2 Month India Itinerary To Visit North & South India!

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2 months in India really is the perfect amount of time to spend in India if you want to travel the country extensively and you have the time to do so. You can see a lot with 1 month in India but with one month I would recommend sticking to either North India or South India, whereas with 2 months in India on a 2 month India itinerary, you can spend time in both North and South India, see a lot but also take your time, and trust me, with 2 months in India, you’ll want to slow down and take your time a bit.

2 Month India itinerary

In this India itinerary, I give you a good idea of how you can plan your 2 month India itinerary visiting 21 places which are the best places to visit in North India and the best places to visit in South India based on my travels in all of these places!

Plus, whether to start your India 2 month itinerary in the North, or in the South! Challo! (said as let’s go in India!)

Should I Start in North India or South India?

When it comes to deciding which side of India to visit first out of the North and South, I’d personally say to visit North India first!

You may be tempted to fly into the South first as you’ve heard it’s more chilled and chilled seems like a great way to ease yourself into India, and the South is a bit more chilled, yes, but the way I see it is, why not give yourself a rest at the end of your trip?

Note – The below 2 month India itinerary is intense so feel free to skip places that may not sound appealing to you so you can have longer in each place to find somewhere different, but I wanted to give you a good idea of exactly where to go in India with 2 months!

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• 10 Delhi Travel Tips to See & Enjoy Delhi as a Tourist!
•  All My India City Guides and Tips

1 Month North India Itinerary

Fly into Delhi. It is a busy city and a bit of a culture shock for most people, especially if you haven’t spent much time in Asia however it’s in the perfect location to fly into in the North and well connected so you can explore the rest of North India from Delhi.

Day 1, 2, 3, 4 – Delhi

Give yourself a day or two to recover from the flight and get used to the weather, traffic and noise without putting much pressure on yourself, remember you have the next sixty days in India!

The best way to see Delhi is on a day tour. Arrange a day tour with a guide to show you the iconic places in Delhi like Old Delhi, the Red Fort, India Gate, the Tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun, and the Lotus Temple.

For the rest of your time in Delhi head to Connaught Square for a walk around and make use of the Delhi Metro to see places you may have not on the day tour, the Metro is really easy to use and very cheap so make full use of it!

Day Train from Delhi to Haridwar. Auto Rickshaw to Rishikesh.

A NOTE ON THE TRAINS: I would recommend pre-booking trains in India in advance, especially in high season because not only do more tourists visit India and book trains but Indian people will travel a lot too and they do book out. 

To book trains in India you have 2 options: You can register on the official Indian Rail Website which can be a bit tricky but I’ve written a step by step guide here to help, or you can use a third party booking site like 12GO Asia which are a lot simpler to use. 

• Related Posts:
• How to get a Sim Card in Delhi Airport.
• Where to Stay in Delhi. Best Hostels, Hotels & Airbnb’s.
• 10 Delhi Travel Tips to Enjoy Delhi as a Tourist!

Day 5, 6, 7, 8 – Rishikesh

Rishikesh is only a 6-7 hour journey from Delhi and after the madness of Delhi, you will love arriving in the spiritual town of Rishikesh.

Rishikesh doesn’t have it’s own train station so you take the train from Delhi to Haridwar Station and get a rickshaw or taxi to Rishikesh.

I urge you to spend a good few days in Rishikesh taking in the beautiful Mother Ganga (River Ganges), watching Holy ceremonies take place, doing some yoga to stretch off that flight, visiting The Beatles Ashram, hiking to waterfalls and eating some nice healthy food.

It sounds heavenly, and it is which is why it has to be on your India backpacking route.

Overnight Train from Haridwar to Varanasi.

• Related Posts:
• My Travel Guide to Rishikesh
• How to Visit The Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh.

Day 9, 10, 11 – Varanasi

The trains in India are great and an overnight train to Varanasi– another incredible holy city but very different to Rishikesh, is the best way to get there and to save time in your India Itinerary.

2 days in Varanasi is enough, it may be overwhelming compared to the chilled out vibe of Rishikesh but be sure to head out on a sunrise boat tour, explore the ghats- especially the burning ghat, and visit the quieter ghats like Assi Ghat.

After a few days in Varanasi, you will feel like you’re in India but don’t worry, people find Varanasi as extreme as it gets so it can only get less extreme from here, maybe!

Overnight Train from Varanasi to Agra.

• Related Post
•  My 2 Day Varanasi Itinerary – Will you love it or hate it?

Day 12, 13 – Agra

An overnight train is the best way to get from Varanasi to Agra but this train is known for its delays so don’t expect to arrive on time!

Sunrise is the best time to see the Taj Mahal so do not go to the Taj Mahal on your first day in Agra (although note that the Taj Mahal is closed on Friday so change plans accordingly). Instead, just chill in some of the cafes in Taj Ganj with the view of the Taj Mahal, visit the Taj Nature Park which is so quiet and relaxed, and find a sunset spot to see the Taj Mahal from.

The next day head to the Taj Mahal for sunrise and afterwards you can visit Agra Fort and the Baby Taj on a tour or with a rickshaw driver taking you.

Day Bus or Day Train from Agra to Jaipur

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Day 14, 15, 16 – Jaipur

Jaipur is surprisingly close to Agra and makes up the famous Golden Triangle of India along with Delhi and Agra.

Jaipur is the Pink City of India and it’s a busy city with lots to do and see including Forts, Temples, Iconic Buildings, Instagram Doorways and Palace’s. My suggestion would be to take a day trip around Jaipur with a guide to see as much as you can over your 3 days in Jaipur. For a tour with a difference, check out this Jaipur Instagram spot tour!

Another great way to experience Jaipur is through the food and Nomadic India Tours offer a great Street Food Tour in Jaipur which is delicious! Another popular thing to do in Jaipur day or night is to go to the Raj Mandir Cinema which is truly impressive architecturally and the Indian Crowds is so funny to watch a film with!

Day Train from Jaipur to Ajmer and Taxi or Bus to Pushkar OR Overnight Train from Jaipur to Jaisalmer.

• Related Post:
• The Best Way to see Jaipur aka The Pink City of India!

Day 17, 18, 19, 20 – Pushkar/Jaisalmer

This stop could be Pushkar or Jaisalmer, or to be honest, you could swap Jodhpur (below) out so you can visit both! Recommending just one India itinerary is hard which is why I’ve also written a post with 4 different one month North India Itineraries so be sure to check that out in case you want to swap and change locations (however this itinerary works really well for the first trip to India as it ticks all the main places, especially the best places in Rajasthan!).

Jaisalmer offers a chilled town with jeep or camel rides into the desert for a night, whereas Pushkar offers a chilled town with more spirituality and a hippy twist.

Both places are good places to relax in and get away from busy Indian City life which you would have had a lot of up until now. Enjoy the cafes, enjoy the quietness and if you need to do some shopping, both places are some of the best places to shop in India due to price and what’s on offer.

Day Train from Ajmer to Jodhpur or Day Train from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur.

• Related Post:
• 12 Things To Do in Pushkar!
• My Pushkar Travel Tips!

Day 21, 22, 23 – Jodhpur

Jodhpur is the Blue City of India however don’t expect it to be all blue.

Jodhpur is a busy city and I found it to be a bit dirty, but it has a Fort and the best way to see the Fort is to go Zip Lining! It’s a totally different activity compared to what else is on offer in India which is why it’s so great!

I’d recommend going on a tour into the Old Blue City of Jodhpur so you can see it properly because the streets are tricky to navigate alone. Be sure to watch the sunset from the rock by the fort and enjoy the many rooftop restaurants which offer panoramic views across the city and fort as well as providing some respite from the noise and traffic below. Sunset is a great time to sit on a rooftop in Jodhpur and watch the city fall into night time.

Day Train from Jodhpur to Udaipur.

• Related Post:
• 6 of the Best Ways to see Jodhpur!

Day 24, 25, 26 – Udaipur

Udaipur is known as the White City of India! Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur are often linked together which makes sense as they are all 3 very popular cities in Rajasthan and out of all 3, Udaipur is the quietest, the smallest, and the prettiest.

The central tourist area of Udaipur is nice and compact and it flows onto an island across the river which is the quieter side for accommodation. Udaipur’s Palace is incredible, if you only see one Palace in Northern India- make it this one.

There’s yoga on offer, art classes and cooking classes, plus plenty of rooftop restaurants with amazing views over the lake and of the sunset. This place is a real gem, perhaps the best place in Rajasthan, and a great way to end your time in Rajasthan.

Overnight Train from Udaipur to Mumbai.

• Related Post:
• 12 Unique Things To Do in Udaipur!

Day 27, 28, 29, 30 – Mumbai

Mumbai will be a warm welcome because it’s very cosmopolitan compared to the rest of Northern India that you’ve seen and after so much time in Rajasthan you’ll probably appreciate this.

If you’ve read the book Shantaram you can follow in Lin’s footsteps around Colaba which is definitely the best place to stay in Mumbai as a backpacker. If you haven’t read the book, I’d suggest you read it before going to India or whilst you’re there!

Mumbai is full of things to do but unlike many other Indian cities, it’s not full of Forts and Palaces. There are a few good museums in Mumbai and really impressive buildings like the VT Station but the best way to see Mumbai is to explore the neighbourhoods of Colaba and Bandra, head to the beaches of Juhu and Cowpatty especially in the evening, and be sure to eat as much street food as possible as Mumbai offers some of the best street food in India!

I went out with Bombay Walks who gave me a great half-day tour around Mumbai to places I couldn’t have visited alone so I’d really recommend checking them out.

Overnight Train Mumbai to Goa.

• Related Post:
• My Full Guide to Colaba, the best place to stay in Mumbai!

1 Month South India Itinerary

Goa is a state and pretty big but because the best places to visit in Goa are the beaches, it gets lumped together as just ‘Goa’. Goa is split into 2 in terms of tourism-  North Goa Beaches and South Goa Beaches.

Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 – Goa

It’s hard to pick the best beach in Goa and just recommend one because it depends on what you want and where you’re from. For example, Arambol seems most popular with Russians and Israeli’s, whereas Palolem is more popular with Brits. However, of course, everyone can go everywhere.

If you’ve ever been told by someone else that you must go to X beach in Goa because you’ll really like it, be sure to check that beach out. If not, I can fully recommend Palolem Beach to you!

One Week in Goa is your beach and holiday time In India. There are so many beaches in Goa that in some ways I’d recommend you see a few different beaches in one week but also keep in mind that it’s hard to get between the beaches of Goa as there are limited direct trains and public buses.

Taxis are a popular way to get between the beaches of Goa but they are a bit expensive when travelling alone and on a budget so for the sake of your money and your rest, I’d recommend staying in one place or two at the most.

Day Train from Goa Vasco da Gama to Hopset. Tuk-tuk from Hospet to Hampi.

• Related Post:
• A Guide to Palolem Beach in Goa for Backpackers!
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Day 8, 9 – Hampi

Hampi– Hampi is an adults playground and such a unique place. Hampi is a small town purely for tourism and the famous Hampi rocks create a day trip like no other. The inland terrain of Southern India here is like nowhere in the North and a nice welcome to the more chilled side of Southern India.

Overnight Train from Hospet to Bengaluru.

• Related Post:
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Day 10, 11 – Bangalore

Bangalore is a very modern city, even compared to Mumbai and Delhi. This stop in Bangalore is mostly going to be a stopover before going down to Kerala and to be honest, you don’t need that much time to see Bangalore. 

For me Bangalore was a nice surprise and change of pace in India, it has lots of western food chains and some big shopping malls so make the most of this whilst you can.

In terms of things to do in Bangalore, Bangalore Palace is nice but it is fairly expensive to enter, however, Bangalore has some nice parks like Cubbon Park and the Botanical Gardens so it’s easy to spend one day in Bangalore.

Stay in the area of Indiranagar to see the best area of Bangalore and make full use of Bangalore’s easy and cheap metro system. Also use Uber for your auto rickshaws.

Flight from Bangalore to Trivandrum.

I recommend flying from Bangalore down to Kerala to save doing extra journeys going back on yourself in Kerala. Internal flights in India can be really cheap, have a look at Skyscanner and book a flight in advance to get the best price!

Day 12 – Trivandrum

Only spend one day or even just half a day in Trivandrum, it’s not much of a tourist city. I recommend the company Story Trails who offer Walking Tours and Food Tours in South Indian Cities and they have a tour in Trivandrum so if you want to see the city in an easy way and learn about it, I suggest going on one of their tours!

Day Train from Trivandrum to Varkala.

Day 13, 14, 15 – Varkala

It’s back to the beach and after a few cities since Goa these beach days will probably be needed.

Varkala Beach feels like a beach in Goa in the sense that it’s chilled and very holiday like, but it feels much more wild and raw than Goa, maybe that’s the incredible Coastline and Cliff face that it sits on!

Varkala beach offers surfing, sunbathing, yoga, meditation, nice cafes, healthy food and generally a chilled out vibe.

Day Train from Varkala to Alleppey.

• Related Post:
• A Guide to Varkala Beach in Kerala for Backpackers!

Day 16 – Alleppey

This is the best place to see the famous Backwaters of Kerala from! There are many ways to see the backwaters from kayaks, canoes and huge houseboats, there’s an option for every adventure and budget.

There isn’t much to do in Alleppey though and the beach is not a sunbathing kind of beach. With that being said the best place to stay in Alleppey is in accommodation by the beach as this is the more touristic area. One full day in Alleppey is enough, from my experience, Alleppey is a get in and gets out kind of place.

Day Train from Alleppey to Ernakulam Station (the name of Kochi’s train station).

• Related Post:
• Cruising the Backwaters of Kerala from Alleppey!

Day 17, 18 – Kochi

Kochi is a Portuguese influenced city and this shows. Fort Kochi is where you need to stay in the city of Kochi and all of the popular places to visit like Jew Town and around Kochi Beach are in walking distance from here.

Fort Kochi has some really nice cafes, museums, a good art scene and a small city vibe so it’s an enjoyable place to visit and if you can, be sure to get out on the water for a sunset boat trip!

Local Day Bus from Ernakulam Bus Station (Kochi) to Munnar.

Day 19, 20, 21 – Munnar

The hills of Munnar in Kerala will enable you to see a totally different side of Kerala and this is where the saying that Kerala is ‘Gods own country’ really hit me.

Tea Plantations with lush green forestry and jungle is what you’ll find in Munnar as well as being able to spend a day hiking the hills. The hikes in Munnar can be tough but the views are worth it. If you ride a moped, this is a great way to see Munnar yourself and be sure to look out for Wild Elephants as people seem to see them a lot!

Munnar Town isn’t a great place to stay and instead, travellers stay in hotels and guesthouses nearby in more rural areas and the owners will arrange your day trips and pick up’s from the bus station as local buses are the only way to get to Munnar and leave.

Local Day Bus from Munnar to Kumily.

• Related Post:
• Hiking in the Tea Plantations of Munnar and My Munnar Guesthouse.

Day 22, 23 – Thekkady

Thekkady National Park or Periyar National Park as it’s also called is a good place to visit if you want to hike and if you want to see Wild Elephants in India! It’s also a Tiger Reserve but the chances of seeing Tigers are not common. A day hike or a half-day walk and bamboo raft trip is a good activity to do in Thekkady, and aside from seeing the Spice Gardens, there is not much else to do here so not much time is needed.

Kumily is the main tourist town to stay in and you book all the trips from here. If hiking isn’t your thing you should probably miss this out.

Local Day Bus from Thekkady to Madurai.

Day 24, 25 – Madurai

Welcome to Tamil Nadu! Madurai is not a city that is as visited by foreign tourists but it is a nice city to see because of that.

It’s only small and you only need one full day to see the city really. It’s main attraction being the Meenakshi Temple. Story Trails offer a really good City and Food Tour in Madurai which is the best way to understand the history of the city and once you know it, it’s pretty fascinating I thought.

Day Train from Madurai to Villupuram and Bus to Pondicherry.

• Related Post:
• What to do in One Day in Madurai!

Day 26, 27, 28 – Pondicherry

Another completely different place in India and this is because Pondicherry was once a French colony.

The architecture in White Town which is the area closest to the beach and the main tourist area, is so impressive and such a unique thing to see in India!

There isn’t much to do in Pondicherry but the food and cafes here are really good, especially if you have been craving some Western Food! A Walking tour with Story Trails is a good idea to really understand the history of Pondicherry between India, Britain and France.

A popular day trip from Pondicherry is to Auroville which is an experimental township which I’d recommend going to.

Local Day Bus from Pondicherry to Chennai.

• Related Post:
• 10 Things to do in Pondicherry
• Day Trip to Auroville from Pondicherry

Day 29, 30 – Chennai

Last Stop on this 2 month India itinerary! Chennai has the main airport making it a good place to leave India from and your 30 days in South India have been jam-packed so you can’t fit anywhere else in any way!

Chennai’s history of being under British rule is interesting and there are a number of good temples and buildings to see as well as lots of good street food! It’s not the easiest city to get around in but Uber is good here and if you stay near the metro line you can use that too.

Note that you may get asked for proof of a flight departing India when you leave for India so make sure you do have a flight booked out before you get to India. Search for the best flights out of Chennai on Skyscanner here!

2 Month India Itinerary Map

Here is a map of this 2 month India Itinerary with all the places pinned. Click on the pin to see the City or Town name.

For your 2 months in India budget, have a read of this post to see how much it costs to travel and backpack North India: How Much it Really Costs to Backpack Around Northern India!

• Now you’ll be set for your trip to India! Enjoy!
• See ALL My India Posts Here!
• See My India Adventure on YouTube Here