India
Updated October 19, 2026
India, in South Asia, is the world's most populous country, with about 1.4 billion people, stretching from the Himalayas in the north to the tropical beaches of Kerala and Goa in the south. It is one of the world's oldest civilisations and the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, w…
Must-See Places in India
Taj Mahal
The white marble mausoleum built by Shah Jahan for Mumtaz Mahal, a UNESCO site and one of the New Seven Wonders.
Golden Temple
The holiest shrine of Sikhism, covered in gold and surrounded by a sacred pool, with a free kitchen serving thousands daily.
Ghats of Varanasi
Stone steps along the Ganges where pilgrims bathe, pray and cremate their dead, with the nightly Ganga Aarti ceremony.
Amber Fort
A hilltop fort-palace of red sandstone and marble above Maota Lake, with the Mirror Palace, near Jaipur.
Mehrangarh Fort
One of India's largest forts, on a cliff above the blue houses of Jodhpur, with palaces and a museum.
Kerala Backwaters
A network of lagoons, canals and lakes explored by houseboat, with villages, rice paddies and coconut palms.
Gateway of India
A basalt arch on Mumbai's waterfront, built in 1924 to commemorate a royal visit, facing the Arabian Sea.
City Palace and Lake Pichola
A grand palace complex on the shores of Lake Pichola, with the Lake Palace hotel floating on the water.
Unique Experiences in India
See the Taj Mahal at Sunrise
Watch the Taj Mahal change colour from pink to white as the sun rises, before the crowds arrive, walking through its gardens to the marble mausoleum.
Cruise the Kerala Backwaters
Spend a night on a traditional houseboat, a kettuvallam, gliding through palm-fringed canals, lakes and villages, with meals cooked on board.
Witness the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi
Watch priests perform the Ganga Aarti at sunset on the Dashashwamedh Ghat, with fire lamps, bells, chanting and incense, then float a candle on the river.
Go on a Tiger Safari
Search for Bengal tigers in national parks such as Ranthambore, Bandhavgarh or Jim Corbett, on jeep safaris through forests, lakes and ruins.
Celebrate Holi or Diwali
Join the festival of colours, Holi, throwing coloured powder in the streets in March, or Diwali, the festival of lights, with lamps, fireworks and sweets in October or November.
Travel Tips for India
Travel Between October and March
Plan your trip for October to March, when most of India is dry and pleasant, especially Delhi, Rajasthan, Agra, Varanasi…
Apply for an e-Visa in Advance
Most visitors need a visa, and citizens of many countries can apply online for an e-Visa, valid for tourism, business or…
Book Trains Early
Indian trains are an excellent way to travel, but popular routes fill up weeks in advance, especially in the AC classes.…
Eat Safely and Drink Bottled Water
Indian food is a highlight, but stomach upsets are common. Drink bottled or filtered water, avoid ice and raw salads in …
Dress Modestly and Respect Religious Sites
Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, especially in temples, mosques, gurdwaras and rural areas. Remove shoes be…
Plan a Focused Itinerary
India is huge, so focus on one or two regions rather than trying to see everything. The Golden Triangle, Delhi, Agra and…
Must-Try Local Dishes
Biryani
Biryani is a fragrant rice dish layered with marinated meat, such as chicken, mutton or fish, or vegetables, cooked with saffron, spices and fried onions, often in a sealed pot. Each region has its own style, such as Hyderabadi, Lucknowi and Kolkata biryani. A plate costs about ₹200–500. Try it with raita, a yoghurt sauce, in Hyderabad.
Butter Chicken
Butter chicken, or murgh makhani, invented in Delhi in the 1950s at the Moti Mahal restaurant, is tandoori chicken cooked in a creamy tomato sauce with butter and spices, served with naan or rice. It is one of the most popular Indian dishes worldwide. A portion costs about ₹300–600. Try it in Old Delhi.
Masala Dosa
Masala dosa is a thin, crispy crepe made from fermented rice and lentil batter, filled with spiced potatoes and served with coconut chutney and sambar, a lentil and vegetable stew. It is a South Indian breakfast favourite. A dosa costs about ₹60–200. Try it in Kerala, Karnataka or Tamil Nadu.
Thali
A thali is a large plate with many small bowls of different dishes, such as dal, vegetables, curries, rice, chapati, pickles, yoghurt and dessert, offering a balanced meal, often vegetarian and refillable. Each region has its own thali, such as Rajasthani, Gujarati and South Indian. A thali costs about ₹150–600. Eat with your right hand.
Chaat
Chaat is the name for many savoury street snacks, such as pani puri, crispy hollow balls filled with spicy water, potatoes and chickpeas, bhel puri, papdi chaat and aloo tikki, mixing sweet, sour, spicy and crunchy flavours. A plate costs about ₹30–100. Try it in Delhi, Mumbai or Varanasi at busy stalls.
Masala Chai
Masala chai, black tea boiled with milk, sugar and spices, such as cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and cloves, is drunk everywhere in India, from railway stations to homes, served by chai wallahs in small glasses or clay cups. A cup costs about ₹10–30 on the street. Try it from a roadside stall.
Rogan Josh
Rogan josh is a rich, aromatic lamb curry from Kashmir, coloured red by Kashmiri chillies, cooked with yoghurt, fennel, ginger and spices. It is part of the Kashmiri wazwan feast. A portion costs about ₹300–600. Try it with steamed rice or naan in a Kashmiri restaurant. Kashmiri chillies give colour without much heat.
Indian Sweets
Indian sweets, mithai, include gulab jamun, fried milk balls in sugar syrup, jalebi, crispy spirals soaked in syrup, rasgulla from Bengal and barfi, a milk fudge, eaten at festivals, weddings and as gifts. A piece costs about ₹10–50. Buy fresh sweets at busy sweet shops, especially during Diwali. Shops pack boxes for gifts.
History
The Indus Valley and the Vedic Age
One of the world's earliest urban civilisations, the Indus Valley or Harappan Civilisation, flourished from about 2600 to 1900 BC in today's north-west India and Pakistan, with planned cities such as Mohenjo-daro, Harappa and Dholavira, a UNESCO site in Gujarat, featuring grid streets, drainage systems and a script that has never been deciphered. After its decline, Indo-Aryan peoples settled in northern India, and the Vedas, the oldest Hindu scriptures, were composed in Sanskrit from about 1500 BC.
New religions and empires
In the 6th and 5th centuries BC, new spiritual movements arose: Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, achieved enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and taught in the Ganges plain, and Mahavira founded Jainism. In 326 BC Alexander the Great reached the Indus but turned back. Soon after, Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire, and his grandson Ashoka, after the bloody Kalinga war around 261 BC, converted to Buddhism and spread its message of non-violence through edicts carved on pillars and rocks across the subcontinent. His lion capital at Sarnath is now India's national emblem, and the Ashoka Chakra, a wheel, appears on the national flag.
Climate & Best Time to Visit
Spring
18–38°C
March to May is the hot season in most of India, with temperatures rising from about 30°C in March to over 40°C in May i…
Summer
24–34°C
June to September is the monsoon season, bringing heavy rain to most of India, especially the west coast, Kerala and the…
Autumn
15–32°C
October and November bring the end of the monsoon, clear skies, green countryside and pleasant temperatures of about 25–…
Winter
7–25°C
December to February is the peak season, with sunny, dry weather, days of about 20–25°C in Delhi and Rajasthan, cold nig…
Fascinating Fun Facts
The world's largest democracy
India is the world's largest democracy, with about 970 million registered voters in the 2024 general election, which too…
A railway carrying millions daily
Indian Railways, one of the largest railway networks in the world, with about 68,000 km of track, carries about 23 milli…
Zero and chess came from India
The concept of zero as a number and the decimal place-value system were developed in India, recorded by mathematicians s…
The largest film industry by number
India produces more films than any other country, about 1,500–2,000 films a year in more than 20 languages. Bollywood, b…
A gathering visible from space
The Kumbh Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage held every few years in rotation at four river sites, Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and…
Home of the Bengal tiger
India is home to about 75% of the world's wild tigers, with about 3,700 tigers counted in 2022, thanks to Project Tiger,…
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