If you are planning a trip to India, the main question you will ask yourself is, “How many days are enough to explore India?”, or “How many days to spend in India?” Well, saying that India is a diverse country would be an understatement – you will find different cultures, traditions, and cuisines in every region. So whether you know what you would like to see or you are confused, it is a challenge to decide exactly how many days are enough to explore the country.
We have tried to make things easier for you in this blog so that you can see as much of India as possible irrespective of how long you stay in the country. Also, whether you are looking to plan a family holiday or are asking yourself how long to backpack in India as a solo traveler, you can contact us and we at India Someday can help you with your India itinerary. Plan Your Trip now!
Read more to understand the best time to visit India and cost of travel in India.
How many days are enough to explore India?
Before planning a trip to India, we are sure you have wondered how long your dream trip to India should be, or how many days are enough to truly experience India. Honestly, you can spend six months in India and still not see and experience the entire country. Moreover, not all people have the luxury of spending that much time on vacation. So if you are wondering about a practical time frame to tour India, see a few diverse regions, and really experience the Indian culture, we would recommend spending 3 weeks here ideally.
Planning an itinerary for India is exceedingly challenging. If you want the right mix, be it authenticity and comfort or activity and luxury, just let us know by hitting the Plan Your Trip button. Consider what sites are high up on your list to see so that we can help you plan your India itinerary accordingly.
How much of India can you see in three weeks?
How much you can see in three weeks in India depends on the pace of travel that you enjoy and your budget. Travelling by train, bus or even rented car is fairly inexpensive in India. However, including a lot of flights can make your trip expensive. Although, more flights would mean more destinations that you can visit, so decide accordingly.
Ideally, if you have three weeks, we would recommend touring two regions in this timespan. One good option is North India and the Himalayas. So you could visit the Golden Triangle (New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur), which would allow you to explore some of India’s most-visited tourist attractions along with some lesser-frequented places. Visit the Red Fort in the capital city of New Delhi, the Taj Mahal in Agra, and the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, the Pink City. You could also add Varanasi and more of Rajasthan in this circuit. You can do a day tour in the holy city of Varanasi – visit Kashi Vishwanath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, and attend the aarti (chants) on the ghats of the holy river Ganges. You could then explore the regions at the Himalayan foothills, such as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Alternatively, you can also explore three to four states in South India, for example, Goa – Karnataka – Tamil Nadu – Kerala.
Whether you want to party or just relax, Goa’s beaches have you covered. Visit the temples and ruins of the ancient kingdom of Hampi in Karnataka. If you wish to experience the religious side of India, Tamil Nadu has many, many temples you can visit. End your journey by unwinding at the Backwaters of Kerala by cruising in the waterways on a canoe or staying in a houseboat – You can even rent a houseboat for overnight travel from Cochin or Alleppey!
If you have the budget to take a few internal flights, then you could also do a North and South India trip. However, you will only be able to visit a few places in each region. If you think this would be your only trip to India, then this is a great option you can choose.
Always remember that travelling between places in India, especially road travel, can take time. It can be a little tiring and overexerting yourself in excitement can make you fall ill. Try not to plan too much – often, less is more.
It is always a good idea to plan your trip to India around a festival. Diwali (the festival of lights) and Holi (the festival of colours) are two great festivals to plan your trip to India around.
Explore More: Plunge into Rajasthan’s Must-Experience Locations
Plan Your Trip: Best Time to Explore Kerala
What can you do in two weeks in India?
Often, two weeks is the maximum time one can take off from work. Plus, if this is your first trip to Asia or Southeast Asia, two weeks might be a better idea so that you don’t get very overwhelmed.
Ideally, try and visit only one region in a time frame of two weeks. You can do a good mix of highlight places and some less popular destinations in North India, or the same for South India.
You could also look at an 8-9 day North India tour and end with 4-5 days on the beach. There is potential to tour both North and South India in two weeks but this may feel rushed. You would be scratching the surface without really experiencing either region.
If you plan on exploring the Golden Triangle (Delhi – Agra – Jaipur) during your two weeks in India, you could also visit some lesser known attractions along with the major cities in the North. If you want to embrace spirituality in India, we would recommend visiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar. You could also visit Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, the village of the Dalai Lama.
Another option would be to extend your route to include more of Rajasthan. Visit the mighty Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, the Blue City, or take a pristine boat ride in the pristine lakes of Udaipur, known as the City of Lakes. You could also visit the stunning sand dunes in the Thar desert and enjoy a camel safari.
You can also visit Mumbai, the city that never sleeps. The CSMT Railway Station of Mumbai is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! You can do a day trip in Mumbai – visit the Gateway of India and the iconic Queen’s Necklace as you watch the sun set in the Arabian Sea. Witness the architecture from the era of British India, or the many museums and art galleries in the city. No matter when you visit Mumbai, there will always be something happening!
Here are some suggested travel routes for two weeks in South India and North India.
Additional Resource: Exploring India as a UK Traveler
How to spend a month or longer in India?
Backpackers ahoy, wondering how long to backpack in India? We would recommend spending longer than two months ideally. You will definitely not be able to see everything, but you can cover quite a lot of places. Plus, you can take ample time savoring every place at your own pace instead of rushing from one place to another.
You will get great value for money in terms of food and accommodation in India. Train travel is remarkably inexpensive as well, though you will have to book tickets in advance. If you plan well in advance, you can also book some flights at a great price. In one month or more, you can visit multiple regions, maybe do some volunteering work, or even spend time at an Ashram. There is more than enough to do and see in India no matter how long you stay here.
India is not an easy destination for an international tourist. You will probably get a culture shock. And if you plan to stay in India for a longer time, you may miss home. So take your time to settle into the method behind the madness of this warm country. You will definitely leave with a deeper understanding and an enjoyable experience the more time you spend in India.
Also see: Detailed Guide for American Tourists Visiting India
Is one week enough time to visit India?
One week is not nearly enough to take in this vast country, but if that is all the time you have, we would recommend visiting the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle route comprises Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, and offers a lot of diverse cultural attractions.
You can start your tour in New Delhi. Spend two nights in Delhi, exploring famous historical attractions in the city such as Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate, Lotus Temple, and the Akshardham Temple. You can also visit Raj Ghat, a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi. Visit the markets of Old Delhi and indulge in shopping and a food tour.
You can spend one night in Agra, sightseeing and visiting UNESCO world heritage sites like the Taj Mahal (obviously!), Agra Fort, and Jama Masjid. After your historical Agra day, you can then travel to Jaipur.
Ideally, spend three nights in Jaipur, since there is a lot to do and see in this Pink City. During Jaipur sightseeing, visit Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Amber Fort, and many other famous forts and royal palaces around.
So, fellow travelers, if you are not sure how much time you should spend in the country, or simply looking for more ideas, let us know and we will plan the perfect itinerary for you. Plan your trip with us now!
