Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
The train from Kolkata to Delhi takes roughly 17–20 hours station to station, plus the trip to your departure station and your onward transfer in Delhi. Choose a service scheduled to arrive early enough for sightseeing, and confirm its timetable before booking; delays are possible, so keep the first stop flexible. From New Delhi Railway Station, allow around 30–60 minutes to reach central Delhi by taxi or metro, depending on traffic and where you’re staying. After a long journey, leave your luggage at your accommodation and take a breather before heading out.
Start with India Gate and its lawns, allowing about 45 minutes for a stroll and photos; there’s no admission charge, though it can be busy. Then go to the National Gallery of Modern Art, a short cab ride away, for 1.5–2 hours. Check its current hours before setting out: it is generally open Tuesday to Sunday, and may be closed on Mondays. The full sightseeing sequence is a long ask after an overnight train, so if you arrive tired or late, keep the gallery visit brief rather than rushing through it.
Continue to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib for 45–60 minutes. It’s a peaceful stop near Connaught Place; cover your head, dress modestly, and remove your shoes before entering the prayer areas. Finish at Connaught Place for dinner with your friends. There are plenty of choices around the inner and outer circles; budget roughly ₹300–700 per person for a relaxed meal, and allow extra time for traffic if you need to check in or travel onward afterward. Keep today’s spending on local transport, food and any incidental costs in mind against your ₹10,000 budget, which excludes the train ticket.
After the 6–8-hour trip from Delhi, allow time to check in and freshen up before heading to Triveni Ghat. If you arrive in time, catch the evening Ganga Aarti; it’s popular, so arrive early for a place by the river, and check the day’s ceremony timing locally. If the bus runs late, don’t rush the rest of the evening—this is the easiest stop to shorten.
From Triveni Ghat, take an auto or taxi toward Ram Jhula (allow roughly 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic), then cross on foot and wander the riverside lanes for about 1–1.5 hours. Continue to Parmarth Niketan, where you can spend around an hour in the riverside grounds and gardens; visitor access and ceremony timings can vary, so confirm on arrival. Finish with a meal at Chotiwala Restaurant in Swarg Ashram; budget about ₹250–500 per person.
You can keep local spending modest with shared autos and a simple meal, but leave room in your ₹10,000 budget for the Delhi–Rishikesh fare (roughly ₹500–1,500) and accommodation. Rishikesh to Kolkata is not a same-day return: rail travel takes well over a day, plus transfers. Book the onward route in advance and plan an extra night in Rishikesh—or otherwise add the necessary travel days—rather than trying to leave for Kolkata after these activities.
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