or the walk up rather than an elephant ride. Then the City Palace, the Govind Dev Ji Krishna temple beside the palace gardens, the Jantar Mantar observatory and a photo stop at the Hawa Mahal façade. In the evening the white-marble Laxmi Narayan (Birla) Mandir is calm and good for aarti, and the bazaars are best for block-printed textiles and jewellery.

  • Amber Fort
  • City Palace
  • Jantar Mantar
  • Birla Mandir
  • Bazaars
Day06

Jaipur to Delhi: the flat day before the flight

Overnight: Delhi

A five-to-six-hour drive, about 270 km, back to Delhi with lunch on the way. Treat the evening as your pause: repack, buy gifts at Dilli Haat, a government-run crafts bazaar, or simply sleep. Tomorrow starts with an airport.

  • Road leg
  • Gift shopping
  • Repack
Day07

Fly to Ayodhya: Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhavan and the Saryu aarti

Overnight: Ayodhya

A flight of about an hour and twenty minutes lands at Ayodhya’s Maharishi Valmiki International Airport. After check-in we visit Hanuman Garhi, the hilltop temple that is traditionally a pilgrim’s first stop, and Kanak Bhavan, the palace temple of Sita and Ram. As dusk falls we go to the Saryu riverfront for the evening aarti.

Direct Delhi–Ayodhya flights are limited, so we confirm seats at booking. If your date has none, we route via Lucknow and drive about three hours.

  • Delhi–Ayodhya flight
  • Hanuman Garhi
  • Kanak Bhavan
  • Saryu aarti
Day08

Ram Mandir darshan and a slow Ayodhya day

Overnight: Ayodhya

Darshan at the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir at your booked slot. Passes are issued against ID and security is strict, so we brief you the evening before on dress, what to leave at the hotel and where to queue. Afterwards, Dashrath Mahal and Nageshwarnath Temple, then a long rest. Swaminarayan devotees can add a half-day to Chhapaiya, the birthplace of Bhagwan Swaminarayan in neighbouring Gonda district.

  • Ram Janmabhoomi
  • Dashrath Mahal
  • Nageshwarnath
  • Optional: Chhapaiya
Day09

Departure

Ayodhya

Transfer to Ayodhya airport for your flight to Delhi, or drive to Lucknow, about three hours, for onward connections. Keep five to six hours between a domestic landing and an international departure, or ask us to add a Delhi night.

  • Airport transfer
Why this order

Monuments first, Ayodhya last

Energy curve

Delhi, Agra and Jaipur ask for long days on your feet and early starts, and they land best in the first week. Ayodhya rewards a rested mind: a darshan slot, queues and security checks.

Jet lag

Day 1 is intentionally empty. Most body clocks settle by day 3, which is when the early starts begin.

A flight, not a highway

Delhi to Ayodhya by road takes most of a day. A short flight gives that day back to your family.

A natural extension

Ayodhya is in Uttar Pradesh, about 200 km from Varanasi, which is our home city. Adding the ghats and Sarnath is simple.

Extend it

Add days without redoing the plan

Varanasi, +3 nights

Drive Ayodhya to Varanasi in four to five hours for the dawn boat ride, Kashi Vishwanath, Sarnath and Ganga Aarti. See our Varanasi, Ayodhya & Prayagraj tour.

Haridwar & Rishikesh, +3 nights

Begin with the Ganga at the foothills before the Golden Triangle. This is our 13-day spiritual circuit.

Mathura–Vrindavan, +1 day

A day trip or overnight from Agra for Krishna’s birthplace and the temples of Vrindavan.

Short on leave?

See the 7-day express route, with honest notes on what it costs you.

Where you stay

Hotel style by city

CityNightsStandard stayUpgrade option
Delhi34-star, near the airport or in South Delhi5-star or boutique hotel
Agra14-star, Taj-view rooms where availableLuxury hotel with Taj-facing rooms
Jaipur2Central 4-star with a poolHeritage palace hotel
Ayodhya24-star close to the temple, vegetarian diningBest available premium; options are limited, so we book early

Hotel names are confirmed in your written quote. We check each property before recommending it.

What’s covered

Inclusions & exclusions

Included

  • 8 nights in hotels, twin or family room, with daily breakfast
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for all road legs, with tolls and parking
  • Licensed English-speaking guides in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Ayodhya (Hindi on request)
  • Entry tickets for the monuments listed in the itinerary
  • Domestic flight Delhi to Ayodhya, quoted at the fare on your date
  • Airport meet-and-greet and transfers
  • Guidance on Ram Mandir darshan and aarti passes (you supply ID details)
  • 24/7 WhatsApp support from our Varanasi team

Not included

  • International flights
  • Indian visa or e-Visa fee, where required
  • Lunches and dinners unless stated in your quote
  • Room from the night before for early arrivals (quoted as an option)
  • Tips for guides and drivers
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Special pujas, camera fees and optional activities
  • Single-room supplement and personal expenses
When to go

Best time for this route

MonthsConditionsOur advice
October–NovemberWarm days, cool evenings; festival seasonBest overall. Book flights and hotels early for Diwali week.
December–JanuaryCold mornings in Delhi, Agra and Ayodhya; fog likelyGood for sightseeing. Allow buffer for fog delays and pack layers.
February–MarchClear and pleasant; Holi in MarchExcellent. Holi can close shops and crowd roads on the day.
April–JuneHot; 40°C and above in RajasthanPossible with early starts and a midday rest, but hard on grandparents.
July–SeptemberMonsoon rain and humidityGreener and quieter, but expect disruptions and slow roads.
Before you fly

Documents and passes

Indian passport

No visa needed. Carry the passport for hotel check-in and temple passes.

OCI cardholder

Travel on your OCI card with your foreign passport. Carry both; hotels and darshan passes ask for ID.

Foreign passport, no OCI

Apply for an Indian e-Visa on the official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, well before travel. Check current validity and processing times.

Ram Mandir passes

Passes are tied to ID. Share each traveller’s ID details at booking so we can guide you through the temple trust’s official registration.

FAQ

NRI Golden Triangle & Ayodhya tour: common questions

How many days do I need for the Golden Triangle with Ayodhya?

Nine days gives a relaxed pace: three nights in Delhi (two at the start, one before your flight), one in Agra, two in Jaipur and two in Ayodhya. Seven days is possible with longer driving days; see our 7-day express route.

How do I get from Delhi to Ayodhya?

By air. Direct flights between Delhi and Ayodhya (Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, code AYJ) take about 1 hour 20 minutes, though schedules are limited and change. If there is no suitable flight, we fly you to Lucknow (LKO) and drive about three hours. By road from Delhi it takes most of a day.

Do I need to book Ram Mandir darshan in advance?

Plan to. The temple trust runs a pass and slot system, and rules, timings and ID requirements can change. We guide you through registration, confirm the current rules before your travel date and brief you the evening before darshan.

Is this tour suitable for elderly parents?

Yes, with adjustments. The longest drives are Agra to Jaipur and Jaipur to Delhi. We can split them, add a night, choose hotels with lifts and keep Ayodhya to short walking distances. See our family tour for detail.

Is the food vegetarian?

We plan vegetarian restaurants as standard on this route and can arrange Jain, sattvic and mild-spice meals. Tell us about allergies when you enquire so each kitchen is briefed.

What is the best time of year?

October to March. In December and January allow for fog; from April to June Rajasthan is very hot.

Can we add Varanasi or Haridwar?

Yes. Ayodhya to Varanasi is about 200 km, four to five hours by road. Haridwar and Rishikesh fit before the Golden Triangle. Our 13-day circuit shows how.

How much does the tour cost?

Price is on request because it depends on travel dates, number of travellers, hotel category and the Delhi–Ayodhya flight. Message us and you will receive a written quote within 24 hours.

Ready to plan your Golden Triangle and Ayodhya journey?

Send your dates and who is travelling. You will hear back from the Varanasi team with a written plan within 24 hours.