Overview
India is less a single destination than a continent's worth of them, and trying to see "India" in one trip is the most common mistake. The classic first route is the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra and Jaipur), which fits into a week and can be extended into Rajasthan's desert cities or down to Varanasi on the Ganges. The south, from Kerala's backwaters to Tamil Nadu's temple towns, is calmer and makes an excellent second trip, or a combination if you have three weeks.
Main regions
Delhi and the Golden Triangle. Delhi's Mughal monuments and old bazaars, the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, and Jaipur's pink old city and Amber Fort. Start with our Jaipur destination page for the Rajasthan end of the route.
Rajasthan. Beyond Jaipur: lakeside Udaipur, blue-washed Jodhpur beneath the Mehrangarh Fort, and the golden sandstone fort city of Jaisalmer on the edge of the Thar Desert, with camel treks and desert camps.
Varanasi and the Ganges. One of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, where the evening aarti ceremony and sunrise boat rides along the ghats are unforgettable. Nearby Sarnath is where the Buddha gave his first sermon.
Kerala and the south. Houseboats on the Alleppey backwaters, the tea hills of Munnar, colonial Kochi, and Ayurvedic retreats; in Tamil Nadu, the towering temple complexes of Madurai and Thanjavur.
Goa and Mumbai. Goa for beaches and Portuguese-era churches; Mumbai for street food, colonial architecture and India's film capital.
The Himalaya. Rishikesh for yoga and rafting, the hill stations of Himachal Pradesh, Darjeeling's tea gardens, and high-altitude Ladakh.
Best time to visit
- October to March: the best time for most of the country, with warm, dry days. December and January nights are cold in the north, and fog can delay trains and flights.
- April to June: extreme heat across the northern plains, often 45°C in Delhi and Rajasthan. Head to the Himalaya instead.
- June to September (monsoon): heavy rain across most of India, arriving first in Kerala in early June. It is the best season for Ladakh and a green, off-peak time for Kerala's Ayurvedic retreats.
Delhi's air quality is often very poor from late October to January, especially around Diwali. People with asthma should check pollution forecasts and consider starting in Rajasthan instead. Festival highlights include Diwali (October or November), Holi (March), and the Pushkar Camel Fair (November).
Getting around
- Trains: the classic way to travel. Book on the official IRCTC site or app, which has a foreign tourist quota, and choose air-conditioned classes (2A or 3A) for overnight trips. Fast trains link Delhi and Agra in under two hours, and Delhi and Jaipur in about four and a half. Popular routes sell out weeks ahead.
- Domestic flights: IndiGo and Air India cover long distances cheaply, such as Delhi to Kochi or Varanasi.
- Car and driver: the most comfortable way to tour Rajasthan, where towns are hours apart. Expect roughly ₹3,500–5,000 a day for an air-conditioned car with driver, fuel included.
- In cities: Uber and Ola cars and auto-rickshaws have fixed prices and avoid haggling; the Delhi Metro is clean, cheap and fast. For street auto-rickshaws, agree the fare before getting in.
Visa basics
Most visitors, including US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian citizens, need a visa, but the e-Tourist Visa is straightforward. Apply only on the official site (indianvisaonline.gov.in) at least four days before travel. Fees vary by nationality; for US citizens in 2026 a 30-day visa is $25 from April to June and $40 the rest of the year, a one-year visa $40, and a five-year visa $80, plus a small bank charge. Since 1 April 2026, all foreign visitors must also submit a free digital e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before landing. Your passport needs at least six months' validity and two blank pages.
Typical daily costs
Prices as of September 2026, at about 96 rupees to the US dollar:
- Budget (₹2,500–4,000, about $26–42): a guesthouse or hostel, thalis and street food (a full thali costs ₹150–350), sleeper-class or 3A trains.
- Mid-range (₹7,000–12,000, about $73–125): a heritage haveli or 3–4 star hotel, restaurant meals, a car and driver shared between two.
- Comfort (₹20,000+, about $210+): palace hotels, private guides and first-class travel.
Monument fees are higher for foreigners. The Taj Mahal costs ₹1,100–1,300 for foreign visitors plus ₹200 to enter the main mausoleum, and it is closed on Fridays. ATMs are widespread, and UPI phone payments are everywhere, but most tourists still rely on cash and cards. Tip 10% in restaurants and give drivers and guides a daily tip.
Top destinations
- Jaipur: start with the Jaipur destination guide and the full Jaipur travel guide for Amber Fort, the bazaars and where to stay.
- Agra: the Taj Mahal at sunrise, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
- Delhi: Humayun's Tomb, Old Delhi's food lanes and Qutub Minar.
- Udaipur: lake palaces and sunset boat rides.
- Varanasi: the ghats, the evening aarti and dawn on the Ganges.
India connects easily onward: Dubai is about three and a half hours from Delhi or Mumbai, and Bangkok about four. Or let our trip planner build a day-by-day India route around your dates.