Two weeks is very little time in India, so it is best to concentrate on a small area and avoid travelling long distances. Travelling around in India can take a lot of time and a lot of energy.
Visit Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
Delhi-Agra-Jaipur is probably the most famous tourist circuit in India.
Being the capital, Delhi has enough sights for a few days. Agra is the home to the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world. Agra can be visited in a day trip from Delhi, but there are train connections from here to Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan and a major tourist attraction. Also called the Pink City, it is a city of majestic forts and palaces as well as many bazaars for serious shopping.
The holy city of Pushkar is not too far of Jaipur, although these days it is more a backpacker centre and feels a bit less holy. Alternatively, two weeks would leave enough time for visiting the holiest site of Sikhism in India, the Golden Temple in Amritsar. This truly stunning temple is a seven-hour train journey away from Delhi on the daily Shatabdi Express.
Relax on a Beach in Goa
Two weeks is enough time to have a great beach holiday in India’s top beach resort, Goa. Goa is one of India’s most developed tourist resorts and life here is easy, the main problem being where to settle on Goa’s over 100 km of coastline by the Arabian Sea. Two weeks goes by fast when exploring Goa’s beaches, visiting Old Goa and the capital Panaji, eating and drinking well and shopping at local markets.
For some visitors Goa has become way too touristy and Gokarna, further down the coast, is a better and quieter option to spend a two week beach holiday. Another idea would be to combine a beach holiday in Goa to a few days of sightseeing and shopping in Mumbai, India’s trendiest city.
Explore Kerala’s Beaches and Backwaters
Tropical Kerala is South India at its best. The most famous beaches here are Kovalam and Varkala in the South, whereas North Kerala has some quieter options. Beach life can be combined with a boat trip to Kerala’s backwaters, a network of canals and rivers in the middle of coconut groves and rice fields, and the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary or the hill station of Munnar in the Western Ghats. Kerala is also the birthplace of Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medical system, and an Ayurvedic massage is on most visitors’ wish list.
