India
Asia · New Delhi · IN
India is a subcontinent in miniature, a territory so vast and internally diverse that it functions less like a single country and more like a continent of distinct regions united by shared civilizational threads. From the glacial peaks of the Kashmir Himalayas to the tropical backwaters of Kerala, from the Thar Desert's sand dunes of Rajasthan to the tea-covered hills of Assam, India's geographic range is staggering in scope and intensity. The country's cultural complexity matches its physical diversity, with twenty-two official languages, thousands of dialects, and religious traditions that include Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Jainism, all coexisting in a democracy of over 1.4 billion people. Indian cuisine alone varies so dramatically between regions that each state essentially maintains its own culinary identity, from the tandoori meats of the Punjab to the coconut-based fish curries of Goa and the rice-and-dal traditions of Bengal. India demands engagement, not observation, and rewards those who approach it with openness.
Overview
India is a country in Asia. Its capital is New Delhi and the international dialling code is +91. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Hindi and English. Local currency is the Indian Rupee (INR). Our guide covers 6 airports, including Chennai International Airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport. We also list 7 cities in India: New Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai and more.
Rajasthan's Forts and Desert Kingdoms
Rajasthan, India's largest state, is defined by a landscape of arid plains, sand dunes, and a network of ancient kingdoms whose architectural legacies rank among the most visually spectacular in South Asia. Jaipur, the Pink City, was planned in the eighteenth century as a grid of rose-colored buildings around the honeycomb-windowed Palace of Winds and the towering Amber Fort on the hill above. Udaipur, set around a series of artificial lakes, houses the Lake Palace Hotel — a white marble structure that appears to float on the water — and the City Palace complex, where members of the Mewar dynasty still maintain private apartments. Jaisalmer, deep in the Thar Desert, retains a golden sandstone citadel that remains inhabited, its narrow lanes lined with carved havelis decorated with elaborate stone jali screens. The desert fort of Jodhpur, the Blue City, wraps around the colossal Mehrangarh Fort, which rises from a 125-meter cliff and contains one of the finest museums of Rajput arms, textiles, and miniature paintings in India.
Kerala's Backwaters and Ayurvedic Heritage
Kerala, on India's southwestern Malabar Coast, offers an entirely different sensory experience from the northern plains, defined by a network of interconnected canals, rivers, and lagoons known as the backwaters. Kettuvallam houseboats — traditional rice barges converted into floating accommodations — glide through palm-fringed waterways where fishing, toddy tapping, and duck farming continue as they have for generations. The backwater system runs parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, connecting towns like Alleppey and Kumarakom to inland villages where the pace of life follows monsoon cycles rather than urban clocks. Kerala is also the birthplace of Ayurveda's modern revival, with traditional wellness centers offering treatments based on thousand-year-old Sanskrit texts, using herbal oils, therapeutic massage, and dietary practices tailored to individual body constitutions. The state's spice heritage, particularly its cardamom, black pepper, and cinnamon, shaped global trade for centuries and remains visible in the hillside plantations of the Western Ghats.
Varanasi's Ghats and Spiritual Geography
Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth and the holiest site in Hinduism, where the Ganges River curves through a dense urban landscape of temples, ashrams, and stone steps called ghats that descend to the water's edge. Each morning before dawn, the ghats come alive with pilgrims performing ritual bathing,瑜伽 practitioners, and priests conducting prayers as the first light catches the river's surface. The evening aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat, where priests swing large brass lamps in a choreographed ritual of fire and chanting, draws hundreds of visitors to the waterfront each night. Cremation ghats operate continuously, as Hindus believe that dying in Varanasi releases the soul from the cycle of reincarnation, and the smoke from funeral pyres is a visible presence along the riverfront. The old city behind the ghats is a labyrinth of narrow lanes where silk weavers, temple priests, and flower sellers have occupied the same spaces for centuries, creating an atmosphere of lived devotion that pervades every surface.
The Golden Triangle and Mughal Architectural Legacy
The Golden Triangle — Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur — forms the most visited tourist circuit in India, connecting three cities that together document centuries of Mughal and Rajput architectural ambition. Delhi itself is a palimpsest of seven historical cities, with the Qutub Minar, a twelfth-century victory tower, rising from the ruins of the first, while the Mughal-era Red Fort and Jama Masjid mosque anchor the old walled city of Shahjahanabad. In Agra, the Taj Mahal needs no introduction, but the Agra Fort — a sprawling red sandstone fortress containing private palaces, audience halls, and the prison where Shah Jahan spent his final years gazing at his wife's mausoleum — often overshadows the more famous monument in terms of visitor experience. The drive between these cities passes through the Aravalli hills and the agricultural heartland of Uttar Pradesh, where roadside dhaba restaurants serve thali meals of lentils, vegetables, and fresh roti that provide a window into everyday Indian food culture far from the tourist circuit.
Kashmir Valley and Himalayan Landscapes
The Kashmir Valley, cranked between the Great Himalayan and Pir Panjal ranges, is often described as a garden of paradise, and the comparison is earned. Dal Lake in Srinagar is famous for its shikara boats and floating gardens — square plots of cultivated soil anchored in the lake where vegetables grow in water — creating an aquatic agricultural landscape unique to Kashmir. The Mughal gardens of Shalimar Bagh and Nishat, built by emperors who considered Kashmir the finest place on Earth, cascade down terraces toward the lake with geometric precision and channels of snowmelt water. Beyond Srinagar, the hill stations of Gulmarg and Pahalgam offer skiing, trekking, and meadow walks through landscapes that change dramatically with the seasons — lush green in summer, golden in autumn, and buried under heavy snow in winter. Kashmiri cuisine, rich with dried fruits, saffron, and slow-cooked meat preparations like rogan josh, reflects the valley's position at the crossroads of Central Asian and South Asian culinary traditions.
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- Capital
- New Delhi
- Currency
- Indian Rupee (INR)
- Languages
- Hindi, English
- Calling code
- +91
- Internet TLD
- in
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter India.
Which nationalities can enter India?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Airports (6)
All airports →- Chennai International AirportMAA · Chennai
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International AirportBOM · Mumbai
- Indira Gandhi International AirportDEL · Delhi
- Kempegowda International AirportBLR · Bengaluru
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International AirportCCU · Kolkata
- Rajiv Gandhi International AirportHYD · Hyderabad
Cities (7)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit India?
For the origins we track, India requires a visa for tourism (Morocco: e-visa, United Kingdom: e-visa and United States: e-visa). Entry rules depend on your passport, so confirm the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of India?
New Delhi is the capital of India, and the country sits in Asia.
What currency is used in India?
You pay with Indian Rupee (INR) in India. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in India?
The languages we list for India are Hindi and English. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for India?
The dialling code for India is +91 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve India?
We cover 6 airports for India, including Chennai International Airport (MAA), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) — and 3 more.
Which cities in India do you cover?
Our guide lists 7 cities for India: New Delhi (capital), Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi and Hyderabad, with more on the full list.