GLD INDEXGLD COUNTRY SCORE
The national picture for LGBTQ+ travel.
YOUR DESTINATION IN THE INDEX
Among destinations covered by this index with current publishable scores. Based on unrounded scores; equal values share a rank. As of 2026-09-27. How rankings work →
YOUR DESTINATION, IN CONTEXT
India has a published GLD Country Score of 65/100, in the Medium range.
India decriminalised consensual same-sex relations, but comprehensive recognition and social acceptance remain uneven across an exceptionally diverse federal country. Delhi, Mumbai and other major cities support visible community networks, while family, class, gender and regional context can strongly affect experience.
PLACES TO STAY
Independent selections with sourced hotel information and LGBTQ+ travel context.
BEYOND THE NATIONAL SCORE
Source-based overview · external sources consulted 2026-09-29. GLD score dates are shown separately.
Distances, climate, language and transport vary dramatically between states. Seasonal heat, monsoon patterns, altitude and major festivals can change even a carefully planned route.
Sources: Incredible India — official tourism websiteGaylidays currently connects 15 scored cities to the national picture. Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi are the three highest-scoring cities currently covered. Recorded city scores range from 59/100 in Rishikesh to 66/100 in Mumbai, a 7-point spread that shows why local context still matters.
Source: GLD country and city scoring records. Interpretation of the recorded assessment, not a new score calculation.Urban Pride, organisations and venues create meaningful visibility, yet same-sex relationships lack equal national recognition and public attitudes vary widely. Local community evidence is more useful than general assumptions about a state or tourism district.
Sources: Incredible India — official tourism websiteNo. It removed a major criminal penalty but did not create equal recognition or comprehensive protection in every area.
Sources: Incredible India — official tourism websiteNo. Regions have different monsoon, heat, winter and altitude conditions.
Sources: Incredible India — official tourism websiteHOW TO READ THIS SCORE
The country score combines legal rights, social acceptance, rule of law and travel comfort. City guides add the local perspective to this national foundation.
BEHIND THIS SCORE
The source-based overview above adds national and city-level context. These are the recorded score components; the editorial research has not recalculated them.
Components have different weights and may be subject to methodology caps; this is not a simple average.
Legal status from ILGA/Equaldex; social score from Equaldex Public Opinion; rule of law from World Bank WGI; travel comfort from GLD editorial review using Intrepid, IGLTA and official travel-advisory evidence.
Synced from GLD Index on 27 Sept 2026. The sync date is not an evidence verification date.
No. Use the GLD Index alongside current official travel advice and local information. Conditions and personal experiences vary.
This score is read from GLD Index’s data portal, using only current published or partner-ready records. Score last updated: 20 May 2026. Public display levels use the existing four-band scale; the underlying methodology category is tracked separately.