10 cities in India where you should travel with an empty stomach

If your travel itinerary includes sights, selfies, and spiritual awakening — great. But, if you're a true foodie, you're definitely missing out by not visiting these places yet.India isn’t just a country—it’s a vibrant culinary journey, with each region offering its own unique and diverse spread of flavors.So here’s a delicious little secret: there are some cities in India you shouldn’t dare enter with a full stomach.Come hungry, leave slightly ashamed. Between buttery kulchas, ghee-laced dal at the Golden Temple, and lassi so thick it needs its own zip code, Amritsar will make your jeans question their life choices.Planning on a light snack in Kolkata? That’s cute. Because you’re about to dive into kosha mangsho, shorshe ilish, and enough mishti doi to bathe in. Bonus: the puchka here will ruin golgappa for you forever. They say power corrupts, but biryani from Hyderabad is pure. Whether it’s from a 5-star hotel or a secret roadside joint, that layered meat-rice miracle is worth fasting for 24 hours in advance.Read more: 6 waterfalls in India perfect for a refreshing dipCome for the history, stay for the indigestion. From Chandni Chowk’s parathas to spicy golgappas to the mysterious, addictive “Ram Ladoo,” Delhi is a full-body workout — for your taste buds. Start with poha-jalebi for breakfast, snack on khopra patties, and end your day at Sarafa Bazaar — a jewelry market that transforms into a food market after dark. Yes, that’s a thing. You’re welcome.Galouti kebabs are so soft that you might feel cheated for eating more than you are supposed to. Roomali rotis that double as blankets, and biryani tastes like heaven!Dhokla, khakhra, fafda, khandvi — they sound like tongue twisters but taste like cloud hugs. This city is one big vegetarian carnival with a serious snack addiction.Vada pav. Misal pav. Kheema pav. Pav with pav. Mumbai’s bread game is unmatched. And then there’s pav bhaji, a dish that started as street food and became a national obsession.Idli, dosa, pongal, vadai — and that’s just your starter pack. With coconut chutney in three shades and sambar that could win awards, Chennai turns mornings into Michelin events.Read more: 6 Indian villages that are cooler than most citiesKer sangri, laal maas, ghevar — a single meal here will take you through every flavor profile and back. Warning: the kachoris here may make you abandon your return flight.Don’t plan meals — plan fasts. Bring stretchy pants. And for the love of digestion, travel with an empty stomach. Because in these cities, food isn't a pit stop — it’s the whole journey.