PERFECT 2 Weeks in India Itinerary For Your FIRST Trip!

Map of the Best Places to Visit in India in 2 Weeks

Here is a map with the itinerary details on it!

Day 1 – Arrive in Delhi

Fly into New Delhi Aiport to start your 2 week India itinerary.

Day 2 – Explore Delhi

Spend this full day in Delhi on a tour seeing the best of Delhi.

Things To Do in Delhi

Sure you can see Delhi yourself using a mix of rickshaws, the metro, uber’s and foot, but to take the stress off you and ensure you don’t find yourself in a cultural overload, going out to see Delhi’s best sights with a local guide will be best and will help you ease into this itinerary for India.

Day 3 – Explore Delhi & Overnight Train to Varanasi

Today you can explore the parts of Delhi that you didn’t get to see yesterday. There are so many things to do in Delhi and Delhi’s metro system is really easy to use and very cheap so be sure to make the most of using this and travel the local way as I think it’s the best way to get around Delhi.

Delhi to Varanasi Overnight Train

Pre-Book an overnight train to Varanasi before arriving in India. I recommend using 12GO Asia to book & pre-book your trains in India in an easy way. Trains are the best way to see India which I’m sure you know, and an overnight train is a must-do experience when travelling India to save time, especially on your 2 week India itinerary, and to see India the real way.

Train Suggestion: I recommend getting the below train at 20:40 from New Delhi Train Station getting to Varanasi Junction at 8:35 am. It’s the perfect overnight train from Delhi to Varanasi and runs every day. My recommendation is to get the 2AC Class so you have more space.

TRAINS IN INDIA BOOK UP VERY QUICKLY DUE TO HOW MANY DOMESTIC TOURISTS TRAVEL AROUND, ESPECIALLY THE HIGHER CLASS TRAINS LIKE 2AC, I SUGGEST BOOKING YOUR TRAINS AS SOON AS YOU HAVE YOUR DATES CONFIRMED! BOOK THIS TRAIN HERE.

Day 4 – Explore Varanasi

Varanasi is such an interesting city to visit. It’s one of the oldest cities in the world, people seem to love it or hate it so I think you have to visit Varanasi on your first trip to India to see what you think for yourself as it’s so iconic and a culture shock, in a good way!

Things To Do in Varanasi

The best things to do in Varanasi are to spend the day exploring the ghats that line the famous River Ganges, explore the ancient streets of the city, and get a lassi from the famous Varanasi lassi shop – Blue Lassi.

Day 5 – Explore Varanasi & Overnight Train to Agra

Jetlag or no jetlag you need to get up early on your first and only morning in Varanasi to go out on a sunrise boat trip on the River Ganges and this will make you realise that Varanasi is one of the best places to visit in India in two weeks!

Varanasi to Agra Overnight Train

Pre-Book another overnight train from Varanasi to Agra before you arrive in India for this 2 week India itinerary. This is a long journey and one that you really don’t want to do during the day with only 2 weeks in North India.

Train Suggestion: The timings are a bit annoying because the best overnight train to get from Varanasi to Agra leaves Varanasi at 17:20 and arrive in Agra bright and early at 6:20 am however this train is known for its delays so you might arrive in Agra later which let’s be honest, is ok! BOOK THIS TRAIN HERE!

If you want to book your train directly on the Indian Train System, read this step by step guide of mine on how to book trains in India!

Day 6 – Explore Agra

Most people go to Agra just to see the Taj Mahal but there’s actually a lot more to Agra and as you have 2 weeks in India I’d recommend going for longer.

Things To Do in Agra

The best way to see Agra is with a guide or at least a rickshaw driver who will take you to all the places you’ll want to see and all the things to do in Agra including Agra Fort, the Baby Taj, the Taj Mahal Nature Park and Mehtab Bagh which is a great place to see the Taj Mahal from at sunset.

Day 7 – See Taj Mahal in Agra & Train to Jaipur

The best time of day to see the Taj Mahal is sunrise so get up before sunrise to get first in the queue at the ticket office and be (one of) the first to go in! This is an early morning you will not regret and it must be on your India itinerary.

Taj Mahal at Sunrise

Once you start getting hungry, head out of the Taj Mahal and get breakfast in one of the restaurants with a rooftop overlooking the Taj before going back to your hotel to check out (maybe ask for a late check out on this day) and head to Jaipur that afternoon.

Agra to Jaipur Train

Train Suggestion: There’s only one daytime train from Agra to Jaipur which leaves Agra at 14:50 and gets to Jaipur at 18:55 and for this, I would recommend AC Chair Class so you have a comfy experience watching the Indian Countryside go by! BOOK THIS TRAIN HERE.

Day 8 & 9 – Explore Jaipur

Jaipur is included in all of the Rajasthan itineraries because Jaipur is full of things to do and full of sights to see from Palaces, Forts, Temples, Markets and Iconic buildings.

Things To Do in Jaipur

Once again I’d recommend going on a tour in Jaipur with a guide or at least getting a rickshaw driver to take you around as Jaipur is not pedestrian-friendly.

Day 10 – Train to Pushkar & Explore Pushkar

Pushkar is a must-visit place in Rajasthan in my opinion because it shows you a totally different side to India from what you have seen so far. Pushkar is a town, not a city and this will give you some time to relax in a holy place which has a backpacker and traveller vibe as well as being an important place for Hindu’s to visit.

Jaipur to Pushkar Train

Train Suggestion: It’s a breezy 2-hour train journey from Jaipur to Ajmer which is the city closest to Pushkar with a train station, from Ajmer you can get a taxi outside the station for 1 hour to Pushkar. I recommend leaving Jaipur at 10:45 am so you have all afternoon to spend in Pushkar. BOOK THIS TRAIN HERE.

Day 11 & 12 – Explore Pushkar

Pushkar is the place to take it slow in India and should be on any itinerary for India.

Things To Do in Pushkar

Walk around the Holy Lake to witness the Hindu ceremonies that are happening, get some healthy veggie food and a smoothie (Pushkar is all vegetarian with no egg or alcohol), watch the sunset and check out the shops along the main street as Pushkar has some of the best shopping in India I think.

Day 13 – Train to Delhi

It’s a fairly long train to get back to Delhi but Pushkar is worth it which is why I had to include it in this 2 week India itinerary, so day 13 in India will be a full travel day.

Pushkar to Delhi Train

Train Suggestion: I again, recommend booking this train in advance and a good train to get from Ajmer to Delhi is the 12:10 pm because remember that you need to spend an hour getting from Pushkar to Ajmer before your train. BOOK THIS TRAIN HERE BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT TO NOT BE ABLE TO GET ON.

Day 14 – Leave Delhi

Today you can leave Delhi at any time after your adventure-filled 2 week trip to India on this 2 week India itinerary!

My Accommodation Recommendations:

Based on my extensive time in India, here’s where I recommend you stay in each city I have mentioned in this 2 week India itinerary:

Delhi: Bloom Rooms in Janpath / Haveli Hauz Khas / Moustache Hostel South Delhi

Varanasi: Kedareswar B&B / Moustache Hostel Varanasi

Agra: Safarnama Homestay 

Jaipur: Shahpura House in Jaipur / Hotel Meghniwas / Moustache Hotel Jaipur

Pushkar: Inn Seventh Heaven in Pushkar