1Why India North & Himalayas?
Most travellers come to India for the Taj Mahal, leave after 24 hours, and think they've seen the country. India is a continent, not a country. The north alone contains a dozen distinct sub-civilizations, four climates, and 800 million people. This guide stitches together a 14-day route that hits the headline sights without rushing them, then veers into the corners where most 7-day itineraries don't reach.
2The 14-day loop
| Day | Where | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Delhi | 2 nights in Delhi (Old Delhi + New Delhi) |
| 3 | Delhi → Jaipur (4–5h train) | 1 night in Jaipur |
| 4 | Jaipur: Amber Fort, City Palace, pink city walk | Jaipur |
| 5 | Jaipur → Pushkar (3h) | 1 night in Pushkar |
| 6 | Pushkar → Udaipur (5h bus, or return to Jaipur for flight) | 1 night in Udaipur |
| 7 | Udaipur: City Palace, lake Pichola sunset | Udaipur |
| 8 | Udaipur → Varanasi (overnight train, 18h, sleeper class) | 1 night on train |
| 9 | Arrive Varanasi, evening Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat | 2 nights in Varanasi |
| 10 | Varanasi: sunrise boat, Sarnath day trip | Varanasi |
| 11 | Varanasi → Haridwar → Rishikesh (8h train, scenic) | 2 nights in Rishikesh |
| 12 | Rishikesh: yoga, Ganga, hiking | Rishikesh |
| 13 | Rishikesh → Delhi (6h train, or fly via Dehradun) | 1 night in Delhi |
| 14 | Delhi: last shopping + fly out | Delhi, fly out |
3Why north India works for a 2-week trip
Most first-time visitors do the "Golden Triangle" (Delhi–Agra–Jaipur) in 4–5 days, see the Taj, leave. The country is so much larger than that. North India alone — from the Rajasthani desert to the Himalayan foothills — holds half a dozen distinct cultural zones, each with its own architecture, food, dialect, and religion. Doing it in 14 days is brisk but doable, and the route below stitches the highlights with the cultural context that makes them land.
Two practical notes: (1) India is a budget destination in absolute terms, but the costs of internal flights add up — book trains 2–3 months ahead. (2) The food is the country's most underrated asset. The vegetarian thali in Varanasi and the laal maas in Jaipur are worth the trip on their own.
4Delhi — start in the chaos
Delhi is overwhelming. A 15th-century fort next to a Mughal tomb next to a British-era government quarter next to a metro station. The trick is to split it: Day 1 in Old Delhi (Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk food walk); Day 2 in New Delhi (Humayun's Tomb, India Gate, the wide boulevards). Take the metro everywhere — it's cheap, clean, and the only sane way to move.
Where to stay
Old Delhi for the chaos: Haveli Dharampura (heritage haveli, €50–80). Paharganj for backpackers: Zostel Delhi (dorm €8, private €25). Hauz Khas for design and cafés: Devna House (€70–110).
5Jaipur — the pink city
Jaipur is the most-photographed city in Rajasthan, and for good reason: a 19th-century old town painted in terracotta pink, with the Amber Fort on a hill, the Hawa Mahal façade of 953 windows, and the City Palace still lived in by the royal family. One full day, two nights. Don't miss:
- Amber Fort: the 16th-century Rajput fort 11 km out of town, with mirror-palace ceilings. 500 INR (~€6). Allow 3 hours.
- City Palace: still a royal residence, with a museum of Mughal miniatures and the world's largest silver urns. 700 INR (~€8).
- Hawa Mahal: 5-storey façade of 953 windows, built so royal women could watch street processions unseen. 200 INR (~€2.5). Climb for the city view.
Food
Try laal maas (Rajasthani mutton curry) at Handi Restaurant; dal baati churma (lentils, baked wheat balls, sweet crumbs) at Chokhi Dhani; and the famous kulfi at Tapri.
6Pushkar & Udaipur — the quieter Rajasthan
Most tourists skip Pushkar; that's their loss. A lakeside town with a single Brahma temple (one of very few in India), a peaceful bazaar, and the famous camel fair in November. One night. Swim in the lake at sunset — it's sacred, so no soap, but the water's clean.
Udaipur is the romantic outlier of Rajasthan: a city of white marble palaces on two lakes, the painted City Palace in the centre, the floating Lake Palace on an island, and a hilltop Monsoon Palace for sunset. Two nights minimum. The haveli-style Jag Niwas is a splurge (€300+), but mid-range Hotel Amet Haveli on the lake (€60–90) is the move.
7Varanasi — the oldest continuously living city on Earth
Varanasi sits on the west bank of the Ganges, and has been inhabited for 3,500 years. The 84 ghats (stone steps) along the river are where Hindu cremations happen, where pilgrims bathe at dawn, and where evening prayer ceremonies draw thousands. It's a lot. Give it two full days:
- Sunrise boat ride: take a small boat from Assi Ghat upstream to Manikarnika Ghat (the burning ghat). 100–200 INR per person for a 1-hour shared boat. 5:30 am start. Carry tissues.
- Evening Ganga Aarti: the daily prayer ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Arrive 30 min early for a spot. 7 pm in winter, 8 pm in summer.
- Sarnath day trip: 10 km out of town, where the Buddha gave his first sermon. Impressive museum, peaceful deer park. 100 INR.
Where to stay
Surya Kund and BrijRama Palace are heritage palaces on the ghats (€120–250). Zostel Varanasi is the backpacker pick (dorm €8).
8Rishikesh — the yogi capital of the world
Six hours north of Delhi by train, in the Himalayan foothills where the Ganges exits the mountains. Rishikesh is the global home of yoga (the Beatles wrote most of the White Album at the ashram here in 1968) and the launch point for whitewater rafting on the Ganges. Two nights minimum. Don't expect a retreat centre — it can be a party town in peak season. The Parmarth Niketan ashram has a free evening aarti on the Ganges that's the highlight of the town.
9When to go
India has three travel windows that beat the rest:
- October – March: the cool season. 15–25 °C in the north, no rain, no humidity. Crowded but the right temperature for sightseeing.
- April – June: brutally hot. 40+ °C in Rajasthan. Avoid the north, go to the mountains or the coast.
- July – September: the monsoon. Heavy rain, flooding, landslides in the hills. Cities still work (Delhi is fine), but rural Rajasthan and the Himalayas can be blocked.
Best: November to early March. Avoid Christmas–New Year (peak prices, everything booked).
10Getting around
Trains are the backbone. IRCTC is the booking site; book 2–3 months ahead for sleeper class, 4–6 weeks for AC classes. Trains for short hops (Delhi–Jaipur 4–5h, Jaipur–Pushkar 3h). Flights for long ones (Jaipur–Varanasi flight saves 18 hours on the train). Uber/Ola for in-city. Rickshaws in Old Delhi and Varanasi — agree price first.
11Daily budget
India is one of the world's biggest budget destinations. Honest breakdown:
Build a budget using the dedicated budget guide. Its amounts are illustrative allowances; obtain current quotes in the local currency for your dates.
12Hidden detours
- Khajuraho: a 2h detour from Jhansi, 25 carved Hindu and Jain temples (10th–11th century) with erotic sculpture that will surprise you. UNESCO. 650 INR.
- Hampi: 1,500 ruined temples in a boulder-strewn landscape. Stay 2 nights. South India, but worth the extra flight.
- McLeod Ganj (Dharamsala): the Dalai Lama's base, 12h north of Delhi in the Himachal. Tibetan food, monasteries, and the best momos in India.
13Is India solo-friendly?
Very — probably the most rewarding solo destination in Asia. Safety varies by neighbourhood, activity and current conditions. Check destination-specific travel advice and plan transport and accommodation carefully. The culture of hospitality (Atithi Devo Bhava, "the guest is God") means you'll be invited for tea, dinner, or even a wedding. The catch is the noise and the chaos: solo travel here rewards patience and a sense of humour. Read more in our solo travel guide.
14Is India good for first-time solo?
Arguably better than any other country. The reason: you're never alone, even when you're alone. Someone will always be looking at you, talking to you, inviting you somewhere. That sounds intrusive on paper; in practice, after week two, it feels like being wrapped in cotton wool. If you've never travelled solo, India is the place to start.
India is intense. The first 48 hours are sensory overload — traffic, horns, smells, crowds, staring. By day 3, you’ll be calibrated; by day 7, you’ll be defending the country to anyone who asks. Approach with an open mind, eat where the locals eat, accept the 5 random invitations you’ll get per day, and don’t plan a tight schedule — India refuses to be rushed. The 14 days above is brisk; if you have 21, add Ranthambore tiger safari (3 days) or McLeod Ganj (3 days).
Local experiences
📜 Festivals: Diwali, Holi and the Pushkar Fair
Three festivals worth timing for. Holi (March, the colour-throwing festival, Varanasi is the spiritual home). Diwali (October or November, the festival of lights, Jaipur is the visual high point). Pushkar Fair (November, 50,000 camels, the largest camel fair in the world, the photo essay is the side benefit).
🍜 Food: the thali rule
The thali is the daily meal: a stainless steel plate with 5-7 small bowls of vegetables, dal, rice, roti, and a sweet. The vegetarian thali is ₹200-400 in the south, the non-veg in the north is ₹400-700. The trick is to eat with the right hand, to mix the dal and rice, and to keep the sweet for last.
🏟e Customs: the right hand, the head, the temple
Three rules: the right hand is the clean hand, the left is for shoes, you don’t touch anything with the left. The head is sacred, don’t pat children. At temples, take off your shoes, don’t point your feet at the deity, and never turn your back to the shrine. The right way to enter a temple is to step in with the right foot first.
Frequently asked questions
1When is the best time to visit India North & Himalayas?
The sweet spot for India North & Himalayas is Oct–Mar (cool). The When to go section above breaks down every season, including the months to avoid.
2How many days should I spend in India North & Himalayas?
The itinerary above runs over 19 days. That covers the main highlights at a comfortable pace; add 2–3 extra days if you want to linger, travel slower, or include the hidden detours listed at the end of the guide.
3How much should I budget per day for India North & Himalayas?
The illustrative daily budget for India North & Himalayas is in the mid-range bracket for the destination. The Daily budget table in this guide gives a full item-by-item breakdown, from hostels to splurges.
4Is India North & Himalayas safe for tourists?
India North & Himalayas is generally safe for travellers who take the usual precautions — keep valuables out of sight, avoid empty streets late at night, and use licensed transport. The guide covers any destination-specific safety notes in the sections above.
5Do I need to speak the local language in India North & Himalayas?
Language support varies by location and operator. Save addresses in the local language and an offline translation tool; do not assume English assistance is always available. Learning a handful of local phrases will still get you a warmer reception everywhere.