Rajasthan vs Kerala — desert palace or backwater green?
The two most-loved states for a first India trip.
| Rajasthan | Kerala | |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | Desert + palaces + fortified hilltops | Backwaters + tea + spice plantations |
| Tempo | Fast — 5–6 cities in 2 weeks | Slow — 3–4 bases in 2 weeks |
| Food | Marwari thali + laal maans + dal baati | Meen curry + appam + Malabar biryani |
| Best paired with | Delhi + Agra | Goa + Karnataka |
| Nights | 14 | 10 |
Verdict
Rajasthan for a first big India trip; Kerala for a second (or a slowdown after Rajasthan). If you have four weeks, do both — with a mid-trip rest in Goa.
One dispatch a month