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🇮🇳Things to Do in India
From the Taj Mahal to the backwaters of Kerala - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
India is closer to a continent than a country in terms of range - the Mughal architecture of the north, the backwaters and beaches of the south, and the Himalayan foothills all feel like separate trips. The classic first-timer route, the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, covers a fraction of it but remains the most efficient introduction. Here are 10 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Taj Mahal, Agra
A white marble mausoleum built by Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and India's most recognizable monument. Visit at sunrise both for the light and to avoid the worst of the midday crowds and heat.
📍 Agra, Uttar Pradesh
🚉 Nearest station: Agra Cantt, the stop for the Gatimaan and Shatabdi expresses from Delhi, then a 15-minute ride by electric auto - petrol vehicles are banned within 500m of the monument.
Amber Fort, Jaipur
A hilltop fort-palace overlooking Maota Lake, part of Jaipur's 'Pink City' circuit alongside the Hawa Mahal and City Palace. An early start avoids both heat and tour-bus crowds.
📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan
🚉 Jaipur Junction is the city's station, about 11km away; city bus 5 and autorickshaws run to the fort, and the Jaipur Metro's Pink Line stops at Chandpole in the old city.
Kerala Backwaters
A network of canals, lakes and lagoons in the south, best seen from an overnight houseboat cruise out of Alleppey or Kumarakom.
📍 Alleppey & Kumarakom, Kerala
🚉 Nearest station: Alappuzha (Alleppey), a short autorickshaw ride from the boat jetty where the houseboats moor; Kottayam station serves the Kumarakom side.
Varanasi
One of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, and Hinduism's holiest, where the ghats along the Ganges river host both bathing rituals and cremation ceremonies. An early-morning boat ride is the classic way to see the ghats.
📍 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
🚉 Nearest station: Varanasi Junction, about 4km from the ghats - autorickshaws go as far as Godowlia crossing, and the last stretch to the river is on foot through the lanes.
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur
One of India's largest forts, towering over Jodhpur's 'Blue City' old town - the blue-washed houses below are best photographed from the fort's ramparts.
📍 Jodhpur, Rajasthan
🚉 Nearest station: Jodhpur Junction, 5km below the fort; autorickshaws climb to the gate, or you can walk up through the blue city from the clock tower in about 30 minutes.
Ranthambore National Park
One of India's best chances to see a wild Bengal tiger, in a former royal hunting ground turned reserve. Book a jeep safari well ahead - permits are limited per zone per day.
📍 Ranthambore, Rajasthan
🚉 Nearest station: Sawai Madhopur, on the Delhi-Mumbai line, about 10km from the park gates - safari canters and gypsies collect visitors from the hotels along that road.
Goa
Former Portuguese colony turned beach destination, with a mix of party beaches in the north and quieter stretches in the south, plus colonial-era churches in Old Goa.
📍 Goa
🚉 Madgaon (Margao) is the main railway station for south Goa and Thivim for the north, both on the Konkan Railway; buses and rented scooters cover the beaches from there.
Leh-Ladakh
High-altitude Himalayan desert in the far north, with Buddhist monasteries and some of the highest motorable passes in the world. Roads are typically only open June-September due to snow.
📍 Ladakh
🚉 There is no railway to Ladakh: fly into Leh's Kushok Bakula Rimpochee airport, or come overland by bus from Manali or Srinagar in two days, with passes above 5,000m.
Hampi
The ruins of a 14th-century Vijayanagara Empire capital, scattered across a boulder-strewn landscape in Karnataka - a favorite with both history and rock-climbing travelers.
📍 Hampi, Karnataka
🚉 Nearest station: Hosapete (Hospet) Junction, 13km away, with buses and autorickshaws to Hampi Bazaar; overnight trains and buses run from Bengaluru and Goa.
Holi & Diwali Festivals
Holi (the color festival, usually March) and Diwali (the festival of lights, usually October-November) are India's two biggest celebrations - timing a visit around either is a distinct kind of trip on its own.
📍 Nationwide
🚉 Both are celebrated everywhere, so the transport note is the opposite of usual: trains and buses sell out weeks ahead and cities empty or fill overnight - book long-distance travel well before the dates.
Mark India, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in India?
10 days covers the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur) plus one extra region like Kerala or Varanasi. Given the country's size, two weeks or more suits combining a northern and southern leg.
What's the best time to visit India?
October-March has the most comfortable weather across most of the country, avoiding both summer heat and the June-September monsoon. Exceptions apply - Ladakh's high passes are only open in summer.
Is India good for a first-time visit?
Yes, though it rewards planning more than many destinations - a private driver or organized tour for the Golden Triangle is a common, low-stress way to start, with domestic flights covering longer distances between regions.
Do I need a visa to visit India?
Most nationalities need a visa to enter India, though many can apply for a straightforward e-Visa online rather than visiting an embassy in person. Check the official visa information for your nationality: indianvisaonline.gov.in.
What are some things to do in India on a tight budget?
Many temples charge little or no entrance fee, street food is extremely cheap relative to sit-down restaurants, and Indian Railways' sleeper and general classes make long-distance travel affordable if you have the time to spare.
Can I rent a car in India, and what licence do I need?
You can, but the local norm is to hire a car with a driver rather than drive yourself, and for most visitors that is the better call - it costs little more than self-drive and removes the traffic entirely. If you do drive, an International Driving Permit is required alongside your home licence, and the minimum age is 21 to 25 depending on the company. Traffic drives on the left. Official licence and vehicle information is on the government's Parivahan portal at parivahan.gov.in, run by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways at morth.nic.in; self-drive cars come from Zoomcar, and chauffeur-driven cars from Savaari.