Table of Contents
Introduction
I’ve always wanted to travel to India! The food has always been something I’ve wanted to explore, along with seeing the World Wonder. I recall wanting to visit since I lived in Singapore as a study exchange student. However, I admit. I’ve always felt it would be quite overwhelming to travel solo to India, so when GoJolley announced they were doing 7 days in India, I knew it was my time to go. Here is a 7-day India travel guide, with where I stayed, things to eat and more.
N.B. This is not to say you can’t travel solo to India, I have seen some travellers travel to India, but, I was keen to travel in a group setting.
Read this post if you are going and don’t know what to wear – Indian Cooking Class in Jaipur: Learning, Thinking and Amazing Food
About India
India is made for the travel foodie like me and you. It is a well-known land of diversity and has a known vibrance in culture, cuisine, and not to mention World Wonders (we will talk about that more later). From ancient forts to bustling street markets, every corner offers a unique experience waiting to be savoured.
Whether you are interested in exploring the Indian traditions, the Mughal architecture, the fantastic taste of the fiery curries, to the aromatic biryanis, each dish is a masterpiece of flavour and tradition.
And let’s not forget the World Wonder I mentioned earlier – the timeless beauty of the Taj Mahal. This blog post will share all of the memorable moments, so save, share and read on how to plan your amazing trip to India.
India Entry Requirement
Entry requirements for travellers to India vary based on nationality. Citizens of the United Kingdom and the United States typically need a visa to enter India for tourism or business purposes. If you travel to India, check the ‘Entry Requirements’ section for India’s current entry restrictions and requirements. To book your visa, you can book it here.
I purchased a flight with Qatar Airlines for about £700. The first leg of the airline was Royal Air Morocco from Casablanca to Qatar. The second leg was with Qarta Airlines to New Delhi.
Where And What to Eat in India
Oh my, the food in India is so flavoursome, each bite was filled with seasoning and flavour! I loved it. Read: Indian Food Guide: What to Eat & Where to Find It In 3 Cities. You can indulge in dishes like:
- Butter Chicken Curry
- Chicken Biryani
- Roti
- Masala Dosa
- Samosa
- Jalebi
These dishes are pretty safe and were some of my favourite options. It’s important that when you are exploring the culinary delights of India, you approach the street food and local delicacies with caution to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. You can find out how to prepare food in India here.
Eating local food while travelling offers a range of benefits, both for the traveller and the local community. I highly recommend trying these dishes. Below are further details on the restaurants and activities I did.
Packing for 1 Week in India
When packing for your travels to India, it’s important to include the essentials like packing conservative clothing, medication and snacks to ensure a comfortable and healthy journey. Here are some of the things I packed for my trip to India:
- Medication: Bring a supply of Imodium, altitude sickness, traveller’s diarrhoea medication, dissolvable salts and anything you need for yourself. I didn’t take malaria tablets, but if you feel the need to, I would highly recommend it.
- Granola Bars and Snacks: While India offers a plethora of culinary delights, having some familiar snacks on hand can be comforting, especially during long journeys or when exploring areas with limited dining options. Pack granola bars that can come in handy if you do start having travellers’ diarrhoea.
- Cultural Considerations: Be mindful of local customs and traditions when choosing your clothing. I packed clothes that were long-sleeve maxi dresses. I would also suggest carrying a few scarves. Try and avoid clothing with offensive slogans or images, and refrain from wearing revealing or overly tight outfits, especially in conservative areas.
Related Post: What to Wear As A Black Woman in India
Travelling Around India
- You can travel around India within the cities with Uber. I would suggest having data with an e-sim card – you can purchase it here and use the code ADEBOL5279.
- Otherwise, you will need a reliable driver if you want to explore other cities like Jaipur and Agar.
1 Week in India Itinerary
There are a lot of things you can do over 7 days in India. And if you are ready to embark on a gastronomic adventure through the heart of India, then you have come to the right place. If you’re a food enthusiast or an explorer like me, you’ll relish every moment of this immersive culinary experience. All the hotels I stayed in over my 1 week in India are in the map below:
This is for 1 week in India itinerary, but if you can stay longer. I would highly recommend it. 2/3 Days In New Delhi
Day 1: Arrive in New Delhi, the bustling capital city. Check into your hotel The Sheraton Hotel in New Delhi.
- You will want to freshen up and have a look around the hotel. My first thing is checking out the gym amenities. I then headed out to see the Sarojini Nagar Market, where you can find everything from sarees to toys, food and bags.
- In the evening, have dinner at the New Delhi and ask for the set menu which includes curries, kebabs and much more.
Day 2: Start the day early with a tour of New Delhi, where you will see the famous Jama Masjid and the Humayuns Tomb.
- You can have lunch at the SURIBACHI, where you’ll indulge in authentic Indian cuisine bursting with flavours. As a group we wanted to try everything, so we ordered two of something and shared the dishes. It was great because we got to try a little bit of everything.
Hotel: Sheraton Hotel, you can book here.
3 Days In Agra
Agra is known for being the home to one of the world’s most renowned landmarks, and a World Wonder – The Taj Mahal. You will need to purchase your sari before travelling to Agra, which can be purchased in a market.
Day 3: Start the day early, as you will be travelling to Agra.
- You will need to travel from New Delhi to Agra, which is about a four-hour drive. On the way to the next city, you can stop at the Agra Fort, a marvel of the Taj Mahal, and immerse yourself in the rich history of the city.
- You can have a late lunch/dinner at Lotus Restaurant.
Hotel: Taj Convention Hotel, you can book here.
2 Days in Jaipur
The final city of your Indian trip has to be Jaipur. This was my absolute favourite destination in India. We headed out early for another four-hour drive from Agar to Jaipur.
Day 5: We arrived at the most stunning hotel, Fairmont Jaipur, in the afternoon. After a long drive, it was a pretty chilled day spent around the hotel.
- In the evening we took a cooking class. You’ll learn to prepare iconic dishes like Panipuri, Biryani, Roti, and Chicken Curry. You can book the cooking class here.
Day 6: We experience true luxury at the Fairmont Jaipur and embark on a food tour of the bustling Jaipur Market. You can book the street food tour here.
Hotel: Fairmont Jaipur, you can book here.
Checklist for Travelling to India
- My Instagram page has detailed reels and specifics of my recent 1 week in India.
- For your travel to India, I would say it’s good to travel with bars like granola bars, medication like Imodium etc.
- I travelled with GoJolley, so I recommend checking them out if you ever consider your trip to India.
- Before you travel to India or any other countries, I recommend visiting the Foreign Advice Page for U.K. travellers. Check if you need visas here.
- I recommend that anyone who wants to travel to India should have travel insurance, which you can get via SafetyWing here.
- Book with Viator or Get Your Guide if you want specific tours for India.
- I used Airlo, an e-SIM card, for data. You can purchase it here and use the code ADEBOL5279.
Final Views on Travel to India
I hope this post helps you make the move and travel to India! I don’t think this is the last time I will travel to India, from the biryanis of Hyderabad to the spicy street foods of New Delhi. Pack your bags, prepare your palate, and immerse yourself in the rich and mouthwatering world of Indian cuisine. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask away in the comments below.
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Until next time,
MBV x
