Things to do in India

India covers 3.3 million square kilometres, and no single trip reaches all of it. Tours in India gather in the north and west: Delhi, Rajasthan, Kashmir, the Ganges towns and Goa. Choose the region first.

Choosing a region

• Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The Golden Triangle is the classic first route. Delhi to Agra takes three and a half to four hours by road, Agra to Jaipur about five, and Jaipur back to Delhi about six.
• Rajasthan. Past Jaipur lie Jodhpur, with its blue-washed old city under Mehrangarh Fort, Jaisalmer and its desert camps, Udaipur's lakes and Pushkar. Jaipur to Jodhpur takes about six hours, Jodhpur to Jaisalmer five and a half.
• Wildlife. Ranthambore is a tiger reserve, reached from Delhi, Agra or Jaipur. Jawai, between Jodhpur and Udaipur, is a leopard-watching area.
• The north. Srinagar has day trips to Gulmarg, about 50 kilometres away, and to Pahalgam. Haridwar and Rishikesh, the Ganges towns, are five to six hours from Delhi. Longer routes reach Orchha, Khajuraho and Varanasi.
• Goa. The trip is a day to Dudhsagar Falls, with a jeep safari and a spice plantation stop.

What fills the days

• Forts and palaces. Mehrangarh in Jodhpur, Amber Fort and the City Palace in Jaipur, and Agra Fort beside the Taj Mahal.
• Deserts. Camel rides and camp nights around Jaisalmer and Osian.
• Rivers and mountains. Haridwar's temples, Rishikesh's adventure sports and the meadows of Gulmarg.

How the trips work

India is travelled by road as much as rail. Private cars with drivers link the cities, and most multi-day tours are built around them. One-way transfers between the main cities can also be booked alone.

A same-day Taj Mahal trip from Delhi is a long day. It means at least seven hours in the car.

Practical

• Weather. October to March suits the northern plains: days of 20 to 30C in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, though December and January nights fall to 5 to 8C and fog delays trains and flights. April to June reaches 38 to 45C. The monsoon runs from late June to September.
• Kashmir. It keeps a different calendar: cool in summer, with snow at Gulmarg in winter.
• Taj Mahal. It is closed on Fridays.
• Ranthambore. Safaris pause for the monsoon, roughly July to September.
• Trains. Express trains link Delhi and Agra in under two hours.
• Dress. Cover shoulders and knees at temples and mosques. Shoes come off at the door.