Two Weeks in India: The Ultimate 14-Day Itinerary

Two weeks in India is both too much and nowhere near enough. This itinerary covers the classic north (Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan) and adds the profound cultural contrast of Kerala in the south — giving you the full breadth of what India means as a civilisation.

Days 1–2 – Delhi

Day 1 – Old Delhi: Chandni Chowk by rickshaw through the spice markets, Jama Masjid for the scale and the views from the minaret, lunch at Karim’s, and an afternoon at Humayun’s Tomb and Lodi Gardens.

Day 2 – New Delhi: The Qutb Minar complex (UNESCO), India Gate and Rajpath, and the National Museum (one of the world’s great collections of ancient Indian art and artefacts). Evening in Hauz Khas for dinner.

Day 3 – Agra: The Taj Mahal

Gatimaan Express (2h) to Agra. Taj Mahal in the afternoon light, Agra Fort before closing. Spend the night in Agra.

Day 4 – Taj at Sunrise & Onward to Jaipur

Return to the Taj at 6am for sunrise. Drive west to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri (the abandoned Mughal ghost city) and Abhaneri stepwell.

Days 5–6 – Jaipur

Day 5: Amber Fort (morning, before the heat), Hawa Mahal, City Palace, and Jantar Mantar observatory. Evening in the Pink City’s bazaars.

Day 6: Nahargarh Fort for sunrise views over Jaipur, Jal Mahal (the water palace on the lake), and the textile and gem markets of the old city. A cooking class in Jaipur is one of the best ways to learn about Rajasthani food — highly recommended.

Day 7 – Pushkar or Ranthambore

Option A — Pushkar: 3 hours from Jaipur. A pilgrimage town surrounding a sacred lake — one of India’s most atmospheric small cities, full of temples, sadhus, and the only Brahma temple in the world. The ghats around the lake at dawn are extraordinary.

Option B — Ranthambore: India’s most accessible tiger reserve. A morning or evening jeep safari gives real (if not guaranteed) chances of tiger sightings. Book well in advance — permits are limited and sell out months ahead in season.

Day 8 – Jodhpur: The Blue City

Drive or take the train to Jodhpur — the Blue City, where the old city’s houses are painted indigo blue. Mehrangarh Fort is arguably the finest fort in Rajasthan — enormous, beautifully maintained, and full of extraordinary Rajput art. The views from the battlements over the blue city below are unforgettable.

The old city market at Sardar Market around the clock tower has beautiful textiles, spices, and silver jewellery.

Day 9 – Jodhpur to Udaipur

Drive through the Thar Desert to Udaipur (5 hours). Udaipur — the “City of Lakes” — is the most romantic city in Rajasthan. The City Palace rises above Lake Pichola; the Lake Palace Hotel (Taj) sits in the middle of the lake. Walk the lakeside ghats at sunset and watch the light change over the Aravalli hills.

Day 10 – Udaipur

Morning: Jagdish Temple and the old city streets. Saheliyon ki Bari (Garden of the Maidens) — a 18th-century royal garden with fountains and marble pavilions.

A lake boat tour at sunset on Lake Pichola for the best view of the City Palace and Lake Palace.

Day 11 – Fly to Kerala

Fly from Udaipur (via Mumbai) to Kochi (Cochin) in Kerala — the gateway to South India’s most distinctive state. The contrast with Rajasthan is dramatic: lush green tropical vegetation, a Christian, Hindu, and Jewish cultural mix, and a completely different cuisine.

Fort Kochi is a charming colonial enclave — Chinese fishing nets along the waterfront, the oldest European church in India (St Francis Church, 1503), Jewish Quarter and Paradesi Synagogue, and the colonial-era streets. An evening performance of Kathakali (Kerala’s classical dance-drama) is extraordinary.

Days 12–13 – Kerala Backwaters

Take a local ferry or hire a traditional kettuvallam (rice boat houseboat) on the Kerala Backwaters — a network of lakes, rivers, and canals running parallel to the Arabian Sea coast. Alleppey (Alappuzha) is the main embarkation point.

Spend 1–2 nights on a houseboat — completely peaceful, watching paddy fields, coir factories, and village life slip past from the deck. The food cooked on board (fresh fish, coconut curries, appam with stew) is exceptional.

Day 14 – Kochi & Departure

Return to Kochi for a final morning — a Keralan cooking class, a walk through Fort Kochi’s galleries and cafe culture, or a spice market visit before your evening flight back to Delhi or international departure.

Practical Notes

Internal flights: Book early. Delhi–Kochi via Mumbai is typically €100–200. Domestic flights on IndiGo and Air India are reliable and frequent.

Trains: Book at irctc.co.in at least 2–4 weeks ahead for popular routes. Delhi–Jaipur, Jaipur–Jodhpur, and Jodhpur–Udaipur have good rail connections.

Health: Consult a travel doctor 6–8 weeks before departure for vaccinations. Typhoid, hepatitis A, and tetanus are commonly recommended.

Water: Bottled water only. Avoid ice outside established restaurants.

Money: ATMs in cities reliable; carry cash for rural areas and small transactions.