India
Republic of India
Southern Asia · IND
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To India
India is strongest for travelers who want cultural depth, huge regional variety, and trips that can shift from Mughal landmarks and temple cities to Himalayan foothills, tiger reserves, beaches, and food-led urban stops. It rewards focused regional itineraries more than trying to cover the whole country at once, whether that means the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan, Kerala and the south, or a north India route anchored by Delhi and Varanasi.
Popular For
Things To See
- Delhi
- Agra and the Taj Mahal
- Jaipur
- Varanasi
- Kerala backwaters
- Ranthambore National Park
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- First visits usually work best when built around one corridor or region rather than the whole country.
- November through February is the easiest broad window for classic north India trips, while the south, Himalayas, and monsoon season follow different weather rhythms.
- Advance booking helps for sleeper trains, sought-after heritage hotels, and safari permits in major parks.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for India.
Guidebooks
Lonely Planet India
Lonely Planet
Comprehensive country guide with coverage of major cities, temples, and all Indian regions.
View on Amazon →
DK Eyewitness India
DK Eyewitness
Visually rich guide with illustrated maps, 3D cutaways, and practical information for top sights.
View on Amazon →
India: A Journey for Food Lovers
Alan Benson et al.
Beautifully photographed guide to India's regional cuisines with authentic recipes.
View on Amazon →Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for India.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- New Delhi
- Population
- 1,417,492,000
- Area
- 3,287,263 km²
- Region
- Southern Asia
Languages
- English
- Hindi
- Tamil
Currency
Indian rupee (₹)
INR
1 USD = 94.62 INR
Cost of Living (World Bank)
24.1
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 21.6
- Restaurants
- 15.6
- Rent
- 4.3
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for New Delhi (28.60°N, 77.20°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
30/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 48/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.685
Medium human development
- 5-year change
- +0.037
- 10-year change
- +0.070
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.874
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.403
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.656
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (44)
- 🏛️
Maratha Military Landscapes of India
Inscribed 2025
- 🏛️
Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty
Inscribed 2024
- 🏛️
Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas
Inscribed 2023
- 🏛️
Santiniketan
Inscribed 2023
- 🏛️
Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana
Inscribed 2021
- 🏛️
Dholavira: a Harappan City
Inscribed 2021
- 🏛️
Jaipur City, Rajasthan
Inscribed 2019
- 🏛️
Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai
Inscribed 2018
- 🏛️
Historic City of Ahmadabad
Inscribed 2017
- 🏛️
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar
Inscribed 2016
- 🏛️
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement
Inscribed 2016
- 🌍
Khangchendzonga National Park
Inscribed 2016
- 🏛️
Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat
Inscribed 2014
- 🌿
Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area
Inscribed 2014
- 🏛️
Hill Forts of Rajasthan
Inscribed 2013
- 🌿
Western Ghats
Inscribed 2012
- 🏛️
The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
Inscribed 2010
- 🏛️
Red Fort Complex
Inscribed 2007
- 🏛️
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)
Inscribed 2004
- 🏛️
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
Inscribed 2004
- 🏛️
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
Inscribed 2003
- 🏛️
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya
Inscribed 2002
- 🏛️
Mountain Railways of India
Inscribed 1999
- 🏛️
Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi
Inscribed 1993
- 🏛️
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi
Inscribed 1993
- 🏛️
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi
Inscribed 1989
- 🌿
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
Inscribed 1988
- 🏛️
Great Living Chola Temples
Inscribed 1987
- 🏛️
Elephanta Caves
Inscribed 1987
- 🌿
Sundarbans National Park
Inscribed 1987
- 🏛️
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
Inscribed 1987
- 🏛️
Group of Monuments at Hampi
Inscribed 1986
- 🏛️
Fatehpur Sikri
Inscribed 1986
- 🏛️
Khajuraho Group of Monuments
Inscribed 1986
- 🏛️
Churches and Convents of Goa
Inscribed 1986
- 🌿
Keoladeo National Park
Inscribed 1985
- 🌿
Kaziranga National Park
Inscribed 1985
- 🌿
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Inscribed 1985
- 🏛️
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
Inscribed 1984
- 🏛️
Sun Temple, Konârak
Inscribed 1984
- 🏛️
Taj Mahal
Inscribed 1983
- 🏛️
Agra Fort
Inscribed 1983
- 🏛️
Ajanta Caves
Inscribed 1983
- 🏛️
Ellora Caves
Inscribed 1983
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 7.7%
- Forest cover
- 24.5%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 99
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 92
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
31/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
93/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Exercise increased cautionin India due to crime and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. Violent crime and terrorism occur in India. Rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Violent crimes, including sexual assault, happen at tourist sites and other locations. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning. They target: Tourist locations Transportation hubs Markets and shopping malls Government facilities The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in rural areas. These areas stretch from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal. Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in India must obtain special authorization to travel to these areas.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data