During the time of Diwali, India becomes a sparkling canvas where palaces and forts glow like golden jewels, rivers shimmers under the starlit skies reflecting the golden hues of diyas on ghats and colourful lights and rangoli decorations all around.
The moment you step in the markets during Diwali you will be surrounded by sparkling decorative items, colourful rangoli, elegant lights and everyone buying gifts and new clothes full of zeal and excitement completely immersed in culture and tradition. During this festival Indian love to wear traditional attires and the market offers stunning colourful options and decorative home decor creating vibrant vibe.
I was born in Delhi but my ancestral house was in Rajasthan and I love the city so much I still remember during my childhood we use to pack our bags with all shimmery clothes, to celebrate diwali with our cousins and grandparents, feeling to meet them during festival was so special didn’t realised that time, but now those are my most beautiful memories where the whole family celebrated the festival all together as compared to now a days where we try to be elegant and classy but the real fun was in local traditional ways.
I can tell you Rajasthan during the time of Diwali is exceptionally magnificent, I think people there perform rituals and age old traditions a little more, as compared to any big metropolitan cities.
It is not about the grandeur, it is about the memories with your family, cleaning and decorating houses together, buying new clothes, lighting diya in the evening, the smell of sweets cooked in the kitchen, celebrating festival with love and laughter with your loved ones. The feeling itself takes me back to the roots of gratitude, togetherness and faith.
Every street will be decorated with colourful lights and diyas complemented with shimmers and sparkling colourful lights, soulful sound of bells and prayer from the temples fill your heart with serenity.
I still remember ladies in Rajasthan used to wear the most shimmering colourful lehengas (traditional Rajasthani attire) performing traditional rituals and ceremonies, making sweets at home and I loved the ways they celebrated there as compared to modern cities where the festival is celebrated in more elegant ways throwing lavish diwali parties with friends and families.
If you like modern and elegant celebrations choose big metropolitan cities, but if you are like me who love to explore age old traditions jeweled in earthy elegance then choose from the list of Most Beautiful Cities to Visit This Diwali in India 2025.
Why Diwali is Celebrated ?
It is the festival of victory of good over evil. When Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile after victory over demon ravana during that time people lit diya and oil lamps to celebrate the victory, the tradition still continues.
Diwali is a reflection of life by brightening and lightening your darkness with the glow of diya and lanterns fading the dark and hard times by celebrating life with sparkling light. Sharing love and laughter with your loved ones enjoying delectable sweets together to start a new beginning with hope and lights in home and hearts.
It’s also the festival when the goddess of abundance and prosperity, Goddess Laxmi is worshipped and believed to be the best time to start a new beginning filled with abundance and prosperity. It’s the time of family bonding, togetherness, cleaning and decorating houses, exchanging gifts and enjoying homemade Indian traditional sweets and snacks together.
During this time every home opens with warmth, togetherness and happiness, lakes and rivers shimmer with soft glow of diyas, every street shines magnificently and looks gorgeous . It’s not just the festival, it’s the feeling that connects millions with love, laughter, hope, faith and happiness where every smallest village and street will tell you a unique story with rangoli colours and shimmering diya lining at their doorstep.
The celebration of different cities offers unique shades of festival according to their architectural splendour and geographical location.
When will Diwali and Dev Diwali be celebrated in India?
Diwali will be celebrated on October 20 2025 and Dev Diwali will be celebrated on 5 November 2025 in Varanasi.
Most Beautiful Cities to Visit This Diwali in India 2025
Jaipur : Golden Glow of Royalty
Why Visit Jaipur This Diwali
Especially during Diwali, the pink city shimmers in the hues of gold and vibrant colours becomes a luminous canvas of light, culture and devotion. Royal palaces and heritage sites are wrapped around sparkling diya in elegance, complementing with colourful decorations of ancient temples, vibrant markets and streets is treat to watch for travellers coming here.
Majestic lighting, traditional music, cultural richness and tradition celebrated with traditional Rajasthan cuisine is not just the festival celebration but the rich cultural experience.
Shopkeepers pour all their heart and almost become artists while decorating markets and shops, turning every corner illuminating corridors for celebration decorated with LED lights making the pink city spectacular. Every area tries their level best to enhance the decoration of the city.
Every street, residence, and colony decorate the locality with theme, music, lighting, scripture and rangoli completely soaked in festive vibes. Royal palaces adorned with elegant lighting looks magnificent from afar.
Places to visit
You should must explore streets of MI road, bapu bazzar, Johari bazaar, chaura rasta decorated in yellow gold lighting.
Hawa Mahal, Amber fort, Nahargarh Fort and City Palace are must watch perfect for photographers to capture the royal grandeur radiating in golden glow.
Check my guide of Unique Traditional Experiences in Jaipur.
Events
Attend Light and sound show at Amber Fort. Check the timing and details before coming.
Attend Chowkhi Dhani Village lighting cultural event and evening shows with village theme resorts portraying perfectly the authentic traditional Rajasthan.
Experiences
- Visit Nahargarh Fort nestled on Aravalli hill for a majestic view of the pink city turning into sparkling gold that looks magnificent from the top.
- Enjoying folk music and ghoomar dance in Chowki dhani village.
- Shopping handicrafts, diwali decor and murals, traditional Rajasthani jewellery, colorful Rajasthani traditional dresses of India like lehenga choli, bandhej dupatta looks gorgeous on women.
- Jaipur blue pottery made with colours of blue and gold is world famous for elegant dinnerware, also you can shop unique jewellery boxes, lamps and chandeliers, puppets and paintings crafted with traditional techniques by local craftsmen is unique shopping experiences in Rajasthan.
- Enjoy Rajasthan Cuisine and sweets like ghewar, ladoo, barfi, namkeen, kachori.
Places to stay
I love Chokhi Dhani for cultural experience with luxurious stay options, Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur Hotel is luxurious royal stay with world class hospitality best to experience royal Rajasthan. Do check my royal stay guide for complete information about Royal Stay in Jaipur.
Ayodhya : Divine City of Light
Why visit Ayodhya this Diwali
Ayodhya holds special significance during the time of Diwali, witnessing the majestic beauty created by illuminating a plenty of diyas glowing together on the bank of Saryu river looks magnificent. In 2024 Ayodhya set the two Guinness World Records for illuminating over 25 lakhs diya and performing rituals on the bank of saryu river and the other record was large number of volunteers and saints carrying the rotation of diya in a coordinated manner gained recognition.
During the time of Diwali Ayodhya the birth place of Lord Rama is the perfect place to experience devotion, art and culture where Lord Rama returned after the victory over Ravana.
Places to visit
Ram Janam Bhoomi mandir for flower decoration, lighting and special puja.
Ram ki paidi where huge number diya are lit together and was the place recognised for setting guiness world record.
Guptar ghat is quieter ghats where diya, aarti and soulful devotional chants are offered.
Hanuman Garhi nestled on top of the hill is a historic site beautifully decorated with diyas complemented with soulful bells and chanting among the Hanuman bhakts.
Events
Witness the drone, laser and fire work show done with eco friendly fireworks.
Lighting diya ceremony.
Special arti and puja in Ram Janam Bhoomi Temple.
Experiences
- Attend maha arti on the bank of saryu river with bhajan and cultural performances.
- Soulful spiritual experience by visiting temples beautifully decorated with flowers and lights.
Tip
Book vip darshan for hassle free experience. My mother was not able to walk in the crowd so we waited a bit for the wheel chair but the moment we got the chair one assistant was there with us who took my mother for darshan, away from the queue with me and was completely comfortable for the people who face problems walking in the crowd.
Places to stay
The Ramayana, Royal Heritage Hotel And Resort Ayodhya
Varanasi : Soulful Glow on Ganges
Why Visit Varanasi this Diwali
Varanasi is known for celebrating Dev Diwali which is celebrated after 15 days of main Diwali celebration. During this time countless diya sparkles on the steps leading to river Ganga celebrate the devotion and joy by worshipping lord Shiva.
The streets and houses shimmer with the glow of lamps and diya and ghats are decorated with intricate designs of colourful rangoli. The celebration is followed by rituals leaving glowing diya in the river Ganga which offers mesmerizing views of shimmering golden hues on the river reflecting like a glittering molten gold.
Place to visit
Panchganga Ghat is an ancient ghat where aarti are performed with rhythmic chants, rituals and lightening lamps will be a divine experiences.
For spiritual experience visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sankat Mochan Temple Hanuman Temple.
Must visit the best ghats of Banaras Dashashwamedh Ghat, Assi Ghat and Rajendra Prasad Ghat for blissful aarti, cultural performances and rich cultural experience.
Visit Rajghat and sant ravidas ghat for less crowd offering magnificent view.
Events
Chet Singh Fort for laser light and sound show
Experiences
- Boat ride and cruise experience is the must have experience. It was one of my best experiences in Varanasi where you can witness the evening arti of ghats from the cruise or boat away from the crowd.
- Fireworks display on the ghats of river Ganga offering mesmerizing experience.
- Cultural performances of classical music and dance are a treat for both eyes and ears during this festival.
- Attending the projection show at Kashi Vishwanath corridor depicting the timeless stories of devotion and tradition is a must have experience during this time.
- Enjoy banarasi chaat, malaiyo creamy local delicacies of Banaras. I tried malaiyo and loved the flavours, having chai on the ghats of Banaras after soulful arti was one of my best experiences when I visited Banaras.
- You can explore the markets for shopping most loved banarasi silk sarees, gulabi minakari which is ancient art form of Varanasi, wooden toys and unique handicrafts and textiles crafted by local artisans.
Place to stay
Amritara Suryauday Haveli Varanasi, Double Tree by Hilton Varanasi
Udaipur : city of Shimmering Royalty
Why Visit Udaipur this Diwali
Udaipur is known for its majestic beauty adorned with a shimmering lake surrounded by Aravalli hills is one of the most stunning places to visit in India where luxury meets serenity and the city glows with thousands of diya during Diwali making the lake of gold and amber.
During Diwali you will witness cultural performances of folk music and dances organised on ghat creating a vibrant vibe during the time of festival. Every corner sparkles with lights and diya reflecting on lakes looks gorgeous.
Places to visit
City palace and Jag Mandir
Bada bazaar, Hathi Pol Bazaar
Lake Pichola, Fatehsagar lake
Check my guide of Best Places to visit in Udaipur for further details.
Events
Lanterns festival
Experiences
- A boat ride at Lake Pichola is a magical experience.
- Enjoy traditional Rajasthani flavours of dal batti churma, ghewar from local sweet shop is must have experiences in Udaipur.
- Attend cultural event of traditional folk music, dance performances and puppet show.
- You can shop colourful traditional attires and explore markets filled with unique handicrafts, pichwai painting which is traditional art, miniature paintings, traditional jewellery and footwears.
Places to stay
I loved the stay at Ram Pratap Palace by Fateh Collection, and do check our guide of best luxury palace stay in Udaipur.
Tips for Foreign Traveller
- Avoid people who demand unnecessary donations on streets.
- Always trust your instincts to leave places if you feel uncomfortable.
- During the festival markets are over crowded, beware of pick pocketing, try not to carry many things with you and carry specialised anti theft bags for your phones and cameras.
- Always attend the events organised by reputed resorts and hotels to avoid random crowds as many people avoid paid events during festivals.
- Book the stay in advance and be prepared for some crowd in market and streets.
- Trust the verified websites for booking hotels, cabs and tours guides check the reviews in advance.
- People in India are emotional for their local traditions and customs. Respect the sentiments of locals and participate in the celebration.
- You should carry a mask and sanitizer while walking in crowded places and during fireworks.
- Wear comfortable clothes and avoid extra casual clothes during your temple visit.
- During the time of festival vip moment is common in temples and heritage site so it’s better to book your darshan ticket in advance from trusted official website.
- Check the traffic on Google map while travelling to main areas where rituals and ceremonies are performed. If possible try to explore the places by foot to avoid traffic jaam.
- While visiting temples some rikshaw or auto drivers will try to stop in front of shop and request you to buy prasad from that particular shop as they have some tie up with the shopkeeper, you can deny them with a smile avoiding any drama and can shop anything you wish from your favourite shop offering similar items all around temples and heritage site.
- There are so many shops where genuine people are offering unique items not forcing you to buy choose to shop with them if you want.
Conclusion
The light of Diwali you will carry in your heart, in your smile and in your stories forever and it will help you see the world with hope like a small diya or lantern brightens the darkness denoting hope and faith in our life.
The prayers you whispered, the warmth of people you met, the majestic view of shimmering streets and lakes under the starlit sky, the ritual and ceremonies you attended and the moment that lit your heart brighter than lantern welcoming positively and prosperity.
It is the time that teaches us that the gentle radiance of diya is enough to chase away darkness similarly a day of hope is enough to handle any tough time and enjoy life despite facing so many difficulties.
I hope this festival helps you find your light with in through this soulful journey in India please do share your comments with us if our list of Most Beautiful Cities to Visit This Diwali in India 2025 helped you in some ways until then Happy Diwali 🪔 to everyone, may your life be filled with loads of love, laughter, happiness and good health.
