Three to four weeks in India is a fabulous amount of time to see a great part of this huge subcontinent country. The only challenge is choosing where to go and what not to miss! In this article we list five different sample north India itinerary options for how to spend up to one month in India.
Albeit five itineraries are a lot to choose from. With each north India itinerary, we have listed some pros and cons for each choice. And at the end this article, we give suggestions to help pick one to suit best and share our favourite north India itinerary.
Here we go!
- Why one-month in India?
- Getting there
- Choosing a North India Itinerary
- North India Itineraries
– Option #1
– Option #2
– Option #3
– Option #4
– Option #5 - Pros and cons of each India Itinerary
- Which itinerary do we suggest?
- Our favourite North India Itinerary
- Other India itineraries
- Accommodation in North India
Why do we suggest a one-month itinerary in North India?
In north India, traveling for three or four weeks makes for a good pace and with the extensive Indian railway network you can get from one side of Uttar Pradesh all the way to the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, to the famous Golden Triangle of India and north to Punjab too.
Plus, it is straightforward to get a 30-Day Tourist e-Visa for India and so it makes sense to travel for up to one month and make the most of the permitted visa validity.
One month in India will be a grand adventure.
- Read about applying for your India e-Visa online before you travel.
Getting to North India
Most travellers begin and end their India trip in Delhi because of the large, international airport there. It is easy to find flights to Delhi from all over the world with connections in the Middle East and South Asia.
However, some of these India itinerary options start in Kolkata or Mumbai. Both of these cities are also well connected with flights to Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
- Read our travel guide to India including all about arriving at New Delhi International Airport, getting a SIM card for India and managing, exchanging and withdrawing money in India.
What is the best time of year to visit North India?
There are advantages to travel in North India at different times of the year.
The summer from May and June can be unbearably hot in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. But the summer months have clear skies and this is the quietest tourist season to travel.
The rainy season in July and August is notoriously wet. And yes; India does still get the monsoon weather in the north!
The winter from October to March is when the temperature is pleasant and the chance of rain is much less.
- May – June: This is the summer with high temperatures during the days and nights often reaching 40°C/104°F.
- July – August: This is the monsoon season with high rainfall in July.
- November – February: The winter months have a comfortable daytime temperature but with cool evenings and cold overnights.
- Mid-September – October and March – April: The shoulder seasons have a pleasant temperature and lesser crowds.
The main disadvantage from November to March is the smog. Unfortunately, Delhi is especially polluted as one of India’s largest cities. For farmers it is the burning season for crops in November in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and that coupled with the pollution in the cities there can often – and daily – be high levels of polluted air.
We have travelled in North India at all times of year including in the high of summer, the monsoon season and in the colder, smoggier winter months. And the truth is that whatever time of year you are there you will find pros and cons to the weather.
Though do be extra careful in the monsoon and rainy season in India!
- Read about getting Dengue Fever in India (and ending up in hospital in Delhi).
Choosing a North India Itinerary
North India is huge! It includes the most well-known states of Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. And it has everything from the mountains of the Himalayas to the incredible Thar Desert and all the way to the holy city and sacred River Ganges in Varanasi.
It really depends on what you are looking for with one month in India. And whether you like to travel more slowly or prioritise getting further off the beaten track (we do!).
Each of these north India itineraries has different highlights and with the varied directions of travel means there are choices to make to move between cities.
Option #1 – Delhi to Delhi – North India Itinerary
- START: Delhi
- END: Delhi
- Delhi – 2 nights
- Jaisalmer – 4 nights
- Jodhpur – 2 nights
- Udaipur – 3 nights
- Pushkar – 3 nights
- Jaipur – 3 nights
- Agra – 2 nights
- Varanasi – 3 nights
- Delhi – 3 nights
- TOTAL DAYS: 26 days
- TOTAL NIGHTS: 25 nights
About North India Itinerary Option #1
This is a great itinerary for north India that can be easily extended to one month.
Rajasthan is the most popular state to visit in India with an array of magnificent forts and palaces, and a vibrant and colourful experience of Indian culture. And this itinerary also covers the Taj Mahal in Agra and Varanasi; India’s other two most popular destinations.
HIGHLIGHTS – OPTION #1
These are the top highlights of this itinerary.
- Tour of Old Delhi
- Shopping in the markets of Delhi
- Sunrise at the Taj Mahal in Agra
- Amber Fort in Jaipur
- Jaipur morning Flower Market
- Camel Safari in Jaisalmer
- Boat ride on the River Ganges
- Aarti ceremony in Varanasi
- Travel on the Vande Bharat fast train
- Boat ride on Lake Pichola in Udaipur
- Walk around Pushkar Lake
You can see a more detailed list in our articles about each India destination.
PROS – OPTION #1
This itinerary option covers most of the best Rajasthan destinations and starting and ending in Delhi means that travel distances between the cities are not uncomfortably long.
ANY CHALLENGES WITH THIS ITINERARY?
This itinerary assumes a flight from Delhi to Jaisalmer however this flight route only operates during the winter months from October to March.
- Book tickets for trains in India through 12GoAsia.com.
- Read about trains in India and taking the train from Jaipur to Agra.
Further options with North India Itinerary #1
Ending back in Delhi opens options for a short trip of a few extra days somewhere nearby. We suggest adding 3 days to this north India itinerary and taking the Vande Bharat fast train to Amritsar.
- Read about taking the Vande Bharat fast train from Delhi to Amritsar and how to visit the famous Golden Temple.
OPTION #2 – Mumbai to Delhi – North India Itinerary
- START: Mumbai
- END: Delhi
- Mumbai – 3 nights
- Overnight train – 1 night
- Udaipur – 3 nights
- Jodhpur – 3 nights
- Jaisalmer – 4 nights
- Overnight train – 1 night
- Jaipur – 3 nights
- Agra – 2 nights
- Varanasi – 3 nights
- Delhi – 3 nights
- TOTAL DAYS: 27 days
- TOTAL NIGHTS: 26 nights
About North India Itinerary Option #2
This is an awesome north India itinerary covering all the major destinations of the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan plus Varanasi and Amritsar.
HIGHLIGHTS – OPTION #2
These are the top highlights of this itinerary.
- Tour of Old Mumbai
- Shopping in the Delhi markets
- Sunrise at the Taj Mahal in Agra
- Amber Fort in Jaipur
- See the Blue City of Jodhpur
- Camel Safari in Jaisalmer
- Boat ride on the River Ganges
- Aarti ceremony in Varanasi
- Vande Bharat fast train
- Boat ride on Lake Pichola in Udaipur
You can see a more detailed list in our articles about each India destination.
PROS OF OPTION #2
This itinerary also includes Mumbai where the other itinerary options start in Delhi or Kolkata. Mumbai is an incredible city to experience and one of the largest and most famous cities in the world.
I also like this itinerary for the 3 nights allocated in Jodhpur. This is a smaller Rajasthani city and especially in contrast to the much busier megacity of Mumbai.
ANY CHALLENGES WITH THIS ITINERARY?
There are a lot of days taken up with daytime train travel and a car journey to Jodhpur plus two overnight trains.
The trains are a great way to travel but arriving to Mumbai means that geographically you start further away from Rajasthan and most of the other cities on this north India itinerary.
Further options with North India Itinerary #2
Because this itinerary also comes in under with four days under one month in India there is the option to add extra days at one or two of the slower cities – like Udaipur or Jodhpur – and slow down a bit.
- Read about taking the overnight train from Jaisalmer to Jaipur.
Option #3 – Delhi, Rajasthan and Punjab Roundtrip – North India Itinerary
- START: Delhi
- END: Delhi
- Delhi – 2 nights
- Varanasi – 3 nights
- Agra – 2 nights
- Jaipur – 3 nights
- Udaipur – 3 nights
- Jodhpur – 2 nights
- Jaisalmer – 4 nights
- Bikaner – 3 nights
- Amritsar – 3 nights
- Delhi – 3 nights
- TOTAL DAYS: 29 days
- TOTAL NIGHTS: 28 nights
About Itinerary Option #3
This is an awesome north India itinerary covering all the major destinations of the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan plus Varanasi and Amritsar.
HIGHLIGHTS – OPTION #3
These are the top highlights of this itinerary.
- Tour of Old Delhi
- Shopping in the markets of Delhi
- Boat ride on the River Ganges
- Aarti ceremony in Varanasi
- Sunrise at the Taj Mahal
- Amber Fort in Jaipur
- Jaipur morning Flower Market
- Camel Safari in Jaisalmer
- Tour of Old Bikaner
- Visit Bikaner Camel Farm
- Vande Bharat fast train
- Boat on Lake Pichola in Udaipur
- See the Golden Temple in Amritsar
You can see a more detailed list in our articles about each India destination.
PROS OF OPTION #3
This itinerary covers the classic north India destinations in a way that the travel between cities is only during the daytime and most journeys can be made on the Vande Bharat fast train.
ANY CHALLENGES WITH THIS ITINERARY?
There are a lot of days taken up with daytime train travel in this north India itinerary.
You could potentially add an extra day in Udaipur or Jaisalmer to have a rest day somewhere in the middle of the itinerary.
Further options with North India Itinerary # 3
Because this itinerary starts and ends in Delhi but with the final days in Amritsar it also opens the option to cross the border from Amritsar to Lahore in Pakistan. We have done this four times in the last few years!
If you have the correct visa for Pakistan and a multi-entry visa for India, you can exit India at Amritsar and re-enter with the same visa.
- Read about getting the Vande Bharat fast train from Delhi to Amritsar and all about crossing the Wagah Border from India to Pakistan.
OPTION #4 – Mumbai to Kolkata – North India Itinerary
- START: Mumbai
- END: Kolkata
- Mumbai – 3 nights
- Overnight train – 1 night
- Udaipur – 3 nights
- Jodhpur – 3 nights
- Jaisalmer – 4 nights
- Overnight train – 1 night
- Jaipur – 3 nights
- Agra – 2 nights
- Delhi – 3 nights
- Varanasi – 3 nights
- Kolkata – 3 nights
- TOTAL DAYS: 30 days
- TOTAL NIGHTS: 29 nights
About Itinerary Option #4
This includes the three largest and most famous cities in India – Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. It also manages to allow enough time for a trip to the desert in Jaisalmer and travel by overnight train twice in North India.
HIGHLIGHTS – OPTION #4
These are the top highlights of this itinerary.
- Tour of Mumbai
- Shopping in the Delhi markets
- Boat ride on the River Ganges
- Aarti ceremony in Varanasi
- Sunrise at the Taj Mahal
- Amber Fort in Jaipur
- Jaipur Flower Market
- Camel Safari in Jaisalmer
- Overnight train to Udaipur
- Boat ride on Lake Pichola
- Visit the House of Mother Teresa in Kolkata
You can see a more detailed list in our articles about each India destination.
PROS OF OPTION #4
This itinerary includes Kolkata too and with it being the last stop means there is the option to visit the Sundarbans National Park if you have more time.
The Sundarbans is a huge mangrove area that is mostly in Bangladesh but extends through to West Bengal near Kolkata too.
Just make sure you have enough days left on your India e-Visa to extend time near Kolkata.
- Read about travel in Bangladesh.
ANY CHALLENGES WITH THIS ITINERARY?
The main downside of the route starting in Mumbai and ending in Kolkata is that you need to do an overnight train within your first few days in India. If this feels like too much it would make sense to start on the opposite side and begin in Kolkata and end in Mumbai.
OPTION #5 – Delhi, Bikaner and Jaisalmer to Mumbai – North India Itinerary
- START: Delhi
- END: Mumbai
- Delhi – 3 nights
- Agra – 2 nights
- Jaipur – 3 nights
- Bikaner – 3 nights
- Jaisalmer – 4 nights
- Jodhpur – 3 nights
- Udaipur – 4 nights
- Overnight Train – 1 night
- Mumbai – 3 nights
- TOTAL DAYS: 27 days
- TOTAL NIGHTS: 26 nights
About Itinerary Option #5
I really like that this itinerary option includes Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. Those cities are to the far west of Rajasthan and so take a bit of travel to get to.
But the way that this India itinerary is set out means that all the travel is doable by daytime train, fast train and transfer by car (Jodhpur to Udaipur). And then the only overnight train is right at the end of the itinerary, when your confidence for navigating India will be high!
HIGHLIGHTS – OPTION #5
These are the top highlights of this itinerary.
- Tour of Old and New Delhi
- Shopping in the Delhi markets
- Sunrise at the Taj Mahal
- Amber Fort in Jaipur
- Jaipur Flower Market
- See the Rat Temple in Bikaner
- Lunch in a palace in Bikaner
- Bikaner Camel Farm
- Camel Safari in Jaisalmer
- Boat ride on Lake Pichola in Udaipur
- Overnight train to Mumbai
- Tour of Mumbai
You can see a more detailed list in our articles about each India destination.
PROS OF OPTION #5
This has a good mixture of large cities (Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur) as well as a chance to slow down and get a taste of the smaller north Indian cities (Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur).
With an extra day in Udaipur there is the option for a day trip to one of the nearby forts. As well as the chance to see Kumbhalgarh Fort on route from Jodhpur to Udaipur which is often referred to as the ‘Great Wall of India’ and the largest for in the country!
ANY CHALLENGES WITH THIS ITINERARY?
This is quite a relaxed pace with a few longer daytime train rides. There is a bus ride or two between Bikaner and Jaisalmer or to Jodhpur. But in truth, the buses are comfortable enough, and the distance makes for another type of manageable daytime travel adventure.
- Read about taking a bus in India from Bikaner to Jaisalmer.
Which option would we recommend?
If it is your first time traveling in India, we would recommend Option #1 for your North India Itinerary.
This is the simplest itinerary starting and ending in Delhi and covering the class highlights and major destinations for north India. It makes it easier (and cheaper) to arrive and depart from Delhi International Airport.
- Read about applying for your India e-Visa and all about arriving at Delhi International Airport here.
Which is our favourite itinerary option?
I’m pretty sure that all our family would choose Itinerary Option #3 simply because it includes Jaisalmer (our favourite), Bikaner and Amritsar too.
Bikaner is a bit more off the beaten track and lesser travelled as far as Rajasthan destinations. And we really rate Jaisalmer as our favourite place in India.
Other India itineraries and inspiration
Here are some other itinerary ideas for planning an epic trip in India.
- Ultimate 1 Week Golden Triangle Itinerary: Two Options.
- 10 Day Rajasthan India Itinerary.
- 10 Day Punjab India to Pakistan Itinerary.
- 5 Days in Kerala, South India.
- Ultimate 3 Week India Itinerary.
- 2-Day Detailed Varanasi Itinerary.
- The Perfect One Day in Delhi Itinerary.
Accommodation we recommend in North India
- Delhi (Airport) / Mid-Range: Taurus Sarovar Portico [beautiful hotel only a few km’s from Delhi International Airport. A great first stop arriving in India with buffet breakfast included and a restaurant onsite.
- South Delhi / Mid-Range: Haveli Hauz Khas
A homestay style Haveli in the popular Hauz Khas area of South Delhi.
- New Delhi / Mid-Range-Luxury: Shangri La’s Eros Hotel
The hotel has a few in house restaurants, including the signature Shang Palace and Sorrento. There’s also a gym, an outdoor pool and a spa.
- New Delhi / Budget: Smyle Inn
Extremely basic hotel in small back alley but with very friendly, helpful staff and simple breakfast included. Just off Main Bazaar.
- Agra / Budget-Mid: Aman HomestayVery friendly family-run homestay with rooftop views of The Taj Mahal. Great rickshaw driver service and home cooked meals. We stay here with our Group Trips to India.
- Agra / Budget-Mid: The Coral House Homestay by the Taj Located only 700 metres from Taj Mahal with a relaxing homestay feel and comfortable common areas. A great dinner and breakfast option. We really enjoyed staying here.
- Agra / Mid-Luxury: Hotel Taj Resorts
Beautiful resort style accommodation only 600 metres from the Taj. Enjoy the incredible restaurant on-site and refreshing swimming pool.
- Varanasi / Budget-Mid: Hotel Temple of Ganges
Simple rooms with options for triple/family accommodation. Close to Assi Ghat with rooftop views to the River Ganges.
Accommodation we recommend in Rajasthan
- Jaipur / Mid-Range: Jaipur Haveli
We recommend Jaipur Haveli and stay here on our India Group Trips. It is an incredible old haveli home in heart of Jaipur with beautiful rooms, great attention to detail and very friendly staff and owners.
- Jaisalmer / Budget: The Wanderlust Guesthouse
AMAZING guest-house! We love staying here and can highly recommend. Great rooms; rooftop restaurant overlooking the fort; awesome camel safaris!
- Bikaner / Budget: The Prince Haveli
The haveli has been lovingly restored and is located right in the centre of the old city. It is a basic accommodation, but the rooms are comfortable, and it is an affordable way to experience a traditional Haveli in Bikaner.
- Jodhpur / Budget: Raj Mandir Boutique Homestay
Good location in Blue City, spacious room with small balcony inside Haveli style home. Tiny little doors, lots of unique decor and artefacts.
Tips for travel planning to India and beyond
These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia through 12Go.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have travel insurance before traveling to India!
