Not to be confused with the West Indies, also known as the Caribbean.
Western India comprises three large states, one small state and two minuscule union territories. It is bounded by Pakistan and the Arabian Sea to its west and the Gangetic Plains to its east. This is the most heterogeneous of India's regions, with the states differing dramatically from one another in language, culture and levels of economic development. Maharashtra and Gujarat are among the most industrialized states of India, while Rajasthan and Goa are magnets for tourists, though for different reasons.
Western India comprises the following states and union territories.
Here are nine of the most notable cities.
- Ahmedabad. — the commercial and business capital of Gujarat and one of the fastest developing cities in Asia
- Aurangabad. — a few miles from the famous Ajanta and Ellora caves, a sacred site for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists
- Jaipur. — the Pink City, famous for Rajput architecture
- Jodhpur. — the Sun City, also known as the Blue City
- Mumbai. — the financial capital, a major port city of India, and the home of Bollywood
- Nagpur. — the geographical center of India
- Panaji. — capital of Goa state, with laidback lifestyle and lots of Portuguese heritage
- Pune. — Maharashtra's cultural capital, a historic city and home to many educational institutions
- Pushkar. — home to the country's only Brahma temple; the camel festival in November is an added bonus
Ahmedabad. — the commercial and business capital of Gujarat and one of the fastest developing cities in Asia
Aurangabad. — a few miles from the famous [[Ajanta]] and [[Ellora]] caves, a sacred site for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists
Jaipur. — the Pink City, famous for Rajput architecture
Jodhpur. — the Sun City, also known as the Blue City
Mumbai. — the financial capital, a major port city of India, and the home of Bollywood
Nagpur. — the geographical center of India
Panaji. — capital of Goa state, with laidback lifestyle and lots of Portuguese heritage
Pune. — Maharashtra's cultural capital, a historic city and home to many educational institutions
Pushkar. — home to the country's only Brahma temple; the camel festival in November is an added bonus
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli. — a small territory wedged between the larger states of Maharashtra and Gujarat
- Diu. — a beautiful island south of Shaurastra Gujarat
- Kumbhalgarh. — a gigantic red fort amongst the rugged Arravali Hills, with a wildlife sanctuary nearby
- Kutch. — largest district of India, Harrapan city of Dholavira, a wild ass sanctuary also host of Kutch Mahotsav
- Matheran. — between Mumbai and Pune, this is Asia's only pedestrian resort
- Mount Abu. — Rajasthan's only hill station and home to a group of five Jain temples
- Shekhavati. — comprising Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts, has towns with well-preserved havelis, forts and temples
Dadra and Nagar Haveli. — a small territory wedged between the larger states of Maharashtra and Gujarat
Diu. — a beautiful island south of Shaurastra Gujarat
Kumbhalgarh. — a gigantic red fort amongst the rugged Arravali Hills, with a wildlife sanctuary nearby
Kutch. — largest district of India, Harrapan city of Dholavira, a wild ass sanctuary also host of Kutch Mahotsav
Matheran. — between [[Mumbai]] and [[Pune]], this is Asia's only pedestrian resort
Mount Abu. — [[Rajasthan]]'s only hill station and home to a group of five Jain temples
Shekhavati. — comprising Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts, has towns with well-preserved havelis, forts and temples
This region has some of the country's most popular destinations. In Rajasthan, the desert forts of Jaisalmer and the magnificent sand-dunes evoke all the romance and splendour of its princely past. Gujarat's Jain temples and intricately designed stepwells are architectural marvels, while its natural beauty can be enjoyed on the beaches of Diu.
The landscape in the West varies from the sand-dunes of Rajasthan to the vast salts of the Kutch, to the urban bustle of Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat, etc.
As in the rest of India, most of the people in the tourist industry speak basic English at the very least. Hindi is widely spoken and understood except in remote rural areas.
Rajasthanis speak regional Rajasthani (and its dialects like Marwari, Mewari, Shekhawati, and Hadoti) as well as Hindi, which is also widely used for media and education. Maharashtrians speak Marathi, Goans Konkani while people from Gujarat and the union territories speak Gujarati.
There is plenty to see in the West, which makes it a particularly touristy area.
The spectacular forts of Rajasthan were built as unforgiving defensive citadels, but by the mid-16th century luxurious palaces, pleasure pavilions and gardens were added, displaying Mughal-inspired features. In the early 20th century there was another spate of palace building in Rajasthan and Gujarat. As a result of increasing contact with the British Raj, a marked European influence in both architecture and décor is clearly visible in these palaces.
Hill forts such as the ones in Chittorgarh and Jodhpur are the most impregnable examples of Rajasthani forts. The forts at Jaisalmer, on the other hand, lie amidst the sand-dunes of the Thar Desert. Bharatpur's Lohagarh fort used thick mud walls for protection. The Neemrana fort Palace, now a hotel is another architectural wonder with brilliantly designed balconies and lush green patches.
Lalgarh Palace in Bikaner was built in 1902 and is a wonderful example of Indo-European architecture. The unique blend of both styles in reflected in the banquet halls and old-fashioned billiard rooms. The Wankaner Palace is crowned with Italianate pillars and Gothic arches. The cities of Jaipur and Udaipur have the best palaces.
Western region of India has variety of geography ranging from deserts of Rajasthan and Kutch-Gujarat to long coast of Gujarat, Maharastra and Goa. There are some of the oldest forest of western ghats and grass lands in Saurashtra-Gujarat and part of Maharastra.
Sariska National Park and Ranthambore National Park are both home to tigers. However, the chances of spotting them are low (especially at Sariska since there are barely a handful left), unless you decide to spend a week or more at these places. The Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary on the outskirts of Bharatpur is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to over 275 species of migrant birds. Don't expect miles and miles of forest green in these sanctuaries, most of the landscape is dry and slightly rocky scrubland.
Gir Forest National Park in Gujarat is only place where you can find Asiatic Lions and their population is on the rise. Some other attractions for wildlife enthusiasts are Blackbuck National Park, Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Wild Ass National Park in Kutch, Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. There are many wildlife sanctuaries where approved campsites are available. Facilities at these campsites can vary widely and lesser known sanctuaries have very basic camping facilities.
Mumbai, Jaipur and Pune house a number of good museums. See the city pages for more information. The Prince of Wales Museum and the National War Museum perhaps the most well-known.
You will find some great cuisine groups in the region. Gujarati cuisine is mostly vegetarian, sweet, and makes heavy use of milk products. Gujaratis make some of the best snack items such as the Dhokla and the Muthia. Rajasthani cuisine is similar to Gujarati, but somewhat spicier. Maharashtra and Goa are famous for their seafood.
If you order a thali (lit: "platter"), you will get a complete meal arranged on your plate, with a roti or chappati, rice and many different varieties of curries and curd. Ordering a thali is a popular option when you are hungry and in a hurry as it will usually be served blazingly fast. Most mid-level restaurants will have a thali on the menu, at least during lunch hours. Occasionally, they will be "unlimited", which means that some of the items are all-you-can-eat. The waiters will actually serve them at your table. Try the Gujarati thali, with its unlimited range of vegetarian dishes, or the spicier Rajasthani thali. The Rajdhani chain of retsurants serve the best thalis for a mere ₹124. They have numerous locations throughout Mumbai, Vadodara and Pune.
This is a region with drastically different approaches to alcohol! Gujarat is a dry state, which means that you cannot legally purchase alcohol without a special permit. Daman, an enclave within Gujarat, has taken full advantage of Gujarat's prohibition by setting extremely low taxes on alcohol and as a result is a popular destination for Gujarati alcohol tourism. Goa has an extremely liberal attitude to drinking and feni, a wine made of cashew is a popular drink there. Maharashtra is fast becoming a wine-producing region and the Sula wines are beginning to make a mark internationally.
Bhang, a form of cannabis is available at government-recognized shops and is socially accepted in Rajasthan.
Cafe Coffee Day and Barista have coffee stores in Mumbai, Pune, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Nashik, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur and Surat. Fresh juice is available off the sidewalk for nominal prices, usually ₹15-₹20 a glass.
This region has tea-loving culture. Any time is good for offering tea. Tea here comes with milk (cream) and sugar unless you specify otherwise.
Unlike the plains, the West has a low crime-rate. Pickpockets are known to operate in Pune and Mumbai. Keep your money, passport and credit card safely in your wallet. The National Toll-free Police Helpline is 100.
Rajasthan has plenty of persistent touts. Just ignore them and walk on. Hotel scams are not uncommon and booking a room in advance is highly recommended.