From snow-covered Himalayas to centuries-old landmarks, India offers a comprehensive experience for every type of traveler. Whether you’re looking for your next adventure, wanting to experience different cuisines, or embarking on a spiritual quest, India is the perfect destination for you. While traveling to India from Qatar requires some preparations, the country is unforgettable, with some of the loveliest people you’ll ever meet. So, get ready for a journey, and we’ll help you pick a spot.

India’s most famous attraction is undoubtedly the Taj Mahal in Agra, south of Delhi. Despite looking like the sultan’s palace in Aladdin, it’s actually a mausoleum built by a Mughal emperor for his wife.

You can definitely do it as a day trip from the capital, just be ready for an early start, since the train ride can take up to six hours. And you can sit on the same bench Princess Diana once did — just don’t be surprised if there’s a bit of a queue, as other tourists may have the same idea. If you have the time, arrive the night before and head there early in the morning (gates open at 5:30) for the enchanting sunrise. Nearby is the beautiful Agra Fort, also worth a look.

India's cinematic output is the most prolific worldwide, producing 2000+ movies a year. As usual, there are regional varieties. For instance, Tollywood refers to films in the Telugu language from the southern states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. But the most famous is Bollywood, the movie industry of Bombay — now known as Mumbai. 

The best place to stay is in the Colaba and Kala Ghoda neighborhoods of southern Mumbai, within walking distance of attractions like art galleries, the Taj Mahal Palace, and the Gateway of India. For a taste of that Bollywood magic, you can book a tour at one of the film studios, complete with an on-set look behind the scenes of an Indian soap opera, and be treated to a professional dance number at the end. 

A several-hour bus or train ride east of Mumbai is the Ellora and Ajanta caves and their spectacular stone carvings. The caves are reachable from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. It's theoretically possible to visit both sets of caves in a day, but it's not recommended: you want to take your time at such a majestic world heritage site, so book an overnight stay in Aurangabad.

While the north has been very clearly influenced by the Mughal era and its Persian culture, southern India remains quite distinctive; few in Tamil Nadu even bother to learn Hindi! Chennai, the capital of the Tamil homeland, is full of distinctly bright and colorful temples, although photos and videos inside are not always appreciated. 

The jewel of the south is Kerala, on the shores of the Arabian Sea. Spend an afternoon cruising the waterways of Alleppey, the Venice of India, or visit Jataya’s Earth Centre, the biggest bird sculpture in the world, inspired by the tale of the Ramayana. Further inland are the gorgeous green hills and tea plantations of Munnar, an area rightly nicknamed God’s Own Country.

Rajasthan is a dry, northwestern state bordering Pakistan and dotted with UNESCO World Heritage sites: temples, fortresses, and palaces. There, you’ll find Udaipur, the majestic City of Lakes and shooting location for the Bond film Octopussy, and Jaisalmer, India’s Golden City, surrounding a hill crowned by an iconic yellow sandstone fortress. From Jaisalmer, you can book an excursion into the dunes of the Thar Desert and fall asleep under the stars.

Rajasthan is also home to Ranthambore National Park, a place known for frequent tiger sightings. The park is divided into ten zones, and some are more popular with our feline friends than others — ask local staff and guides for recommendations.

Late spring until autumn is the best time for a trip to Ladakh in the Indian Himalayas. In the winter, the roads may be blocked by snowfall, and frankly, it will be too cold. Ladakh feels like a mystical mountain kingdom of snow-capped peaks, breathtaking valleys, and Buddhist monasteries, where the culture is closer to Tibet than Delhi. 

From the capital, Leh, you can organize a 3 or 4-day trip to the Markha and Nubra valleys and Lake Pangong, looking over its pristine blue waters at the Chinese border. Since it’s a geopolitically sensitive area, you’ll need a special Inner Line Permit from the authorities. However, this is relatively simple: drop by the deputy commissioner’s office in Leh with your passport and fill out an application form, and you'll have it the very day.

Just south of Ladakh is Himachal Pradesh, where tourism revolves around the town of Manali, surrounded by mountains and forests. From there, you can plan activities such as hiking and paragliding, and you might see the occasional yak wandering the street.

There are three popular options for exploring India: airplane, bus, and train. Inter-state or long-distance trains typically have a waiting list. There’s limited space, and simply ordering a ticket doesn’t guarantee you a seat. 

Furthermore, physically buying tickets at the railway station can be a time-consuming and ultimately fruitless process. So, the easiest way for a foreigner to order tickets for both buses and trains is through third-party apps such as 12Go.asia. However, for trains, you’ll still have to wait till the next day for an email confirming your ride (or not). You might be able to snag a ticket on the spot from the conductors, but not a seat, in which case you’ll rely on the generosity of your fellow passengers for a little room.

More options are available on the official Indian Railways website and on services such as redBus. But keep in mind — Indian banks don’t always accept online payments from overseas. Within most major cities, Uber works very well and is reasonably priced.

Indian cuisine is deservedly famous worldwide, and varies hugely by region: Bengal is famous for its sweets, while Kerala has perhaps the tastiest prawn curry on the planet. Indian masala tea is served in annoyingly small paper cups, which may be what keeps it so dangerously addictive, and there's nothing like a cool lassi — a yoghurt-based beverage, flavoured with fruits, nuts, and spices, that can be either sweet or salty, to freshen you up on a muggy day. Butter chicken is simple yet delicious. 

If you're vegetarian, you're in for a treat: many restaurants are advertised as "pure veg" (note: veg does not mean vegan, as there's still plenty of dairy). If you’re worried about spice, you can always ask the waiters to tone it down, which they often do for foreigners anyway.

Eating out is inexpensive in India, but you can always drop by a Sikh temple, or gurdwara, for a free meal at the langar, or community kitchen: usually a basic vegetarian dish of rice, vegetables, and bread, followed by a wheat pudding called kada prasad, scooped onto your hand by volunteers. The langar is open twenty-four hours a day to everyone, regardless of caste or creed.

All Qatari nationals must obtain a visa before entering India; the same goes for most other nationalities. Usually, travelers submit their applications on the official visa government website and then provide the required documents in person. However, some, including Qatari citizens, can go through the online e-visa process. Pricing depends on the nationality and visa type and ranges from QAR 37 to QAR 730. 

Flights from Doha to various Indian destinations are available daily, with flight durations between 3.5 and 5 hours. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru have non-stop flights from Doha every day. 

If you’re traveling from Doha, it’s recommended that you get travel insurance for India. While this isn’t mandatory, it's always a good idea to protect yourself financially from unforeseen circumstances that could ruin your trip.