India is the most overwhelming, beautiful, chaotic, and spiritually profound country on Earth. Nowhere challenges and rewards travellers in equal measure — the Taj Mahal, tiger safaris, the Ganges at Varanasi, the backwaters of Kerala, and Rajasthan's desert forts.
📅 Day-by-Day Itinerary
📅 Delhi
Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk by cycle rickshaw — the most intense street scene in Asia. Jama Masjid, Red Fort, and the Humayun's Tomb (the prototype for the Taj Mahal). New Delhi's Lutyens boulevards and the extraordinary Lodhi Garden. India Gate at dusk.
📅 Agra & Rajasthan
The Taj Mahal at sunrise — arrive at opening to see it in golden light with no crowds. Agra Fort. Then the Rajasthan circuit: Jaipur's Amber Fort and City Palace, Jodhpur's blue city and Mehrangarh Fort (the most dramatic fort in India), and golden Jaisalmer in the Thar Desert.
📅 Varanasi
The world's oldest continuously inhabited city. Dawn boat ride on the Ganges watching the ghats wake up — cremations, pilgrims, and sadhus. Evening Ganga Aarti ceremony — hundreds of brass lamps, bells, and Sanskrit chanting at the waterfront.
📅 Ranthambore Tiger Safari
India's best tiger reserve — open-top jeep safari at dawn through dry deciduous forest. Ranthambore tigers are unusually habituated to vehicles and visible in daylight. Also: leopard, sloth bear, crocodile, and the extraordinary fort ruins inside the park.
📅 Kerala Backwaters & Spice Coast
Fly to Kochi — the Jewish Quarter, Dutch Palace, and Chinese fishing nets. Overnight on a traditional houseboat through the Kerala backwaters — coconut palms, village life, and total silence. Finish in Munnar's tea gardens or Varkala's cliff-top beach.
🏨 Where to Stay
The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra
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Every room has a Taj Mahal view — the most extraordinary hotel location on Earth
💡 Key tips: Get all vaccinations (typhoid, Hep A, Hep B) well in advance. Drink only bottled or filtered water — always. Bargain everywhere except restaurants with menus. Pre-book drivers for Rajasthan circuits — rates are fair and it's essential. The train network is extraordinary — book Indian Railways tickets through the IRCTC website.
