Culture
Darjeeling tea
Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
A delicate tea grown on steep Himalayan slopes. It was one of the first Indian products to receive a Geographical Indication tag, which protects the name.
State: West Bengal · GI tag: Yes
Map / India
India: heritage, crafts and festivals by state
172 places across India, from Himalayan monasteries to southern temple towns, with a special focus on regional crafts, folk arts, festivals and products tied to a place.
See India on the map Show GI-tagged products
Products with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag
A GI tag is a legal registration that links a product's name to the place it comes from, such as Darjeeling tea or Kanjeevaram silk. Status is listed as we understand it from public sources; please check the official GI Registry (Government of India) before relying on it.
Culture
Assam tea
Dibrugarh, Assam, India
Strong, malty tea from the Brahmaputra valley, where India's commercial tea growing began in the 19th century.
State: Assam · GI tag: Yes
Culture
Nilgiri tea
Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, India
Fragrant tea grown on the Blue Mountains of southern India and often used for iced tea.
State: Tamil Nadu · GI tag: Yes
Culture
Coorg Arabica coffee
Madikeri, Karnataka, India
Coffee grown in the shade of tall trees in the hills of Kodagu, in estates that also grow pepper and cardamom.
State: Karnataka · GI tag: Yes
Culture
Malabar pepper
Thalassery, Kerala, India
The spice that drew traders from Arabia and Europe to Kerala's Malabar coast for centuries.
State: Kerala · GI tag: Yes
Culture
Kashmir saffron
Pampore, Jammu & Kashmir, India
Deep-red saffron threads are hand-picked from crocus flowers on the plateau around Pampore each autumn.
State: Jammu & Kashmir · GI tag: Yes
Culture
Ratnagiri Alphonso mango
Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India
A sweet, saffron-coloured mango from the Konkan coast, in season from April to June.
State: Maharashtra · GI tag: Yes (Ratnagiri Hapus)
Culture
Nagpur orange
Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Loose-skinned sweet oranges from the Vidarbha region, which has given Nagpur the nickname Orange City.
State: Maharashtra · GI tag: Yes
Culture
Mahabaleshwar strawberries
Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, India
The hill station's cool climate makes it the centre of India's strawberry growing, with fruit sold at roadside stalls in the winter season.
State: Maharashtra · GI tag: Yes
Culture
Banglar Rosogolla
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
A spongy sweet of chhena cheese in sugar syrup. West Bengal received a GI tag for its version in 2017.
State: West Bengal · GI tag: Yes (Banglar Rosogolla)
Culture
Odisha Rasagola
Pahala, Odisha, India
Odisha's own version of the sweet, offered at the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The state received its GI tag in 2019, and both states' versions are recognised.
State: Odisha · GI tag: Yes (Odisha Rasagola)
Culture
Tirupati laddu
Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
A large sweet made at the Tirumala temple and given to pilgrims as prasadam. It holds a GI tag.
State: Andhra Pradesh · GI tag: Yes
Culture
Bikaneri bhujia
Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
A crisp, spiced snack made from moth bean flour, which began in the desert city of Bikaner.
State: Rajasthan · GI tag: Yes
Culture
Dharwad pedha
Dharwad, Karnataka, India
A caramel-brown milk sweet associated with Dharwad for more than a century.
State: Karnataka · GI tag: Yes
Culture
Hyderabad haleem
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
A slow-cooked stew of wheat, lentils and meat, eaten widely in Ramadan. Hyderabad's version is among the first meat dishes in India to receive a GI tag.
State: Telangana · GI tag: Yes
Culture
Lakadong turmeric
Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, India
A turmeric from Meghalaya with a very high curcumin content, grown by small farmers in the Jaintia Hills.
State: Meghalaya · GI tag: Yes
Crafts
Kashmir shawls
Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India
Fine pashmina wool shawls, woven and then embroidered by hand, have been made in the Kashmir valley for centuries.
Craft: Hand-woven and embroidered wool
Crafts
Blue Pottery
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Jaipur's blue pottery is glazed with cobalt blue and turquoise floral patterns, and is made from quartz rather than clay.
Craft: Glazed pottery
Crafts
Banarasi silk
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Varanasi's weavers make silk brocades woven with gold and silver thread, traditionally used for bridal saris.
Craft: Brocade weaving
Crafts
Madhubani painting
Madhubani, Bihar, India
Women in the Mithila region have painted walls and floors with intricate scenes and patterns for generations. Today the art is also made on paper and cloth.
Craft: Folk painting
Crafts
Warli art
Palghar, Maharashtra, India
The Warli people paint simple white shapes — circles, triangles and lines — on earthen walls to show dances, harvests and daily life.
Craft: Tribal wall painting
Crafts
Bidriware
Bidar, Karnataka, India
Dark metal vessels inlaid with silver patterns are named after the city of Bidar, where the craft developed in the 14th century.
Craft: Metal inlay
Crafts
Chikankari embroidery
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Delicate hand embroidery in fine thread on light cotton and muslin, with floral patterns, a speciality of Lucknow.
Craft: White-on-white embroidery
Crafts
Pattachitra
Raghurajpur, Odisha, India
Painters in the craft village of Raghurajpur paint mythological scenes in natural colours on treated cloth or palm leaf.
Craft: Cloth scroll painting
Crafts
Kalamkari
Srikalahasti, Andhra Pradesh, India
Fabric is painted with a bamboo pen dipped in vegetable dyes, with mythological scenes and flowing floral designs.
Craft: Hand-painted and block-printed cloth
Crafts
Kanjeevaram silk
Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India
Kanchipuram weavers make durable silk saris with gold-thread borders in temple and floral motifs, and the cloth carries a geographical indication.
Craft: Heavy woven silk saris
Crafts
Pochampally Ikat
Bhoodan Pochampally, Telangana, India
Yarn is tied and dyed before weaving so that geometric patterns appear in the finished cloth. It is known as the silk city of India.
Craft: Resist-dyed weaving
Crafts
Channapatna toys
Channapatna, Karnataka, India
Artisans turn wood on a lathe and colour it with natural lacquer to make toys, so the town is known as the toy town of India.
Craft: Lacquered wooden toys
Crafts
Thanjavur painting
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
Paintings of deities in rich colours with gold foil and inlaid stones, developed under the Maratha rulers of Thanjavur.
Craft: Gold-leaf devotional painting
Crafts
Kutch embroidery
Bhuj, Gujarat, India
Women of different Kutchi communities stitch bold geometric and floral designs with tiny mirrors onto clothes and hangings.
Craft: Mirror-work embroidery
Crafts
Kolhapuri chappals
Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
Handmade leather sandals, hand-stitched and dyed with natural colours, made in and around Kolhapur and nearby districts.
State: Maharashtra and Karnataka · GI tag: Yes
Crafts
Kullu shawl
Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India
Warm woollen shawls with bold geometric borders woven on handlooms in the Kullu valley.
State: Himachal Pradesh · GI tag: Yes
Crafts
Chanderi sarees
Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh, India
Sheer, lightweight silk-cotton fabric with woven gold motifs, made in the small town of Chanderi.
State: Madhya Pradesh · GI tag: Yes
Crafts
Muga silk
Sualkuchi, Assam, India
A natural golden silk from a silkworm found only in Assam. Its shine grows with every wash.
State: Assam · GI tag: Yes
Crafts
Bhagalpur silk
Bhagalpur, Bihar, India
The 'Silk City' of Bihar is known for tussar silk and for Bhagalpuri fabrics woven on handlooms.
State: Bihar · GI tag: Yes
Crafts
Ilkal sarees
Ilkal, Karnataka, India
Cotton-silk sarees with a distinctive joined border and a red pallu, woven in the town of Ilkal for over a thousand years.
State: Karnataka · GI tag: Yes
Crafts
Mysore silk
Mysuru, Karnataka, India
Soft silk with pure gold zari, woven using mulberry silk from the Mysuru region.
State: Karnataka · GI tag: Yes
Andaman Islands
History
Cellular Jail
Port Blair, Andaman Islands, India
A colonial prison where many freedom fighters were held in isolation. It is now a national memorial with a nightly light-and-sound show.
Built: 1896–1906
Andhra Pradesh
Crafts
Tholu Bommalata
Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Leather shadow puppets, cut and painted in bright translucent colours, enact scenes from the epics on a lit screen.
State: Andhra Pradesh
Assam
Festivals
Rongali Bihu
Guwahati, Assam, India
Assam's spring festival of new beginnings, with Bihu dance, drums, traditional dress and festive foods.
Usually: Mid-April · Theme: Assamese New Year · Months: April
Folklore
Bihu dance
Guwahati, Assam, India
A lively Assamese dance performed during the Bihu festivals, with fast hand movements, flowing steps and drums such as the dhol and pepa.
Kind: Folk dance
Folklore
Sattriya
Majuli, Assam, India
A dance-drama that grew in the Vaishnava monasteries (satras) on the river island of Majuli, and is recognised as one of India's classical dance forms.
State: Assam · Kind: Classical dance
Bihar
People
Aryabhata
Patna region, Bihar, India
He wrote the Aryabhatiya in 499 CE, covering place value, the value of pi and the idea that the Earth rotates on its axis. Tradition places his work at Kusumapura, near modern Patna.
Born: 476 CE · Known for: Mathematics and astronomy
People
Emperor Ashoka
Pataliputra (Patna), Bihar, India
He ruled most of the Indian subcontinent and, after the bloody Kalinga war, promoted a Buddhist-inspired ethic of compassion and tolerance in pillar and rock edicts.
Lived: c. 304–232 BCE · Known for: Maurya emperor
History
Nalanda
Bihar, India
A great Buddhist monastic university that drew students from across Asia. Its ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Period: 5th–12th century CE
History
Bodh Gaya
Bihar, India
The place where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment beneath a bodhi tree. The Mahabodhi Temple here is one of the holiest Buddhist sites.
Period: c. 5th century BCE onward
Festivals
Chhath Puja
Patna, Bihar, India
Devotees stand in rivers and ponds at sunset and sunrise to offer thanks to the Sun god. It is most widely observed in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Usually: October–November, six days after Diwali · Theme: Worship of the Sun · Months: October, November
Festivals
Sonepur Mela
Sonepur, Bihar, India
One of Asia's biggest traditional fairs, held at the meeting of the Ganga and Gandak rivers around Kartik Purnima.
Usually: November–December · Theme: Large traditional fair · Months: November, December
Chandigarh
People
Kapil Dev
Chandigarh, India
He captained India to its first Cricket World Cup win in 1983, a surprise victory that changed how the sport was seen in the country.
Born: 1959 · Known for: Cricket all-rounder and captain
Chhattisgarh
Folklore
Pandavani
Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India
A solo singer retells the Mahabharata with a tambura in hand and acts out the characters. Teejan Bai made it famous.
State: Chhattisgarh · Kind: Epic storytelling
Crafts
Dhokra metal casting
Bastar, Chhattisgarh, India
An ancient method of casting figures in brass using a wax model and clay mould, still practised by tribal artisans in central and eastern India.
Craft: Lost-wax brass casting
Delhi
People
Virat Kohli
Delhi, India
A Delhi batter known for his aggressive style and consistency in run-chasing. He led India's Test and white-ball teams for several years.
Born: 1988 · Known for: Cricketer
People
Madhubala
Delhi, India
A star of the 1950s, she is remembered for Mughal-e-Azam and is often called the Venus of Indian cinema. Her career was cut short by illness.
Lived: 1933–1969 · Known for: Classic-era actress
History
Red Fort
Delhi, India
The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan's palace-fort in Old Delhi. India's Prime Minister raises the national flag here each Independence Day.
Built: 1639–1648
Architecture
Qutub Minar
Delhi, India
A 73-metre tower of red sandstone and marble covered in carved calligraphy, begun by Qutb ud-Din Aibak at the start of the Delhi Sultanate.
Built: From 1199 · Style: Indo-Islamic
Architecture
Lotus Temple
Delhi, India
A Bahá'í house of worship shaped like a half-opened lotus, with 27 white marble petals. It welcomes people of all faiths.
Built: 1986 · Style: Modern, flower-shaped
Language
Hindi
Delhi, India
Hindi, written in Devanagari, is one of India's official languages and is widely spoken across northern India and beyond.
Say hello: नमस्ते (Namaste) · Script: Devanagari
Gujarat
People
Mahatma Gandhi
Porbandar, Gujarat, India
Born in the coastal town of Porbandar, he led India's independence movement through nonviolent civil disobedience, an approach that influenced civil rights movements around the world.
Lived: 1869–1948 · Known for: Nonviolent resistance
History
Dholavira
Kutch, Gujarat, India
A Harappan city built to a planned layout with advanced water-storage reservoirs. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021.
Period: c. 3000–1500 BCE
History
Lothal
Gujarat, India
A Harappan trading town with a structure that archaeologists identify as a dock, showing how seafaring and trade linked the Indus cities to distant lands.
Period: c. 2400 BCE
History
Dandi
Navsari, Gujarat, India
The 1930 Salt March led by Gandhi ended on this coast, where he picked up salt in defiance of the colonial salt law.
Date: April 1930
Language
Gujarati
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Gujarati has its own script without the headline stroke of Devanagari. Gujarati communities have carried it around the world.
Say hello: નમસ્તે (Namaste) · Script: Gujarati
Culture
Gujarati thali
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
A thali brings sweet, salty, sour and spicy dishes together on a single large plate, eaten in a set order. Gujarat is known for its vegetarian thalis.
Tradition: Many small dishes on one plate
Festivals
Navratri and Garba
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
For nine nights Gujarat dances the garba and dandiya raas in colourful dress. Garba was added to UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2023.
Usually: September–October · Theme: Nine nights of dance · Months: September, October
Festivals
Rann Utsav
Dhordo, Kutch, Gujarat, India
A tent-city festival beside the shimmering white salt desert of the Rann of Kutch, with folk music, craft stalls and moonlit nights.
Usually: November–February · Theme: Festival of the White Desert · Months: November, December, January, February
Crafts
Mata ni Pachedi
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
A cloth made for the goddess, hand-painted and block-printed with natural dyes by the Vaghari community.
State: Gujarat
Crafts
Lippan kam
Kutch, Gujarat, India
Mud-and-mirror relief work on the walls of Kutchi round houses, shaped by hand into swirling patterns.
State: Gujarat
Haryana
People
Kalpana Chawla
Karnal, Haryana, India
Born in Karnal, she became the first woman of Indian origin in space in 1997 and died in the Space Shuttle Columbia accident in 2003.
Lived: 1962–2003 · Known for: Astronaut
People
Neeraj Chopra
Khandra, Panipat, Haryana, India
He won India's first Olympic gold in athletics at Tokyo in 2020 and followed it with a silver in Paris in 2024.
Born: 1997 · Known for: Javelin thrower
Folklore
Kurukshetra and the Mahabharata
Kurukshetra, Haryana, India
The Mahabharata, one of the longest poems ever composed, sets its great war on the plain of Kurukshetra. The Bhagavad Gita is presented as a conversation on the battlefield.
Kind: Epic
Himachal Pradesh
Festivals
Losar
Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhist communities mark the new year with prayers, cleaning the home, special foods and dances.
Usually: February–March · Theme: Tibetan New Year · Months: February, March
Jammu & Kashmir
Folklore
Bhand Pather
Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India
A Kashmiri folk theatre that mixes satire, music and dance, often performed outdoors with a humorous look at society.
State: Jammu & Kashmir · Kind: Folk theatre
Jharkhand
People
M. S. Dhoni
Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
A wicketkeeper-batter from Ranchi who captained India to the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.
Born: 1981 · Known for: Cricket captain
People
Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India
Crowned Miss World in 2000, she became a leading Hindi film actor and later one of the first Indian stars to headline American television and films.
Born: 1982 · Known for: Actor and producer
Crafts
Sohrai and Khovar wall art
Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, India
Women paint the walls of village homes with animals and plants during the harvest festival Sohrai and at weddings (Khovar).
State: Jharkhand
Karnataka
People
Rajinikanth
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Born in Bengaluru, he rose from a bus conductor to become the best-known star of Tamil cinema, with a huge fan following in India and Japan.
Born: 1950 · Known for: Tamil film superstar
People
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
Winner of the Miss World title in 1994, she became a leading actress in Hindi and Tamil films and a regular on the Cannes red carpet.
Born: 1973 · Known for: Actress and former Miss World
History
Hampi
Karnataka, India
The ruined capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, with temples, markets and royal enclosures spread among boulder-strewn hills.
Period: 14th–16th century
Architecture
Mysore Palace
Mysuru, Karnataka, India
The palace of the Wadiyar rulers, with domes, arches and stained glass. It is lit by about 100,000 bulbs on Sundays and during Dasara.
Built: 1912 · Style: Indo-Saracenic
Language
Kannada
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
A classical Dravidian language of Karnataka with a literary history of over a thousand years.
Say hello: ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ (Namaskara) · Script: Kannada
Culture
Dosa and the Udupi kitchen
Udupi, Karnataka, India
The crisp dosa, served with sambar and chutneys, is eaten across South India. Udupi's temple kitchens spread vegetarian restaurants across the country.
Tradition: Fermented rice-and-lentil crêpes
Festivals
Mysuru Dasara
Mysuru, Karnataka, India
Mysuru's palace is lit by lights and a grand procession of decorated elephants and floats ends the festival on Vijayadashami.
Usually: September–October · Theme: Royal ten-day festival · Months: September, October
Folklore
Yakshagana
Udupi, Karnataka, India
A night-long dance-drama of coastal Karnataka with bright costumes, tall headgear, singing and drumming, retelling stories from the epics.
Kind: Folk theatre
Folklore
Dollu Kunitha
Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
Male dancers wear large drums around their necks and dance in circles, beating complex rhythms in unison.
State: Karnataka · Kind: Drum dance
Kerala
Language
Malayalam
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
The language of Kerala, written in a script whose circular letters suit writing on palm leaves. Its literature goes back to the medieval period.
Say hello: നമസ്കാരം (Namaskaram) · Script: Malayalam
Festivals
Onam
Kochi, Kerala, India
Kerala's harvest festival features flower carpets called pookalam, a grand feast served on banana leaves, and boat races.
Usually: August–September · Theme: Harvest festival · Months: August, September
Festivals
Thrissur Pooram
Thrissur, Kerala, India
Caparisoned elephants, percussion ensembles and showers of fireworks fill the area around the Vadakkunnathan Temple.
Usually: April–May · Theme: Temple festival with elephants · Months: April, May
Folklore
Kathakali
Cheruthuruthy, Kerala, India
A dance-drama in which performers in elaborate makeup and costume tell stories from epics through gesture, facial expression and drumming. Cheruthuruthy is home to the Kerala Kalamandalam school.
Kind: Classical dance-drama
Folklore
Theyyam
Kannur, Kerala, India
In northern Kerala, performers in towering headdresses and vivid face paint are believed to embody deities during temple ceremonies.
Kind: Ritual performance
Ladakh
Festivals
Hemis Festival
Hemis, Ladakh, India
Monks in colourful costumes and masks perform sacred cham dances in the courtyard of Hemis Monastery, and a giant thangka is unveiled.
Usually: June–July · Theme: Masked monastery dances · Months: June, July
Madhya Pradesh
People
Lata Mangeshkar
Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
Her voice was heard in thousands of Hindi film songs over some seven decades. She was honoured with India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001.
Lived: 1929–2022 · Known for: Playback singer
People
B. R. Ambedkar
Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, India
A scholar, lawyer and reformer who campaigned against caste discrimination and chaired the committee that drafted India's Constitution.
Lived: 1891–1956 · Known for: Architect of the Indian Constitution
People
Salman Khan
Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
One of the biggest box-office draws in Hindi cinema for over three decades, he also hosts the television show Bigg Boss.
Born: 1965 · Known for: Actor
People
Kishore Kumar
Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, India
A playback singer known for his playful, versatile voice, he sang for the leading stars of the 1970s and 1980s, and also acted and composed.
Lived: 1929–1987 · Known for: Singer and actor
Architecture
Sanchi Stupa
Madhya Pradesh, India
The Great Stupa, a solid dome ringed by four carved gateways, is among the oldest stone structures in India and a centre of Buddhist art.
Built: From the 3rd century BCE · Style: Buddhist stupa
Architecture
Khajuraho Temples
Madhya Pradesh, India
Medieval temples famous for the detailed sculptures covering their walls, which depict gods, musicians, dancers and everyday life.
Built: 950–1050 · Style: Nagara
Crafts
Gond painting
Dindori and Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, India
Painters of the Gond community fill animals, trees and spirits with fine dots and lines. The style became widely known through the artist Jangarh Singh Shyam.
State: Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
People
Sachin Tendulkar
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Made his international debut as a teenager and went on to become the first player to score 100 international centuries. He retired from cricket in 2013.
Born: 1973 · Known for: Cricketer
People
Shivaji
Shivneri Fort, Junnar, Maharashtra, India
Born at Shivneri Fort, he built a Maratha state in western India and developed a strong navy and a network of hill forts.
Lived: 1630–1680 · Known for: Founder of the Maratha kingdom
People
Aamir Khan
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Known for choosing films carefully, he starred in hits such as Lagaan and Dangal, and Dangal became one of the highest-grossing Indian films ever.
Born: 1965 · Known for: Actor and filmmaker
People
Sunil Gavaskar
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
He was the first batter to reach 10,000 Test runs and is admired for facing fearsome fast bowlers without a helmet in his early career.
Born: 1949 · Known for: Opening batter
Architecture
Ellora Caves
Maharashtra, India
The Kailasa temple here was carved top-down from a single rock face. The wider site holds Hindu, Buddhist and Jain monuments side by side.
Built: 6th–10th century · Style: Rock-cut
Architecture
Ajanta Caves
Maharashtra, India
Around thirty caves carved into a horseshoe-shaped cliff, decorated with wall paintings that depict Jataka tales and are among the finest ancient Indian art.
Built: 2nd century BCE – 5th century CE · Style: Buddhist rock-cut
Language
Marathi
Pune, Maharashtra, India
The language of Maharashtra, with a literary tradition that includes the saint-poets of the Bhakti movement such as Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram.
Say hello: नमस्कार (Namaskar) · Script: Devanagari
Culture
Maidan cricket
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
On Mumbai's open maidans many games run side by side, with a ball hitting whichever pitch is nearest. Many Indian international cricketers began on grounds like these.
Tradition: Street and park cricket
Festivals
Ganesh Chaturthi
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Households and neighbourhoods install clay images of Ganesha for several days, then carry them in processions to be immersed in water. Mumbai's public celebrations are the largest.
Usually: August–September · Theme: Birthday of Lord Ganesha · Months: August, September
Folklore
Lavani
Pune, Maharashtra, India
A rhythmic folk form of Maharashtra with the beat of the dholki, fast footwork and expressive gestures.
State: Maharashtra · Kind: Folk song and dance
Manipur
People
Mary Kom
Churachandpur, Manipur, India
From a farming family in Manipur, she became a six-time world amateur boxing champion and won an Olympic bronze medal in 2012.
Born: 1983 · Known for: Boxer
Folklore
Thang-Ta
Imphal, Manipur, India
A Manipuri martial art of sword and spear, performed also as a dance, with roots in the Meitei kingdom.
State: Manipur · Kind: Martial art and dance
Meghalaya
Festivals
Hundred Drums Wangala
Tura, Meghalaya, India
The Garo people thank Misi Saljong, the sun god, for the harvest, with the beat of hundreds of drums, dances and traditional dress.
Usually: November · Theme: Garo harvest festival · Months: November
Mizoram
Festivals
Chapchar Kut
Aizawl, Mizoram, India
Held after the jungle clearing for the year's farming, with Mizo dances such as Cheraw, songs and traditional costume.
Usually: March · Theme: Mizo spring festival · Months: March
Nagaland
Festivals
Hornbill Festival
Kohima, Nagaland, India
Nagaland's tribes gather in a heritage village near Kohima to share dances, songs, crafts, food and games.
Usually: 1–10 December · Theme: Festival of festivals · Months: December
New Delhi
People
Shah Rukh Khan
New Delhi, India
Born in Delhi, he built a worldwide following through romantic films and blockbusters, and is often called the 'King of Bollywood'.
Born: 1965 · Known for: Bollywood actor and producer
Odisha
History
Dhauli Hills
Odisha, India
Rock edicts near Dhauli record Emperor Ashoka's remorse after the Kalinga war and his turn towards a Buddhist-inspired ethic of nonviolence.
Period: c. 260 BCE
Architecture
Konark Sun Temple
Odisha, India
A temple designed as a colossal chariot of the sun god, with carved stone wheels and richly sculpted walls.
Built: 13th century · Style: Kalinga
Festivals
Rath Yatra
Puri, Odisha, India
Huge wooden chariots carrying the deities of the Jagannath Temple are pulled through the streets of Puri by thousands of devotees.
Usually: June–July · Theme: Chariot festival of Lord Jagannath · Months: June, July
Festivals
Konark Dance Festival
Konark, Odisha, India
Classical dancers perform against the floodlit Sun Temple, with Odissi at the heart of the programme.
Usually: Early December · Theme: Classical dance before the Sun Temple · Months: December
Punjab
People
Mohammed Rafi
Amritsar, Punjab, India
Often counted among the greatest Hindi film singers, he recorded thousands of songs in many languages, from devotional pieces to romantic ballads.
Lived: 1924–1980 · Known for: Playback singer
History
Jallianwala Bagh
Amritsar, Punjab, India
A memorial garden marking the 1919 massacre, in which British troops fired on a crowd of unarmed men, women and children. It deepened anger against colonial rule.
Date: 13 April 1919
Architecture
Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib)
Amritsar, Punjab, India
The central Sikh shrine, set in a pool of water, with gilded upper floors. Its community kitchen serves free meals to many thousands of visitors every day.
Built: Late 16th century · Style: Sikh, with Mughal and Rajput influence
Language
Punjabi
Amritsar, Punjab, India
Punjabi is written in the Gurmukhi script in India and the Shahmukhi script in Pakistan. It is known for its folk songs and for the Sikh scriptures.
Say hello: ਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ (Sat Sri Akal) · Script: Gurmukhi
Festivals
Baisakhi
Amritsar, Punjab, India
Punjab marks the spring harvest and the founding of the Khalsa in 1699, with processions, bhangra and visits to the Golden Temple.
Usually: 13–14 April · Theme: Harvest and Khalsa foundation day · Months: April
Festivals
Lohri
Ludhiana, Punjab, India
People gather around bonfires to sing and dance, and offer sesame, jaggery and popcorn to the flames in thanks for the winter crop.
Usually: 13 January · Theme: Winter bonfire and harvest · Months: January
Festivals
Hola Mohalla
Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, India
A three-day Sikh gathering with processions, mock battles, martial arts and horse-riding displays.
Usually: March, the day after Holi · Theme: Sikh martial festival · Months: March
Folklore
Bhangra
Amritsar, Punjab, India
A high-energy dance with dhol drum rhythms that began as a harvest celebration in Punjab and now has a global following.
Kind: Folk dance and music
Rajasthan
Architecture
Hawa Mahal
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
A five-storey pink sandstone facade with hundreds of small windows that let breezes through and let royal women watch street life unseen.
Built: 1799 · Style: Rajput
Festivals
Pushkar Camel Fair
Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
Thousands of camels and horses are traded at this fair beside the sacred Pushkar lake, alongside folk performances and competitions.
Usually: November · Theme: Livestock fair and pilgrimage · Months: November
Festivals
Gangaur
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Women dress in bright clothes and carry clay idols of Gauri in processions through Jaipur and other cities of Rajasthan.
Usually: March–April · Theme: Festival of Gauri · Months: March, April
Festivals
Jaisalmer Desert Festival
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India
Folk musicians, puppeteers, turban-tying contests and camel races celebrate desert life near the golden fort.
Usually: February · Theme: Folk music and camel events · Months: February
Folklore
Ghoomar
Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
A graceful Rajasthani dance in which women in flowing skirts twirl in circles, traditionally performed at festivals and weddings.
Kind: Folk dance
Folklore
Kalbelia
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India
The Kalbelia community of Rajasthan performs a swaying dance in black skirts to the sounds of the pungi and dhol. It is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Kind: Folk dance and song
Crafts
Phad painting
Bhilwara, Rajasthan, India
Long painted cloth scrolls tell the stories of local heroes such as Pabuji. Bhopas, the singers who perform with them, tell the tale in front of the scroll.
State: Rajasthan
Tamil Nadu
People
Srinivasa Ramanujan
Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
Born in Erode, he found deep results in number theory and infinite series with almost no formal training, and later worked with G. H. Hardy at Cambridge.
Lived: 1887–1920 · Known for: Self-taught mathematician
People
A. R. Rahman
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
A composer who blended electronic sound with Indian classical and folk music. He won two Academy Awards for the score and a song from Slumdog Millionaire.
Born: 1967 · Known for: Film composer
People
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India
Born on Rameswaram island, he worked on India's satellite launch vehicles and missiles, then served as President from 2002 to 2007 and was widely admired by students.
Lived: 1931–2015 · Known for: Space scientist and 11th President
People
Kamal Haasan
Paramakudi, Tamil Nadu, India
He began as a child actor and has worked in several Indian languages, winning many national film awards for roles that often reshaped his appearance.
Born: 1954 · Known for: Actor, director and writer
People
Sridevi
Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, India
A child artist in Tamil and Telugu films who became one of the leading stars of Hindi cinema in the 1980s and 1990s.
Lived: 1963–2018 · Known for: Actress
People
Viswanathan Anand
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
India's first chess grandmaster and a five-time world champion, he helped inspire a generation of Indian players.
Born: 1969 · Known for: Chess grandmaster
Architecture
Meenakshi Temple
Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
The temple complex is crowned by towering gateway towers called gopurams, covered in thousands of brightly painted sculptures.
Built: Mostly 16th–17th century · Style: Dravidian
Architecture
Brihadisvara Temple
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
Built by Rajaraja Chola I, with a 66-metre tower topped by a single granite capstone. It is the finest example of Chola architecture.
Built: c. 1010 · Style: Chola Dravidian
Language
Tamil
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Tamil has a literary history of more than two thousand years and is one of India's classical languages.
Say hello: வணக்கம் (Vanakkam) · Script: Tamil
Festivals
Pongal
Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
A four-day Tamil harvest festival named after a dish of rice boiled in milk until it overflows, a symbol of abundance.
Usually: January · Theme: Harvest thanksgiving · Months: January
Telangana
People
P. V. Sindhu
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
The first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals, with silver in 2016 and bronze in 2020, and a world champion in 2019.
Born: 1995 · Known for: Badminton player
Architecture
Charminar
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
A square monument with four slender minarets, built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah and surrounded by one of the city's busiest bazaars.
Built: 1591 · Style: Indo-Islamic
Language
Telugu
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
A classical Dravidian language with a rounded script, spoken by tens of millions of people in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Say hello: నమస్కారం (Namaskaram) · Script: Telugu
Culture
Hyderabadi biryani
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
A dish of fragrant rice layered with marinated meat and sealed in a pot to cook in its own steam, a speciality of Hyderabad's old Nizam kitchens.
Tradition: Layered rice and meat, slow cooked
Festivals
Bathukamma
Warangal, Telangana, India
Women stack seasonal flowers into a colourful conical arrangement, sing around it, and then immerse it in water. It is the state festival of Telangana.
Usually: September–October · Theme: Floral festival of women · Months: September, October
Festivals
Bonalu
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Women carry decorated pots of food on their heads to temples as offerings to the goddess, accompanied by drummers and dancers.
Usually: July–August · Theme: Offering to the goddess Mahakali · Months: July, August
Crafts
Cheriyal scrolls
Cheriyal, Telangana, India
Vivid painted scrolls made by a community of storytellers in Telangana, with narrative panels like a comic strip.
State: Telangana
Uttar Pradesh
People
Rani Lakshmibai
Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India
The queen of Jhansi became a leading figure in the 1857 uprising against British East India Company rule and died in battle in 1858.
Lived: 1828–1858 · Known for: Queen of Jhansi
People
Amitabh Bachchan
Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, India
One of the most recognised faces of Hindi cinema, he became a star in the 1970s as the 'angry young man' and is still acting more than five decades later.
Born: 1942 · Known for: Hindi film actor
People
Dhyan Chand
Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, India
A forward whose stick skills earned him the nickname the Wizard. He won Olympic gold in 1928, 1932 and 1936, and India marks his birthday as National Sports Day.
Lived: 1905–1979 · Known for: Hockey legend
History
Sarnath
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Where the Buddha gave his first teaching. The Ashokan lion capital found here became the national emblem of India.
Period: Buddha's first sermon, c. 5th century BCE
Architecture
Taj Mahal
Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
A white marble mausoleum commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, famed for its symmetry, central dome and inlaid stonework.
Built: 1632 – c. 1653 · Style: Mughal
Architecture
Fatehpur Sikri
Agra district, Uttar Pradesh, India
Emperor Akbar built this planned capital in the 1570s and left it within about fifteen years. Its palaces and courtyards survive in red sandstone.
Built: 1570s · Style: Mughal, red sandstone
Language
Sanskrit
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
An ancient language of the Vedas, epics and classical grammar. Pāṇini's rules for it, written around the 4th century BCE, are a landmark of linguistics. Varanasi is a long-standing centre of its study.
Say hello: नमस्ते (Namaste) · Script: Devanagari (and many others)
Culture
The sari
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
A single length of cloth, often five to nine metres long, draped in many regional styles. Varanasi is known for its woven silk saris.
Tradition: Unstitched draped garment
Festivals
Diwali
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Homes are lit with oil lamps and decorated with rangoli. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and is observed by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists.
Usually: October–November · Theme: Festival of lights · Months: October, November
Festivals
Holi
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
People throw coloured powder and water at each other to mark the arrival of spring. The towns around Mathura and Vrindavan celebrate it with special intensity.
Usually: March · Theme: Festival of colours · Months: March
Festivals
Magh Mela and Kumbh Mela
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India
Pilgrims bathe at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna. The Kumbh Mela, held in rotation at four cities, is among the largest peaceful gatherings of people on Earth and is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Usually: Magh Mela every January–February; Kumbh every 12 years · Theme: Pilgrimage at the Sangam · Months: January, February
Festivals
Dev Deepawali
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Millions of clay lamps are lit along the ghats of the Ganga, with evening aarti ceremonies and boat rides.
Usually: November, full moon of Kartik · Theme: Festival of lights on the ghats · Months: November
Folklore
Ramlila and the Ramayana
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India
The Ramayana, an ancient Sanskrit epic, is retold each autumn in Ramlila folk theatre across northern India. Ayodhya is its traditional setting.
Kind: Epic and folk theatre
Uttarakhand
Culture
Yoga
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
Yoga began in ancient India as a set of spiritual and physical disciplines. Rishikesh, on the Ganges, is a world centre for study. International Yoga Day is on 21 June.
Tradition: Practice of posture, breath and meditation
West Bengal
People
Rabindranath Tagore
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
A Bengali poet, novelist and composer, he became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1913. He also wrote the words of the national anthems of India and Bangladesh.
Lived: 1861–1941 · Known for: Poet, writer, composer
People
Satyajit Ray
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
His debut Pather Panchali (1955) put Indian art cinema on the world stage. He received an honorary Academy Award in 1992, shortly before his death.
Lived: 1921–1992 · Known for: Film director
People
Swami Vivekananda
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
A disciple of Ramakrishna, he became well known after a speech at the 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago and helped spread Vedanta internationally.
Lived: 1863–1902 · Known for: Monk and philosopher
Culture
Chai culture
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Roadside tea stalls are social hubs across India. In Kolkata, tea is often served in small disposable clay cups that return to the earth after use.
Tradition: Tea served in clay cups (bhar)
Culture
Puchka and Kolkata street food
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Puchka (also called golgappa or panipuri) are crisp shells filled with spiced water and potato. Kolkata's street carts also offer rolls, jhalmuri and more.
Tradition: Snacks from street carts
Festivals
Durga Puja
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Neighbourhoods build elaborate temporary pavilions called pandals and display clay idols for several days. UNESCO has listed it as intangible cultural heritage.
Usually: September–October · Theme: Honouring the goddess Durga · Months: September, October
Folklore
Baul songs
Shantiniketan, West Bengal, India
The Bauls of Bengal are wandering minstrels whose songs speak of love, freedom and the divine within. Their tradition is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Kind: Wandering mystic singers
Folklore
Chhau
Purulia, West Bengal, India
A dance tradition of eastern India that mixes martial moves and storytelling. In Purulia, dancers wear large painted masks. It is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Kind: Mask dance
Crafts
Kalighat paintings
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Bold-lined paintings created by artists around the Kalighat temple in the 19th century, with humour about city life.
State: West Bengal