Choose Your Plan
Every plan gets you to Vadodara by Sunday 31 January and keeps you there until Wednesday 3 February. The plans differ only in what you see before and after, how long you stay, and which airports you use.
Arrive on 30 January if your holiday is limited and you would rather explore after the wedding. Arrive around 23 January to see more of India first and reach the wedding already used to the food, the traffic and the pace.
| Plan | Theme | Leave Germany | Arrive in India | Fly home from | Back in Germany | Length | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Wedding + Gujarat taster | Fri 29 Jan | Ahmedabad, Sat 30 Jan | Ahmedabad | Wed 10 Feb | 12 days | Limited holiday, first trip to India |
| B | Gujarat deep dive | Fri 22 Jan | Ahmedabad, Sat 23 Jan | Ahmedabad | Sun 7 Feb | 16 days | Culture, crafts, desert, food |
| C | Royal Rajasthan + wedding | Fri 22 Jan | Delhi, Sat 23 Jan | Ahmedabad or Mumbai | Mon 8 Feb | 17 days | Palaces, forts, the Taj Mahal |
| D | Mumbai + Gujarat | Sat 23 Jan | Mumbai, Sun 24 Jan | Mumbai | Sun 7 Feb | 15 days | City life, caves, trains |
| E | Wedding, then beach | Fri 29 Jan | Ahmedabad, Sat 30 Jan | Kochi or Goa | Fri 12 Feb | 14 days | Relaxing after the wedding |
Shift any plan by a day or two to catch cheaper flights, but keep 30 January as the latest arrival so a delayed flight cannot cost you the first wedding day.
Destinations You Will Visit
Highlights across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Southern India included in the itineraries:
Getting There from Paderborn
There are no flights from Germany to Vadodara itself: its airport handles domestic flights only. Fly one-stop to Ahmedabad via the Gulf, or non-stop with Lufthansa to Delhi or Mumbai.
Which German Airport
| Airport | From Paderborn | Non-stop to India | One-stop to Ahmedabad | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Düsseldorf (DUS) | About 2 h by train | None | Emirates via Dubai, Etihad via Abu Dhabi, Qatar Airways via Doha | Plans A, B and E |
| Frankfurt (FRA) | About 2.5–3 h by train | Lufthansa to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad | Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways | Plans C and D; A, B and E if cheaper |
| Munich (MUC) | About 4.5–5 h by train | Lufthansa to Delhi and Mumbai | Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways | Only if much cheaper |
One-stop return fares to Ahmedabad were listed from about EUR 540 in autumn 2026; late January is wedding season in India, so expect more and book early. Add a Deutsche Bahn “Zug zum Flug” ticket for the train to the airport.
Which Indian Airport
| Airport | Flight from Germany | Onward to Vadodara | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad (AMD) | One stop via Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha; Gulf flights often land between 02:00 and 04:00 | About 110 km: 2 h by taxi on the expressway, or 1.5–2 h by train | A, B, E |
| Delhi (DEL) | Lufthansa non-stop, about 8–9 h | 1.5 h domestic flight to Vadodara or Ahmedabad | C |
| Mumbai (BOM) | Lufthansa non-stop, about 8–9 h | 1 h flight, or about 5–6 h by express train | D |
Two rules for every plan. If you land around 03:00, pre-book a hotel for that night and travel on after some sleep. If you connect on a separate domestic ticket, leave at least 4 hours between landing and the domestic flight.
Plan A: Wedding + Gujarat taster
The minimum-holiday option: fly in the day before the wedding, then spend six days on Gujarat’s three UNESCO-listed highlights and Ahmedabad.
- Fly out
- Düsseldorf (or Frankfurt) → Ahmedabad (AMD) via Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha
- Fly home
- Ahmedabad → same hub → Germany
| Date | Where | What to do | Sleep in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 29 Jan | Germany | Evening flight to the Gulf hub | Plane |
| Sat 30 Jan | Ahmedabad → Vadodara | Land around 03:00, sleep at an airport hotel, taxi to Vadodara in the afternoon (2 h) | Vadodara |
| Sun 31 Jan – Wed 3 Feb | Vadodara | Wedding | Vadodara |
| Thu 4 Feb | Champaner-Pavagadh | Day trip (1 h each way): UNESCO mosques and the hilltop temple by cable car | Vadodara |
| Fri 5 Feb | Statue of Unity, Kevadia | World’s tallest statue, viewing gallery, evening laser show | Kevadia |
| Sat 6 Feb | → Ahmedabad | Drive (about 4 h); evening at Sabarmati Riverfront | Ahmedabad |
| Sun 7 Feb | Ahmedabad | Early heritage walk of the old walled city, Sabarmati (Gandhi) Ashram, night food at Manek Chowk | Ahmedabad |
| Mon 8 Feb | Modhera + Patan | Day trip: Sun Temple at Modhera and the Rani ki Vav stepwell (UNESCO) | Ahmedabad |
| Tue 9 Feb | Ahmedabad | Adalaj stepwell, Sidi Saiyyed mosque, textile and handicraft shopping | Ahmedabad |
| Wed 10 Feb | → Germany | Early-morning flight, home the same afternoon | Home |
Swap option: replace 8–9 February with two nights in Kutch (Bhuj and the White Rann) if you are happy with a 6-hour drive each way. It is the most memorable landscape in Gujarat, but it makes the last days tiring.
Plan B: Gujarat deep dive
Gujarat properly: Ahmedabad’s old city, nights on the White Rann salt desert in Kutch, craft villages and stepwells before the wedding, and the Statue of Unity after it.
- Fly out
- Düsseldorf (or Frankfurt) → Ahmedabad (AMD) via a Gulf hub
- Fly home
- Ahmedabad → Germany
| Date | Where | What to do | Sleep in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 22 Jan | Germany | Evening flight to the Gulf hub | Plane |
| Sat 23 Jan | Ahmedabad | Land around 03:00, sleep; afternoon at Sabarmati (Gandhi) Ashram and the riverfront | Ahmedabad |
| Sun 24 Jan | Ahmedabad | 08:00 heritage walk of the walled city, Sidi Saiyyed mosque, Adalaj stepwell, night food at Manek Chowk | Ahmedabad |
| Mon 25 Jan | → Bhuj | Train or car (about 6 h); evening in Bhuj bazaar | Bhuj |
| Tue 26 Jan | Bhuj → Dhordo | Aina Mahal and Prag Mahal palaces, Bhujodi weaving and Ajrakhpur block-printing villages; White Rann at sunset | Tent city, Dhordo |
| Wed 27 Jan | Kutch | Kalo Dungar (highest point in Kutch), Hodka and Gandhi Nu Gam craft villages, White Rann by moonlight | Tent city, Dhordo |
| Thu 28 Jan | → Patan | Drive (about 5–6 h) | Patan |
| Fri 29 Jan | Patan → Modhera → Vadodara | Rani ki Vav stepwell (UNESCO) at opening time, Modhera Sun Temple, drive to Vadodara (about 3.5 h) | Vadodara |
| Sat 30 Jan | Vadodara | Rest day: Laxmi Vilas Palace, collect wedding outfits | Vadodara |
| Sun 31 Jan – Wed 3 Feb | Vadodara | Wedding | Vadodara |
| Thu 4 Feb | Champaner-Pavagadh | Day trip: UNESCO site and hilltop temple by cable car | Vadodara |
| Fri 5 Feb | Statue of Unity, Kevadia | Viewing gallery, Narmada river, evening laser show | Kevadia |
| Sat 6 Feb | → Ahmedabad | Drive (about 4 h), last shopping, late dinner | Airport hotel |
| Sun 7 Feb | → Germany | Early-morning flight, home the same afternoon | Home |
The Kutch desert festival (Rann Utsav, with its tent city at Dhordo) runs from 1 November 2026 to 7 March 2027, with a full moon on 21–23 January, so the salt flats are still moonlit when this plan reaches them. Book the tents early.
Trade-off: the Kutch leg means two long road days.
Plan C: Royal Rajasthan + wedding
The “postcard India” route: Delhi, the Taj Mahal, the forts of Jaipur and the lake palaces of Udaipur, then a road trip down to Vadodara. The best choice for a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
- Fly out
- Frankfurt → Delhi (DEL), Lufthansa non-stop
- Fly home
- Ahmedabad (AMD) via a Gulf hub, or Mumbai (BOM) on Lufthansa non-stop after a 1 h domestic flight
| Date | Where | What to do | Sleep in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 22 Jan | Germany | Daytime Lufthansa flight to Delhi, landing around midnight | Delhi |
| Sat 23 Jan | Delhi | Old Delhi: Jama Masjid, cycle-rickshaw through Chandni Chowk, street food; Humayun’s Tomb in the afternoon | Delhi |
| Sun 24 Jan | Delhi | Qutub Minar, Lodhi Garden, Akshardham temple | Delhi |
| Mon 25 Jan | → Agra | Morning express train (under 2 h); Agra Fort; Taj Mahal at sunset from Mehtab Bagh across the river | Agra |
| Tue 26 Jan | Agra → Jaipur | Taj Mahal at sunrise; Fatehpur Sikri on the way; drive to Jaipur (about 5 h) | Jaipur |
| Wed 27 Jan | Jaipur | Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar observatory | Jaipur |
| Thu 28 Jan | → Udaipur | Morning bazaars, afternoon flight to Udaipur (1 h) | Udaipur |
| Fri 29 Jan | Udaipur | City Palace, boat on Lake Pichola, sunset at Ambrai Ghat | Udaipur |
| Sat 30 Jan | → Vadodara | Private car (about 6–7 h); arrive in the evening | Vadodara |
| Sun 31 Jan – Wed 3 Feb | Vadodara | Wedding | Vadodara |
| Thu 4 Feb | Statue of Unity, Kevadia | Viewing gallery and evening laser show | Kevadia |
| Fri 5 Feb | → Ahmedabad | Drive (about 4 h); Sabarmati Riverfront at sunset | Ahmedabad |
| Sat 6 Feb | Ahmedabad | Heritage walk of the walled city, Sabarmati (Gandhi) Ashram | Ahmedabad |
| Sun 7 Feb | Ahmedabad | Adalaj stepwell, shopping, late dinner | Airport hotel |
| Mon 8 Feb | → Germany | Early-morning flight, home the same afternoon | Home |
Watch the calendar: 26 January is Republic Day. Central Delhi around India Gate is closed for parade rehearsals in the days before it, which is why this plan is in Agra that day. The Taj Mahal closes every Friday.
Three-week version (21 days): after the wedding, spend three days in Kutch as in Plan B (Bhuj, two nights at the Dhordo tent city), then Ahmedabad, and fly home around Thursday 11 February. This is the most complete trip in this guide.
Plan D: Mumbai + Gujarat
Non-stop Lufthansa flights both ways, India’s biggest city, the rock-cut cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora, and an Indian train journey to the wedding.
- Fly out
- Frankfurt → Mumbai (BOM), Lufthansa non-stop
- Fly home
- Mumbai → Frankfurt, overnight departure
| Date | Where | What to do | Sleep in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 23 Jan | Germany | Daytime Lufthansa flight, landing around midnight | Mumbai |
| Sun 24 Jan | Mumbai | Slow start; Gateway of India, Colaba, sunset on Marine Drive | Mumbai |
| Mon 25 Jan | Mumbai | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station (UNESCO), Kala Ghoda art district, Dhobi Ghat open-air laundry, Crawford Market | Mumbai |
| Tue 26 Jan | Mumbai | Ferry to the Elephanta Caves (UNESCO); evening in Bandra | Mumbai |
| Wed 27 Jan | → Aurangabad | Morning flight (1 h); Ellora Caves (UNESCO) in the afternoon | Aurangabad |
| Thu 28 Jan | Ajanta | Full day at the Ajanta Caves (UNESCO; about 2.5 h each way) | Aurangabad |
| Fri 29 Jan | → Mumbai | Bibi ka Maqbara (the “mini Taj”) in the morning; afternoon flight back | Mumbai |
| Sat 30 Jan | → Vadodara | Morning express train from Mumbai Central (about 5–6 h); first-class AC is comfortable | Vadodara |
| Sun 31 Jan – Wed 3 Feb | Vadodara | Wedding | Vadodara |
| Thu 4 Feb | Champaner-Pavagadh | Day trip: UNESCO site and hilltop temple by cable car | Vadodara |
| Fri 5 Feb | Statue of Unity, Kevadia | Day trip (about 2 h each way) | Vadodara |
| Sat 6 Feb | → Mumbai | Train back; evening meal in Mumbai, then to the airport | Plane |
| Sun 7 Feb | → Germany | Overnight Lufthansa flight, landing in the early morning | Home |
Watch the calendar: Elephanta and Ajanta close on Mondays, Ellora on Tuesdays; the dates above avoid all three.
Lighter version: skip Aurangabad and spend 27–29 January on a Mumbai food tour, a Bollywood studio visit and a day at Alibaug beach.
Plan E: Wedding, then beach
The wedding first, then four days on the beaches of Goa and three in Kerala’s tea hills and backwaters. Late January to early February is dry season in both.
- Fly out
- Düsseldorf (or Frankfurt) → Ahmedabad (AMD) via a Gulf hub
- Fly home
- Kochi (COK) via Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha (or Goa for the beach-only version). Book one multi-city ticket, not two returns
| Date | Where | What to do | Sleep in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 29 Jan | Germany | Evening flight to the Gulf hub | Plane |
| Sat 30 Jan | Ahmedabad → Vadodara | Land around 03:00, sleep, taxi to Vadodara in the afternoon | Vadodara |
| Sun 31 Jan – Wed 3 Feb | Vadodara | Wedding | Vadodara |
| Thu 4 Feb | → Goa | Fly from Vadodara or Ahmedabad (direct or via Mumbai) | South Goa |
| Fri 5 Feb | Goa | Beach day at Palolem or Agonda (the quieter south) | South Goa |
| Sat 6 Feb | Goa | Old Goa’s Portuguese churches (UNESCO), the Latin Quarter of Panaji, a spice plantation | South Goa |
| Sun 7 Feb | Goa | Beach, seafood, sunset cruise | South Goa |
| Mon 8 Feb | → Kochi | Flight (about 1.5 h); Fort Kochi’s Chinese fishing nets and Kathakali dance in the evening | Fort Kochi |
| Tue 9 Feb | → Munnar | Drive into the tea hills (about 4 h); tea estate walk | Munnar |
| Wed 10 Feb | → Alleppey | Drive down to the backwaters; overnight on a houseboat | Houseboat |
| Thu 11 Feb | → Kochi | Return to Kochi, Ayurvedic massage, last dinner | Kochi |
| Fri 12 Feb | → Germany | Early-morning flight, home the same afternoon | Home |
Beach-only version (12 days): stay in Goa from 4 to 9 February and fly home from Goa on 10 February. The most relaxing option after four days of celebrations.
Gujarati Cuisine & Local Specialties
Gujarat is renowned across India for its vegetarian gastronomy, blending savory, sweet, and aromatic spices.
Gujarati Thali
An elaborate grand platter featuring rotli, puri, 3–4 curries, Gujarati kadhi, sweet dal, farsan, and sweets. A complete culinary journey in one meal.
Dhokla & Khandvi
Famous steamed savory snacks. Dhokla is a spongy fermented chickpea cake; Khandvi consists of delicate rolled gram-flour sheets tempered with mustard seeds.
Fafda & Jalebi
The iconic Sunday breakfast in Gujarat. Crunchy, salted gram-flour strips (Fafda) paired with hot, crispy, syrup-soaked spiral sweets (Jalebi).
Sev Tameta Nu Shaak
A tangy, sweet-and-spicy tomato curry topped with crispy chickpea noodles (Sev). Excellent when paired with warm Bajra (millet) rotlas.
Undhiyu
Gujarat's signature winter dish: a slow-cooked medley of purple yam, sweet potato, beans and aubergine with spiced fenugreek dumplings (muthiya). Traditionally eaten in January, so it may well be on the wedding menu.
Thepla
Soft spiced flatbread made with fenugreek leaves and wheat flour, rolled thin and pan-fried. The classic Gujarati travel food — guests often pack it for long journeys, served here with yoghurt and pickle.
Khichdi & Kadhi
The ultimate comfort meal: soft-cooked rice and lentils served with kadhi, a warm, tangy yoghurt curry tempered with mustard seeds and curry leaves. Simple, homely, and on almost every Gujarati table.
Shrikhand
A rich dessert of strained yoghurt sweetened and flavoured with saffron and cardamom, garnished with pistachio and pomegranate. Often eaten with hot puris — a favourite at Gujarati weddings and festivals.
Interactive Map of Destinations
Click on any red landmark pin to view location details, key attractions, and open directly in Google Maps.
Places Worth the Trip
If you see only five things, make them the Taj Mahal, the White Rann of Kutch, Ahmedabad’s old city, Udaipur and the wedding itself.
| Place | Region | Why it is worth it | Time | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara | Gujarat | A royal residence about four times the size of Buckingham Palace, still home to the former royal family | 2 h | B, any rest day |
| Champaner-Pavagadh | Gujarat | UNESCO site of 15th-century mosques and forts, with a cable car to a hilltop temple | Half a day | A, B, D |
| Statue of Unity, Kevadia | Gujarat | The world’s tallest statue (182 m), with a viewing gallery inside the chest | 1 day | A–D |
| Ahmedabad old city | Gujarat | India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City: carved wooden houses, hidden lanes, temples and mosques | 1–2 days | A, B, C |
| Sabarmati (Gandhi) Ashram | Gujarat | Where Gandhi lived and began the Salt March | 1.5 h | A, B, C |
| Adalaj and Rani ki Vav stepwells | Gujarat | Ornately carved underground water temples; Rani ki Vav is on the 100-rupee note | 1–3 h each | A, B, C |
| Modhera Sun Temple | Gujarat | 11th-century temple aligned with the sun at the equinoxes | 1.5 h | A, B |
| White Rann of Kutch | Gujarat | A flat white salt desert to the horizon; unforgettable at sunset and by moonlight | 2–3 days | B, C (21 days) |
| Kutch craft villages | Gujarat | Weaving, block printing, embroidery and pottery made in front of you | Half a day | B |
| Old Delhi and Humayun’s Tomb | Delhi | Chaotic bazaars and the Mughal garden tomb that inspired the Taj | 1 day | C |
| Taj Mahal, Agra | Uttar Pradesh | The world’s most famous building; go at sunrise | Half a day | C |
| Amber Fort and Hawa Mahal, Jaipur | Rajasthan | Hilltop fort and the pink “Palace of Winds” | 1–2 days | C |
| Udaipur | Rajasthan | City of lakes and white palaces, the most romantic city in India | 2 days | C |
| Mumbai | Maharashtra | Colonial architecture, street food, Bollywood, the sea | 2–3 days | D |
| Ajanta and Ellora Caves | Maharashtra | Temples cut into solid rock 1,500 years ago; Ellora’s Kailasa temple was carved top-down from one rock | 2 days | D |
| Goa | Goa | Palm-lined beaches, Portuguese churches, seafood | 3–6 days | E |
| Kerala (Kochi, Munnar, Alleppey) | Kerala | Tea hills, backwater houseboats, Ayurveda | 4 days | E |
The wedding is a sight in itself. A Gujarati wedding spans several events: a mehndi (henna) evening, garba dancing, the baraat procession and the ceremony. The programme and dress code for each day come with the invitation.
Before You Go
Every German traveller needs an Indian e-Visa before boarding. Nothing else on this page stops you from travelling.
Visa and Entry
- e-Tourist Visa: There is no visa on arrival for German citizens. Apply online at the official portal: indianvisaonline.gov.in. Covers every plan here and costs about USD 25.
- e-Arrival card: Complete online within 72 hours before landing.
- Passport: Valid for at least six months after arrival, with two blank pages.
Health
- Visit a travel-medicine clinic (Tropenmedizin) 6–8 weeks before departure for vaccination advice.
- Drink only bottled or filtered water; pack rehydration salts and basic stomach medicine.
- Take travel insurance with medical repatriation.
Weather and Clothing
- Gujarat in late January: warm, dry days (around 28 °C) and cool nights (12–15 °C); Kutch nights are colder.
- Delhi and Agra: cold and often foggy (5–20 °C). Morning fog can delay flights and trains.
- Goa and Kerala: hot and humid (30–33 °C).
- Temples and mosques: cover shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off.
Money, Phone and Getting Around
- Carry some rupees in cash for taxis, markets and tips; cards work in hotels and larger shops. Use airport ATMs on arrival.
- Buy an eSIM before you leave, or an Airtel or Jio SIM at the airport (passport and visa needed).
- Uber and Ola work in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mumbai and Delhi. For long road days, hire a car with a driver.
Gujarat is a Dry State
Alcohol is prohibited in Gujarat. Foreign visitors can get a liquor permit at licensed permit shops, usually in larger hotels, by showing their passport and visa. Delhi, Rajasthan, Mumbai, Goa and Kerala have no such rule.
At the Wedding
- Indian outfits are welcome and fun: a kurta for men, a saree or lehenga for women. Buying or tailoring them in Ahmedabad or Vadodara takes 1–2 days, so plan it before 31 January.
- Wear bright colours. Avoid all-white and all-black, which are associated with mourning.
- All wedding meals are vegetarian, and they are excellent.
When to Book
- Now: Choose a plan and agree your leave dates.
- By mid-November 2026: Book international flights.
- By end of November 2026: Book the Kutch tent city and hotels in Udaipur and Agra.
- By mid-December 2026: Visit a travel clinic.
- Early January 2027: Apply for the e-Visa.
- 72 hours before landing: Complete the e-Arrival card.