Choosing Where to Go in India
India is huge and varied, and no single trip can cover it. The country has deserts, tropical beaches, backwaters, jungles, ancient temples and snow-capped mountains, and travel between regions can take a full day. Choose two or three areas that suit what you enjoy, and give each at least three or four nights. The places below are grouped by type of trip.
The Golden Triangle: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
This is the classic first trip, and it is easy to organise by train, car or driver.
- Delhi: a city with layers of history. Visit the Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, the Qutub Minar and the Jama Masjid, then wander through the old lanes of Chandni Chowk for street food. New Delhi has wide avenues, museums and government buildings.
- Agra: home to the Taj Mahal, which is closed on Fridays, and Agra Fort. Visit the Taj at sunrise when it is cooler and quieter.
- Jaipur: the pink city of Rajasthan, with Amber Fort, the City Palace, Jantar Mantar and the Hawa Mahal. Bazaars here are good for textiles, jewelry and blue pottery.
For Palaces and Desert Forts: Rajasthan
- Udaipur: lakes, palaces and rooftop restaurants. A calm, romantic city.
- Jodhpur: the blue city, dominated by the huge Mehrangarh Fort.
- Jaisalmer: a sandstone fort city on the edge of the Thar Desert, with camel safaris and desert camps.
- Pushkar: a small holy town beside a lake, famous for its camel fair in the cooler months.
- Ranthambore: a national park where tigers are sometimes seen, with a ruined fort inside the reserve.
For Spirituality and Culture
- Varanasi: one of the oldest living cities in the world. Take a boat at dawn along the ghats and watch the evening aarti ceremony by the Ganges. It is intense and moving, but crowded and not for everyone.
- Amritsar: the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikh faith, welcomes visitors of every background and serves free meals to thousands daily.
- Rishikesh and Haridwar: riverside towns known for yoga, ashrams and evening prayers beside the Ganges.
- Hampi: boulder-strewn ruins of the Vijayanagara empire in Karnataka, best explored over two or three days.
For Beaches and Backwaters
- Kerala: palm-lined backwaters near Alleppey and Kumarakom, spice hills around Munnar and the old harbor town of Fort Kochi. A houseboat trip is a popular highlight.
- Goa: beaches, Portuguese-era churches and a relaxed pace. North Goa is livelier, and South Goa is quieter.
- Andaman Islands: clear water, coral and white beaches, reached by flight from Chennai, Kolkata or Delhi.
For Mountains and Adventure
- Ladakh (Leh): high-altitude desert, monasteries and dramatic passes. Allow time to adjust to the altitude, and visit between about June and September when roads and flights are most reliable.
- Darjeeling and Sikkim: tea gardens, views toward the Himalaya and mountain monasteries in the east.
- Manali and Shimla: hill stations in Himachal Pradesh, popular in summer and for snow in winter.
- Jim Corbett National Park: one of the oldest reserves for wildlife safaris, within reach of Delhi.
For Big Cities and Food
- Mumbai: Marine Drive, the Gateway of India, colonial architecture, Bollywood and a lively food scene. Take a ferry to the Elephanta Caves.
- Kolkata: grand old buildings, tea houses, sweets and a strong arts culture.
- Chennai and Madurai: South Indian temple architecture and classic vegetarian food.
- Bengaluru and Mysore: a modern tech city, and a nearby royal city with a famous palace.
How Long to Spend in Each Place
- Delhi: 2 to 3 days
- Agra: 1 to 2 days
- Jaipur: 2 days
- Udaipur or Jodhpur: 2 days each
- Varanasi: 2 days
- Kerala backwaters and hills: 4 to 5 days
- Goa: 3 to 5 days
- Ladakh: at least 5 to 7 days, including acclimatization
Tips for Choosing
Do not try to cross India in a week. A first trip that links Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, with an extension to either Varanasi or Rajasthan or Kerala, is realistic and rewarding. Check the season for each region, because India has very different weather in the north, south and mountains, and read our best time to visit India guide before you fix dates.
Offbeat Places Worth Adding
Once you have seen the classics, these places add variety and are often less crowded.
- Hyderabad: the Charminar, Golconda Fort and the old bazaars, with the city’s famous biryani and Irani cafes.
- Lucknow: grand Mughal-era buildings such as the Bara Imambara, and a rich food tradition of kebabs and slow-cooked dishes.
- Orchha and Khajuraho: a quiet riverside palace town, and temples famous for their detailed sculpture, in Madhya Pradesh.
- Pondicherry: a French-colonial quarter with yellow houses, cafes and seafront walks on the east coast.
- Gokarna: a quieter alternative to Goa, with beaches reached by short coastal walks.
If you are short of time, skip the extras, and spend an extra night in your main bases instead. India is much more enjoyable when you are not rushing between cities every day.
Tips for Visiting Popular Sights
- Tickets: major monuments such as the Taj Mahal and the forts charge much higher entry fees for foreign visitors than for Indian citizens. Buy tickets online where possible to avoid long queues.
- Guides: a licensed guide can bring a site to life, especially at large forts. Agree the price before you start, and ignore people who approach you outside with offers.
- Dress: wear modest clothes at temples, mosques and gurdwaras, with covered shoulders and knees, and be ready to remove your shoes. Carry a scarf to cover your head where required.
- Timing: go early, because crowds build up quickly and the midday heat can be intense in most seasons.
- Photography: some sites charge for cameras or restrict tripods and drones. Ask before photographing people, especially at religious places.
Related Guides
Back to the full India travel guide. Turn this list into a plan with our India itineraries, check visa rules, or see where to stay in India.