India: Three Weeks of Adventure

Hover over a day to see where it took place on the map. Scroll through the days to follow the route on the map.

1. Day 1 · 09 Jan 2026

   Trip to India

   The start of a 3-week adventure in India, leaving Porto, flying from Madrid via Jeddah to New Delhi and a look at the cities on the route.

2. Day 2 · 11 Jan 2026

   Arriving in New Delhi

   First hours in New Delhi: a SIM card for 500 rupees, the express bus to the station, a hotel next to the Main Bazaar and street biscuits.

3. Day 3 · 12 Jan 2026

   Wandering around New Delhi

   First day in Delhi: train tickets and a private driver, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib temple, Lodhi Garden, Khan Market and an expensive beer.

4. Day 4 · 13 Jan 2026

   New Delhi’s main monuments

   A day with a private driver: Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Akshardham Temple, Humayun’s Tomb, the National Museum and dinner at Daryaganj.

5. Day 5 · 14 Jan 2026

   Udaipur: the city of lakes

   Metro and flight from New Delhi to Udaipur, arriving in the old town, the Kite Festival on the rooftop, a temple ritual and a folk dance show.

6. Day 6 · 15 Jan 2026

   Udaipur: sunrise in the mountains

   An early scooter ride to the Aravali range, a climb on foot to the Karni Mata Temple and a descent along a path that turned out to be closed.

7. Day 7 · 16 Jan 2026

   Udaipur: the City Palace

   Morning at Udaipur’s City Palace, afternoon in the old town, Gulab Bagh park and the Navlakha Mahal museum, and a farewell to the city of lakes.

8. Day 8 · 17 Jan 2026

   Arriving in Mumbai

   Flight from Udaipur to Mumbai, checked baggage included in the ticket, metro to Colaba, street food, sunset at Cuffe Parade and Marine Drive.

9. Day 9 · 18 Jan 2026

   Mumbai: Elephanta Island and Bollywood

   Ferry from the Gateway of India to the Elephanta Caves, the cinema museum, Mahalakshmi temple, Haji Ali mosque and Pani Puri at Chowpatty.

10. Day 10 · 19 Jan 2026

    Mumbai: the city

    Breakfast at Café Leopold, historic buildings, Crawford Market, a postcard at the post office, Mumba Devi temple, Bhau Daji museum and the cinema.

11. Day 11 · 20 Jan 2026

    Mumbai: Parsis, Gandhi and Marine Drive

    The Parsi Tower of Silence, Hanging Gardens, Gandhi’s house museum, the Kotachiwadi quarter, Wankhede stadium and snacks at Marine Drive.

12. Day 12 · 21 Jan 2026

    Goodbye Mumbai

    Leaving Mumbai for Varanasi, with reflections on the Indian people, domestic tourism, being careful with food and street snacks.

13. Day 13 · 21 Jan 2026

    Arriving in Varanasi

    Flight to Varanasi 1 hour 30 minutes late, unexpected sandwiches on board, a shared taxi, a maze of streets to the hostel and a first walk by the river.

14. Day 14 · 22 Jan 2026

    Varanasi: the Ghats

    A boat trip on the river Ganges, the morning ceremony at Assi Ghat, a walk along the Ghats, Namo Ghat, Café Nirvana and the Ganga Aarti in the evening.

15. Day 15 · 23 Jan 2026

    Varanasi: Sarnath

    Train to Sarnath, a Buddhist site, chatting with locals on the way back, Kashi Vishwanath temple, cremations at Manikarnika Ghat and Basant Panchami.

16. Day 16 · 24 Jan 2026

    Varanasi: markets and rituals

    Wandering the alleys of old Varanasi, markets, a ritual in memory of the dead, an Ayurvedic massage by the river and preparing for the flight to Jaipur.

17. Day 17 · 25 Jan 2026

    Varanasi: saying goodbye

    The bus to the airport after a long wait and a reflection on Varanasi as Shiva’s sacred city, with the story of Ganesha.

18. Day 18 · 25 Jan 2026

    Jaipur, the Pink City

    Arriving in Jaipur after baggage checks, Republic Day, the origin of the city’s pink colour and a first walk with a view of the Hawa Mahal.

19. Day 19 · 26 Jan 2026

    Jaipur: the palaces

    Visiting the Jal Mahal, Amber Palace and the forts, street-stall snacks, a packed bus back and the day’s end at Tal Katora lake and the City Palace.

20. Day 20 · 27 Jan 2026

    Jaipur: museum and fort

    Rain in the morning, temples, the Albert Museum, the caste system, bazaars, the Hawa Mahal and a walk up to Nahargarh Fort for dinner and city lights.

21. Day 21 · 28 Jan 2026

    Jaipur: saying goodbye

    A train ride from Jaipur to Agra and observations on daily life in India: streets, rubbish, water, tobacco, animals and money.

22. Day 22 · 29 Jan 2026

    Agra: the Taj Mahal and the Baby Taj

    A visit to the Taj Mahal at sunrise, with dust in the air, its history and Itmad-ud-Daulah, the Baby Taj, on the other side of the Yamuna river.

23. Day 23 · 30 Jan 2026

    Agra: saying goodbye

    Last day in Agra watching people feed birds, the elevated metro and craftsmen, then a delayed train back to New Delhi and odd scenes at the station.

24. Day 24 · 31 Jan 2026

    Farewell to New Delhi and India

    A look back at 3 weeks in India: tea, language and religion, traffic, haggling over prices, transport and gratitude for living in Portugal.