How to Get Ready for a Trip to India

Here, we must remember that India is a subcontinent, not just a country! Time is required to travel any distance in India and to see multiple regions of the country. We encourage slow travel whenever possible on Soul Travel and in this India travel blog, and in our humble opinion, nothing beats taking a train ride with locals as opposed to flying domestically and missing out on the beautiful Indian landscapes. Read on for instructions!

Organizing Your Initial Visit to India

India, the seventh largest country in the world, occupies more than 3 million square kilometres of land. That is a great deal of travel. Assuming the majority of first-time visitors to India have one to three weeks for travel, we recommend focusing on a single region.

Many first-time visitors to India opt for the Golden Triangle, which includes Agra, Delhi, and Jaipur, with some Rajasthan if time permits. The reason is straightforward: Agra is home to the Taj Mahal and is only three hours from Delhi, while Jaipur is home to stunning Mughal architecture and numerous palaces, and is also easily accessible from Delhi. Also visit: Coorg honeymoon resorts


The fact that this is what the majority of travellers do is the reason why we advise first-time visitors to India to visit more than just the Golden Triangle. These are India's most-visited (and to some extent, over-visited) destinations, so that is where you'll find the largest tourist populations. Due to the high level of (foreign) tourism in these areas, it's also where you'll encounter the most trouble: in part from enthusiastic vendors who are used to cash-rich, time-poor tourists who aren't used to haggling, and in part from men who hope to catch a glimpse of less-than-well-covered skin. It's not that I don't like Delhi, Agra, or Jaipur (okay, Agra, I really don't like you), but I don't think they're the best places to start your first trip to India, particularly if you're travelling alone.

Where to Go During Your Initial Visit to India

This depends greatly on your preferences and interests, as well as what you wish to experience during your travels in India. The North of India differs from the South in numerous ways, including architecture, language, cuisine, and landscapes. Mountaineers and trekkers should head north to the peaks of Himachal Pradesh and the Indian Himalayas in Ladakh. When it comes to princely palaces and sheer awe-inspiring grandeur, Goa and Kerala are hard to beat, while Rajasthan is unrivalled. Food and architecture aficionados are spoiled for choice in India, which is brimming with delicious thalis and awe-inspiring temples.



Spiritual seekers, yogis, and aspiring gurus flock to the cities of Rishikesh and Varanasi for life-altering experiences. When planning my first trip to India, I knew I had to visit Varanasi, one of the world's oldest cities. There is no denying that Varanasi is unlike any other place on earth, whether you like it or not.