Trying to see all of India in one trip? You’re not alone. Every year, thousands of travelers ask the same question: how many days to travel all India? The answer isn’t simple. India isn’t a country you zip through. It’s a continent wrapped in one nation - with deserts, mountains, jungles, ancient cities, and coastlines that each demand time to truly feel.
Why You Can’t Rush India
People often think of India like Europe - hop on a train, hit three capitals, and call it done. But India doesn’t work that way. A flight from Delhi to Kochi takes over three hours. A train ride from Mumbai to Varanasi? At least 24 hours. And that’s just getting there. Once you arrive, you’ll spend half a day just navigating the chaos of a local market, another half day waiting for a temple to open, and maybe a full evening just listening to street musicians in Jaipur.India moves at its own pace. Rushing means you’ll miss the real stuff - the chai seller who remembers your name, the village festival you stumbled into, the sunset over the Ganges that changed how you see silence.
Realistic Timeframes Based on What You Want to See
If you’re on a budget and want to cover the highlights without burning out, here’s what actually works:
- 14-21 days: The bare minimum if you’re flying between major cities. You’ll hit Delhi, Agra (Taj Mahal), Jaipur, Varanasi, and maybe Goa. You’ll see the postcard spots, but you’ll feel like you’ve been running in circles.
- 28-45 days: This is the sweet spot for most budget travelers. You can take trains, stay in guesthouses, eat local food, and still have time to rest. You’ll cover the Golden Triangle, Rajasthan’s desert forts, the spiritual north, and the beaches of Kerala or Goa. You’ll come back tired, but not broken.
- 60+ days: If you want to go deep - not just see, but understand. You can ride the toy train in Darjeeling, spend a week in Rishikesh learning yoga, wander through the backwaters of Alleppey, trek in the Himalayas near McLeod Ganj, and soak in the slow rhythm of Pondicherry. This is when India stops being a checklist and starts feeling like a second home.
One traveler I met in Udaipur spent 90 days in India. He didn’t visit every state. He visited one town in six different states and stayed long enough to learn how to make dal from the grandmother who ran the dhaba next to his hostel. That’s the kind of travel that sticks with you.
What You’ll Actually Spend
Budget travel in India doesn’t mean sleeping on the floor. It means choosing wisely. Here’s what a 30-day trip looks like for one person:
- Accommodation: ₹400-₹800 ($5-$10) per night in a clean guesthouse or hostel. That’s ₹12,000-₹24,000 ($150-$300) for a month.
- Food: Street food costs ₹50-₹150 ($0.60-$2) per meal. Three meals a day? You’re looking at ₹1,500-₹4,500 ($18-$55) weekly. Total for a month: ₹6,000-₹18,000 ($75-$220).
- Transport: Overnight trains are your best friend. A sleeper class ticket from Delhi to Varanasi? Around ₹1,000 ($12). A bus from Jaipur to Jodhpur? ₹400 ($5). Budget ₹15,000-₹25,000 ($180-$300) for intercity travel.
- Entrance fees: Taj Mahal is ₹2,500 for foreigners. Most temples and forts are ₹100-₹500. Total for sights? ₹3,000-₹7,000 ($35-$85).
That’s roughly ₹36,000-₹74,000 ($440-$900) for a full month - not including flights. That’s less than what most people spend on a weekend getaway in Europe.
The Biggest Mistake Budget Travelers Make
Trying to do too much. I’ve seen people plan a 21-day trip that includes Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Delhi again, Mumbai, Goa, and then Kerala. That’s five states in three weeks. You’ll spend more time on trains than you do actually seeing anything.
Here’s a better way: Pick a region. Master it. Then move on.
- North India Loop: Delhi → Agra → Jaipur → Jodhpur → Udaipur → Rishikesh → Varanasi. 20-25 days. Rich in history, culture, and spiritual energy.
- South India Slow: Bangalore → Mysore → Hampi → Coorg → Kochi → Alleppey → Kovalam. 25-30 days. Lush, calm, and full of backwaters and colonial charm.
- West + East Mix: Mumbai → Goa → Pune → Varanasi → Kolkata → Darjeeling. 30-35 days. Contrasts like no other - beaches to mountains, colonial to tribal.
Don’t try to do it all. Do one thing well. India will reward you with depth, not distance.
When to Go
Timing matters more than you think. India’s weather swings wildly.
- October to March: The best time. Cool, dry, and perfect for sightseeing. This is peak season, so book trains early.
- April to June: Hot. Really hot. Temperatures hit 45°C (113°F) in the north. Only go if you’re heading to the hills or the coast.
- July to September: Monsoon. Roads flood, trains delay, and some hill stations become inaccessible. But the countryside turns green, and the crowds vanish. If you’re flexible, this is when you’ll find the cheapest deals.
For budget travelers, late October to early December is ideal. The weather is still great, the crowds are thinning, and prices haven’t spiked for the holidays.
What You’ll Miss If You Rush
Here’s the truth: You won’t see all of India in 30 days. Not even close. But you don’t need to.
What you will miss if you rush:
- The smell of incense rising from a temple at dawn in Varanasi.
- The sound of a sarod player in a quiet courtyard in Jaisalmer.
- The way a local family invites you to share their lunch because you smiled at their child.
- The silence of a deserted beach in Kerala after the monsoon.
- The feeling of climbing a 12th-century stepwell in Gujarat and realizing no one else is there.
These moments don’t fit into a 14-day itinerary. They need space. They need time. They need you to be still.
Final Answer: How Many Days to Travel All India?
There’s no magic number. But if you’re asking this question, you’re probably planning your first real trip.
Start with 30 days. Pick one region. Travel slow. Stay in one place for a week. Learn one phrase in Hindi or Tamil. Eat at the same dhaba every day. Let the rhythm find you.
After that? Come back. India isn’t a place you finish. It’s a place you return to - again and again.