It takes a robust palate to brave the spicy cuisine of Mumbai, but you’ll find flavour combinations here you can’t taste anywhere else in the world. Vegetables and nuts are integral to most dishes, and coconut features heavily in the regional cuisine. Vegetarian food abounds and seafood is readily available for those craving a taste of the sea.

If you’re a fan of street food, you’ll love snacking your way through New Delhi. Variations of fresh chaat (deep-fried pastries stuffed with potatoes, lentils or vegetables and topped with yogurt, chutney and chaat masala) are everywhere. For those looking for a sit-down meal, New Delhi has no shortage of cafes and restaurants for all budgets.

Situated in the heart of Karnataka, Bangalore is a haven for lovers of Udupi cuisine. Seasonal vegetables and fruits, grains, nuts and rice predominate. But Bangalore is a cosmopolitan city, offering a multitude of culinary selections to match its diverse population. Here you'll find excellent North and South Indian food, in addition to fine restaurants specialising in Chinese, French, English, Afghan and other international cuisines.

Want a taste of being royal? Eat in Hyderabad, where culinary traditions have been passed down from the Nizam monarchy. Arabic, Turkish and Mughlai influences are easily recognisable. The city is famous for its rich, aromatic biryani made with lamb, chicken or vegetables and served with fragrant basmati rice. Satisfy your sweet tooth with double-ka-meetha, a bread pudding.

Seafood is king in coastal Goa. Fish curries featuring kingfish, pomfret, tuna and shark dominate the list of local delicacies. But land-lubbers will also find spicy pork, chicken curries and a wide range of regional vegetarian thalis. After such a spicy selection, you'll want to quench your thirst with Goan feni, a local liquor made from cashew apples. Just take it slow—this is potent stuff.

Look for spicy dishes flavoured with tamarind and coconut in Kochi, and don’t be surprised if your dinner is served up on a banana leaf. The region is a major banana-growing area, and traditional Kochi cuisine employs the fruit in many dishes, both sweet and savoury. Coconut water provides a refreshing and sweet contrast to the piquant food.

Jaipur, India's Pink City, will tickle your taste buds with culinary traditions passed down from the chefs of the Rajastani royalty. Feast like a raja on dal batti, churma, bajre ki roti and chapatis. Satisfy your sweet tooth with mishri mawa, a sweet made from milk and sugar, or paneer ka ghewar, a delicious fried dessert.

Love garlic? You’ll love the food in Pune. Unlike other cuisines of the subcontinent, Pune cuisine relies heavily on the aromatic bulb. Soothe your palate with sweets like bhakarwadi, a pastry rolled with coriander, tamarind and sesame seeds, or cool off with a thick milkshake made with dried fruit.

Kolkata’s past is reflected in its cuisine. You can taste British colonial history in bakeries serving scones and clotted cream, or discover the heart of Indian Chinese food with a particularly Bengali take on hot and sour soup. But the finest quality cuisine is traditional Bengali fare, including spicy fish curries, amazing street food and entrees made with eel.

The people of Tamil Nadu consider providing food to others a service to humanity. Thus the service in the state capital, Chennai, is first-rate. Treat your senses to some of the richest South Indian flavours in traditional dishes like sambar, rasam, fish curry or kootu. And don't forget to have a cup of full-bodied Tamil coffee, enhanced with chicory—no visit is complete without it.