Destination Guides

Where to go in India

Matching India's regions and cities to trip types — first-timers, beach weeks, food trips and family holidays.

6 min read · Updated 2026-08-01

India is a subcontinent rather than a single destination: the Himalayan north, the desert states of Rajasthan, the Gangetic plains, the Western Ghats and the tropical south each behave differently and peak at different times. The one national organising principle is the southwest monsoon, which typically arrives in Kerala around early June and sweeps north over the following weeks, then withdraws from around September. Most first trips take the northern 'Golden Triangle' of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, or a slower southern loop through Kerala. Domestic flights and an extensive rail network make long distances manageable, but distances are large and journeys slow.

The places worth building a trip around

Each of these has its own page with timing, budget and getting-around notes.

Delhi (City) — Mughal monuments, imperial avenues and the country's main northern gateway.
Agra & the Taj Mahal (City) — The Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri — three World Heritage sites in one stop.
Rajasthan (Region) — Desert kingdom of fort cities — Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.
Kerala (Region) — Backwater houseboats, tea hills, wildlife reserves and a distinct southern food culture.
Varanasi (City) — Ghats on the Ganges, dawn boat rides and evening aarti ceremonies.
Goa (Coast) — Beach strip with Portuguese-era churches, a busy north and a quieter south.
Ladakh (Mountain) — High-altitude desert of monasteries and passes, accessible mainly in summer.
Mumbai (City) — Art deco waterfront, film industry energy and the best restaurant range in the country.