Starting to plan my first India trip from the US… is DIYing this a bad idea?

Hey everyone, I’m finally looking at flights for a trip to India later this year (first time!) and honestly, I’m already getting a bit overwhelmed. I usually pride myself on being a DIY traveler, but the more I read about navigating the trains, domestic flights, and just general logistics, the more I’m wondering if I’m in over my head.

For those who have gone from the States, did you actually book everything yourself as you went, or did you find it was just worth it to hire an agency or a local agent to handle the heavy lifting?

I’m really torn between wanting that "authentic" experience of figuring it out on the ground and just not wanting to spend my whole vacation stressed about how I’m getting to the next city and where i am staying. If you’ve done it both ways (or have a strong opinion on one), I’d love to know what worked for you and what the "must-knows" are before I commit to a route.

Thanks!