Seasons, weather & festivals
Regions, sights & guides
Visas, health & customs
Heritage, wildlife & treks
Thalis, snacks & sweets
India is too big to see in one trip, and that is half its charm, so it pays to plan your India trip with care. Every winter our family sets off by train to somewhere new, and over the years we have learned what makes a journey here easy and memorable: travelling in the right season, packing for the weather, respecting local customs and, of course, eating well along the way.
This page will help you plan your India trip in five simple steps. Choose a section below to decide when to go, pick a region, prepare for the trip, find journeys that match your interests and discover the food you will meet on the road. Every section links to our own travel guides and recipes, so you can go deeper wherever you like.
When to Go
India has three broad travel seasons, and each region is at its best at a different time. When you plan your India trip, match it to the season, and to a festival if you can.
Winter (October to March): The best time for most of India. The North is cool and clear, ideal for Delhi, Punjab and the lower Himalayas, while the South is pleasantly warm for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Rajasthan, Goa and the western coast are at their best too. This is when our family usually travels, often by train.
Summer (April to June): The plains get very hot, so head for the hills. Hill stations such as Dalhousie, McLeodganj and Dharamshala stay comfortable, and we found mid-April in the Kangra Valley warm and pleasant. Summer is also good for wildlife, as animals gather near water in the national parks.
Monsoon (July to September): The Western Ghats, Kerala, Coorg and Meghalaya turn lush and green. Expect heavy rain, slow hill roads and some national parks closing for the season, so keep your plans flexible.
Festival seasons: Pongal in Tamil Nadu in January, Holi in March, Baisakhi in Punjab in April, Onam in Kerala in August or September, Navratri and Garba in Gujarat, Durga Puja in Kolkata and Diwali across the country in October or November. Read the stories and festive food behind them in our Culture Chronicles and watch our Indian festival videos.
Where to Go
We divide India into four regions: North, South, East and West. Each has its own landscapes, history and food, so start with the region that calls you and then explore our guides.
North India: From the Himalayas to the heartland. Snow views and monasteries in Dalhousie, McLeodganj and Dharamshala, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Nawabi Lucknow and tigers in Pench in Central India. Also worth considering: Delhi, Shimla, Manali, Ladakh, Khajuraho and Orchha.
South India: Backwaters, temples and coffee hills. Suggestions include Alleppey and Munnar in Kerala, the temples of Madurai, Thanjavur and Mahabalipuram, Hampi, Mysore, Coorg, and Hyderabad’s Charminar and Golconda Fort.
East India: Including the North-East. Living root bridges and the clear Umngot River in Meghalaya, one-horned rhinos in Kaziranga, and suggestions such as Kolkata, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Konark, Puri and Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival.
West India: Caves, deserts and coastline. The rock-cut wonders of Ajanta and Ellora near Aurangabad, plus suggestions such as the palaces of Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur, Mumbai, Goa’s beaches and churches, the Rann of Kutch and Gir.
See each region at a glance on our North, South, East and West India pages.
Before You Go
A little preparation goes a long way when you plan your India trip: the right documents, a few health precautions, sensible packing and an understanding of local customs.
Documents: Most visitors need a visa, and many nationalities can apply online through the official Indian e-Visa website. Rules change from time to time, so check the latest requirements before you book, and carry printed and digital copies of your passport, visa and insurance.
Health and safety: Speak to your doctor or a travel clinic about vaccinations well before you go. Drink bottled or filtered water, carry mosquito repellent and choose busy food stalls where food is cooked fresh. Travel insurance that covers medical care is worth having. In an emergency, dial 112, India’s national emergency number.
Packing: Light, breathable cotton for the plains; warm layers, a jacket and good walking shoes for the hills; a rain jacket in the monsoon. Add sunscreen, a hat, a reusable water bottle, a power bank and a small first-aid kit. A scarf is handy for covering your head at gurdwaras and some temples.
Local customs: Greet people with a namaste, dress modestly at religious sites and remove your shoes before entering temples and homes. Use your right hand to give and receive, ask before photographing people or ceremonies, and avoid pointing your feet at people or sacred objects.
Travel by Interest
Some trips are about a place, others about an experience. If you travel for heritage, wildlife, mountains or adventure, start here.
Heritage: Much of India’s history is carved in stone. Our guides cover the cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora, Daulatabad Fort near Aurangabad, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Lucknow’s Rumi Darwaza and the rock-cut Masroor temple near Dharamshala. Find more in the Top Places section of Discover India.
Wildlife: We have been on safari in Pench and Kaziranga. Other well-known parks to consider are Ranthambore, Jim Corbett, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Gir for Asiatic lions, Periyar and the Sundarbans. See our wildlife experiences.
Hills and slow getaways: For cool air and mountain views, try our itineraries for Dalhousie, McLeodganj and Dharamshala, or browse the Getaways section.
Treks and adventure: Suggestions for trekkers include Triund near McLeodganj, Kedarkantha and the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, Sandakphu in the Darjeeling hills and Kudremukh in Karnataka. For river rafting, Rishikesh on the Ganga is the classic choice, with the Teesta in Sikkim and the Zanskar in Ladakh for experienced rafters. Divers and snorkellers can look at the Andaman Islands, Lakshadweep, Goa and Puducherry.
Crafts and shopping: Look for Kashmiri pashmina, Rajasthani block prints and blue pottery, Gujarati bandhani, Madhubani and Pattachitra paintings, Tanjore art and Assam tea. At Norbulingka near Dharamshala we watched Tibetan artisans at work, and Paithani silk weaving is a highlight around Aurangabad.
Food on the Road
Food is the best way to understand a region, and India’s menu changes every few hundred kilometres. Here is what to look for wherever you travel.
North: Hearty breads and slow-cooked dals. Look for chole with kulcha in Amritsar, Himachali thalis with madra and siddu in the hills, and khasta kachori and makhan malai in Lucknow.
South: Rice, coconut and tamarind. Start the day with dosa, idli and sambar, try Kerala’s appam and vegetable stew, and sit down to a banana-leaf meal in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka.
East: Mustard, poppy seeds and gentle spice. Bengali aloo posto and shukto, Odia pakhala on hot days, Assamese pitha, and rasgulla and sandesh to finish.
West: Sweet, sour and spicy. Gujarati dhokla and thepla, Maharashtrian pithla bhakri, Rajasthani dal baati and ghevar, and coconut-rich Goan vegetarian curries.
Explore each region’s cooking in Flavors of India, cook your favourites at home with our Indian vegetarian recipes and, as you plan your India trip around festivals, look out for festive specials in Festive & Seasonal Cuisine.
