How Many Days to Travel All India: Real Budget Traveler Insights

Ready for a wild stat? India is bigger than the whole of Western Europe, and its trains stretch over 68,000 kilometers. If you’re trying to see everything, you’re in for an adventure. But how many days do you actually need to cover all of India? It’s a question every backpacker and budget explorer asks—usually right after buying that cheap flight to Delhi.

Let’s cut through the noise: you won’t see every inch, every temple, every sunrise, unless you spend years here. Still, you can get a real taste—north to south, east to west—if you plan smart, spend wisely, and don’t waste time chasing “Instagram spots” just because everyone else does.

The truth? You can dash through the highlights in 30 days, cram in most famous cities in 45, or drift for three whole months and barely scratch the surface. We’ll break down what kind of experiences fit each timeline, what it actually costs, and how not to burn out.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but with some hacks—overnight trains, local buses, simple food, and avoiding tourists traps—you’ll see more for less. Ready for a breakdown of time, money, and must-know tricks for crossing India like a pro?

• What does 'all India' actually mean?
• How much time does each region need?
• Budget travel tips for covering big distances
• Sample itineraries: Fast, balanced, and slow
• The best ways to save time and cash
• Things most travelers wish they knew early

What does 'all India' actually mean?

People throw around the phrase “travel all India” like it’s one simple task, but what does it really cover? India isn’t just a country—it’s more like a packed continent. There are 28 states, 8 union territories, and hundreds of totally different cultures, from the snowy hills of Kashmir to the beaches of Goa to the jungles in the northeast.

If you’re trying to see “all” of it, set some real expectations. Most travelers focus on the big-name zones like the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur), Goa, Kerala, and maybe Varanasi. But honestly, that’s just scratching the surface. If you really want to travel all of India, think about covering these broad zones:

• North (Delhi, Punjab, Himachal, Kashmir, Uttarakhand)
• West (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra)
• East (Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Northeast states)
• South (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana)
• Central (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh)

Now, if you’re the type who wants a literal checklist, there are over 50 major cities with their own vibes, over 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and more than 20 languages spoken by millions.

Here’s the thing: seeing every single village isn’t realistic, and most budget travelers want the biggest “wow” for their time and cash. So the smart way is to pick spots from each region, get a real feel for the mix, and skip the FOMO. Want to cover the days to travel india in a way that’s doable? Focus on regional highlights, but leave some wiggle room for places you’ve never even heard of yet—they often turn out to be the best memories.

How much time does each region need?

India isn’t just one big place. It’s got six main regions most folks check out: North, South, East, West, Central, and Northeast. Each has its own must-dos, vibe, and travel speed. The truth? You can’t give all regions the same number of days. Some, like Rajasthan or Kerala, can soak up your whole trip if you let them.

Here’s a practical breakdown for how much time you’d need to hit the main sights in each region (minus slow chilling or big side quests):

The table above gives you a sense of what’s possible if you go fast (efficient) or stretch things out (chilled). Bottom line: To quickly tick off the main places in each region, you’re looking at 50–70 days. But you’d need over three months for a less rushed feel.

A few tips to squeeze the most out of your days to travel india:

• Trains work best for covering long distances in North and West India. Book sleeper class early on IRCTC or through travel agents if you’re stuck.
• State-run buses will get you through the South and into the Northeast—sometimes nightly, sometimes painfully slow, but dirt cheap.
• Internal flights can save 10-20 hours if you’re skipping a region (like flying straight from Mumbai to Kolkata).
• City travel (especially Delhi and Mumbai) eats up more time than you think. Add at least a full day for getting your bearings, especially if it’s your first time.

Keep in mind, big festivals (like Diwali, Holi, or Pongal) can turn a normal week into chaos—sometimes amazing, sometimes just more crowded. If you hit those on your route, factor in longer waits and pricier stays.

Budget travel tips for covering big distances

India’s size means you’ll spend a lot of time just getting from one region to another. But you don’t need to splurge on flights to get around. Most seasoned backpackers lean hard on the Indian Railways and long-distance buses. These aren’t just cheap—they’re a real slice of local life. Here’s how to stretch your rupees across India.

• Book trains early online—India’s train network is the world’s fourth largest, but sleeper-class seats on major routes (Delhi to Kolkata, Chennai to Mumbai) fill up fast. Use the IRCTC website or apps like RailYatri to snag tickets up to 120 days ahead. Last-minute? Check the “Tatkal” option for emergency bookings, but expect to pay more.
• Buses go where trains don't. Government-run buses (look for “State Transport”) are cheapest, but slightly bumpy. Private buses are fancier, but pricier. Night buses help you save both time and a night’s accommodation.
• Overnight travel = free hotel night. Whether it’s a sleeper train or sleeper bus, you basically get sleep and transit for the price of one. Not super comfy every time, but if you want to make your budget go further, this is a golden rule.
• Use apps like RedBus or IntrCity for bus routes, prices, and reviews. These are especially handy in states like Rajasthan or Kerala, where trains are limited.
• Short distances? Local trains and shared tuk-tuks (auto-rickshaws) fill the gap. In some cities, metro cards (Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore) are dirt cheap and cover massive distances fast.
• If you’re traveling in a group, splitting a small car for a day can sometimes work out to almost the same price as premium buses—just haggle like crazy and use ride-share apps too.

Let’s make this even clearer with a quick breakdown of the most popular ways to cover distance and what they usually cost (based on 2025 prices):

Choosing the right combo lets you zigzag India with time and money to spare. The biggest win? Don’t try to see every city. Focus your days to travel india on the routes that give you the most variety—mountains, beaches, heritage towns. The more you plan ahead, the less you’ll blow your budget on last-minute rides.

Sample itineraries: Fast, balanced, and slow

Alright, let’s get practical. It really depends on the speed you want to travel, your budget, and what you can handle day after day. Here’s how different paces actually look on the ground, with real-life examples that make it doable.

days to travel india isn’t a wild guess—let’s map it out:

• Fast (30 days): Think of this like an India highlights reel. You’ll be booking overnight trains and sleeper buses, cutting down the number of stops, and sometimes just seeing major sights in each region. Most people pick a route like this:
  • Delhi (2 days) – Agra (1 day, Taj Mahal) – Jaipur (2 days) – Varanasi (2 days)
  • Head to Mumbai (2 days), train to Goa (2 days), quick detour into Hampi (1 day)
  • Down to Kerala for backwaters (2 days, Alleppey) and Kochi (1 day)
  • Fly to Kolkata (2 days), then a quick flight or train up to Darjeeling (2 days) or Sikkim (short trek, 2–3 days)
  • Use the rest for transit and one quick stop in Amritsar or Udaipur
• Balanced (45–60 days): You get to breathe a little here and dive deeper. You can explore a triangle—North, South, and a loop through the East or Northeast. You’ll see more, rest more, and maybe even get to chill on a beach for a couple of days. Example loop:
  • North: Delhi, Rajasthan circuit (Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur), Rishikesh/Haridwar, Varanasi
  • West: Mumbai, Ajanta/Ellora caves, Goa, Hampi
  • South: Bengaluru, Karnataka hill stations, Kerala (Fort Kochi, Alleppey, Munnar)
  • East: Kolkata, Sunderbans, Odisha temples, Northeast (Guwahati, Shillong, Kaziranga)
• Slow (90 days or more): This pace lets you get into local rhythms. You can spend a week each in big cities, take side trips to smaller towns, join a yoga course in Rishikesh, volunteer in a village, or take mountain treks.
  • Mix famous cities with relaxed stops: Spend a week on Kerala’s beaches, hike in Himachal, explore the tea gardens in Assam, and wander small desert towns in Rajasthan.
  • Plenty of time to linger: Local homestays, off-track temples, tribal markets, local street food.

If you’re on a real shoestring, longer stays cut down travel costs fast—putting your daily cost as low as 800 rupees a day (about $10) in most states. Don’t underestimate transit days, though—trains can take 36 hours across the subcontinent, so always budget for those.

Pro tip: Internal flights are sometimes cheaper than second-class AC trains if booked in advance, especially between big cities. If you want to squeeze more sights into less time, check budget airlines like IndiGo, SpiceJet, or AirAsia India.

The best ways to save time and cash

Cutting costs without losing out on the real India takes a bit of strategy. Trains are the backbone here—they cover the country for dirt cheap if you use sleeper class or 3AC (air condition, but not fancy). Booking your seats early on IRCTC (the official railway site) saves you from higher last-minute fares and waiting lists that never clear. Overnight trains kill two birds: you wake up in a new city and save a night of hostel costs.

Buses cover spots where trains don’t go. State-run buses cost less than private companies. Think of places like South India’s tiny villages—those red government buses run often and tickets rarely break 200 rupees.

Ride-sharing and carpooling apps like BlaBlaCar are picking up, mainly in big cities and tourist routes like Delhi-Jaipur-Agra. These can be handy (and often way faster) when getting between city pairs where train schedules don’t line up.

• Stick to street food or local eateries: A thali meal fills you up for about $1.50, compared to $10 tourist restaurant bills in Goa or Mumbai.
• Book accommodation straight on-site at hostels or lodges, not on apps during low season. You’ll get walk-in discounts and sometimes even a better room.
• ATMs pile up withdrawal fees fast. Try to withdraw bigger amounts less often, or get a travel card from banks like Wise, Revolut, or SBI NRI account (if you qualify).

Don’t forget about the Indian Railways’ special ‘tourist quota’ tickets—they hold a few spots on select routes just for foreigners, so you don’t get stranded during a festival or holiday rush. To really stretch your budget, mix in overnight buses on routes like Manali to Leh or Bangalore to Hampi, and play with different time slots (daytime trains cost less than evening ones for some routes).

Whatever you do, don’t try to pack too many states into a short trip. You spend less money (and less energy) if you really explore one region before jumping to another. Chasing every "famous" place just racks up costs on transport. Try focusing on the days to travel india in a single area—it frees up your cash for what matters: unique experiences, not endless bus rides.

Things Most Travelers Wish They Knew Early

If I had a rupee for every time I heard, “Wow, I wish I knew that before I came to India,” I’d be typing this from a beach in Goa. Here’s what seasoned backpackers always wish they'd known before trying to travel india on a budget (and time crunch).

• Distances are massive, and transport takes longer than maps suggest. A bus journey marked "six hours" often turns into ten with traffic and chai stops. Even India's fastest train, the Vande Bharat Express, takes over eight hours from Delhi to Varanasi (just two major cities on the classic tourist route!).
• Booking trains and government buses isn’t as straightforward as booking a flight. The IRCTC website can be tricky for foreigners. You’ll need an account, an Indian phone number (or pay agents extra), and popular train routes can sell out weeks ahead, especially in winter. Plan main routes early, even if the rest of your trip is flexible.
• Cash is still king in rural areas. Mobile payments like UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe) are everywhere in cities, but off-the-beaten-track, most places want cash. ATMs in remote towns sometimes run empty, especially on festivals. Always keep a backup stash.
• Traveling overnight saves money and time. Night trains and sleeper buses help you skip paying for hostels. Pack earplugs, an eye mask, and learn early to love the side-upper berth—more privacy, fewer feet in your face.
• Food safety is usually common sense, not luck. Freshly cooked food is your best bet. Salads and ice in drinks are risky in cheap joints. Local veggie thalis (mixed plates) are usually tasty, filling, and cost less than $2—even in popular spots like Rishikesh or Pushkar.
• Not every “bucket list” spot is worth it. Taj Mahal is a must, but paying three times the local rate for a sunrise tour in Udaipur? Not always a good deal. Sometimes, the small towns and second-tier cities (like Bundi or Hampi) offer way richer experiences.

Here’s a table showing how long common routes really take using cheap transport:

One last tip: pace yourself. Trying to cram everything into a quick trip almost always leads to "India burnout"—that moment when your brain can't handle another temple or dodgy ATM line. Go slow when you can, and leave space for detours. Sometimes, the spots you stumble into by accident are the real highlights.