3 days ago
The great Indian travel circuit: 5 circuits in India that cover 3 states in just 7 days
Keen to go for a trip? Well, why stick to one place, when you can cover multiple places in one go. Yes, with some smart planning, and a little love for train (or road) travel, you can check out multiple states in one epic week-long journey.
From spiritual trails to royal heritage routes and coastal escapes, here are 5 incredible travel circuits in India that can help you cover 3 states in just 7 days, because why settle for one vibe when you can experience three.
Rajasthan – Gujarat – Madhya Pradesh
Route: Udaipur → Ahmedabad → Indore
Highlights: Start in Udaipur, the 'City of Lakes,'then head west to Ahmedabad for some UNESCO-tagged old city charm and mouth-watering Gujarati thalis. End your trip in Indore, where MP's street food scene and the nearby Mandu ruins will blow your mind.
Must-do: Boat ride in Udaipur, Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Sarafa Bazaar in Indore.
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Tamil Nadu – Karnataka – Kerala
Route: Madurai → Mysuru → Kochi
Highlights: Kick things off in Madurai, home to the magnificent Meenakshi Temple and some truly divine dosas. A quick overnight to Mysuru brings you royal palaces, sandalwood, and silk. Wrap up in Kochi's colonial lanes and backwaters, where Portuguese and spice trade history mixes with hipster cafés and Kathakali shows.
Must-do: Meenakshi Temple darshan, Mysore Palace, Kochi ferry ride through Fort Kochi.
Maharashtra – Goa – Karnataka
Route: Mumbai → Goa → Gokarna
Highlights: Begin with the chaos and charisma of Mumbai: heritage buildings, Marine Drive, and vada pav. From there, cruise down to Goa for two days of beachy bliss, fish thalis, and sunset scenes. Then hop further south to Gokarna, a laid-back temple town with quiet beaches and fewer crowds.
Must-do: Ferry in Mumbai, beach-hopping in Goa, cliff trek from Om Beach to Half Moon Beach in Gokarna.
West Bengal – Odisha – Jharkhand
Route: Kolkata → Bhubaneswar → Ranchi
Highlights: Start in Kolkata with trams, art galleries, and Bengali sweets. A train to Bhubaneswar unlocks ancient temples and Buddhist heritage sites like Dhauli and Udayagiri. Finally, ride into Ranchi for waterfalls, tribal culture, and a breather in the lap of the Chota Nagpur Plateau.
Must-do: Victoria Memorial, Lingaraj Temple, Hundru Falls.
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Uttar Pradesh – Bihar – Jharkhand
Route: Varanasi → Bodh Gaya → Deoghar
Highlights: Start your journey in Varanasi, one of the world's oldest living cities, where life and death flow together on the ghats of the Ganges. After soaking in the spiritual chaos, head to Bodh Gaya, the peaceful town in Bihar where Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Then cap your trip with a visit to Deoghar, Jharkhand's spiritual hub famous for the Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple, surrounded by scenic hills and a refreshingly calm vibe.
Must-do: Sunset Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, meditate under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, trek to Tapovan Hills in Deoghar.
