Incredible India is a land of all things great! It is renowned worldwide for its diverse culture, traditions, festivals and what not. But apart from the ancient monuments, one of the major things tourists visit this country is the food in India. And over the years, food tourism or culinary tourism has grown immensely in this food loving nation.
With 28 states and 8 union territories, India not only has a diverse culture but it also is home to an array of cuisines. And each state has a speciality of its own. Be it the popular vada pav of Mumbai in Maharashtra or the dum biryani of Hyderabad in Telangana; food in India will leave you craving for more!
What is Culinary Tourism?
Culinary tourism, also known as food tourism, is the exploration of food as the purpose of traveling. Over the years, it has seen a huge rise, with many people (especially food bloggers) traveling to different places and sampling various cuisines. This also helps in the promotion of local food and beverages of any destination.
Places to Discover the Best Food in India
If you are a foodie looking forward to exploring the food in India or you are planning a trip to the country to discover its amazing heritage, culture and tourist attractions, check out these cities that are popular for their amazing food.
- Mumbai
- Kolkata
- Hyderabad
- Delhi
- Ahmedabad
Mumbai
The ‘City of Dreams’, Mumbai is popular for its local cuisine. It is also one of the top places to explore food in India. You can try a range of delicacies from the Marathi cuisine such as vada pav, pav bhaji, misal pav, thalipeeth, kothimbir vadi, bhakarwadi, pithale, bharleli vangdi or puran poli. No matter what your budget, you can try these dishes both at affordable roadside eateries and world-class restaurants.
Book cheap flights from Chicago to Mumbai, and get ready to go on a new food journey.
Kolkata
Culinary tourism in India is incomplete without a trip to Kolkata. The city is famous for its distinct cuisine and offers an array of scrumptious dishes. Be it the delicious kosha mangsho or the juicy rasgulla; every dish in the Bengali cuisine will surprise your taste buds. You can visit budget-friendly food stalls or any popular restaurant as per your preference. Some of the must-try dishes are the Kolkata biryani, machchi bhaat, ilish macher jhol, shukto, aloo potol posto, sondesh, mishti doi etc.
Hyderabad
Hyderabad is popular for its delicious dum biryani. Food in Hyderabad has a strong influence of the Mughlai, Marathi, Telugu, and Turkish cuisines. The popular dishes here include chicken 65, paaya, dum ka kheema, mirchi ka salan, haleem etc. There are many veg options available that are influenced by the local Telugu cuisine like dosa, idli, vada, rasam, sambar and a lot more. You’ll also love the delicious sweets of Hyderabad and some of the must-try desserts include double ka meetha, qubani ka meetha or jauzi halwa.
You can begin your journey of exploring food in India by booking Cheap flights from New York to Hyderabad via Indian Eagle.
Also Read: Street Food in Hyderabad
Delhi
Delhi is known as a melting pot of different cultures and hence the city also has diversity in food. You can either visit the ‘paranthe wali galli’ to try an array of piping hot paranthas or head to the Jama Masjid area to gorge on the mouth-watering non-veg delicacies. Delhi is also a popular destination for culinary tourism among many food bloggers as it has one of the best street food items in the country. So, if you love pani puri, chole kulche, Dahi bhalle, aloo chaat, etc. head to the capital of India for a food tour.
Ahmedabad
The Guajarati cuisine is a must try when exploring food in India. Most of the fine dining restaurants and small eateries specialize in the local cuisine. Don’t forget to try dhokla, ganthiya, khakra, thepla, dalvada undhiyu etc. You will definitely like the unique flavors of the delicacies here.
Culinary tourism in a country like India may be incomplete without visiting these places. But there are many other cities that you can visit to explore the food in India. Comment below and let us know which of the places mentioned above would you love to visit during your food adventure.
