The vegetarian guide to India

India is known for its vegetarian food but where should travellers go to get the best of the best lassi, dhokla, biryani, dosa, and dahi vada? To help you narrow it down, here are the seven best destinations for vegetarian food in India, according to global travellers.

Breakfast in Rajkot

Ganthiya are soft, deep-fried savoury snacks often eaten in the evening but in Rajkot this chickpea-based treat is a breakfast staple. Have it with a salad of grated beetroot, mangoes, and spices, or opt for a serving of coconut dhokla. Stay at The Fern Residency Rajkot and make the most of their in-house bakery.

Lassi in Vrindāvan

Based in Uttar Pradesh, the city of Vrindāvan is known for its lassi – a fragrant yogurt drink, often served after a meal – and jal jeera (cumin water), a sweet and sour tamarind drink. Both the sweet and salty and many other varieties of lassi are served at MVT Guesthouse & Restaurant.

Thali in Vadodara

Vadodara sits on the banks of the river Vishwamitri and the restaurants and street vendors here are known for the quality and diversity of their Gujarati Thali. A full meal of curry, lentil soup, yogurt-based gravy, pickles, salads, chutneys, rice, and unlimited roti bread. Sasumaa Gujarati Thali is the best-known restaurant in Vadodara and Eastin Residences Vadodara is within easy distance for sleeping it off.

Rice in Coimbatore

Coimbatore is a city in the south of India that excels at all things rice-based and meals are often served on banana leaves, giving them a unique flavour. Arisi Paruppu Sadam is the local speciality, a mix of dal and rice, served with hot ghee. When you’ve eaten your fill head to Poppys Hotel Coimbatore to relax in the pool or admire the city skyline.

Snacks in Indore

The Sarafa night food market in Indore is a must-see for foodies and especially vegetarians. Savoury-sweet treats like jalebi, crispy garadus, and gulab, India’s notoriously moreish milk-snacks, abound here and guarantee that you’ll be coming back for seconds. Check into the FabHotel Amrit Residency, next to the Chappan Dukaan food stores at the heart of Indore’s foodie quarter.

Dosa in Guruvayoor

The temple town of Guruvayoor is a Hindu pilgrimage site and, therefore, completely vegetarian; giving meat-free travellers plenty of other options when it comes to the town’s well-known ghee-roasted dosas. These delicious pancakes are enough to send even the most jaded palate into raptures and the Devaragam restaurant has both south and north indian variations.

Ice cream in Ahmedabad

Gujaratis are known for their love of sweets and the state’s largest city has an abundance of sweet stalls, ice cream stalls, and lassi flavours (try the almond). The refreshing, multi-flavour ice Kulfis are a local favourite and are available around the city from street vendors and in restaurants. Travellers looking for a good base to explore Ahmedabad’s food scene will find that Regenta Central Antarim in the city’s northwest is an excellent option.