Cities to visit in India if you are a Vegetarian

India is a great place for vegetarian-enthu travellers to explore with its rich and diverse culinary heritage. While vacationing in a new city/or village is about discovering new places, the culture, and activities, it also offers a peek into the local flavours. Travel enthusiasts seek to not just satisfy their taste buds but also experience the cultural significance of the cuisine across every region they visit. Every city has its unique take on vegetarian cuisine, backed by cultural and historical influences. Cities, where one can enjoy the local delicacies without compromising their personal dietary choices, have become one of the requirements on several people’s holiday checklists.

Palitana, Gujarat

Palitana, located in Gujarat, is a city that holds great spiritual significance for Jains. The city is renowned for its myriad of over 900 Jain temples with intricate carvings that are cared for by Jain monks on the Shatrunjaya Hill. It is also recognised as the world’s first completely vegetarian city with a ban on the sale and consumption of non-vegetarian items, including eggs and chicken.

The slaughter of animals is looked down upon and the practice is completely banned. The people of Palitana practice compassion and advocate for non-violence towards all living beings, big or small. The cuisine of this land is simple and nourishing sans the use of certain items like garlic and onion in alignment with the Jain dietary principles. Traditional Gujarati dishes such as kichdi, thepla, dhokla, and undhiyu, to name a few, are easily available. For people who follow or are eager to explore a plant-based diet, Palitana, having completely embraced vegetarianism, is the ideal city to explore for some of the best veg thalis.

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Rishikesh is famously known as the ‘City of Sages’ or the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’. Located along the banks of the river Ganga, this city is the top destination for spiritual seekers as well as vegetarian enthusiasts. The city attracts visitors from across the globe for its meditation and yoga center.

Possessing a spiritual atmosphere, even the food found at this place focuses on pure (sattvic) vegetarian food that is simple and nourishing to the body and mind. The city is peppered with ashrams, restaurants, and cafes that cater to visitors from all over the world with a range of North Indian delicacies and global cuisines. Some of the notable places to visit when in Rishikesh are Ananda, Devraj Coffee Corner, Chotiwala Restaurants, Cafe Nirvana, Ramana’s Garden, German Bakery, and Govindji’s Prasadam.

Delhi

Delhi, the capital of India, is a melting pot of cultures with a diverse cuisine reflecting it. With Delhi being the capital of India, one can find local delicacies from every state. While Delhi offers a broad range of cuisines that cater to a mix of people, paneer tikka, chole bhature, and rajma chawal are some of the popular vegetarian dishes in demand. Significantly influencing the cuisine of Delhi is the huge Jain community that focuses on vegetarian food devoid of root vegetables like garlic and onions. Delhi also boasts a vibrant street food culture where a vegetarian traveller can find some different vegetarian foods to try like Dahi Bhalla, chaat, gol gappas, grilled or tandoori soya chaap, and more. Chandni Chowk is a must-visit for any vegetarian traveller.

Panjim, Goa

Goa being a popular tourist destination is gradually coming up with restaurants to become more inclusive and cater to the growing demand of travellers. There are several restaurants whose forte is Continental cuisine, Oriental cuisine, North Indian cuisine, South Indian cuisine, and so on with a host of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.

Travellers following a strict vegetarian diet yet looking to explore the local cuisine can try out some of the authentic Goan vegetarian dishes like Tambi Bhaji made using red amaranth leaves, Alsande Tonak which is a coconut-based curry made from black-eyed peas, Khatkhat which is a traditional Goan mixed vegetable stew, and so on. If you’re looking for the best vegetarian restaurants in Goa, consider visiting areas like Vagator, Anjuna, Ashwem or even the capital city of Panjim where you can find some top North Indian food as well as famous sweet shops.

This culinary diversity enhances the Goan holiday experience, enabling travellers to immerse themselves in the state's rich culture while savouring meals that suit their preferences, including pure vegetarian fare.

For travellers looking to discover India’s rich culinary landscape while staying true to their vegetarian lifestyle, these cities offer an immersive experience through their blend of food, culture, and tradition.