India's response was 130 for four when bad light stopped play at 5.34pm with 17 overs left in the day. Rohit Sharma was not out 67 and Ajinkya Rahane unbeaten on 23. The third day will start at 10.34am.
McCullum's 224 is the ninth-equal highest score in New Zealand test history - equal with Lou Vincent - and one run behind his personal best, also against India, at Hyderabad as an opener in 2010. He averages 80.37 in seven tests as captain at home against an overall average of 36.62 in his 83rd test.
His temerity was outrageous in sweeping Ravindra Jadeja in the air for four through deep backward square leg to bring up the 200 on the ball before lunch.
The Indians queued to shake his hand.
He would have passed his test best had Jadeja not secured a boundary-dancing catch at long on off Ishant Sharma. Sharma finished with six for 134 from 33.4 overs as the best of the Indian bowlers.
To back up a spirited McCullum team talk on the boundary, Trent Boult, having been out of international action since a talismanic West Indies test series, snared Shikhar Dhawan third ball.
New Zealand was humming and sure enough Cheteshwar Pujara returned to the pavilion by the end of the over, leaving India three for two. It was a loose shot for a No.3 with an average of 66.25 coming into the test.
Southee backed up in the sixth over, securing Virat Kohli with a piercing bouncer which appeared to clip the thumb of his glove before hitting the grill and lobbing to Peter Fulton at second slip.
There were concerns Pujara might have hit the ground rather than the ball just as there were whether Kohli had his glove kissed but, with the Indian cricket board's refusal to grant access to the Decision Review System this series, you have to be prepared to accept howlers. Kohli gave his pad the sort of whack usually reserved for panelbeating shops, but he was on his way.
Neil Wagner had a wayward spell of seven overs, one for 46 but produced one of the balls of the match with his leg cutter to rattle Murali Vijay's off stump when the opener was 26. Leg spinner Ish Sodhi was tidy, conceding 13 runs in six overs.
The opening session produced 144 runs from only 24 overs with India again sluggish with the over rate.
The visitors needed early wickets and got three in the opening session. Sharma was rewarded for a determined stint with the wickets of Corey Anderson, lbw for 77, and wicketkeeper BJ Watling spearing a catch to third slip for one.
Tim Southee made 28 and Ish Sodhi 23 to support McCullum.
New Zealand ... 503
India ... 130-4
