India is a tapestry of kingdoms, pilgrim routes, tea gardens, and wildlife corridors stitched together by its fabled railways. In Gujarat, merchants and craftsmen etched six centuries of art and trade into Ahmedabad’s havelis and stepwells. In Uttar Pradesh, Ayodhya—revered in the Ramayana—welcomes a new era with the Ram Mandir and nightly river aartis on the Saryu.

Further east, Assam’s Brahmaputra valley opens to rhino-dotted grasslands, monastery islands, and tea estates. Guwahati is your gateway: vibrant markets, a hilltop goddess temple, and ferries to islands in one of Asia’s great rivers. Meals change with each region—Gujarati thalis and street snacks, Awadhi-style sweets in Ayodhya, smoky grills and bamboo shoot curries in Assam.

For transport, this plan emphasizes premium rail—First AC (private coupe), Executive Chair on fast day trains, and curated tourist services—plus one strategic flight to keep the 14-day loop smooth. Book trains and flights early, travel light for platforms, and go vegetarian for temple visits. October–April is prime; Kaziranga is usually open Nov–Apr (check current status before you go).

Ahmedabad (Gujarat)

Ahmedabad is India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City: a walled maze of pols (neighborhoods) with carved wooden facades, craft workshops, and mosques with delicate jalis. Mahatma Gandhi planned India’s freedom here at Sabarmati Ashram, and the region’s stepwells and sun temples are textbook masterpieces of water engineering and solar geometry.

Base here twice—at the start and end—to explore Old Ahmedabad, day-trip to the Statue of Unity and Vadodara, and head north to Patan–Modhera. It’s also where you’ll sample iconic Gujarati thalis and late-night snacks at Manek Chowk, a jewelry bazaar by day that turns into a sizzling food court after dark.

Days 1–4: Ahmedabad base + stepwells, Vadodara, and Statue of Unity

• Arrival from Cape Town: Fly CPT to AMD (via Doha/Dubai/Addis); total 16–22 hours depending on layover. Compare fares on Kiwi.com and Trip.com Flights. Economy often runs $750–1,200; business $2,200–3,500.
• Old City UNESCO highlights: Swaminarayan Temple (Kalupur), Sidi Saiyyed Mosque’s stone lattice windows, Bhadra Fort, and the pols around Manek Chowk. Time Sabarmati Ashram and Adalaj Stepwell for golden-hour photos.
• Patan & Modhera day: Marvel at Rani ki Vav’s sculpted galleries and the Modhera Sun Temple’s solar-aligned sanctum and step-tank.
• Vadodara + Statue of Unity: Visit Laxmi Vilas Palace, Sayaji Baug, and Sursagar Lake; continue to the 182m Statue of Unity with viewpoints over the Narmada.

Coffee & breakfast: Zen Café at Amdavad ni Gufa (design by B.V. Doshi) for pour-overs and sandwiches; Seva Café (pay-it-forward concept, dinner on select evenings); Java+ at Courtyard by Marriott for reliable espresso and croissants.

Lunch & dinner: Agashiye (House of MG) for a refined Gujarati thali served on a heritage terrace; Swati Snacks for pani puri, patra, and handvo; Vishalla for rustic ambience and village-style thalis; at night, graze Manek Chowk—butter-drenched ghughra sandwiches and kulfi.

Where to stay: Search curated stays near the Old City and riverfront:
• VRBO Ahmedabad
• Hotels.com Ahmedabad

Suggested (bookable) experiences:

• World heritage Ahmedabad city tour in private car with guide and lunch
  

  

• Ahmedabad Heritage Walking Tour
  

  

• Easy Private Tour at Sun Temple and Rani Ki Vav in Premium Car
  

  

• Day Trip to Statue of Unity (Guided Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Ahmedabad)
  

  

Train note (for later legs): You’ll ride First AC/private coupe where available and Executive Chair for day segments. Check schedules and reserve on Trip.com Trains well in advance. Typical long-haul 1AC fares run ~$60–100 per person; Executive Chair $20–35.

Ayodhya

Ayodhya, on the banks of the Saryu, is among Hinduism’s seven sacred cities. The newly inaugurated Ram Mandir has transformed the pilgrim experience—expect careful crowd management, timed entries, and a city glowing with diyas at dusk.

Beyond temple queues, slow down along Ram ki Paidi’s ghats, watch the evening aarti, and walk old lanes to Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhawan. Sunrises on the river are serene—hire a rowboat before breakfast for soft light over temple spires.

Days 5–7: Rail to Ayodhya + temples, ghats, and local sweets

• Getting there from Ahmedabad (Day 5): Overnight First AC from Ahmedabad Junction to Ayodhya Cantt (via Lucknow) typically takes 18–22 hours; aim for a morning departure to arrive the following morning. Check options and book on Trip.com Trains. If you prefer to shorten the journey, fly Ahmedabad–Lucknow (~1h50m) via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com, then drive 2–2.5 hours to Ayodhya.
• Temple circuit (Day 6): Ram Mandir darshan early; continue to Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhawan, and Treta ke Thakur. Dress modestly, carry minimal items, and account for security checks.
• Saryu rituals (Day 6–7): Evening aarti at Ram ki Paidi, and a sunrise boat ride from Naya Ghat. Shop for khurchan and peda sweets near the temple lanes.

Breakfast & coffee: Start with hot jalebi–kachori from old-city halwais around Hanuman Garhi; for a sit-down chai and light bites, look for café-bakeries on Ram Path (simple menus, good masala chai).

Lunch & dinner: Choose a vegetarian bhojanalaya near Ram Janmabhoomi Path for a thali with rotis, dal, seasonal sabzi, and kheer; in the evening, sample chaat—aloo tikki, papdi, and lassi—at stalls off Naya Ghat. For air-conditioned dining, pick hotel restaurants along Ram Path and Saket areas that serve Awadhi-style gravies with tandoori breads.

Where to stay: Search new-build hotels and family stays near Ram Path:
• VRBO Ayodhya
• Hotels.com Ayodhya

Optional add-on (if extending in Uttar Pradesh):
6-Day Private Tour of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Varanasi from Delhi — a classic culture loop that includes Varanasi on the Ganges.

Guwahati (Assam)

Guwahati sits on a sweep of the Brahmaputra with the Nilachal Hills rising behind it. The Kamakhya Temple—one of India’s most revered Shakti peethas—presides over the city, while peacocks and river breezes share space with bustling bazaars and cutting-edge cafés.

Use Guwahati as a springboard to Kaziranga National Park (rhinos, elephants, and grassland birds) and to island temples and weaving villages. Assamese food is subtle and smoky: mustard greens, bamboo shoot, fermented fish, and slow-cooked duck—best explored with local grills and thali houses.

Days 8–11: Overnight rail, Brahmaputra shores, and a Kaziranga day

• Ayodhya to Guwahati (Day 8): First AC overnight via Varanasi/Gorakhpur corridors takes ~17–20 hours; target a morning departure to arrive the next day. Book on Trip.com Trains. Prefer to shorten? Drive to Lucknow and fly nonstop/1-stop to Guwahati (~3–4.5 hours) via Trip.com Flights.
• Guwahati essentials (Days 9–10): Kamakhya Temple early (queues ease pre-9am), ferry to Umananda Island for monkeys and river views, Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra for art and performance heritage, and the evening sunset cruise on the Brahmaputra.
• Kaziranga day trip (Day 11): Depart 4:30–5:00am for a 4.5–5.5 hour drive. Do a morning and afternoon jeep ride in different ranges to maximize sightings of one-horned rhino, swamp deer, and elephants. Park seasons vary—verify current opening dates.

Cafés & breakfast: 11th Avenue Café Bistro (GS Road) for specialty coffee and pancakes; The Corner Café for eggs and bakes; The Tea Story for tasting single-estate Assam teas.

Lunch & dinner: Delicacy (GS Road) for Assamese thali—try tenga (tangy fish) and pigeon or duck curries in season; Khorikaa for pit-roasted meats and bamboo shoot dishes; Michinga for Naga-style smoked pork and axone. For a rooftop evening, Terra Mayaa pairs cocktails with river and city views.

Where to stay:
• VRBO Guwahati
• Hotels.com Guwahati

Days 12–14: Back to Gujarat for a wild finish (Gir) or palace day (Vadodara)

• Guwahati to Ahmedabad (Day 12 morning): To preserve time, fly (~4.5–6 hours with a short connection in Delhi/Mumbai). Compare fares on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. A through-train takes ~46–50 hours—impractical in 14 days.
• Option A: Sasan Gir safari (Days 13–14): Drive 6–7 hours from Ahmedabad and do dawn/dusk gypsy rides to spot Asiatic lions, leopards, and birdlife. Return to Ahmedabad evening of Day 14.
• Option B: Vadodara + Statue of Unity (Days 13–14): Base in Vadodara, tour Laxmi Vilas Palace and galleries, eat a vegetarian thali lunch, then day-trip to the Statue of Unity for viewing galleries and the valley of flowers.

Extra (bookable) Gujarat experiences if you choose these end-of-trip options:

• Jeep Safari - Gir National Park, Gujarat, India
  

  

• Highlights of Vadodara (Guided Half Day City Sightseeing Tour by Car)
  

  

• Food Crawl Vadodara (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour)
  

  

How your 14 days break down (blocks)

• Days 1–4: Ahmedabad base—Old City UNESCO quarter, Sabarmati Ashram, Adalaj Stepwell; day trips to Patan–Modhera and Statue of Unity/Vadodara; street-food night at Manek Chowk.
• Days 5–7: First AC train to Ayodhya; Ram Mandir darshan, Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhawan, Saryu aarti.
• Days 8–11: First AC train to Guwahati; Kamakhya Temple, Umananda Island, sunset cruise; Kaziranga day safaris.
• Days 12–14: Fly back to Ahmedabad; finish with Sasan Gir lion safari or Vadodara palaces and the Statue of Unity; depart India.

Trains and “luxury” notes

• First AC (1A): Private lockable coupes (1–2 berths) or cabins (4 berths), linen and meals on premium services; ideal for Ahmedabad–Ayodhya and Ayodhya–Guwahati. Book early on Trip.com Trains.
• Executive Chair/Vande Bharat: Use for regional day hops (if you add Vadodara–Ahmedabad or Ahmedabad–Gandhinagar segments).
• Tourist trains: IRCTC’s themed deluxe trains operate on fixed circuits (Ramayana routes, “North East Discovery”). If dates align, they offer hotel-style cabins and restaurant cars, but sector bookings are limited—check current schedules before committing.

Departure: End in Ahmedabad for your homebound flight to Cape Town. Price-check business/economy on Kiwi.com and Trip.com Flights.

Across two weeks you’ll savor a classic India triad: Gujarat’s craft-rich cities and stepwells, Ayodhya’s living faith, and Assam’s river-and-rhino landscapes. With premium rail, thoughtfully spaced travel days, and flavorful regional kitchens, it’s a journey you’ll remember every time a train whistle carries on the evening air.