My First Time in India

   08.06.2026    Updated: Cameron Hagan

This first-hand India travel blog follows a multi-region itinerary covering Madhya Pradesh, the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra and Jaipur), and Mumbai. Read Cameron’s journey which encompassed wildlife safaris, ancient sites, friendly local encounters, iconic landmarks like the Taj Mahal and more, as he shares what stood out, what surprised him, and tips for first-time visitors to India. Cameron is a Marketing Executive at Asia travel specialist TransIndus who visited India in October 2025.

What was your India itinerary?

A 15-day journey with the following route: Bhopal – Bhimbetka – Satpura National Park – Pachmarhi – Delhi – Agra – Jaipur – Mumbai.

What was your first impression of India?

My India journey began in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh (AKA “The heart of Incredible India”). I felt a mix of overwhelmed, excited, and of course, a bit jet lagged from my flights! The trip from the airport to my hotel was funny – drivers going in all directions, families on mopeds, people walking across highways, and perhaps the best part of it was noticing the monkeys along the side of the road who looked like they were as engrossed in the chaos as I was! We were told by our guide: "If you want to drive in India you need three things: good car, good horn, good luck!"

I also remember being very impressed with how green Bhopal was and thinking they clearly take great pride in nature – a thought which was confirmed as true as I went on to explore nature trails and safaris. On the first two days alone, I had visited carefully preserved pre-historic rock shelters at Bhimbetka (where I was interviewed by Madhya Pradesh Tourism as pictured above), ventured on a morning safari expedition at Satpura National Park, and driven up to the beautiful Dhupgarh Mountain viewpoint in Pachmarhi – all of which demonstrated Madhya Pradesh’s emphasis on natural and ancient attractions.

How would you describe the differences between Madhya Pradesh, the Golden Triangle, and Mumbai?

Visiting these three regions was like three distinctive holidays bundled into one expertly planned adventure.

Madhya Pradesh felt the most untouched. As I alluded to before, the nature side of Madhya Pradesh was refreshing to see. Although improvements have been made in recent years, it was lagging behind the other two in terms of infrastructure. The roads were quite bumpy in the more rural areas so this would be a challenge for anyone with neck pain. However, this under-tourism inherently gives the region a more special feeling – I’ve never met anyone outside of the travel industry who has been to Madhya Pradesh, so it’s nice to tell friends and family about it as a truly unique experience.

The Golden Triangle is the perfect introduction to India. Visiting the timeless classics of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra is certainly popular on the tourist trail, which results in better (even more chaotic) roads and some stunning accommodation – from charming boutique homestays to supremely luxurious hotels. Another big difference is the density of the population in these cities – I have never seen so many people in my life! However, this does not detract from the experience, it instead serves to add context to how the local communities live.

Mumbai was a much shorter stay, but in the night I visited before my flight home I managed to visit the Gandhi museum, which was unique to Mumbai as he used Mumbai (then Bombay) as his primary political headquarters and lived there during multiple intermittent periods over three decades. Another aspect I’d like to mention from my short visit was my dinner – Dhansak is my favourite curry so I had to try it where it originated, and it was delicious!

Which destination or city made the biggest impression on you, and why?

Is it cliché to say Agra for The Taj Mahal?

I have been fortunate enough to witness many incredible landmarks in my time. I have seen Machu Picchu in Peru, Rome’s Colosseum, Angkor Wat in Cambodia – but nothing has taken my breath away quite like the Taj Mahal. In my opinion, at the time of writing, it remains the most remarkable thing I have ever seen.

The symmetry. The materials. The backstory. The scale. It all completely blew me away, far more than I ever anticipated. India is such a vast country with countless holiday opportunities, but I implore anyone who hasn’t done so yet to see the Taj Mahal. It will leave a lasting impression on you and motivate you to see more of this beautiful country – at least it did for me!

What stood out most about the hotels you stayed in?

I loved the character of the boutique hotels. I’ve never stayed in such unique resorts and homestays before – each place I stayed in felt exclusive and filled with personality. This was complemented nicely with the elegance of the more lavish hotels, where I could relax in luxury.

I would recommend a mix of both for anyone going on a luxury tour to India, or in fact Asia as a whole. 

Were there any properties that particularly stood out?

Perhaps my favourite boutique resort I stayed at was MPT Glenview in Pachmarhi. The room was incredibly spacious and there was a real jungle feel to the resort – an example being when I saw monkeys in the yard getting chased by the resort dogs!

Jehan Numa Palace in Bhopal stood out to me on the more luxurious side. There was a sauna, a pool, a plunge pool, and I even had my first ayurveda massage there! Bliss.

How easy was it to travel between the different parts of the itinerary?

It was incredibly easy. The minivan which was used had air conditioning, water bottles at all times, and it was an overall comfortable ride. Each of the drivers we had were punctual, had character and were understanding of our group’s needs. Often they would go above and beyond expectations – for example when a road was closed off during Diwali celebrations in Jaipur (which was another amazing experience), our driver got out to speak to the police officers to explain our hotel was nearby, after which we were kindly let through. When flying internally, I was very impressed with Air India – the food was great, everything ran on time, and there was enough leg room which was a pleasant surprise as someone who is 6ft1!

One thing to keep in mind when travelling within cities is the traffic, there’s lots of it and the drivers seem a bit crazy from the perspective of UK drivers! However, our TransIndus drivers knew when to leave so we were never late to anything which was great.

Which experiences felt most memorable or meaningful?

There are so many highlights from my time in India to choose from. Aside from the Taj Mahal which I covered earlier, walking around Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi was arguably my favourite part of the trip. The architecture was simply stunning and the sense of community within the Gurdwara was heartwarming – they give out 20,000 meals a day and it is all funded by donations. We were not allowed to take pictures inside, so I urge people to see it for themselves when in Delhi!

Another memorable part of my journey was meeting a local man called Deepesh in Bhopal. What started off as a simple Uber bike to Taj-ul-Masajid turned into a flourishing friendship, which was an unexpected surprise! His knowledge of Bhopal was exceptional, he was so proud of being from there. He took me to a local coffee shop where he kindly bought us each a coffee for 20INR despite my insistence to pay, which was followed by delicious street food of Chole Kulche which we shared. He then shared stories of his family and his own aspirations as an entrepreneur. It is these kinds of human interactions while travelling which stay long in the memory.

Did the trip match what you expected, or did it surprise you?

From the moment I arrived in Bhopal to when I flew home from Mumbai, I was taken aback by what India had to offer.

Working for an Asia specialist tour operator like TransIndus, I of course had prior knowledge for my first visit to India – a country we have proudly offered luxury tours to for our clients for over three decades. Having now visited for the first time, what moved me most about India wasn't the famous landmarks, but the people. From conversations with locals in Bhopal to the sense of community at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, the human side of India left almost as much of an impression on me as the Taj Mahal itself. The incredible expertise and passion of our drivers and guides certainly added to the experience too.

There are so many nuances and cultural encounters which books and online resources will never prepare for you. You simply need to experience it firsthand.

How would you describe India to someone who has never been before?

Beautiful chaos.

What type of traveller do you think would suit this itinerary best?

I believe this itinerary would suit a first-time visitor to India who enjoys a mixture of culture and wildlife, as well as one who desires to have a mixture of must-see highlights and unique places/experiences their friends and family will have never heard of. This is what I love to do when visiting a country for the first time and that is exactly what TransIndus excels at.

Has this trip changed the way you would talk about or sell India to clients?

100%. I am able to speak about India with much more confidence and passion now that I have witnessed India first-hand. India is so vast, so it often leaves people with an urge to go back to explore a different region – it has certainly had this effect on me!

Key Takeaways

• Best for first-time visitors: Golden Triangle
• Most memorable moments: Taj Mahal, friendliness of the locals, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi, pre-historic rock shelters at Bhimbetka, Diwali in Jaipur.
• Best for culture: Delhi and Agra
• Best for nature and wildlife: Satpura National Park and Madhya Pradesh as a whole.

If you’re looking to visit India for the first time, browse our luxury India holidays or speak to our expert travel specialists to start planning your perfect journey.