Gay India - Earth’s most exciting gay destination right now Stories > Experiences > Gay India - Earth’s most exciting gay destination right now Suzi SiegelGay India is so excited right now it’s like a bubble about to pop. In 2018, the world’s largest democracy struck down its notorious anti-gay law. When the world’s second-most populous nation and the sixth biggest economy makes such a decisive move after so long, the reverberations are powerful. Big, fat gay changes are finally on the horizon in India. Tailor Made JourneyLet Us Plan Your Perfect Luxury VacationMr Hudson designs unique and luxurious vacations for sophisticated travelers who prioritize beauty and style. BOOK WITH US For more than a century, gays in India have lived either undercover or as outcasts. History is never simple, but India’s backstory on homosexuality is particularly confounding. Ancient Hindu myths portrayed switches in gender, homoerotic encounters, and third-gender characters and 1,000-year-old temples are carved with reliefs depicting both men and women engaging in homosexual acts. It was actually the British colonialists that brought with them the harsh penalties for “carnal intercourse against the order of nature.” These laws endured on the books for well over a century before being struck down as unconstitutional in 2018. Photo: Frank Holleman Queer Pride celebrations will continue to flourish as will queer film festivalsOf course, things will not change overnight in India, a deeply socially conservative country that prizes family above all else and where the vast majority of marriages are still arranged. The overall environment for LGBTQ people in India not yet friendly and so most gays are still pretty discreet. But the 2018 ruling, which finally accorded gay Indians all the protections enshrined in the Constitution, set off celebrations and the parties that are just getting started. The rumbles of change that started before the Supreme Court’s ruling will now only grow louder and gayer as India becomes a safer and more hospitable place to be gay and for gay travellers to feel at home. Photo: Pavan K. Gireesh Hotels - Taj Falaknuma Palace 610 m above Hyderabad, this luxurious property features a blend of colonial and Indian designs. It houses a heritage walk with beautifully crafted objects from the world over and a first-rate spa. Book on Booking.com Hotels - The Leela Palace Bangalore The Leela Palace Bangalore features décor reflecting the bygone era, and outdoor swimming pool, a spa and wellness centre, Yoga studio and 4 award food and beverage/dining options. Book on Booking.com Hotels - Taj Resort & Convention Centre Goa Located in Panaji, right on the tranquil Vanguinim Beach Dona Paula in North Goa, Taj Hotel & Convention Center Goa features luxurious rooms offering suitable choices to guests. Book on Booking.com Hotels - Taj Lake Palace Udaipur Located in the middle of Lake Pichola and built-in 1746, Taj Lake Palace features majestic architecture. It offers a full-service spa, customized yoga sessions, and butler service. Book on Booking.com Hotels - Trivik Hotels & Resorts, Chikmagalur Trivik Chikmagalur Resort is 38-acre coffee plantation set on top of Mullayangiri Hills in Chikmagalūr at 1,622m above sea level. The resort offers a spa centre, sauna, and fitness centre. Book on Booking.com Hotels - Diwa Club by Alila The Diwa Club by Alila is located in Majorda, South Goa, and includes a pool with an open-air spa bath, an adjoining restaurant. Luxuriously furnished rooms overlook the private Diwa Pool. Book on Booking.com Hotels - Evolve Back Coorg Located on the cool green hills of Coorg, this plantation resort features 4 dining options, an outdoor infinity pool and an ayurvedic spa. It also houses a gym, and free Wi-Fi access is provided. Book on Booking.com Hotels - Shangri-La's - Eros Hotel, New Delhi The recently refurbished Shangri – La’s – Eros Hotel, New Delhi offers an outdoor swimming pool. India Gate is 1.6 mi and Jantar Mantar is 0.8 mi away. The rooms feature views of Lutyens Delhi. Book on Booking.com Hotels - Trident Bandra Kurla Located in North Mumbai, The Trident Bandra Kurla provides an outdoor swimming pool and full spa services. Stylish with accents of red, rooms are equipped with a A/C, TV, DVD Player and iPod. Book on Booking.com Hotels - The St. Regis Mumbai With exquisitely styled and lavishly appointed accommodations, The St. Regis Mumbai is located in city’s premier entertainment and commercial district. Book on Booking.com Discover more places to stay like this in India View on Booking.comPowered by Booking.comQueer Pride celebrations in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and other major cities will continue to flourish as will Queer film festivals in Chennai, Calcutta, Delhi and beyond. Gay Bollywood actors and actresses have come out, as has a gay prince who recently announced plans to open up his ancestral palace to LGBTQ+ Indians in need. And the “Pink Economy” is about to explode, according to industry experts. Depending on how you do the math, India’s population of 1.3 billion is home to at least 50 million LGBTQ+ adults whose combined incomes total more than a $100 billion a year. The business opportunities are infinite since currently the gay sector in India scarcely exists by Western standards. Sikh Warriors | Photo: Suzi Siegel Going to India? The same team that brings you the content you love designs your perfect tripEntrepreneurs are scrambling to create safe and welcoming spaces for gay customers and travel and entertainment brands are already at the forefront of the movement. A gay version of Netflix is on its way to streaming gay content to the subcontinent. Expect to see gay bars, clubs, resorts, hotels and fashion brands leading the charge in courting gay consumers followed by the more conservative industry sectors of insurance, finance, banking and auto. A number of Indian gay travel companies have already made headway. These include Delhi-based gay-friendly travel agencies Serene Journeys, Pink Vibgyor, Planeta Rosa and Indjapink, which recently opened Mister & Art House, India’s first men’s only boutique guesthouse and art gallery. Kitty Su, a nightclub at LaLiT hotel in Delhi is an all-inclusive gay hotspot where Mr Gay World India was crowned. Taj Mahal | Photo: Tim Umphreys Photo: Dollar GillAll of this forward motion and optimism for the gay community makes India a destination that should be on any gay traveller’s list right now. A deeply spiritual place, India gave birth to four of the world’s major religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. And don’t forget, it is India that gifted the world yoga and meditation and is, therefore, a powerful place to go on retreat. Bewilderingly, India can also be a jarring and maddening place to travel because of its overpopulation, heat, touts and all around chaotic vibe. That’s all part of what makes it incredible in addition to its seminal sites, the Ganges River, the Himalayas, the beaches of Goa and the Pink City of Jaipur, not to mention 37 World Heritage Sites, the sixth most of any nation. The UNESCO sites include not just the iconic Taj Mahal but some lesser-known wonders: the hill forts of Rajasthan, the mountain railways and the architectural works of Le Corbusier in Chandigarh.The world is taking notice of India’s incredibleness and it’s happening quickly. Another reason to consider going now instead of waiting: foreign tourist arrivals doubled between 2008 and 2018 from 5 million to 10 million, with the US, UK, Canada and Australia providing the most overseas visitors. Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Agra, and Jaipur were the most visited cities. India truly is one of the most incredible, tumultuous and wondrous destinations on earth. One thing is sure. You will not come back from a trip there unchanged. India is simply too powerful to allow for that. Photo: Yogi Madhav Experiences - Jaipur Private Day Tour 8 hours Experiences - Private Day Trip: The Havelis of Mandawa 12 hours Experiences - From Jodhpur: Overnight Stay in Desert with Camel Safari 2 days Experiences - From Jaipur: Ranthambore Tiger Safari Private Day Trip 16 hours Explore more experiences like this in Rajasthan Book on GetYourGuide.comPowered by GetYourGuide and ViatorWant to simplify luxury travel planning?Whether you want a resort vacation, wildlife safari, city break, luxury cruise, wellness retreat, honeymoon, once-in-a-lifetime adventure or weekend escape, the trip curation experts at Mr Hudson make travel planning a breeze. Find out how we can handle the finer details of vacationing in style.Special SelectionExclusive Mr Hudson offersOut now from gestaltenMr Hudson Explores Browse the Book share Photo: Atharva Tulsi Photo: Joe Barbour Photo: Suzi Siegel Photo: Shail Sharma Photo: Frank Holleman Photo: Frank Holleman Photo: Suzi Siegel Photo: Suzi SiegelDid you enjoy this article? Then sign up for our newsletterDid you enjoy this article? The same team that curates our content designs your perfect trip Explore more The best concept stores in BerlinAway from the typical shopping districts, there exists a multitude of independent stores throughout Berlin where premium objects are curated with a certain concept or style in mind. Read story > Glasgow City GuideWith its revitalized riverfront, fashion-forward shopping, and contemporary art scene, Glasgow has successfully reinvented itself from a city of post-industrial grit and gangs to Scotland’s cosmopolitan capital of culture. 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