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Travel Guides: Practical Advice for Visiting India

Honest, useful guides from the people who plan and travel these journeys every day.

Houseboat on a Kerala backwater canal
Featured Guide

Taj Mahal at sunrise: a complete guide

How to see the Taj when it is quiet, golden and uncrowded.

Agra · 8 min read
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Practical guides and notes for travelling in India.

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Agra
Delhi
Rajasthan
Planning
Taj Mahal at first light, Agra
8 min read
Agra

Taj Mahal at sunrise: a complete guide

How to see the Taj when it is quiet, golden and uncrowded.

Read guide →
Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, Jaipur
6 min read
Planning

How many days do you need for the Golden Triangle?

Four, five or six days: what fits and what to leave for next time.

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Pangong Lake, Ladakh
7 min read
Planning

The best time to visit India, month by month

Seasons, festivals and what to expect in each region.

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Jama Masjid, Old Delhi
7 min read
Delhi

A first-timer's guide to Old Delhi

Bazaars, mosques and the best way to see them without feeling overwhelmed.

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Rajasthani puppets and wind chimes at a bazaar, Jaipur
6 min read
Rajasthan

Jaipur beyond Amber Fort

Havelis, bazaars and quiet corners of the Pink City.

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Ranakpur Jain Temple, Rajasthan
4 min read
Planning

What to wear when visiting temples and mosques in India

Simple rules for dress, shoes and respect.

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Taj Mahal in the morning mist, Agra
8 min read
Agra

Taj Mahal Timings and Tickets

Opening hours, closed days, how to buy tickets, which gate to use and how to avoid the crowds, in plain language.

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Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh, Agra
8 min read
Agra

How to Travel from Delhi to Agra

Distance, travel time, comfort and cost of each way to get from Delhi to Agra, with a recommendation for different kinds of trip.

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Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh at sunset, Agra
8 min read
Planning

India Itinerary for First-Timers

A realistic 7 day and 14 day plan for a first visit, with what to include, what to skip and how much to try to fit in.

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Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh at dusk, Agra
8 min read
Planning

India Visa Guide for Tourists

A plain-language overview of the India tourist e-Visa, what you need to apply, and how to avoid unofficial websites. Rules change, so always

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Taj Mahal at sunset, Agra
8 min read
Planning

Kailasa Temple Ellora Guide

What the Kailasa Temple is, how it was carved, when to visit Ellora and how to combine it with Ajanta.

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Taj Mahal from the Yamuna riverbank at sunset, Agra
8 min read
Planning

Varanasi Ganga Aarti Guide

The evening fire ceremony on the Ganges is the best-known ritual in Varanasi. Here is how to watch it, from the steps, a boat or a balcony,

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Taj Mahal at sunset, Agra
8 min read
Planning

Kerala Itinerary and Best Time to Visit

A practical guide to planning Kerala: how many days to give it, which places to include and which months suit which plan.

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Taj Mahal silhouette at sunset, Agra
8 min read
Rajasthan

Rajasthan Itinerary: 4, 5 and 7 Days

Rajasthan is bigger than it looks on a map. Here is how to choose cities and order them for four, five or seven days, without spending the t

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Taj Mahal, Agra
8 min read
Planning

Varanasi Itinerary: 2 to 3 Days

A day-by-day plan for Varanasi, with the best order for the ghats, the aarti, the old lanes and Sarnath.

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Taj Mahal and its reflecting pool, Agra
8 min read
Planning

Private Guide vs Group Tour in India

A fair comparison of private and group tours in India, so you can decide which suits your pace, budget and style.

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Taj Mahal front view, Agra
8 min read
Planning

Solo Travel in India: A Practical Guide

Practical, honest advice for travelling alone in India, including women travellers, with the routes and habits that make it easier.

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Taj Mahal at the central pool, Agra
8 min read
Agra

Agra Fort and Agra Beyond the Taj

Agra has more than the Taj Mahal. This guide covers Agra Fort and the places that fill a half day around it, including what to do on a Frida

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Taj Mahal in the morning, Agra
8 min read
Planning

Family Holidays in India

How to plan India with children: which routes work, how to set the pace and what children actually enjoy.

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Taj Mahal reflection, Agra
8 min read
Rajasthan

Jaipur Itinerary: 2 to 4 Days

How to plan Jaipur for two, three or four days, with the right order for the forts, the City Palace and the bazaars.

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Taj Mahal from the lawns, Agra
8 min read
Rajasthan

Udaipur Itinerary: 3 and 5 Days

A practical plan for Udaipur, with the City Palace, the lakes and the day trips to Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur.

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Taj Mahal framed by arches, Agra
8 min read
Rajasthan

Jaisalmer Itinerary: 2 Nights

How to spend two nights in Jaisalmer, with the fort, the havelis, Kuldhara and a night near the dunes.

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Taj Mahal seen through a mosque arch, Agra
8 min read
Planning

Golden Temple Amritsar from Delhi

How to reach Amritsar from Delhi, how long to stay and what to see besides the Golden Temple.

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Taj Mahal across the Yamuna, Agra
8 min read
Planning

Haridwar and Rishikesh Itinerary

A two-day plan for Haridwar and Rishikesh, as an add-on to a north India trip.

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