India: Cities and Regions

New Delhi The movers and shakers of the political world live alongside old society families in India’s historic capital city, which has been cleaned up and greened up significantly in recent years. See our Delhi Travel Guide

Mumbai Very much the New York of India, this vivacious island city on the west coast of the subcontinent, in the state of Maharashtra, offers mystery, charm, great street food and distinctive bars, not to mention couture threads and kitschy souvenir shops. See our Mumbai Travel Guide

Bangalore Home of the IT boom and the stage for Thomas Friedman’s book The World Is Flat, this southern Indian city is the country’s Silicon Valley.

Goa Locals have been escaping to this beachside resort province for decades before hippies and backpackers the world over put in on the radar. See our Goa Travel Guide

Kerala/Tamil Nadu Plan a trip to the laidback waters of these southern states, where you can live on a houseboat for a week or two, subsisting on seafood cooked in coconut milk and fish served on banana leaves.

Rajasthan Several princely kingdoms came together to form this vibrant, colorful northwestern state along the Thar Desert that transports visitors to the glory days of the Old Raj. See our Rajasthan Travel Guide

Calcutta The cityscape for the Hollywood flick City of Joy, this eastern city in the state of Bengal is the intellectual capital of the country, producing native sons like novelist Rabindranath Tagore and filmmaker Satyajit Ray.

Udaipur Home to whitewashed palaces, glistening lakes, and winding lanes lined with shops selling miniature paintings from a long-lost era, this fairy-tale city was once described as “the most romantic spot on the continent of India” – and for good reason. See our Udaipur Travel Guide