The full sensory overload — Mughal monuments, beach states, Himalayan trekking, world-class food, ashrams, and modern megacities. Budget-friendly across the board.
Old Delhi’s Mughal architecture (Red Fort, Jama Masjid) + colonial New Delhi. Gateway to the Golden Triangle.
The Taj Mahal at sunrise. Agra Fort. Day-trip distance from Delhi.
Pink City — Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal. Completes the Golden Triangle.
Backwater houseboats in Alleppey, beaches in Varkala, hill stations in Munnar. South India at its softest.
Hindu pilgrimage city on the Ganges. Dawn boat rides past the burning ghats. Spiritual heartland.
Beach state on the west coast. Portuguese colonial heritage, parties in north Goa, quiet beaches in south Goa.