US States: What Travelers from the US Need to Know About India

When Americans think of India, they often imagine it as one place—but it’s more like India, a country with 28 states and 8 union territories, each with its own language, food, and traditions. Also known as the Indian subcontinent, it’s not a single destination but a collection of wildly different regions, much like how California, a state known for beaches, tech hubs, and diverse populations differs from Texas, a state with its own history, cuisine, and pace of life.

If you’re from Florida, you might expect India’s beaches to feel like Miami—but Goa’s crowds and spice levels will surprise you. If you’re from Ohio, you might assume Indian cities are like midwestern towns—until you stand in the middle of Delhi’s traffic or hear 12 languages spoken in one market. The truth? India doesn’t fit American expectations. It doesn’t need to. What matters is what you’re looking for: ancient temples in Uttar Pradesh, a state with more UNESCO sites than any other in India, or quiet beaches in Kerala, a southern state where coconut trees line roads and backwater boats glide silently. Americans often ask, "Can I eat safely?" The answer is yes—if you stick to hot, freshly cooked food from busy stalls, avoid raw salads, and drink bottled water. It’s not about fear—it’s about smart choices, just like you’d do in any new country.

Many US travelers come to India for culture, not just sightseeing. They want to understand why a temple in Tamil Nadu looks nothing like one in Punjab. Why rice is the main dish in the south but roti rules the north. Why a festival in Varanasi draws millions, while a quiet village in Odisha holds traditions unchanged for centuries. These aren’t just differences—they’re stories. And they’re all here, in the posts below. Whether you’re planning your first trip or you’ve already been to Mumbai and want to go deeper, you’ll find real advice from people who’ve walked the same streets. No fluff. No generic lists. Just what works, what doesn’t, and what you’ll actually remember when you get home.