Short answer: with 7 days, do the Golden Triangle: Delhi, the Taj Mahal in Agra and the forts and palaces of Jaipur, linked by fast trains and the road through Fatehpur Sikri. With 10 days, add three nights in Varanasi, the holy city on the Ganges, a short flight away. With 14 days, choose between Rajasthan (the Golden Triangle plus a tiger safari at Ranthambore, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Varanasi) and the south (Mumbai, Goa’s beaches and Kerala’s tea hills and backwaters). India is huge, so stick to one region and use trains and domestic flights for the long legs.
This guide turns the sample trips on our India travel guide into day-by-day plans, with travel times between stops and the best area to sleep in each night. Choose your month with our best time to visit India guide, see the highlights in our top 10 places to visit in India, and for a plan built around your dates and interests, use our AI trip planner. Everything was checked as of October 2026.
The three routes at a glance
| Route | Days | Stops and nights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Golden Triangle | 7 | Delhi 2, Agra 1, Jaipur 2, Delhi 1 | First trip, the Taj Mahal, Mughal and Rajput monuments |
| Golden Triangle and Varanasi | 10 | Delhi 2, Agra 1, Jaipur 2, Varanasi 3, Delhi 1 | The classic north India trip, with the ghats and rituals of the Ganges |
| Rajasthan, tigers and Varanasi | 14 | Delhi 2, Agra 1, Ranthambore 2, Jaipur 2, Jodhpur 2, Udaipur 2, Varanasi 2 | Forts, desert cities, lake palaces and a chance of wild tigers |
| South India: Mumbai, Goa and Kerala | 14 | Mumbai 2, Goa 4, Kochi 2, Munnar 2, Alappuzha houseboat 1, Marari or Alappuzha 1, Fort Kochi 1 | Beaches, backwaters, tea hills, spice markets and a slower pace |
Most visitors from abroad need a visa: apply for the e-Visa only on the official site, indianvisaonline.gov.in, and fill in the free e-Arrival card online within 72 hours before you land. e-Visa holders must arrive at one of the designated airports, which include Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Varanasi, Kochi, Amritsar and both Goa airports, but not Agra or Udaipur. You can leave from any international airport, so “open-jaw” tickets work well: into Delhi and home from Mumbai or Kochi, for example.
Travel times between the main stops
These are the legs used in the plans below. Train times are for the fastest scheduled services; Indian trains are often late, and road times depend heavily on traffic, so all are approximate. Book trains on IRCTC, the railways’ official booking site and app, where foreign visitors can register.
| Leg | Fastest way | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi – Agra | Gatimaan or Vande Bharat Express (Shatabdi about 2¼ h) | about 1 h 40–2 h | Approximate (timetable sites) |
| Delhi – Agra | Car on the Yamuna Expressway | about 3–4 h | Approximate |
| Agra – Jaipur | Car or driver, via Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri | about 4–5 h | Approximate |
| Jaipur – Delhi | Vande Bharat or Shatabdi Express | about 4½ h | Approximate |
| Delhi – Varanasi | Domestic flight / Vande Bharat Express | about 1½ h flight / about 8 h train | Approximate |
| Varanasi airport – the ghats | Taxi, then on foot | about 45 min–1 h (about 25 km) | Approximate |
| Agra – Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambore) | Express train | about 4–5 h | Approximate |
| Ranthambore – Jaipur | Train or car (about 166 km) | about 3 h by road | Approximate |
| Jaipur – Jodhpur | Express train or car | about 5–6 h | Approximate |
| Jodhpur – Udaipur | Car via the Ranakpur Jain temple | a full day with the stop, about 5–6 h driving | Approximate |
| Udaipur – Varanasi | Domestic flight, usually with a change in Delhi or Mumbai | half a day | Approximate |
| Mumbai – Goa | Domestic flight / Vande Bharat Express on the Konkan Railway | about 1 h 15 flight / about 8 h train | Approximate |
| Goa – Kochi | Domestic flight | about 1 h 30 | Approximate |
| Kochi – Munnar | Car or bus (about 110 km from the airport) | about 3½–4 h | Approximate |
| Munnar – Alappuzha | Car | about 4–5 h | Approximate |
| Alappuzha – Kochi (Ernakulam) | Train | about 1–1½ h | Approximate |
Air-conditioned chair cars and AC sleepers are the comfortable classes; book as early as you can, because popular trains sell out weeks ahead, especially around Diwali and the winter holidays. In the Golden Triangle, many travelers hire a car and driver for the road legs, which is affordable and lets you stop at Fatehpur Sikri and the step well at Abhaneri.
7 days: the Golden Triangle
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur form a triangle a few hours apart. This plan uses the morning train to Agra, a driver to Jaipur and the train back to Delhi.
- Day 1, Delhi: Arrive, rest, then an evening at India Gate and dinner in Connaught Place or Khan Market. Sleep: Connaught Place or South Delhi.
- Day 2, Old and New Delhi: The Red Fort (closed Mondays), a cycle-rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, the Jama Masjid, then Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar in the afternoon. Sleep: same.
- Day 3, to Agra: A morning fast train (about 1 h 40–2 h). Agra Fort, lunch, then the Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh across the river at sunset. Sleep: near the Taj’s east gate.
- Day 4, the Taj at sunrise and on to Jaipur: Be at the Taj Mahal when it opens, 30 minutes before sunrise (closed Fridays; foreign visitors pay ₹1,100, plus ₹200 to enter the main mausoleum). Then drive to Jaipur (about 4–5 hours), stopping at Fatehpur Sikri and the Abhaneri step well. Sleep: Jaipur’s old city or C-Scheme.
- Day 5, Jaipur: Amber Fort early, before the heat and the crowds, then the Hawa Mahal, the City Palace and the Jantar Mantar observatory. Sunset from Nahargarh Fort. Sleep: same.
- Day 6, Jaipur bazaars and back to Delhi: The bazaars of the Pink City for textiles and block prints, then an afternoon train to Delhi (about 4½ hours). Sleep: Aerocity, near the airport.
- Day 7, home: Morning at Lodhi Garden or the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib if your flight is late, then the airport.
Swap it: because the Taj Mahal closes on Fridays, avoid arriving in Agra on a Thursday night. Jaipur has its own international airport, so you can fly home from there and save the return train. More detail is in our Delhi, Agra and Jaipur guides.
10 days: the Golden Triangle and Varanasi
Add India’s most spiritual city to the classic route. Varanasi’s airport is a designated e-Visa airport with flights across India, so the long leg is a short hop.
- Days 1–2, Delhi: As in the 7-day plan: India Gate, Old Delhi, the Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar. Sleep: Connaught Place or South Delhi (2 nights).
- Day 3, Agra: Morning train, Agra Fort, sunset at Mehtab Bagh. Sleep: near the Taj (1 night).
- Day 4, the Taj and Jaipur: Sunrise at the Taj, then the drive to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri. Sleep: Jaipur (2 nights).
- Day 5, Jaipur: Amber Fort, the Hawa Mahal, the City Palace and Jantar Mantar; sunset at Nahargarh.
- Day 6, to Varanasi: Fly from Jaipur to Varanasi (direct or via Delhi). Taxi toward the river, walk the last stretch to your guesthouse, and watch the evening Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat (around 18:00–19:00, by season). Sleep: near the ghats (3 nights).
- Day 7, the river at dawn: A sunrise boat ride past the bathing ghats, then a walk through the old city’s lanes and the Kashi Vishwanath temple area (phones and bags go in lockers). Afternoon rest; evening aarti at Assi Ghat.
- Day 8, Sarnath: The deer park at Sarnath, 10 km away, where the Buddha gave his first sermon, then a silk-weaving workshop and Ramnagar Fort across the river.
- Day 9, back to Delhi: Fly to Delhi (about 1½ hours) and spend the afternoon at Lodhi Garden or the Crafts Museum. Sleep: Aerocity or South Delhi (1 night).
- Day 10, home.
Swap it: prefer lakes and palaces to the Ganges? Replace Varanasi with two nights in Udaipur (fast trains from Jaipur take about 6 hours, or fly), and a night in Delhi or Jaipur before your flight; Udaipur is not an e-Visa arrival airport, but you can fly home from it via Delhi or Mumbai. Or swap it for Amritsar and the Golden Temple, a fast train from Delhi. Our Varanasi guide covers the ghats, the boats and the rules at the temples.
14 days: Rajasthan, tigers and Varanasi
Two weeks in the north lets you go deeper into Rajasthan, the land of maharajas, with a tiger safari, the blue city of Jodhpur and the lakes of Udaipur, then finish on the Ganges. Hire a car and driver for the Rajasthan legs, or mix trains and drivers.
- Days 1–2, Delhi: Old and New Delhi. Sleep: Connaught Place or South Delhi (2 nights).
- Day 3, Agra: Morning train; Agra Fort, the “Baby Taj” (Itimad-ud-Daulah) and Mehtab Bagh at sunset. Sleep: near the Taj (1 night).
- Day 4, the Taj and the train to Ranthambore: Sunrise at the Taj, then an express train to Sawai Madhopur (about 4–5 hours). Sleep: lodges near the park (2 nights).
- Day 5, tiger safaris: Morning and afternoon safaris in Forest Department vehicles (book ahead; private cars are not allowed on the tracks), with the hilltop Ranthambore Fort, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in between.
- Day 6, to Jaipur: Drive or take the train (about 166 km). Afternoon at the Hawa Mahal and the City Palace. Sleep: Jaipur (2 nights).
- Day 7, Jaipur: Amber Fort, Jantar Mantar, the bazaars and Nahargarh at sunset.
- Day 8, to Jodhpur: Train or drive west (about 5–6 hours). Evening in the old city below the fort. Sleep: the blue old city near the clock tower (2 nights).
- Day 9, Jodhpur: Mehrangarh Fort, one of the mightiest in India, the white marble Jaswant Thada, and the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park’s trails below the walls.
- Day 10, to Udaipur via Ranakpur: Drive south through the Aravalli hills, stopping at the Ranakpur Jain temple with its 1,400-plus carved pillars (no leather inside). Sleep: Udaipur, by Lake Pichola (2 nights).
- Day 11, Udaipur: The City Palace, the Jagdish Temple, a sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola past the Lake Palace and Jag Mandir, and the folk show at Bagore ki Haveli.
- Day 12, to Varanasi: Fly from Udaipur, usually via Delhi or Mumbai. Evening aarti on the ghats. Sleep: near the ghats (2 nights).
- Day 13, Varanasi: A sunrise boat ride, the old city’s lanes, and Sarnath in the afternoon.
- Day 14, home: Fly to Delhi for your connection home.
Ranthambore’s main safari zones close from July to September, and the best months for sightings are March to May, when the forest is thin and tigers come to water; in winter the park is open, cooler and greener. Each stop has its own guide: Ranthambore, Jodhpur, Udaipur. With a few more days, add Jaisalmer, the golden desert city about 5 hours west of Jodhpur.
14 days: Mumbai, Goa and Kerala
The south is greener, gentler and slower than the north, with beaches, spice-scented hills and the palm-lined canals of the Kerala backwaters. Fly into Mumbai and home from Kochi. Go from November to February, when Goa’s seas are calm and Kerala is dry.
- Day 1, Mumbai: Arrive and head to Colaba; sunset along Marine Drive. Sleep: Colaba or Fort (2 nights).
- Day 2, Mumbai: The Gateway of India, a ferry to the rock-cut Elephanta Caves, then the Gothic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and street food at Chowpatty Beach.
- Day 3, to Goa: A short flight to Goa’s Dabolim or Mopa airport, or the Vande Bharat Express down the Konkan coast (about 8 hours). Sleep: South Goa (Palolem, Agonda) for quiet beaches, or North Goa (Anjuna, Assagao) for cafés and nightlife (4 nights).
- Days 4–6, Goa: Beach days, the Portuguese churches of Old Goa (a UNESCO site), the Latin Quarter of Fontainhas in Panaji, a spice farm, and a sunset boat trip to look for dolphins.
- Day 7, to Kochi: Fly to Kochi (about 1½ hours). Evening at the Chinese fishing nets on the Fort Kochi waterfront. Sleep: Fort Kochi (2 nights).
- Day 8, Kochi: St Francis Church, the Mattancherry Palace murals, the Paradesi Synagogue (closed Fridays and Saturdays) and Jew Town’s spice warehouses; a Kathakali dance performance in the evening. The Kochi Water Metro is a fun way to cross the harbor.
- Day 9, to Munnar: Drive up into the Western Ghats (about 3½–4 hours), past waterfalls and spice gardens. Sleep: Munnar, among the tea estates (2 nights).
- Day 10, the tea hills: A tea factory and museum, Eravikulam National Park for the rare Nilgiri tahr, and a walk through the estates at sunset.
- Day 11, to the backwaters: Drive down to Alappuzha (about 4–5 hours) and board a houseboat around noon for a night on the canals of Kuttanad, with meals cooked on board. Sleep: houseboat (1 night).
- Day 12, village canals and the beach: Disembark in the morning, take a small canoe or shikara along the narrow village canals, then relax at Marari beach or a backwater homestay. Sleep: Marari or Alappuzha (1 night).
- Day 13, back to Kochi: Train to Ernakulam (about 1–1½ hours) and an afternoon in Fort Kochi’s cafés and galleries. Sleep: Fort Kochi (1 night).
- Day 14, home: Cochin International Airport is a designated e-Visa airport with flights to the Gulf and Asia.
Book houseboats through an operator approved by Kerala Tourism or the District Tourism Promotion Council’s prepaid counter in Alappuzha. Each stop has its own guide: Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, Munnar, Alappuzha. With extra days, add Hampi‘s boulder-strewn ruins, about 8 hours inland from Goa by road or overnight train.
Where to sleep, by stop
| Stop | Best area for a short stay | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | Connaught Place, South Delhi, or Aerocity before a flight | Central, near the metro; Aerocity is next to the airport |
| Agra | Near the Taj Mahal’s east gate (Taj Ganj and Fatehabad Road) | Walk to the Taj at sunrise |
| Jaipur | The old (Pink) city edge, C-Scheme or a heritage haveli | Close to the bazaars and the road to Amber |
| Varanasi | Guesthouses on or near the ghats (Assi to Dashashwamedh) | Dawn on the river; cars can’t reach the lanes, so expect to walk the last stretch |
| Ranthambore | Lodges along Ranthambore Road, Sawai Madhopur | Close to the safari gates |
| Jodhpur | The old city near the clock tower | Rooftop views of Mehrangarh |
| Udaipur | Lake Pichola’s east bank (Lal Ghat, Gangaur Ghat) or Hanuman Ghat | Lake views, walk to the City Palace |
| Mumbai | Colaba or Fort | Near the Gateway of India and the Elephanta ferries |
| Goa | South Goa for calm beaches, North Goa for cafés and nightlife | Very different moods; choose one base |
| Kochi | Fort Kochi | Heritage lanes, cafés and the waterfront |
| Munnar | A tea-estate resort or homestay outside town | Quieter and greener than the town center |
| Alappuzha | A licensed houseboat, then a backwater homestay or Marari beach | The canals by day and night |
Alternatives by interest
Beach lovers
Add four or five nights in Goa to the end of the Golden Triangle (a two-hour flight from Delhi), or choose the south route and give Goa a full week. From November to March the sea is calm and almost rainless; in the monsoon, from June to September, swimming and water sports stop. Kerala’s Marari and Varkala and the Andaman Islands, with India’s best snorkeling and diving, are other choices.
Wildlife lovers
Ranthambore is the easiest tiger reserve to add to a Rajasthan trip; plan at least two nights and three or four safaris to improve your chances. In the south, Eravikulam (tahr) near Munnar and the Periyar Tiger Reserve at Thekkady, about 3 hours from Munnar, combine well with Kerala. Most national parks close their core zones during the monsoon.
Families
Slow down and use fewer, longer stays: three nights each in Delhi, Jaipur and Udaipur, with a driver for the road legs, or the south route, which is calmer and greener. Choose hotels with pools, avoid the long overnight trains with small children, and travel from November to February, when days are comfortable.
Food and culture lovers
Take a street-food walk in Old Delhi, a cooking class in Jaipur or Udaipur, and eat a Kerala sadya on a banana leaf. Time your trip for a festival: Diwali (8 November 2026), Dev Deepawali on Varanasi’s ghats, Holi (23 March 2027), or the Pushkar Camel Fair near Jaipur in October or November. The Golden Temple’s free community kitchen in Amritsar feeds visitors of every faith.
Tips for planning your route
- Travel from October to March. That is the cool, dry season for every route here. December and January bring cold, foggy mornings in the north, which can delay trains and flights, and the air in Delhi is at its worst from late October to January. April to June is very hot on the plains, and the monsoon lasts from June to September. See our best time to visit India guide.
- Mind the weekly closures. The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, Delhi’s Red Fort on Mondays and Kochi’s Paradesi Synagogue on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Book trains early. Indian Railways no longer sells a rail pass for visitors; buy individual tickets on IRCTC as soon as bookings open. Popular trains fill quickly, especially in the festival season.
- Build in buffers. Fog, delays and long road journeys are common. Avoid tight same-day connections between a domestic flight or train and your international flight home.
- Hire drivers, don’t drive. Self-drive is rare among visitors; a car with a driver, booked through your hotel or a licensed agency, is the usual way to cover the road legs.
- Dress for temples. Cover shoulders and knees, take off your shoes at the entrance and carry a scarf; some temples don’t admit leather items or non-Hindus to inner shrines.
India itinerary FAQ
Is 7 days enough for India?
Yes for the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, the classic first trip. It is not enough to add Varanasi, Udaipur, Goa or Kerala without rushing; for those, plan 10 to 14 days.
Should I see north or south India first?
For a first trip, most people choose the north for the Taj Mahal, Rajasthan’s forts and Varanasi. Choose the south if you want beaches, backwaters, a slower pace and greener landscapes. Two weeks is enough for one region, not both.
How do I get from Delhi to Agra?
The fastest trains, the Gatimaan Express and the Vande Bharat Express, take about 2 hours or a little less to Agra Cantonment, and the Shatabdi Express about 2¼ hours. By car, the Yamuna Expressway takes about 3 to 4 hours.
Can I visit the Taj Mahal on a Friday?
No. The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays for prayers. On other days it opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes before sunset.
Do I need a car in India?
You don’t need to drive. Trains and domestic flights cover the long legs, and a hired car with a driver, ride-hailing apps and auto-rickshaws handle the rest.
Is Varanasi worth adding to a Golden Triangle trip?
Yes, if you have 10 days or more. The dawn boat ride and the evening aarti on the ghats are among the most memorable experiences in India, and the city is about 1½ hours from Delhi by plane.
What is the best month for an India itinerary?
November and February are ideal for most routes: dry and sunny, with comfortable days. October and March are good too, a little warmer, and Kerala is at its best from November to February.
Sources
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 8 October 2026. The e-Visa, its arrival airports and the e-Arrival card come from the Bureau of Immigration’s official sites; Taj Mahal tickets and hours from Uttar Pradesh Tourism’s official Taj Mahal website; the Red Fort’s hours from Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism); Indian Railways’ tourist bureaus and the end of the Indrail pass from Indian Railways; Varanasi’s ghats and distances from the Varanasi district administration; Kerala houseboat rules from Kerala Tourism; and climate and monsoon dates from the India Meteorological Department’s 1991–2020 normals, as cited on our India guides. Train, flight and road times, Ranthambore safari details and festival dates beyond the official ones are approximate or secondary. Timetables, prices and rules change, so check with the operator before you travel.
Data: Wikidata (CC0)