How should a first-time traveller plan India without overpacking it?
India is not short on reasons to go; the problem is believing the map owes you an efficient trip. Pick one strong region or route spine, then let India be intense, slow and rewarding instead of trying to defeat it in two weeks.
Answer
Start by choosing the version of India you actually want: the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan, Kerala and the south, Mumbai and Goa, Varanasi and north India, or the Himalayas as their own chapter. The mistake is trying to make them all behave like neighbouring stops. Trains, drivers and flights can help, but they do not erase heat, crowds, delays or the need to recover. A tighter route gives you better food, fewer exhausted arrivals and more space to understand what is happening around you. India is not a country to skim for proof of coverage.