Tuesday, October 6
LIVE
Travel and Tour World Sri Lanka Teams Up With India To Promote Safe Travel With Cybersecurity Push Protecting Digital Payments And TourismTravel and Tour World Swiss President Guy Parmelin Visits Noida International AirportTimes Now Travel Subramaniam Badrinath Leaves Out Abhishek Sharma For 1st T20I vs West IndiesTravel and Tour World Adani Airports Opens 80-Room Swirl Transit Hotel at Navi Mumbai International AirportTravel and Tour World IHG Unlocks Major Hospitality Growth in Uttar Pradesh with New voco Vrindavan as Visitor Numbers Continue to SurgeTravel and Tour World India’s World Wildlife Week Celebrations Put Bandipur, Kabini and Chikamagalur at the Heart of Responsible Nature TourismTravel and Tour World Qatar Unlocks New India MICE Opportunities as Doha Strengthens Its Appeal for Meetings Conferences and IncentivesTimes of India Travel Why sculptors visit Kolkata’s red-light area to ask sex workers for soil from their doorsteps?Hospitality Net Hilton Strengthens Bengaluru Portfolio with Signing of Conrad Bengaluru Airport and Hilton Bengaluru Airport, Adding 600 RoomsThe Independent Travel Jeffrey Archer’s death mourned in India, the country where he became an unlikely superstarConde Nast Traveler Top 20 Destination Spa Resorts in the World 2026: Readers’ Choice AwardsTravel Daily News VisitBritain backs North of England tourism mission to IndiaTravel and Tour World Air Cambodia Expands India–Cambodia Connectivity With Third Weekly Delhi–Phnom Penh Flight From December 2026Skift Mumbai Airport Plans to Move a Third of Terminal 2’s International Departures. Airlines Are Pushing BackTravel and Tour World Sri Lanka Teams Up With India To Promote Safe Travel With Cybersecurity Push Protecting Digital Payments And TourismTravel and Tour World Swiss President Guy Parmelin Visits Noida International AirportTimes Now Travel Subramaniam Badrinath Leaves Out Abhishek Sharma For 1st T20I vs West IndiesTravel and Tour World Adani Airports Opens 80-Room Swirl Transit Hotel at Navi Mumbai International AirportTravel and Tour World IHG Unlocks Major Hospitality Growth in Uttar Pradesh with New voco Vrindavan as Visitor Numbers Continue to SurgeTravel and Tour World India’s World Wildlife Week Celebrations Put Bandipur, Kabini and Chikamagalur at the Heart of Responsible Nature TourismTravel and Tour World Qatar Unlocks New India MICE Opportunities as Doha Strengthens Its Appeal for Meetings Conferences and IncentivesTimes of India Travel Why sculptors visit Kolkata’s red-light area to ask sex workers for soil from their doorsteps?Hospitality Net Hilton Strengthens Bengaluru Portfolio with Signing of Conrad Bengaluru Airport and Hilton Bengaluru Airport, Adding 600 RoomsThe Independent Travel Jeffrey Archer’s death mourned in India, the country where he became an unlikely superstarConde Nast Traveler Top 20 Destination Spa Resorts in the World 2026: Readers’ Choice AwardsTravel Daily News VisitBritain backs North of England tourism mission to IndiaTravel and Tour World Air Cambodia Expands India–Cambodia Connectivity With Third Weekly Delhi–Phnom Penh Flight From December 2026Skift Mumbai Airport Plans to Move a Third of Terminal 2’s International Departures. Airlines Are Pushing Back
Jaipur – IndiaTaj Mahal, Agra – IndiaMumbai – IndiaGoa – IndiaAlappuzha (Kerala backwaters) – IndiaVaranasi ghats – India
📍 Jaipur📷 Chainwit. · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
🌍 Asia🗓️ Best: Oct–Mar

India ✓

VaranasiDelhiGoaRishikesh

Palaces, spice markets, Himalayan peaks and palm-lined beaches

🕒 –:– local time41 stories this week16 sources 6 top placesCapital New Delhi

Advertise with usYour brand hereTop banner · 728 x 90Book this space →
India📸 Photo album · 9 photos · Ultra-HD
India📜 History of India

The story of India

India's story begins with one of the world's first urban civilisations: around 2500 BC the Indus Valley cities, including Dholavira and Lothal in today's India, had planned streets, drainage and far-reaching trade. Over the following millennium the Vedic traditions that shaped Hinduism took form, and in the 6th and 5th centuries BC the Buddha and Mahavira taught in the Ganges plains. The Maurya Empire united much of the subcontinent, and Emperor Ashoka spread Buddhist ideals through edicts carved on pillars and rocks.

Later centuries brought the Gupta 'golden age' of mathematics, art and literature, and powerful southern dynasties such as the Cholas, whose bronze sculptures and temples remain masterpieces. From the 13th century the Delhi Sultanate ruled much of the north, while the Vijayanagara Empire flourished in the south around Hampi. In 1526 Babur founded the Mughal Empire, whose rulers left an extraordinary architectural legacy, culminating in the Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan.

Read the full history

European traders arrived by sea, and the British East India Company gradually took control after the Battle of Plassey in 1757. Following the uprising of 1857, the British Crown ruled India directly. A broad independence movement, shaped by leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru and Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent resistance, led to independence on 15 August 1947, accompanied by the painful partition that created Pakistan. India became a republic with its constitution on 26 January 1950.

Today India is the world's largest democracy and a fast-growing economy, with a breathtaking diversity of languages, religions, landscapes and cuisines. Visitors can walk through Mughal forts and Rajput palaces, bathe in the spiritual atmosphere of Varanasi, trek in the Himalaya, drift through Kerala's backwaters and relax on Goa's beaches, with festivals and food that change every few hundred kilometres.

Timeline

  1. c. 2500 BCIndus Valley Civilisation at its height
  2. c. 268-232 BCReign of Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire
  3. c. 320-550 ADGupta Empire's classical golden age
  4. 1526Babur founds the Mughal Empire
  5. 1632-1653Taj Mahal built in Agra
  6. 1757Battle of Plassey begins British East India Company dominance
  7. 1947Independence on 15 August and partition
  8. 1950India becomes a republic on 26 January
India✨ 10 best things to do in India

Things to do in India

  1. See the Taj Mahal at sunriseWatch the white marble mausoleum glow pink and gold as dawn breaks over Agra.
  2. Witness the Ganga AartiJoin crowds on the ghats of Varanasi as priests perform a fire ceremony on the Ganges at dusk.
  3. Cruise Kerala's backwatersDrift through palm-fringed canals on a converted rice barge around Alappuzha.
  4. Explore Rajasthan's fortsClimb the ramparts of Amber, Mehrangarh and Jaisalmer's living sandstone fort.
  5. Go on a tiger safariTrack Bengal tigers through the forests of Ranthambore or Bandhavgarh.
  6. Wander the ruins of HampiExplore boulder-strewn landscapes dotted with the temples of the Vijayanagara Empire.
  7. Trek in LadakhHike high-altitude valleys past whitewashed Buddhist monasteries and turquoise lakes.
  8. Practise yoga in RishikeshJoin classes in the self-styled yoga capital on the banks of the Ganges.
  9. Eat street food in DelhiFeast on chaat, parathas and kebabs in the lanes of Old Delhi around Chandni Chowk.
  10. Relax on Goa's beachesCombine golden sand with Portuguese-era churches and seafood shacks.
India🗺️ Where to visit in India

Where to go in India

  • DelhiNorth · capitalMughal monuments, bustling bazaars and grand colonial avenues in one sprawling city.
  • 📍
    AgraUttar Pradesh · Mughal heritageHome to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and nearby Fatehpur Sikri.
  • JaipurRajasthan · Pink CityPalaces, forts and colourful bazaars in Rajasthan's vibrant capital.
  • 📍
    VaranasiUttar Pradesh · spiritual cityOne of the oldest living cities in the world, centred on its riverside ghats.
  • 📍
    Kerala backwatersSouth-west · lagoons & canalsLush waterways, coconut groves and village life around Alappuzha and Kumarakom.
  • 📍
    UdaipurRajasthan · lakes & palacesA romantic city of lake palaces and whitewashed havelis.
  • 📍
    Leh and LadakhHimalaya · mountains & monasteriesA high desert region of dramatic passes, monasteries and adventure.
  • 📍
    HampiKarnataka · ruinsA UNESCO-listed former imperial capital set among giant granite boulders.
India✨ Must-do experiences
  • See the Taj Mahal at sunrise
  • Stay on a houseboat in Kerala
  • Join the evening Ganga aarti in Varanasi
  • Go on a tiger safari in a national park
Advertise with usYour brand hereIn-feed (between news) · Native cardBook this space →
India🍽️ Taste of India
  • Biryani – fragrant rice cooked with spices and meat
  • Masala dosa – crispy rice pancake with spiced potato
  • Butter chicken – creamy tomato chicken curry
  • Chai – sweet spiced milk tea
India🌦️ Weather & best time to visit India

Best time to visit India

India's climate ranges from Himalayan alpine to tropical, shaped by the summer monsoon from June to September. The north has cool winters and scorching pre-monsoon heat, while the south stays warm year-round.

BestOctober to March is cool and dry across most of the country, perfect for Rajasthan, the Golden Triangle, Goa and Kerala.
ShoulderApril and September are hotter or damp, but quieter; summer (June to September) is the best time for Ladakh.
AvoidMay and June bring extreme heat on the plains, and July to August brings heavy monsoon rain in much of the country.
21°💧Jan
24°💧Feb
30°💧Mar
36°☀️Apr
40°💧May
39°💧Jun
35°💧💧💧Jul
34°💧💧💧Aug
34°💧💧Sep
33°☀️Oct
28°☀️Nov
23°☀️Dec

Typical daytime highs and rain in New Delhi (approximate averages).

India🎉 Festivals & events in India
  • October or November
    DiwaliThe festival of lights fills homes and streets with oil lamps, sweets and fireworks.
  • March
    HoliA joyful spring festival where people throw coloured powder and water at each other.
  • September or October
    Durga PujaKolkata comes alive with elaborate pandals honouring the goddess Durga.
  • October or November
    Pushkar Camel FairThousands of camels, traders and pilgrims gather at a holy lake in Rajasthan.
  • December
    Hornbill FestivalNagaland's tribes showcase dances, crafts and food in a vibrant cultural festival.
Advertise with usYour brand hereIn-feed (between news) · Native cardBook this space →
India🧭 India itinerary ideas

How many days in India?

7 daysGolden Triangle plus Varanasi

Days 1-2 explore Old and New Delhi. Days 3-4 visit Agra's Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri, then Jaipur's forts and palaces on days 5-6. Day 7 fly to Varanasi for the evening Ganga Aarti.

14 daysNorth to south highlights

Days 1-6 follow the Golden Triangle, adding Udaipur. Days 7-8 continue to Varanasi, then fly south for days 9-11 in Kerala's Kochi and backwaters. Days 12-14 relax on Goa's beaches or explore Hampi.

India🎒 Backpacking India – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $20–35 a day

  • Book trains early through the official railway booking system; sleeper and 3AC classes are cheap and an experience in themselves.
  • Paharganj in Delhi, Hampi, Rishikesh, Pushkar, Varkala and Goa's Arambol are classic budget backpacker spots.
  • Eat thalis at busy local restaurants – they are cheap, filling and often refilled for free.
  • Use ride-hailing apps or prepaid taxi booths to avoid haggling over fares.
  • Overnight trains and buses save on accommodation for long distances.
India🛡️ Safety & money in India

Stay safe

  • Watch for scams around major sights and stations, such as fake ticket offices and 'closed hotel' stories.
  • Drink bottled or filtered water and choose freshly cooked, busy food stalls.
  • Women travellers should dress modestly and take extra care at night; using women-only train carriages helps.
  • Check your government's travel advice for border regions and areas with occasional unrest.

Money

  • The Indian rupee is the currency; UPI mobile payments are everywhere, but tourists mostly rely on cards and cash.
  • ATMs are widespread in cities; carry small notes for rickshaws, temples and street food.
  • Tipping around 10% in restaurants is common, and small tips for drivers and guides are expected.

Emergency: 112 all emergencies · 100 police · 101 fire · 108 ambulance

Advertise with usYour brand hereIn-feed (between news) · Native cardBook this space →
India🛬 Getting to India

Major international airports include Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi and Goa; land borders are used mainly with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

✈️ Cheap flights to India: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

India💡 Did you know? 5 facts about India
  • India is home to more than 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
  • The game of chess is believed to have originated in India as chaturanga.
  • The Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious gatherings on Earth.
  • India has 22 languages recognised in its constitution.
  • Indian Railways is one of the world's largest employers.
India❓ India travel FAQ

India travel questions

Is India safe for tourists?

Millions travel India safely every year, but scams, petty theft and harassment do occur. Stay alert, use registered transport and check your government's travel advice.

When is the best time to visit India?

October to March is the best time for most regions, with cool, dry weather. Ladakh and the high Himalaya are best from June to September.

How many days do you need in India?

A week covers the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Two to three weeks lets you combine the north with Kerala, Goa or the Himalaya.

Do I need a visa for India?

Most travellers need a visa or e-visa, but rules depend on your passport. Check the official government site or embassy before you travel.

What food should I try in India?

Try biryani, dosa, thali, butter chicken, chaat and regional curries. Food varies dramatically by region, so sample local specialities wherever you go.

Advertise with usYour brand hereIn-feed (between news) · Native cardBook this space →
India💰 What a trip costs
$price level
$20–35backpacker / day
$60–120mid-range / day

Approximate daily cost per person (stay, food, local transport).

India🚌 Getting around

A vast railway network and cheap domestic flights connect the country, with buses filling the gaps. In cities, use the metro, auto-rickshaws or ride-hailing apps.

India🛕 Sacred & spiritual places
  • Varanasi ghats – Holy city on the Ganges, one of the oldest living cities
  • Golden Temple, Amritsar – Holiest Sikh shrine, serving free meals to all visitors
  • Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya – Where the Buddha is said to have reached enlightenment
Advertise with usYour brand hereIn-feed (between news) · Native cardBook this space →
India🤝 Local etiquette
  • Remove shoes at temples and homes
  • Dress modestly, especially at religious sites
  • Use your right hand for eating and passing things
Advertise with usYour brand hereIn-feed (between news) · Native cardBook this space →Advertise with usYour brand hereIn-feed (between news) · Native cardBook this space →

📰 Older India stories Everything our agents ever found – keeps loading as you scroll

🧭 Nearby countries

Nepal
NepalHimalayan treks, ancient temples and jungle safaris
Bangladesh
BangladeshRivers, mangrove forests and the world's longest beach
Bhutan
BhutanHimalayan kingdom of fortress monasteries and prayer flags
Sri Lanka
Sri LankaTea hills, ancient rock fortresses and golden beaches
Pakistan
PakistanGiant peaks, Mughal cities and legendary hospitality
Myanmar
MyanmarGolden pagodas, temple plains and calm lakes
Afghanistan
AfghanistanTurquoise mosques, mountain valleys and the Silk Road
Maldives
MaldivesTurquoise lagoons, coral atolls and overwater villas
Advertise with usYour brand hereBottom banner · 970 x 90Book this space →