India has over a billion stories to tell. For first-time visitors, the choice of where to go can feel overwhelming. These ten destinations offer a blend of accessibility, impact, and variety — enough to give you a genuine sense of India's extraordinary range on a first visit.
1. Delhi
India's sprawling capital is a collision of ancient and modern — Mughal tombs, colonial boulevards, frenzied bazaars, and world-class restaurants all in one city. Spend at least two days here: Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk market and Jama Masjid mosque in the morning, the Qutb Minar or Humayun's Tomb in the afternoon. The Metro is excellent. Delhi's chai culture is legendary — the cutting chai served in tiny glasses from Old Delhi stalls is a pilgrimage in itself.
2. Agra and the Taj Mahal
You have seen a thousand photographs. You are still not prepared. The Taj Mahal at sunrise, when the marble shifts from grey to pink to blinding white, is one of the world's great non-negotiable experiences. Beyond the Taj, Agra Fort is genuinely impressive and Fatehpur Sikri deserves a half-day. Do not sleep on the street food: Agra's petha (crystallised gourd sweet) and bedai (fried bread with spicy dal) are excellent.
3. Jaipur
The Pink City of Rajasthan is India at its most cinematic — the City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort perched on a hillside, and some of the country's best textile and jewellery shopping. Jaipur is also an excellent base for exploring the wider Rajasthan desert. Three days here comfortably.
4. Varanasi
The oldest continuously inhabited city on earth and the spiritual heart of Hinduism. Varanasi's ghats along the Ganges — where pilgrims bathe, priests conduct fire ceremonies (aarti), and life and death play out in full view — are unlike anything else on earth. It is intense, profound, and unforgettable. Allow at least two nights to absorb it.
5. Kerala
India's southern jewel offers backwater boat rides, misty tea and spice plantations in Munnar, Ayurvedic treatments, and a pace of life several gears slower than the north. Kerala is ideal for travellers who want beauty without the intensity of the north. Kochi (Cochin) is a wonderful base, with its Portuguese, Dutch, and British history layered over ancient Keralan culture.
6. Goa
Yes, Goa is touristy. It is also genuinely lovely — a unique Portuguese-Indian fusion culture, spice-infused seafood, beautiful beaches, and (in the north) a thriving arts scene. Avoid peak Christmas–New Year crowds if possible. South Goa's beaches are quieter and more beautiful than the north.
7. Mumbai
India's most cosmopolitan city, Mumbai rewards the traveller who looks beyond the tourist circuit. Dharavi, one of Asia's largest slums, runs right alongside some of India's most expensive real estate. The Dabbawala lunch box delivery system is a wonder of organisation. Victoria Terminus (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) is the most spectacular railway station you will ever see. Eat everything.
8. Rishikesh and the Himalayas
The yoga capital of the world sits at the point where the Ganges bursts from the Himalayan foothills into the plains. Rishikesh offers a remarkable combination of adventure (white-water rafting, bungee jumping) and introspection (genuine yoga ashrams, meditation retreats). A gateway to Haridwar's evening Ganga aarti and the Himalayan treks beyond.
9. Hampi
The ruined capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in Karnataka is one of India's most atmospheric UNESCO sites — temple complexes and royal enclosures scattered across a vast boulder-strewn landscape. Hampi rewards slow exploration over two to three days and is relatively off the mainstream tourist trail.
10. Amritsar and the Golden Temple
The holiest site in Sikhism, the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is also one of the most breathtakingly beautiful buildings on earth — a gleaming gold shrine surrounded by a sacred pool. Entrance is free, and the community kitchen (langar) serves free vegetarian meals to 100,000 people every day. The Wagah Border ceremony at sunset, with its elaborate military pageantry, is a remarkable experience just outside the city.