Vegan travel in India

Travel snack kit

Keeping a small snack pouch with you makes travelling much easier.

Roasted chana
Mixed nuts
Dates
Trail mix
Protein bars
Peanut butter sachets
Fresh fruit
Khakhras
Dry fruit
Instant oats cups

By region

South India

Almost no work to do. Eat:

Idli, dosa (no ghee), upma, pongal (ask coconut version, no ghee), uttapam.
Sambar, rasam, lemon rice, tomato rice, tamarind rice.
All chutneys (coconut, tomato, peanut - most are vegan).
Chana sundal, kosumalli.

Skip: curd rice, ghee rice.

Mumbai, Maharashtra

Vada pav (almost always vegan)
Misal pav (ask without butter)
Poha
Pav bhaji (ask no butter - works)
Sabudana khichdi (often has ghee - ask)
Most street chaat (skip dahi puri)

Delhi, North India

Harder, but workable. Ask 'no ghee, no butter, no paneer' everywhere.

Chole bhature (ask no curd on side)
Aloo paratha (no butter, with achaar)
Rajma chawal
Chana masala, mixed veg
Chaat (skip dahi versions)

Gujarat, Rajasthan

Mostly vegetarian and very veg-friendly, but watch for ghee everywhere.

Khichdi (ask no ghee)
Dhokla (most vegan), khandvi (has curd, skip), patra (vegan)
Bajra roti, daal baati (ask no ghee)
Gatte ki sabzi (made with curd, skip or ask for tomato gravy)

Goa

Poi with bhaji
Vegetable xacuti (request no dairy)
Mushroom xacuti
Chana ros
Vegetable vindaloo (request no butter or ghee if applicable)
Vegetable cafreal (where available)
Dal fry with rice
Veg thali (request no curd, butter or ghee)
Idli, dosa and uttapam
Hummus platters
Smoothie bowls
Fresh fruit
Tender coconut water

Northeast

Harder - most cuisine is meat-forward and many vegetarian dishes use eggs or fermented dairy. Stick to dal, rice, vegetables, fruit.

Kerala

Sadhya (banana leaf feast) - most items are vegan (ask).
Avial, sambar, rasam, parippu curry, kalan (ask - usually has yoghurt).
Puttu + kadala, idiyappam + veg stew (coconut milk version).

Trains

Carry a few shelf-stable snacks for longer journeys.
Plain dal, rice, roti and vegetable dishes are usually the easiest vegan meals to find.
Fresh fruit, roasted chana, peanuts, khakhras and protein bars travel well.
If ordering through train food delivery services, many restaurants now clearly label vegan-friendly dishes.
Don't rely on station vendors if you have strict dietary requirements.

Flights

If your airline offers meal pre-selection, check whether a vegan meal is available when booking. Availability varies by airline and route.
Carry a few backup snacks in case your preferred meal isn't available.
Roasted chana, nuts, trail mix, protein bars, fruit and sandwiches are all easy to travel with.
Carry a reusable water bottle and refill it after airport security where possible.

Hotel breakfasts

Hotel breakfast buffets are often easier than they seem.

Look for:

Fruit
Toast with peanut butter or jam
Oats
Hash browns
Idli
Dosa (request no ghee)
Poha (check if prepared without ghee)
Upma (check if prepared without ghee)
Baked beans
Sautéed vegetables

If you're staying for multiple nights, letting the hotel know in advance that you eat vegan can often lead to additional options being prepared.

Weddings

Plate strategy: dal, rice, roti, two vegetable sabzis, salad, papad, achaar. Skip raita, paneer items, kheer, gulab jamun. Most weddings have a fruit chaat / cut fruit section.
Sangeet snacks: most fried snacks (samosa, kachori, pakora, paneer items obviously). Stick to dal-fried versions and salads.
Timing: eating a full meal before the event is a reliable strategy, since wedding food varies widely in what is available.

Essentials

A spoon, two energy bars and a single-serve oat milk carton cover most travel contingencies.