India Travel in September 2025: Golden Cities, Rice Culture, Tipping Tips, and Hill Stations

When you think of India travel, the diverse ways people explore India’s landscapes, cultures, and daily life. Also known as travel in India, it’s not just about seeing monuments—it’s about understanding how people live, eat, and interact on the ground. September 2025 brought a quiet shift in how travelers experienced the country. After the monsoon rains eased, the desert towns glowed, hill stations cleared their mist, and local habits—from what’s on the plate to what’s in the tip jar—became clearer than ever.

Jaisalmer, a desert city in Rajasthan known for its yellow sandstone forts and camel safaris. Also known as the Golden City of India, it shone brighter this season as tourists returned to its winding alleys and rooftop views. At the same time, rice, the staple food eaten by over 60% of Indians daily, especially in the south and east. Also known as Indian staple grain, it wasn’t just a side dish—it was the silent backbone of meals from Kerala to Bengal. Meanwhile, tipping in India, the unspoken social practice of giving extra money for service. Also known as gratuities in Indian tourism, saw updated norms as more travelers asked: "Is it expected? How much? What if I don’t want to?" And for those escaping the heat, hill stations, mountain towns like Darjeeling, Munnar, and Gulmarg that offer cool air and scenic views. Also known as Indian mountain retreats, became top picks for short getaways as temperatures rose in the plains.

These four topics—Jaisalmer, rice, tipping, and hill stations—are not random. They’re the real threads of what India travel feels like in 2025. One person hikes through misty tea gardens in Munnar, another haggles for a camel ride in Jaisalmer, a third wonders if leaving two rupees for a waiter is enough, and a fourth eats rice with their hands for the fifth time this week. Each experience is different, but they all connect to the same country: one that changes with the season, the plate, and the pocket.

What you’ll find below isn’t just a list of articles. It’s a snapshot of real decisions travelers made this month: where to go, what to eat, how to behave, and where to rest. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what worked, what surprised people, and what you should know before you go.