India is enormous. It has a reputation for being chaotic, but also healing and magical. It’s objectively one of the most historic countries, and wildly diverse. On this trip I tried to schedule as much as I could with the time I had.
The Route
The route begins in Mumbai, then heads north to Udaipur and Jaipur before continuing through India’s famous Golden Triangle — Delhi and Agra. From there the trip dipped south to Hyderabad, then slowed down along the tropical coast of Kochi before returning to Mumbai.
In total: 25 days, 8 cities, mostly short flights and a couple of trains.
Jump to a City
The full itinerary – how long I stayed, mode of travel, and cost.
- Mumbai, Maharashtra (Start)
- Udaipur, Rajasthan
- Jaipur, Rajasthan
- New Delhi, Delhi
- Agra, Uttar Pradesh
- Hyderabad, Telangana
- Goa, Goa
- Kochi, Kerala
- Mumbai, Maharashtra (End)
- If I had More Time…
- Leh
- Shimla
- Himachal
- Rishikesh
Mumbai — Maharashtra (3 days)
Mumbai is India’s version of New York City: the financial capital, the largest city in the country, and a bustling port on the Arabian Sea. Today it’s India’s commercial engine and the center of the Hindi film industry, Bollywood.
Mumbai is a good introduction to India and one of the easiest places to start a trip simply because it has some of the best international flight connections in the country.
Why did I fly back to Mumbai?
Because I’ve been traveling for 8 months, and I wanted to put my 25 kg (50 lb) suitcase in storage in Mumbai. It costs about $24 for pickup and delivery, plus $10 per month for storage. Definitely worth it so I don’t have to carry it around everywhere—but it does mean I have to return to Mumbai. Otherwise, I would have ended the trip in the south and flown directly to Bangkok, which is my next destination.
1st Accommodations: $65/night on Airbnb in Bandra West. 2nd Accommodations: $231/night at Four Seasons Next Transportation: Flight Mumbai > Udaipur on Air India (about 1.5 hours). $59/PP
Udaipur — Rajasthan (3 days)
It’s known as the “City of Lakes” and surrounded by the Aravalli hills. Founded in 1559 by the Rajput ruler Maharana Udai Singh II, the city became the capital of the Mewar kingdom and is famous for its palaces, white marble architecture, and romantic lakefront views.
The old city wraps around Lake Pichola with narrow streets, rooftop restaurants, and views of the famous Lake Palace.
Next Transportation:
IndiGo Flight to Jaipur. $75/PP
Jaipur — Rajasthan (2 days)
Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and part of India’s famous Golden Triangle travel route. Known as the Pink City, many buildings were painted terracotta pink to welcome the Prince of Wales in 1876, the city mixes royal architecture with chaotic modern life.
Founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, Jaipur is known for massive hilltop forts, palaces, and famous bazaars.
Next Transportation:
Train to New Delhi. $9/PP
New Delhi — Delhi (2 days)
New Delhi is India’s capital and political center. The area known today as New Delhi was designed by the British in the early 20th century as the imperial capital of British India, which explains its wide boulevards and grand government buildings.
Nearby Old Delhi, founded in the 1600s by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, offers a completely different atmosphere—dense markets, centuries-old mosques, and some of the most historic neighborhoods in the country.
Next Transportation:
Train to Agra. $13/PP
Agra — Uttar Pradesh (2 days)
Home of the Taj Mahal, one of the most famous monuments in the world. Built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 1600s as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, it’s considered one of the greatest works of architecture ever constructed.
Agra was once the capital of the Mughal Empire, and the city still reflects that era with enormous forts, mosques, and tombs.
Next Transportation:
Flight to Hyderabad. $77/PP
Hyderabad — Telangana (2 days)
Hyderabad blends royal history with a modern tech boom. Once ruled by the Nizams—among the richest monarchs in the world—the city has a distinctive culture shaped by Persian, Mughal, and South Indian influences.
Today it’s also one of India’s major technology centers, sometimes nicknamed “Cyberabad.” It’s famous for its historic Old City and its special Hyderabadi biryani.
Next Transportation:
Flight to Goa. $79/PP
Goa — Goa (6 days)
Goa is India’s beach escape. A Portuguese colony for more than 450 years, it has a noticeably different cultural influence than the rest of the country—Catholic churches, colonial architecture, and a relaxed coastal atmosphere.
Travelers come for the beaches and nightlife, but Goa also has historic churches, spice plantations, and coastal villages.
Next Transportation:
Flight to Kochi. $60/PP
Kochi — Kerala (3 days)
Kochi (formerly Cochin) sits along Kerala’s southwestern coast and has been a trading port for centuries. Merchants from Arabia, China, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Britain all passed through here during the global spice trade.
Today the city reflects that layered history through its colonial buildings, spice markets, Chinese fishing nets, and vibrant art scene.
Next Transportation:
Flight back to Mumbai. $61/PP
If I Had More Time
India is far too big to see in a month. If I were extending the route, I’d head north into the Himalayas.
Leh — Ladakh
High in the Himalayas, Leh sits in a cold desert plateau sometimes called “Little Tibet.” The region is famous for Buddhist monasteries, dramatic mountain scenery, and some of the highest drivable roads in the world.
Shimla — Himachal Pradesh
Shimla served as the summer capital of British India. Colonial officials would move their government here to escape the brutal heat of the plains. Today it’s known for its mountain setting and historic colonial architecture.
Himachal Pradesh (Mountain Region)
The wider Himachal region is packed with Himalayan towns like Manali and Dharamshala, known for trekking, alpine landscapes, and Tibetan Buddhist culture.
Rishikesh — Uttarakhand
Located along the Ganges River at the foothills of the Himalayas, Rishikesh is considered the “Yoga Capital of the World.” It gained international attention in the 1960s when the Beatles stayed at an ashram here, and it remains a global center for yoga and meditation.
Final Thoughts
One funny thing…without planning it, this trip ended up following a rough timeline of India’s historical power centers. It begins in the Rajput kingdoms of Rajasthan, (Udaipur and Jaipur) where warrior dynasties ruled desert fort cities. Then moves to the Mughal imperial capitals around Agra and New Delhi, where emperors governed the subcontinent and built monuments like the Taj Mahal. The route continues to Hyderabad, once ruled by the immensely wealthy Nizam dynasty, then to former Portuguese colonial Goa, and finally to the ancient port of Kochi, a hub of the global spice trade. The trip moves through several centuries of Indian political history.