Two Month India Itinerary
India is such an amazing and diverse country and two months is not enough time to travel this wonderful country but it’s a good amount of time to see some of the highlights and get a taste for the country. In our two month India itinerary we’ll explain where we went, how we got there, things to do and where to stay.
We spent two months in India as it was easy to get the 60 day evisa online but we would love to come back again and explore more as we didn’t have time to fit in the North on our trip. In our two month India Itinerary the time frames we suggest are just a rough guide, some people might be a bit more relaxed and spend longer in places or others might want to move on quicker it’s totally up to personal preference.
How much did we spend?
Travelling India is super cheap to get around on trains and buses, food and accommodation is also inexpensive. We spent £800 each in two months and we weren’t trying to penny pinch. We have known other travellers to get by on half that amount it really depends on your travelling style.
Getting around the country
Trains
Trains can be booked on cleartrip.com if you have an IRCTC account. If you don’t you will need to register using this website: https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/user-registration
Trains tickets can also be purchased at the train station or travel agent but we always found it cheaper and more convenient to do it ourselves. If you are booking last minute some trains have Tatkal tickets which go on sale at 10am the day before departure.
Bus
Busses can sometimes be an easier option than getting the train, usually have a lot more availability than the train and sometimes they connect places where the train lines don’t go. We always used www.redbus.in for our bus bookings but you can also purchase tickets at your hotel or a travel agent.
Flights
Sometimes you can pick up cheap internal flights in India, if you are travelling a large distance and restricted to time this can be a better option and more comfortable. The most common Domestic Airlines are: Jet Airways, Air India, Air Asia, InidiGo and SpiceJet. Skyscanner is a great website to use to find the cheapest flights available.
Our two month India itinerary
Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi – 3 nights
The first stop on our two month India itinerary. As we were flying in from Nepal Varanasi was the easiest first stop for us, although some people say not to stop in Varanasi first as it can be very full on for first time India travellers.
Varanasi makes all your senses come alive, it’s a crazy place which should definitely be part of your India itinerary.
Things to do:
- Sunrise or sunset boat trip on the Ganges, don’t go on one of the bigger engine boats they pack them full and it won’t be enjoyable.
- Walking along one of the many Ghats and take in the culture
- The must see Ghats being; Assi Ghat, Dasaswamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat and Chat Singh Ghat
- See one of the cremation ghats, but remember not to take photographs as it’s disrespectful
- Watch the famous Aarti Ceremony at sunset
Where to stay:
How we got there:
We came here from Nepal so we flew into Delhi and then onto Varanasi. You can fly directly from Delhi, it is also connected by busses and trains.
Agra – 1 or 2 nights
Agra is the home of the Taj Mahal, no trip to India is complete without visiting this amazing wonder of the world!
There isn’t much else to do in Agra apart from the Taj Mahal, so is only worth 1 or 2 nights at most.
Things to do:
- Visit the famous Taj Mahal
- Agra Fort
- Mehtab Bagh Gardens
- View Taj Mahal from across the river
Where to stay:
How we got there:
We took the overnight train from Varanasi to Agra which took 10 hours.
Tip tips:
- Go to the Taj Mahal for sunrise or sunset, it will be much cooler and it’s believed to change colour.
- The tourist ticket for the Taj let’s you skip the queue so walk past the queue of locals and don’t believe anyone that says if you pay them you can skip.
RajasthanJaipur – 3 or 4 nights
The pink city of Jaipur is somewhere we’ve always wanted to visit and we loved it there. It’s a beautiful city with a wealth of things to explore and do!
Things to do:
- Nahargarh Fort – we preferred this fort to the others, it was really quiet, cheaper and better views than the Amber Fort
- Jaigarh Fort (famous instagram spot)
- Amber Fort – try to get there early before it gets hot and busy
- City Palace
- Explore the pink city
- Monkey temple
- Jal Mahal
- Palace of the winds
- Jewellery and textile shopping
- Stepwell (instagram spot)
- Textile museum
Where to stay:
How we got there:
We got the train from Agra which took around 4 hours.
Top tip: Use Ola or Uber to get around it’s cheaper and more convenient
Pushkar – 3 or 4 nights
After the craziness of the 3 other cities, Pushkar actually felt quieter to us. Pushkar is very touristy but a nice place to chill or rent a motorbike and explore
Things to do:
- Pushkar lake
- Walk around the Ghats
- Eat, drink or chill in a rooftop restaurant
- Shop, shop, shop, there are so many markets here
- Rent a motorbike and go to the temples in the hills
- Watch sunset or sunrise from Savitri Temple, you can walk or get a cable car to the top
- Pushkar Camel Fair (1 week in November)
- Take a boat out on Ajmer lake
Where to stay:
How we got there:
we got the train from Jaipur, which takes you to Ajmer Station then we got an Ola for around 400 rupees to Pushkar. Taking the bus to Jaipur is also an option.
Top tip: Watch out for scams of people trying to bless your family and then demanding money from you. We never experienced it but heard others who did.
Jodhpur – 2 or 3 nightsJodhpur, also known as the Blue city! When walking around the city you don’t see many blue houses, we felt like the most blue area was Chandpole but as soon as you go to Mehrangarh Fort you see how blue it is.
Things to do:
- Mehrangarh Fort
- Jaswant Thada, Great sunset spot for taking photos of the fort
- Umaid Bhawan Palace
- Walking around the city
- Clock Tower and Market
- Stay in one of the Havelis in the old city
Where to stay:
How we got there:
Train from Ajmer which took around 4 hours.
Jaisalmer – 3 nightsJaisalmer should be included on a two month India itinerary, it is in the Thar Desert and is called the golden city! It is famous for the camel safari and fort that looks like a giant sand castle!
You shouldn’t visit Jaisalmer just for the safari it was one of our favourite places in India.
Things to do :
- Camel safari
- Fort – not like other forts in India, its free to get into, no security and there is a community living within the walls, you can even stay the night in one of the many guesthouses
- Gadisar Lake
- Patwon Ki Haveli
Where to stay:
How we got there:
We got the bus from Jodhpur, which took around 5 hours driving.
North GoaVagator – 5 nights
We used Vagator as our base to explore North Goa, we hired a moped for 300 rupees a day to drive to Arambol, Ashwem, Anjuna and Morjim.
Things to do:
- Little Vagator beach
- Visit fishtail restaurant or one of the beach shacks on Vagator beach
- Arambol beach is nice
- Fort Aguada
- Relax on one of the many beautiful beaches
- Hire a moped and go exploring
- Water Sports
- Enjoy one of the many beach parties
Where to stay:
How we got there:
We got the over night bus from Jaisalmer to Hyderabad and then flew to Goa overall it took around 12 hours, we then caught a taxi to Vagator. Taxis are expensive in Goa so try to keep them to a minimum.
South Goa
Agonda & Patnem – 10 to 14 nights or longer!
Agonda and Patnem were are favourite areas in South Goa, we ended up staying 2 weeks in Agonda! It’s a good base for South Goa to explore on the moped.
Things to do:
- Agonda beach
- Fishing trips
- Yoga in Patnem
- Massage in Patnem (recommend Daddu’s healing centre)
- Cola beach absolute must
- Palolem Beach and catch the boat to butterfly beach
- Dolphin site seeing tour from Palolem
- Visit Galibaga beach to see turtles it’s also a beautiful drive to get there
- Enjoy one of the many delicious restaurants , we’d recommend my friends place, Kopi Desa and The Roadhouse
Where to stay:
How we got there:
Transport such as busses are not great in Goa and taxis are expensive. We paid 2400 rupees from Varkala to Agonda
Hampi was our favourite place in India. It feels like you’ve stepped into Jurassic Park or the Flintstones movie!
Things to do:
- Wonder the Hampi Bazaar
- Explore the temples and ruins
- Matanga hill for sunset or sunrise
- Monkey Temple
- Durga Temple
- Chill by the lake
Read our blog post about Hampi for more things to do!
Where to stay:
- Clarks Inn Hampi
- Heritage Resort Hampi
- Hampi Island (not much accomodation online)
How we got there:
We caught the train from Goa to Hosapete Junction which took around 9 hours
Top Tip: Stay on both the Hampi Bazaar and Hampi Island side of the river
KerelaAlleppey (Alappuzha) – 1 to 2 nights
The home of Kerela’s famous backwaters best known for its houseboat cruises along the canals and lakes.
Things to do:
- Backwaters overnight house boat
- Canoe or kayak in the backwaters
- Take a public boat around the backwaters it’s cheaper than a trip
- Enjoy the delicious Kerela food
- Explore the night markets
Where to stay:
How we got there:
We caught the overnight bus to Bangalore and then flew to Kochi we then caught the train to Alleppey, the journey took around 15 hours.
Top Tip: Walk along the boat jetty late afternoon where all the house boats park up and you can choose a house boat you’d like to stay on.
The landscape in Munnar is beautiful, it’s set up in the hills surrounded by tea plantations and national parks.
Things to do:
- Hire a moped and drive to the top station and take in the views
- Mattupetty Dam
- Lockhart Tea Factory for tea tasting and factory tour
- Explore the tea plantations
- Eravikulam National Park
- Anamudi
- Attukad Waterfall
Where to stay:
How we got there:
We caught a taxi to Munnar which took around 5 hours and cost 3500 rupees. It is also possible to catch a bus there.
Top Tip: Stay outside of Munnar town in the beautiful hills you’ll have amazing views and it’s easy to hire a moped or driver to get around.
Varkala – 3 to 4+ nights
Varkala is a nice little town known for it’s beach with red cliffs and palm trees as the backdrop.
Things to do:
- Relax on the beach
- Yoga, there are many yoga schools here
- Ayurvedic massage
- Shop in the markets along Varkala Cliff
- Golden Island
- Anchuthengu Fort
Where to stay:
How we got there:
We got a taxi from Munnar to Varkala which took around 8 hours and cost 8000 rupees, there is also an option to catch the local bus.
Kochi (Cochin)Our final stop in India was Kochi famous for its fishing and fort.
Things to do:
- Fort Kochi
- LuLu Mall
- Wonderla Amusement Park
- Jew Town
- Cochin Port
- St Francis Church
Where to stay:
How we got there:
We got the train to Ernakulam which took around 4 hours.
Planning a trip to India? Check out our packing list and we hope you liked our two month India itinerary!