India is too large and too varied to treat as one destination, and most first trips settle on a region. The northern circuit links Delhi, Agra and Jaipur; Mumbai anchors the west; Goa runs a beach season on the Arabian Sea; and the south has a separate climate, cuisine and set of languages.
The guides here cover Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Goa and a countrywide overview of major landmarks. The monsoon shapes the calendar more than anything else: roughly June to September on most of the mainland, with October through March the standard travel window. Domestic distances usually mean flights or overnight trains, and train tickets on popular routes are booked well ahead. Entry requires a visa arranged before arrival for most nationalities.