India

Safety notice: The US Department of State rates India Level 2 (exercise increased caution) overall, but advises Do Not Travel to Jammu and Kashmir (except eastern Ladakh and Leh), areas within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border, parts of Central and East India affected by Maoist violence, and Manipur. It also advises reconsidering travel to the northeastern states. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (except air travel to and within Jammu city), against all travel within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border, and against all but essential travel to Manipur. Read the current US State Department advice and the UK FCDO advice before you book.

Where Is India Located?

India is a country in South Asia. It covers about 3.29 million square kilometres, making it the seventh-largest country by area, and its capital is New Delhi. The Himalayas lie to the north, the Arabian Sea to the west, the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Indian Ocean to the south.

Last checked: November 2026

This India travel guide starts with place, because the map explains so much about the country. India shares land borders with Pakistan to the west, China, Nepal and Bhutan to the north and northeast, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. Sri Lanka and the Maldives lie across the sea to the south. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep islands in the Arabian Sea are also part of India.

The land is far from uniform. Kangchenjunga, on the Sikkim-Nepal border, is the highest peak in India. South of the mountains, the Indo-Gangetic Plain carries the Ganges and Yamuna rivers across the north. The Thar Desert covers much of the northwest, the Deccan Plateau fills the centre and south, and the Western and Eastern Ghats run close to the coasts.

India uses a single time zone, Indian Standard Time, which is UTC+5:30. The country is wide enough that sunrise comes well over an hour earlier in the far east than in the far west. Distances are long, so read our flights to India guide for the main arrival airports and getting around India for crossing the country once you land.

India Travel Guide: What the Country Is Known For

India is a federal parliamentary republic of 28 states and 8 union territories, with New Delhi as its capital. The Indian rupee is the currency, and Hindi and English are the official languages of the Union government. About 1.48 billion people live there as of 2026, according to United Nations estimates, which makes India the most populous country in the world.

That population figure refers to the whole country, not to any one city. India’s last completed census was in 2011, so current totals are projections rather than counted results.

People know India for the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Himalayas, the ritual life of the Ganges at Varanasi, Hindi-language cinema made in Mumbai, cricket and a food tradition that changes by region. The country has more than 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, listed on the UNESCO page for India. To see how those places fit together on a map, start with the best places to visit in India.

A common mistake is to treat India as one culture. Each state has its own language, food and festivals, so two regions can feel as different as two neighbouring countries. Nearly every foreign visitor needs a visa before arrival, and the India visa guide explains the process.

History of India: From the Indus Valley to Today

India’s history spans more than 4,500 years, from the cities of the Indus Valley Civilization to the republic founded in 1950. Major turning points include the Maurya Empire, the Mughal Empire from 1526, British rule and independence on 15 August 1947. Each era left monuments that travelers can still visit.

Early Cities and the Vedic Period

The Indus Valley Civilization reached its mature phase around 2600 BCE, with planned towns, brick drains and long-distance trade. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro are in present-day Pakistan, while Dholavira and Lothal are in India. Its script has never been deciphered, so much about its rulers and beliefs is still unknown.

From about 1500 BCE, the Vedas, a body of Sanskrit texts, took shape in northern India. In the 6th and 5th centuries BCE, the Buddha and Mahavira taught in the Ganges plain, and Buddhism and Jainism grew from that setting.

Empires and Kingdoms

Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire around 321 BCE. His grandson Ashoka, who reigned from about 268 BCE, turned toward Buddhism after the war in Kalinga and left edicts carved on rock and pillars. The Gupta period, roughly 320 to 550 CE, is known for advances in mathematics, astronomy and literature.

In the south, the Chola dynasty built great temples and sea trade links, and the Vijayanagara Empire (1336 to 1646) ruled from Hampi.

Sultanates and the Mughal Empire

The Delhi Sultanate ruled much of the north from 1206 to 1526. Babur founded the Mughal Empire after his victory at Panipat in 1526. Under Akbar, Shah Jahan and later rulers, the Mughals shaped Indian architecture, painting and court life. Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal, built between about 1632 and 1653. Mughal power weakened after Aurangzeb died in 1707.

Colonial Rule and Independence

The British East India Company gained political control of Bengal after the Battle of Plassey in 1757. After the uprising of 1857, the British Crown took direct rule in 1858. The independence movement used petitions, strikes and mass nonviolent campaigns such as the Salt March of 1930, and it involved millions of people beyond its famous leaders.

India became independent on 15 August 1947. British India was divided into India and Pakistan, and Partition displaced millions of people and caused widespread violence.

The Republic

The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950, which Indians mark each year as Republic Day. Economic liberalisation began in 1991 and opened the economy to foreign trade and investment. To see these eras in person, the India itineraries link Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, and the where to stay in India guide covers heritage hotels in restored palaces and havelis.

Culture of India: Languages, Religion, Festivals and Etiquette

Indian culture is regional rather than uniform. The Constitution lists 22 scheduled languages, and Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism all have long histories in the country. Festivals follow lunar and regional calendars, so dates change every year, and local custom often matters more than any single national rule.

Language

Hindi is the most widely spoken language, and English is common in government, business and tourism. Southern states use languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, each with its own script. In big cities, road signs and menus are usually in English as well.

Religion

The 2011 census, the latest completed count published on the Census of India site, recorded about 80 percent of people as Hindu and about 14 percent as Muslim. Smaller Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain communities have shaped regions such as Kerala, Punjab and Ladakh.

Festivals

Diwali, the festival of lights, falls on 8 November 2026. Holi, the festival of colours, falls on 22 March 2027, with the bonfire the evening before. Eid, Durga Puja, Pongal and Onam are also widely celebrated, each strongest in particular regions. The Ministry of Tourism lists events on its Incredible India site, and our best time to visit India guide explains how festivals and weather affect travel.

Etiquette

• Remove your shoes before entering temples, mosques and gurdwaras, and cover shoulders and knees.
• Cover your head at gurdwaras, and use your right hand for eating and passing things.
• Ask before photographing people, especially at religious sites.
• Keep public displays of affection discreet.

Many women wear sarees or salwar kameez and many men wear kurtas, although jeans and shirts are common in cities.

Music and Arts

India has two classical music traditions, Hindustani in the north and Carnatic in the south. Classical dance forms include Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Kathakali, and Hindi cinema is a huge industry. Regional crafts include block-printed textiles, blue pottery in Jaipur and silk weaving in Varanasi and Kanchipuram.

Indian Food: Staples, Signature Dishes, Street Food and Drinks

Indian food is built on rice, wheat breads, lentils, vegetables and spice blends, and it changes sharply by region. Northern menus lean on breads, dairy and tandoor cooking, southern menus on rice, coconut and fermented batters, and coastal areas on fish. Vegetarian dishes are available almost everywhere.

Staples

A typical meal combines rice or bread such as roti, naan or paratha with dal (lentils), a vegetable dish, yogurt and pickle. Cumin, coriander, turmeric and mustard seed appear across the country, but the balance differs. Cooks in the north often use ghee, while cooks on the southern coast use coconut oil.

Signature Dishes

• Biryani: layered rice with meat or vegetables, cooked differently in Hyderabad, Lucknow and Kolkata.
• Butter chicken: chicken in a tomato and butter gravy, linked with Delhi and Punjab.
• Dal makhani: black lentils simmered slowly with butter and cream.
• Rogan josh: a Kashmiri lamb curry coloured with dried chillies.
• Masala dosa: a thin fermented rice and lentil crepe filled with spiced potato.
• Idli and sambar: steamed rice cakes served with a lentil and vegetable stew.
• Chole bhature: spiced chickpeas with puffed fried bread.
• Palak paneer: spinach cooked with fresh cheese.
• Thali: a platter of several small dishes served with rice and bread.
• Fish curry: made with coconut in Kerala, with mustard in Bengal and with tamarind in Goa.

Street Food

Chaat is a group of snacks that mix crisp pastry, chickpeas, yogurt and chutney. Pani puri, samosas, vada pav from Mumbai and kathi rolls from Kolkata are other favourites. Choose busy stalls where food is cooked fresh and turns over quickly.

Drinks

Masala chai, made with milk, tea and spices, is sold on nearly every street. Lassi, lime water (nimbu pani) and coconut water are common cold drinks, and filter coffee is a staple in the south. Alcohol laws vary by state, and some states restrict sales or public drinking.

Desserts

Gulab jamun, jalebi, rasgulla, kheer and kulfi appear in most regions. Bengal is known for milk-based sweets, and sweet shops called mithai stores sell boxed assortments for festivals.

Regional contrasts are strong. Punjabi meals centre on breads and dairy, Gujarati thalis lean slightly sweet, Rajasthani cooking uses dry spices and ghee in dishes such as dal baati churma, and Kerala and Bengal cook with fish and coconut or mustard.