15 Days in India - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Best of North India: Golden Triangle, Varanasi, Rajasthan & Mumbai

A great option for travelers who have yet to touch the country, this 15-day-tour will take immerse you in the vivid and historic cities and countryside of Northern India. You'll visit the palaces of Jaipur and bustling Mumbai, marvel at the iconic Taj Mahal, and explore one of the world's holiest cities, Varanasi.

Welcome to India! Your journey will begin in Delhi, where you'll tour ancient tombs, gardens, and towers before visiting the Presidential Palace. Next, you'll travel to the holy city of Varanasi, where you'll see pilgrims bathing in the purifying waters of the Ganges River, drink chai, and visit Sarnath, where the Buddha is said to have delivered his first sermon. Next is the city of Agra, home to not only the famous Taj Mahal but also Mehtab Bagh—a Moonlight Garden—and a glass palace called the Shish Mahal, all of which you'll visit.

You'll continue to the Rajasthan capital of Jaipur, also known as the Pink City. In Jaipur, you'll spend time shopping in its many bazaars and visiting the City Palace, which has been home to the Jaipur royal family for centuries. Next up is a long but beautiful drive to Jodhpur, where you'll visit the royal cenotaphs of Jaswant Thada before journeying to Udaipur, visiting the Jagdish Temple and a cruise on Lake Pichola. End your trip in Mumbai, exploring the Elephanta Caves and touring a Bollywood studio. Learn more 

Itinerary #2: Culinary Tour of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh & Rajasthan

A foodie's delight, this 15-day culinary tour of North India will take you to sample some of the country's best-known and most delicious cuisine. You'll visit markets in Delhi, learn to cook Luckawi cuisine, and enjoy a food tour in the shadow of the Taj Mahal.

Your trip will begin in Delhi, where you'll visit Chandni Chowk, the most famous market in Old Delhi, and sample jalebis. Then you'll fly to Lucknow for a series of cooking classes. You'll learn to cook the traditional Dum Pukht cooking method at the Institute of Hotel Management and meet with descendants of Lucknow's legendary Nawabs at a palace in the city before dining with the royal family. The following day, you'll take a train ride to Agra.

After visiting the Taj Mahal and the massive Agra Fort in Agra, you'll embark on a food tour to sample local delights from some of the city's most famous food purveyors. Next, you'll journey to Jaipur, exploring the city's most iconic historical sights, including Maharajah's home of the City Palace, and join an interactive cooking session in a family home. After another cooking class in Pachewargarh, you'll visit holy sites in Pushkar and Ajmer before sampling delicious Marwari food, including local favorites, like onion samosas and daal baati choorma, in Udaipur, and transferring to Delhi for your flight home. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Delhi to Mumbai Culture Tour 

For those who like to be on the move and traversing two Indian states, this 15-day cultural tour begins in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh before carrying on to the state of Maharashtra, where you'll visit UNESCO-listed cave complexes, Ajanta and Ellora. Your trip will finish with sightseeing along the Arabian Sea in Mumbai.

Kick off the itinerary in Delhi with a tour of Old Delhi and its 17th-century palaces, followed by a visit to colonial-era New Delhi. Next, you'll travel to the remote fort city of Gwalior to visit temples like Sas Bahu Ka Mandir before heading to the 11th-century city of Bhopal. In Bhopal, you'll see the Taj-ul-Masjid, the largest mosque in Asia, and take day trips to the Buddhist complex of Sanchi Stupa and ancient cave paintings in Bhimbetka. Next, you'll drive to Indore to explore its vibrant markets and old-world palaces.

Traveling to Ujjain, you'll take a temple tour of the city, dating back to 600 BCE! Next up in Dhar, you'll visit 15th- and 16th-century buildings from the Ghuri and Khilji dynasties before transferring to the small holy town of Maheshwar. Here you'll visit the banks of the sacred Narmada River. Your next base will be in Aurangabad, from which you'll take day trips to see the Buddhist art in the Ajanta Caves and the monastery-temple complexes in the Ellora Caves. Your journey will end in Mumbai, where you'll take a guided tour before catching your flight onward. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Best of Karnataka & Goa 

This 15-day tour covers two South Indian states—Karnataka and Goa—and will show you the best cultural attractions each has to offer. Taking a more leisurely pace than the other itineraries on this list, you'll begin in Bangalore before heading on to visit temples, forts, and palaces along the way to the enticing shores of Goa and the Arabian Sea. 

Upon arriving in Bangalore, you'll tour the city, visiting temples, palaces, and the Lalbagh Botanical Garden. Next, you'll explore the city's vibrant arts and crafts scene, taking a pottery class in Pottery Town and visiting textile weavers and printers. Transferring to Mysore, you'll see two exquisite art factories, tour the Palace of the Maharajah, and shop the city's famous printed silks and ivory carvings. You'll continue to visit the home of Jainism in Shravanabelagola before checking in to a hotel in Hassan.

In Hassan, you'll see museums and temples evoking the area's rich religious and cultural history before transferring to Hampi via the Chitradurga Temple. Hampi is known for its historic ruins, and you'll visit several, along with the Lotus Palace. Next, you'll head to Badami via the temple complexes of Aihole and Pattadakal. In Badami, you'll visit Vedic cave temples before traveling to the Arabian Sea-facing city-state of Goa, full of Baroque cathedrals, yoga classes, and a day trip to a spice plantation you'll see before your flight home. Learn more 

More Great India Itineraries 

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to India? Check out these other India itineraries, with culinary tours, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.