India travel guide: when to go, where to go and how to plan it together

November 8, 2026 · 9 min read

India is not one trip but dozens, and no visit covers it. There are forts and palaces in the desert of Rajasthan, the ghats of the Ganges at Varanasi, backwaters and spice hills in Kerala, tea country, Himalayan passes, and beaches in the south and west. Each region has its own language, food and way of doing things, so a day's train ride can feel like crossing a border.

It rewards patience and a little structure. Distances are large, trains and roads are slow, and the first days can be overwhelming. A route that is not too ambitious, with some rooms booked ahead, makes all the difference. This guide covers when to go, where to go, a fourteen-day route, and what changes when you are planning it with friends.

Capital: New Delhi
Currency: Indian rupee (₹)
Languages: Hindi and English are the main official languages; each state has its own, such as Tamil, Bengali and Malayalam
Plugs: Type C, D and M, 230 V
Driving: On the left
Time zone: UTC+5:30, no daylight saving
Best time to go: October to March for most of the country
Daily budget: About US$70–140 a person a day, mid-range, 2026

When to go

India is large enough that someone is always in the right season, but for a first trip the cooler, dry months are the answer.

Winter (October to March) is the main season for the north, Rajasthan, Agra, Varanasi and most of the country. Days are warm and sunny and nights are cool; in December and January it gets properly cold at night in Delhi and the north, and morning fog regularly delays trains and flights in the plains. This is also peak season for Goa and Kerala, where the sea is calm and the weather is dry. Christmas and New Year are the most expensive weeks.

Summer (April to June) is very hot across the plains, often above 40 °C in Delhi and Rajasthan. It is the time to head to the hills instead: Himalayan towns such as Shimla and Manali, and Ladakh once its high roads open, usually from about June to September.

The monsoon (June to September) brings heavy rain to most of the country, starting in Kerala around the start of June and moving north. Travel is possible, and the landscape is green, prices are low and crowds are thin, but roads flood and some beaches and routes shut. Kerala's monsoon season is also the time for Ayurvedic treatments. The south-east coast, around Chennai, gets its main rains later, from October to December.

Festivals shape the calendar. Diwali, the festival of lights, falls in October or November, and Holi, the festival of colours, falls in March; both move each year. Trains and hotels fill around major festivals as families travel home, so book ahead. Air quality in Delhi and the northern plains is often poor from October to January, so check conditions if you have asthma or are sensitive.

Where to go

Delhi

India's capital is two cities in one: Old Delhi, with the Red Fort, the Jama Masjid and the lanes of Chandni Chowk, and New Delhi, with tree-lined avenues, Humayun's Tomb and the India Gate. It is a good place for the first food of the trip. Allow two or three days, and start early in summer.

Agra

Home to the Taj Mahal, which is as beautiful in person as in photographs, and best at sunrise. Agra Fort and the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri are also worth the trip. A night is enough for most people, and gives you the Taj at both ends of the day.

Jaipur

The Pink City of Rajasthan has the City Palace, the observatory of Jantar Mantar, Amber Fort on the hill outside town, and bazaars selling textiles, jewellery and pottery. Two nights lets you see the main sights and sit down for a long dinner.

Udaipur

Set around lakes with palaces and hills, Udaipur is the most romantic of the Rajasthan cities. Take a boat on Lake Pichola, walk the old town at sunset and eat on a rooftop. Two nights.

Varanasi

One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, on the banks of the Ganges. Go to the ghats at dawn for a boat ride and watch the evening ceremony. It is intense, crowded and unlike anywhere else, and it is worth it for the first-time visitor who is ready for it. Two nights.

Mumbai

India's largest city is its commercial and film capital, with colonial-era buildings, the Gateway of India, street food on the seafront and the Elephanta Caves by ferry. It is fast and busy, and a good place to see modern India. Allow two or three days.

Kerala

A strip of green on the south-west coast. Fort Kochi has old Portuguese, Dutch and British buildings, Chinese fishing nets and good seafood; the backwaters near Alleppey are explored by houseboat or small canoe; and the hills near Munnar are covered in tea. Allow five days or more, and do it slowly.

Goa

India's smallest state, with a long coast of beaches, Portuguese-era churches and a relaxed pace. The north is livelier, with markets and nightlife, and the south is quieter. Good for a beach finish at the end of a trip. It is at its best from November to March.

A 14-day itinerary

Days 1–3: Delhi. Arrive, rest, and spend two days on the old and new city. Hire a driver for one day, or use the metro.

Days 4–5: Agra. Take a fast train from Delhi, about two hours. See Agra Fort in the afternoon, then the Taj Mahal at sunrise the next morning.

Days 6–7: Jaipur. Travel by road or train, around four to five hours from Agra, stopping at Fatehpur Sikri on the way if you go by road. Visit Amber Fort in the morning, before it gets hot.

Days 8–9: Udaipur. About six hours by road, or a short flight, from Jaipur. Take time for the lakes and the palaces.

Days 10–14: Kerala. Fly from Udaipur via Mumbai or Delhi to Kochi. Spend two days in Fort Kochi, one night on a houseboat in the backwaters, and two days in the hills around Munnar, then fly home from Kochi.

With more time, add Varanasi between Delhi and Agra, or swap Kerala for Goa and Mumbai. For another South Asian stop, see our Sri Lanka travel guide.

Getting around

Trains are the classic way to see India, and they are comfortable and cheap if you book the right class. Air-conditioned classes, such as chair car for the day and sleeper berths for the night, are best for visitors. Tickets for popular routes sell out weeks ahead, so book as soon as your dates are fixed. Our guide to night trains covers the basics of sleeping on the move.

Flights between major cities are frequent and good value, and they save a day on long routes such as Rajasthan to Kerala. Arrive early, as security is thorough.

Drivers. For short stays and groups, a car with a driver for a few days is often the best way to cover Rajasthan. You can agree a daily rate with your hotel or a local agency, and the driver knows the roads and the stops. Self-driving is not recommended for visitors, because traffic is chaotic.

In cities, use ride-hailing apps, autorickshaws and the metros in Delhi, Mumbai and other cities. Agree the fare before you start in an autorickshaw, or use the meter. Pre-paid taxi counters at airports and stations are the safest way to start.

Money and costs

The currency is the rupee. Cards are widely accepted in hotels and restaurants in cities, but small shops, markets, rickshaws and rural areas run on cash. Cash machines are easy to find in cities. Take small notes for rickshaws and tips.

Tipping is customary but modest: a few coins or notes for porters and drivers, and a small amount for a guide. Many restaurants add a service charge, so check your bill.

India is among the cheapest big countries to travel in. Vegetarian meals, a thali, a train ticket and a rickshaw ride cost very little. The costs that rise are good hotels, particularly heritage palaces, private drivers and domestic flights.

Rough daily costs a person, in 2026:

Budget: about US$30–55, with hostels or simple guesthouses, local food and trains.
Mid-range: about US$70–140, with comfortable hotels, a driver for some days and a few flights.
Comfortable: US$200 and up, with heritage hotels, private drivers and flights between regions.

Planning India as a group

A group helps in India, because the cost of a driver or a guide is shared, and the unfamiliar parts are easier with company.

Rooms. Many hotels offer triple and family rooms, and heritage properties have suites for four or more. A group of six can take a small guesthouse floor or a whole havelli, a traditional courtyard house, often at a fair price.

Drivers and cars. Decide as a group whether to hire one vehicle for the whole route or to mix trains and flights. A minivan fits five or six with luggage, which is cheaper per person than separate taxis.

Trains. Book tickets in the same carriage if you want to sit together, and do it early, as groups can't count on last-minute seats.

The plan. Distances and delays make timings uncertain. A shared day-by-day plan with the train times, the driver's name and the hotel addresses means everyone knows where to meet, even when the group splits for an afternoon.

Before you go

Entry rules: check the official government site of India and your own government's travel advice before you book, as requirements depend on your passport.
Travel insurance that covers medical costs, and cancellations.
Connectivity: an eSIM or a local SIM works in cities. Wifi is common in hotels. See our guide to eSIMs and staying connected.
A plug adapter for Type C, D or M, with devices that handle 230 V.
Health: ask a travel clinic well before you leave, as recommended vaccines vary. Drink bottled or filtered water, wash your hands often, and pick busy, freshly cooked food stalls. Pack a basic stomach kit.
Customs: take your shoes off at temples and in many homes, cover your shoulders and knees at religious sites, and use your right hand to eat and give things. Ask before photographing people. Expect touts at stations and tourist sites; a polite no and a steady walk are enough.

What to pack

Pack light, loose, breathable clothes in cotton and linen. They are comfortable in the heat and respectful at temples, where shoulders and knees should be covered. A scarf is useful as a sun shield and as a cover-up.

Bring slip-on shoes, because you will take them off often, and a pair of socks for temples with hot stone floors. In the north in winter, bring a warm jacket and layers for chilly mornings. Add hand sanitiser, tissues, a high-factor sunscreen, a hat, and a small first-aid kit with rehydration salts. A money belt or a bag you can keep close is sensible on crowded trains.