How to Get Ready for a Trip to India

Here, it's important to keep in mind that India is a sub-continent, not just a country. You need time in India to travel any distance and to see the entire nation. Here at Soul Travel and in this India travel blog, we love to promote slow travel whenever possible, and in our humble opinion, there's nothing quite like taking a train ride with locals rather than flying domestically and missing out on the stunning Indian landscapes. Learn how to do this by reading on!

Making Travel Plans for India

India, the seventh-largest nation in the world, covers a land area of more than 3 million square kilometres. That much travelling is excessive. We advise staying in one region of India since most first-time visitors only have 1-3 weeks to explore.

Many first-time visitors to India choose to visit the Golden Triangle, which consists of Agra, Delhi, and Jaipur with a small amount of Rajasthan thrown in for good measure. The answer is straightforward: The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, which is only three hours from Delhi, and Jaipur, which is also close to Delhi and has stunning Mughal architecture and numerous palaces. Also visit: Coorg honeymoon resorts


We advise against visiting just the Golden Triangle on your first trip to India because the majority of visitors do this. These are the most popular (and perhaps over-popular) tourist destinations in India, so it makes sense that there will be a lot of tourists there. Due to the high levels of (foreign) tourism in these regions, this is also where you'll experience the most hassle, including from eager vendors who are accustomed to dealing with tourists who are cash-rich but time-poor and aren't accustomed to haggling and from men who are hoping to catch a glimpse of less-than-well-covered skin. Although I don't dislike Delhi, Agra, or Jaipur (sorry, Agra, I really don't like you), I don't think they are the best places to begin a first trip to India, especially if you are travelling alone.

Where to Go in India on Your First Visit

This largely depends on your personal preferences, areas of interest, and goals for your India trip. The North of India differs greatly from the South in terms of everything from architecture to language to food to landscapes. The Himachal Pradesh peaks and the Ladakh region of the Indian Himalayas are popular destinations for mountain climbers and trekkers. Beach lovers travel to Goa and Kerala in the south, and Rajasthan is hard to beat for impressiveness and royal palaces. Connoisseurs of both cuisine and architecture are spoiled for choice, as the entire nation is filled with mouthwatering thalis and revered temples.



In search of a better life, yogis, and would-be gurus travel to Rishikesh and Varanasi. I knew I had to visit Varanasi, one of the oldest cities in the world, when I was planning my first trip to India. No matter how you feel about it, Varanasi is unmistakably unique in the world.