North & Himalayas
culture, and natural beauty.
Updated India Travel Guide · 2026
India in Detail
A comprehensive guide to India's cities, sacred sites, UNESCO heritage, landscapes, cuisine, festivals, medical tourism, and essential trip planning advice, presented with vibrant visuals and detailed insights.
Tourism Snapshot
After the pandemic, India's tourism industry has seen a strong resurgence, with Foreign Tourist Arrivals increasing to 9,951,722 in 2024 from 9,520,928 in the prior year. The interest of foreign visitors remains concentrated on heritage sites, spiritual locations, medical facilities, wellness retreats, beaches, and Himalayan expeditions.
USA
Top foreign tourist source market in 2024
$35B+
Reported tourism receipts in 2024 estimates
Foreign Tourist Arrivals Recovery
Official Bureau of Immigration figures indicate that the Government of India's most recent complete year cited for FTAs is 2024.
India by Region
India is comparable to a small continent, boasting diverse landscapes such as the Himalayan deserts in Ladakh, river plains in the north, royal desert states in the west, tropical backwaters in the south, tea gardens in the east, and tribal hill cultures in the northeast.
West & Royal India
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa offer a blend of forts, desert towns, beaches, Mumbai, wildlife, stepwells, and luxurious palatial accommodations, making them ideal for exploration
South India
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh are famous for their temples, Ayurveda, beaches, backwaters, technology hubs, coffee plantations, and Dravidian architectural marvels.
East India
Kolkata, Odisha, Bihar, Sikkim, and the hilly areas of Bengal are famous for their abundant literary culture, ancient temples, Buddhist heritage, tea gardens, and the peaceful Bay of Bengal.
Central India
Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh boast top-notch tiger reserves, ancient caves, forest temples, tribal culture, and serene heritage circuits.
Northeast India
Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura are famous for their living-root bridges, stunning sunrises
Major City Guides
Choose a city to explore its distinct features, top sights, food scene, and best time to go. These guides cover heritage, traveler-friendly amenities, and assist in organizing your trip.
Travel by Purpose
🏛️
Heritage
Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Aurangabad, Hampi, Mahabalipuram and Khajuraho.
🛕
Pilgrimage
Varanasi, Rishikesh, Amritsar, Tirupati, Madurai, Puri, Mathura and Ayodhya.
🏔️
Hill Stations
Shimla, Manali, Nainital, Mussoorie, Ooty, Darjeeling, Gangtok and Munnar.
🌊
Beaches
Goa, Kerala, Puducherry, Gokarna, Andaman Islands, Varkala and Visakhapatnam.
🐯
Wildlife
Ranthambore, Jim Corbett, Kaziranga, Periyar, Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Sundarbans.
🏥
Medical Tourism
Wellness retreats are offered in cities including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Koch
🧘
Wellness
Ayurveda in Kerala, yoga in Rishikesh, meditation in Bodh Gaya, and luxurious spa getaways.
🍛
Food
's iconic vada pav, and Kolkata's popular puchka are all must-try dishes in India.
Ready-Made Itineraries
Classic Golden Triangle
Great for novice travelers wanting to explore India's varied sights in a single, easy-to-follow route that begins in Delhi and proceeds to Agra and Jaipur. Stops on this trip include the bustling capital, the legendary Taj Mahal, and historic Mughal forts.
- Old Delhi food and Red Fort
- Qutub Minar and New Delhi
- Agra Fort and Taj sunrise
- Fatehpur Sikri en route
- Amber Fort and Jaipur bazaars
Spiritual North India
Embark on a spiritual journey from Delhi to Varanasi, Sarnath, Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Amritsar, exploring sacred rivers, temples, Buddhist sites, yoga, Sikh hospitality, and vibrant faith along the way.
- Ganga Aarti in Varanasi
- Sarnath Buddhist circuit
- Yoga and rafting in Rishikesh
- Haridwar evening aarti
- Golden Temple langar
South India Slow Travel
Travel from Kochi to Munnar to Alleppey to Madurai to Chennai/Mahabalipuram for a perfect blend of backwaters, tea plantations, ancient temples, coastal villages, and vegetarian cuisine.
- Fort Kochi heritage walk
- Munnar tea estates
- Alleppey houseboat
- Meenakshi Temple
- Mahabalipuram rock temples
Practical Trip Planner
Best Time to Visit
| Region | Best Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| North plains: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur | Oct–Mar | Cooler, dry sightseeing weather. |
| Himalayas: Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand | Apr–Jun; Sep–Oct; Ladakh Jun–Sep | Roads can close in winter; monsoon affects lower hills. |
| Kerala and Tamil Nadu | Sep–Mar | Monsoon is lush and good for Ayurveda but wet. |
| Goa and west coast | Nov–Feb | Best beach season; monsoon is scenic but many shacks close. |
| Northeast India | Oct–Apr | Clearer skies; some states need Inner Line Permits. |
Visa, Arrival & Travel Basics
- e-Visa: Foreign citizens who meet the eligibility requirements can make use of the official e-Visa portal provided by the Government of India, which provides a range of visa categories including tourist, business, medical, Ayush, conference, and student visas.
- Arrival card: Non-Indian citizens and holders of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards can fill out an e-Arrival card online through official Indian government platforms, up to 72 hours before their scheduled arrival.
- Passport validity: One common requirement from officials is that passports must have at least six months validity upon arrival.
- Transport: Use domestic flights for long trips, Vande Bharat/express trains for traveling between cities, metro systems in big cities, and app-based cabs for short rides.
- Health: It is crucial to have travel insurance, refrain from drinking tap water, make sure to take frequent breaks in hot weather, and consult a healthcare provider for vaccines and medications specific to your destination.