Travel guide

Planning your first trip to India

Once your visa is in order, the real fun begins. Start with these destinations and practical tips.

Reviewed 22 October 2026

Destinations

Places worth building a trip around

India is vast, so choose one region and go deep rather than trying to see everything.

Uttar Pradesh
Agra
Home of the Taj Mahal and the Mughal-era Agra Fort. Plan an early start and check current opening days before you go.
Popular season: Oct – Mar
Rajasthan
Jaipur
The Pink City of palaces, forts and bazaars, and the usual gateway to Rajasthan’s heritage hotels and desert towns.
Popular season: Oct – Mar
South India
Kerala
Backwater houseboats, tea hills and Ayurvedic retreats. A slower pace and a very different climate to the north.
Popular season: Nov – Feb
Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi
One of the world’s oldest living cities. Sunrise boat rides along the Ganges are the defining experience.
Popular season: Oct – Mar
West Coast
Goa
Beaches, Portuguese-era churches and a relaxed coastal rhythm. Best outside the monsoon months.
Popular season: Nov – Feb

Practical tips

Visa first, flights second
Wait for your e-Visa approval before booking non-refundable flights and hotels.
Match your airport to the e-Visa
Arrive at an airport or seaport on the official entry list, then travel onwards domestically.
Mind the seasons
North India is hot from April to June. Winter is the classic season for the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan; the monsoon suits Kerala.
Dress for temples and mosques
Carry a scarf and modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees, and be ready to remove shoes.
Travel insurance and health
Check vaccination guidance with your doctor and choose travel insurance that covers medical care.
Keep copies of documents
Save digital and paper copies of your passport, e-Visa approval and booking confirmations.

Need the paperwork first? See the visa requirements checklist.

Begin your trip

Check the requirements, prepare your documents, then start your application when you are ready.