Two worlds of India in five days: Indore, the culinary heartbeat of Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala, a tropical mosaic of palms, canals, and spice-scented towns. Indore grew under the Holkars, whose palaces still command the old city; today, it’s just as famous for poha-jalebi mornings and Sarafa Bazaar’s midnight snacks. Kerala’s coast tells a different story—Arab, Portuguese, Dutch, and British chapters layered into Kochi’s waterfront and synagogues, then silence on the backwaters where kingfishers skim glassy canals.

Expect contrasts. In Indore, the seven-story Rajwada and Italianate Lal Bagh Palace speak of 19th-century ambition. In Fort Kochi, Chinese fishing nets creak against an Arabian Sea sunset while spice merchants trade cardamom and pepper as they did centuries ago. The Alleppey (Alappuzha) backwaters are the pause button—water, rice paddies, and the gentle putter of a houseboat galley preparing a Kerala sadhya.

Practical notes: October–March is superb across both regions; Kerala’s monsoon (June–September) can bring heavy rain but lush scenery. Domestic flights link Indore and Kochi in about 3.5–5 hours (usually one stop). Carry modest attire for temples, cash for street-food stalls, and an appetite—this 5-day itinerary leans into flavors, heritage, and slow-water days.

Indore

Indore is India’s “night market” capital. By day, it’s Holkar history—Rajwada’s wooden balconies, glass-inlaid Kanch Mandir, and Lal Bagh Palace’s ballrooms. By night, the jewelry district transforms into Sarafa Bazaar, a pilgrimage site for crispy garadu, buttery bhutte ka kees, and the theatrics of Joshi Dahi Bada.

Start at Chappan Dukan (“56 Shops”), a compact universe of snacks: Johnny Hot Dog’s cult-status veggie hot dogs, Vijay Chaat House’s khatta-meetha chaats, and melt-in-the-mouth shikanji (a thick milkshake-like dessert, not the limeade). Coffee and bakery classics are a local obsession—Shreemaya Celebrity and Cafe Terazza are reliable stops.

• Top sights: Rajwada Palace, Lal Bagh Palace, Kanch Mandir, Central Museum, Annapurna Temple.
• Food highlights: Poha-jalebi breakfast, Sarafa Bazaar street food, Mughlai feasts at Nafees, rooftop dinners at Mediterra (Sayaji).
• Stay: Old city for heritage, Vijay Nagar for modern comforts.

Where to book stays: Browse stays on VRBO Indore or compare hotels on Hotels.com Indore.

Day 1: Arrive in Indore, palaces and night bites

Morning: Travel day. If you’re flying domestically, search fares on Trip.com (flights) or compare on Kiwi.com. Trains within India can be scenic but slower—browse schedules on Trip.com (trains).

Afternoon: Check in near the old city. Explore Rajwada Palace to grasp Holkar-era Indore, then stroll Khajuri Bazaar’s fabrics and bangles. Coffee and a light bite at Shreemaya Celebrity (excellent pastries) or Cafe Terazza (city views).

Evening: Dive into Sarafa Bazaar after 8 pm. Try Joshi Dahi Bada House (watch the signature “table-top spin” before it’s sprinkled with masalas), garadu (spiced fried yam), bhutte ka kees (grated corn sautéed with milk and spices), and finish with malpua or kulfi. If you prefer a sit-down option, Nafees serves hearty kebabs and biryani.

Day 2: Holkar heritage, markets, and a guided city tour

Morning: Breakfast on poha-jalebi at Chappan Dukan—stop at Vijay Chaat House or Annapurna, then head to Kanch Mandir, a Jain temple sheathed in glass mosaics. Continue to Lal Bagh Palace for European interiors and manicured grounds.

Afternoon: Join a guided overview to connect the dots between neighborhoods and food culture:

Indore Local Tour

This guided circuit typically covers Rajwada, Kanch Mandir, and key bazaars with stories of the Holkars and local foodways—ideal if you prefer context and efficient route planning.

Evening: Shop for spices and savories at Chappan Dukan (carry boxes of namkeen and ratlami sev). For dinner, book Mediterra (rooftop, wood-fired pizzas and grills) or go vegetarian-thali style at Shree Gurukripa. Turn in early—tomorrow you fly south to Kerala.

Kochi (Kerala)

Kochi—also called Cochin—is Kerala’s historic port where traders brought pepper and ideas. Fort Kochi’s lanes are lined with colonial bungalows, art cafes, and the famed Chinese fishing nets; Mattancherry adds spice warehouses and the 16th-century Paradesi Synagogue.

Kerala cuisine leans on coconut, curry leaves, and freshly caught seafood—think karimeen pollichathu (pearl spot fish baked in banana leaf) and meen moilee (coconut milk curry). Breakfast means appam and stew or crisp ghee roast dosas with sambar.

• Top sights: Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Cathedral, Paradesi Synagogue, Jew Town spice markets, Princess Street, Marine Drive.
• Backwaters: Day cruise from Kochi to Alleppey (Alappuzha) along narrow canals lined with coconut groves and paddy fields.
• Dining: Kashi Art Cafe (artsy brunch), Ginger House (waterside, Kerala fare), Seagull (sunset seafood), Fusion Bay (Syrian Christian specialties), Kayees Rahmathulla (legendary biryani), Dhe Puttu (puttu-themed menu).

Where to book stays: Stay in atmospheric Fort Kochi or central Ernakulam. Browse VRBO Kochi and compare on Hotels.com Kochi.

Getting from Indore to Kochi: Morning flights typically run 3.5–5 hours with one stop (often via Bengaluru, Hyderabad, or Mumbai). Expect ~$70–$140 in economy if booked early. Search on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. Taxis from COK airport to Fort Kochi take 1–1.5 hours (approx. ₹1,200–1,800).

Day 3: Fly to Kochi, Fort Kochi highlights, and a guided stroll

Morning: Fly Indore → Kochi on a morning departure; target arrival by early afternoon. Book on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Check into your Fort Kochi stay and refresh with a lime soda or tender coconut water.

Afternoon: See the Chinese fishing nets, peek into St. Francis Church, and stroll Princess Street’s boutiques. For an insider circuit, join a private guided walk:

Best of kochi ! A private tour in kochi with a local guide !

Local guides thread together Fort Kochi and Mattancherry—Chinese nets, Dutch and Portuguese legacies, and the spice lanes of Jew Town—at a comfortable pace.

Evening: Sunset promenade along the waterfront. Dinner at Seagull (open-air deck; grilled prawns and Kerala-style fish curry) or Ginger House (museum courtyard setting, pepper-crab and appam). Cap the night with filter coffee at Qissa Cafe.

Day 4: Alleppey backwaters day cruise (houseboat)

Full-day: Trade streets for canals on a houseboat day cruise from Kochi to Alleppey (1.5–2 hours by road each way). Glide past village life, toddy shops, and paddy fields. A traditional lunch—often featuring karimeen pollichathu, vegetable thoran, sambar, and rice—arrives from the galley as you watch cormorants dive.

Kochi Private Tour: Kerala Backwater Houseboat Day Cruise in Aleppey

Prefer narrower canals and a longer glide? Consider an extended experience like a 21-hour route or a village punting trip on another visit.

Day 5: Synagogues, spices, brunch, and departure

Morning: Brunch at Kashi Art Cafe (thick-cut French toast, cold coffee) or Brunton Boatyard’s History Restaurant for a polished spread. Then head to Mattancherry: browse Jew Town spice shops, see the Paradesi Synagogue (closed Fridays/Saturdays and on Jewish holidays; plan accordingly), and pop into antique warehouses stacked with teak and brass.

Afternoon: Transfer to COK airport (allow 1.5 hours door-to-door). Search onward flights on Trip.com or compare options via Kiwi.com. If you have spare time, pick up last-minute pepper, cardamom, and banana chips to take home.

Evening: If you’re staying an extra night, book waterside dining at Fort House Restaurant for a serene farewell to Kochi. Otherwise, it’s time to fly.

Optional add-ons (for a future trip): More backwaters with an overnight Alleppey houseboat, tea estates in Munnar, or wildlife safaris in Thekkady. In Indore, history lovers can add Mandu’s romantic ruins and Jahaz Mahal on a dedicated day trip.

Another great local tour option in Kochi (if you swap Day 3 afternoon):

Fort Kochi Half Day or Full day City Tour

In five days, you’ve tasted Indore’s legendary street food, traced Holkar grandeur, and slipped into Kerala’s quiet waterways and historic port streets. It’s a compact India itinerary that balances bold flavors with slow travel—leaving you with recipes to recreate and a backwaters breeze you’ll miss the moment you leave.