Destination: India
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: The Best of India
THREE TO FIVE MONTHS
Covering the standout spots of North and South India, this jam-packed itinerary takes you from the windswept deserts of Rajasthan to the tropical backwaters of Kerala. Although you could do the trip in three months, it's going to be far more rewarding if you allow an extra couple of months.
Given the distances and stamina that subcontinental travel entails, it's preferable to see India in segments over several different trips. However, for those energetic souls who are keen on seeing the north and south in one go, this itinerary is for you; to get the best of the weather, begin around October. If you wish to include Leh, do so from Delhi and only when the region is accessible (May to October).
Spend a few days overcoming jetlag in Delhi before shooting southeast to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. Begin your Rajasthan romp in Jaipur from where you could incorporate a side trip to neighbouring Gujarat. Next, visit sacred Varanasi, stopping en route at Orchha and Khajuraho. Slip southeast to Kolkata, first stopping at Bodhgaya to fuel up on spiritual sustenance with a meditation course. Travel southwest to the Orissan capital, Bhubaneswar, followed by visits to Konark and Puri. Cut inland to Hyderabad, resting overnight at Visakhapatnam if necessary, before arriving in bubbly Bangalore. Continue to coast-hugging Pondicherry, first pausing at Chennai, then dive further south to Madurai to see the Sri Meenakshi Temple. Catch an Arabian Sea sunset or two at Varkala before arriving at Alleppey to explore verdant Kerala's backwaters. Hang loose at Kochi before hitting Hampi, breaking the journey at Mangalore. For sandy bliss, zip west to Goa's beaches then, when you're all beached out, follow the twinkling lights north to Mumbai (Bombay), from where you can visit Aurangabad, Ajanta and Ellora.
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