Highlights of India: A 1 Month Suggested Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
India is a vast and beautiful country. Besides the topographical diversity, every state in India follows a different set of cultures and traditions. From the lush greenery of South India and the arid deserts of Rajasthan to the snowy mountains of North India, India has much to offer for a first-time traveller. Although geographically, India is a huge country where even a lifetime of visiting places won’t suffice, We have suggested a 1 monthly travel itinerary of India that will cover the most visited places in India.
Practical tips about travelling throughout India
Best times to visit India
India is a big country with a number of climatic zones. While South India gets intense monsoons and is best avoided from the months of May to October, the Himalayan region has frigid winters and is best visited during the summer months. So, it’s almost impossible to say which is the best time to visit India which actually depends on the places you are planning to visit.
Accommodations in India
Most foreigners, especially Westerners, will find India an affordable country. There are multiple stay options that you can choose from. From the plush 5-star hotels of the Taj group and Oberoi chain to even the cheap lodges, hostels and dorms, India offers a plethora of stay options suiting every kind of budget.
Getting around in India
India has an extensive network of trains crisscrossing the length and breadth of the country. Besides, you can avail of private taxis or buses for road travel. Also, there are a number of low-cost airline operators in India. So, depending on your comfort level and penchant for seeing the landscape of India up close, you can accordingly select the mode of transport while travelling in India.
Day-to-Day India Travel Itinerary
Mumbai (Day 1-4)
Your India travel itinerary would most probably begin the Mumbai, India’s most populous metro city. Some of the cheapest flights from across the globe land at the Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Upon arrival in Mumbai you can choose to do the following things:
- Visit the ‘Gateway of India or the ‘Taj Mahal of Mumbai’. Located in the Apollo Bunder area, close to Colaba, this monument is a popular tourist destination in Mumbai. Also, right across the street, you will get to see the iconic ‘Taj Mahal Palace hotel’ which was besieged by terrorists in the 26/11 terror attacks of 2008.
- Explore Mumbai’s tourist district of Colaba where you can visit the Jehangir Art Gallery, Shivaji Museum and the famed Leopold Cafe, a watering hole for foreign tourists.
- Explore the ‘Chor Bazar’ or the thieves’ market where you will find almost everything in the world, albeit from dubious sources.
- A visit to Mumbai is incomplete without strolling along the Girgaum Chowpatty, Versova beach or Juhu beach. Also, don’t forget to sample the delectable bhelpuri and pav bhaji at the stalls lining the beach.
- Go for a jog or walk along the famed Marine Drive of Mumbai. This is the best sea view drive you can take and also enjoy the sunsets at dusk hours. The place looks majestic when lit during night-time.
Goa (Day 5-6)
Travel by road or air from Mumbai to reach the coastal state of Goa. Goa is considered a party hub for tourists in India and is dotted with numerous beaches, temples, churches and even spice plantations.
- Visit the Calungute beach, Palolem beach
- Visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus church
- Get some scenic views atop the Aguada fort and Chapora fort
- Enjoy dazzling nightlife on Calungute beach
Bangalore (Day 7-8)
Fly to Banglore in Karnataka from Goa as there are many low-cost airlines operating on this route. Bangalore is India’s snazzy tech city that has much to offer to domestic and foreign tourists.
- Visit the Lalbagh Botanical garden,
- Explore the majestic Bengaluru Palace and Tipu Sultan’s summer palace.
Mysore (Day 9-10)
From Bangalore head to Mysore which would take about 153 km apart. You can take a private cab or bus to reach this laid-back royal city. Besides, Mysore is where the famed Ashtanga yoga style originated and is home to some of the best yoga schools in India. As a tourist, you can explore the following places in Mysore
- Experience royalty at the Mysore Palace
- Visit the Brindavan Gardens and watch the colorful fountain show.
- Visit the Chamundeshwari temple which begets scenic views.
Kozhikode (Day 11-13)
From Mysore, you can travel by bus to Kozhikode in Kerala. Kozhikode is a coastal city in Kerala that was an erstwhile spice trade center and is close to the Kappad beach. Besides, you can get beautiful sunset views from the central Kozhikode beach which is overlooked by an old lighthouse. Also, if time permits, you can travel to the scenic Wayanad about 3 hour drive from Kozhikode. Wayanad is a lush forested region of Kerala that is known to house exotic species of flora and fauna.
Ahmedabad (Day 14-15)
Ahmedabad can be considered a quick stopover between South India and Rajasthan. You can take a flight or book a train in advance to reach Ahmedabad from Kozhikode.
- In Ahmedabad, visit the Baoris or the step wells which are actually sets of complex steps that descend into the ground to access water. The Adalaj stepwell and the Dada Harir Stepwell are two famous baoris that you should visit.
- Make a stopover at the Sabarmati Ashram founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1917. The Ashram houses the Gandhi museum along with the former house of the father of the nation himself.
Jaisalmer (Day 16-18)
Take an overnight bus or train journey to arrive at Jaisalmer, a 900-year-old ancient city in Rajasthan that borders neighbouring Pakistan. From the hustle and bustle of Ahmedabad, you will be pleasantly surprised to see the quiet desert life of Jaisalmer.
- Explore the towering golden-hued Jaisalmer fort that dominates the Jaisalmer skyline.
- Visit the many Jain sect temples and Patwon ki Haveli
- Experience authentic Rajasthani culture by night camping on the vast expanse of the Thar desert.
- Enjoy a camel safari in Jaisalmer
- If time permits, you can visit the man-dug Gadisar lake along with the shrines and temples in the vicinity.
Jodhpur (Day 19-20)
After taking an overnight sleeper bus, you will arrive at India’s Blue city of Jodhpur. This old Marwar capital can be explored for its below-mentioned sites.
- Take a tour of the majestic Mehrangarh fort.
- Check out the Ghanta Ghar clocktower and shop and eat at the Sardar market.
- Visit the Toorji-ka-Jhalara stepwell which is within walking distance from the clocktower
- Visit the palatial Umaid Bhavan Palace in Jodhpur and marvel at the lives of the erstwhile royalty of Rajasthan.
Jaipur (Day 21-23)
Travel from Jodhpur to Jaipur via a road journey by bus or train. Jaipur is Rajasthan’s capital city and is steeped in rich Rajasthani culture and tradition.
- Visit Nahargarh fort,
- Explore Amer Fort and the Jaipur wall
- Admire the architectural beauty of the Jaipur City Palace.
- Visit the intricately designed Panna Meena Ka Kund, or Jaipur Stepwell.
- Visit the beautiful and intricately designed Hawa Mahal.
Agra ( Day 24 )
Take an overnight sleeper bus to Agra from Jaipur which is about a 4 hours journey. Agra is synonymous with the iconic Taj Mahal. So, any visit to Agra is rendered incomplete without a visit to this world-famous monument of beauty and love. Also, you can visit Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort after spending some leisure moments savoring the ivory white-marbled mausoleum of love.
Delhi ( Day 25- 27)
Delhi, India’s capital city is the administrative seat of Indian politics. This ancient city has much to offer in terms of museums, palaces, monuments and other attractions.
- Visit the UNESCO World-Heritage-listed Qutub Minar built from sandstone and marble.
- Visit the Delhi Haat, an open-air market that contains food plazas and adn craft bazaar.
- Visit the Sydney Opera House resembling the Lotus temple
- Visit old areas in Delhi and explore Jama Masjid, Red Fort and Chandi Chowk.
- Relish food in the bylanes of Chandni Chowk and shop in the narrow alleys of old Delhi.
Rishikesh (Day 28- 30)
Rishikesh is the last leg of your India journey. Rishikesh is a perfect place to wind up your hectic 1-month itinerary of major Indian tourist places. This holy city is a hub for all yoga-related activities. You can stay at a yoga retreat in Rishikesh and spend some tranquil moments in peace. Also, known for its yoga teacher training courses, many people head to Rishikesh particularly to do the beginner-level 200-hour yoga teacher training in India. In fact, you will find many foreigners flocking to pursue a yoga teacher training course in Rishikesh. Besides yoga, some other things that you can explore in Rishikesh are:
- Witness the evening aarti at Triveni ghat.
- Visit the many natural caves and waterfalls in the vicinity
- Pay your respects at the many Shiva temples
- Visit the iconic Beatles Ashram
The bottom line
Besides the above-mentioned places, there are still many places that you can explore in India. We suggest that you should be more open-minded and flexible while travelling across India. We are sure that you will take back a lifetime of memories from visiting and experiencing the diverse topography, rich heritage and culture of this incredibly colorful country.
OUR SUGGESTION :- WIKIPEDIA
