Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has congratulated Barack Obama on his election as the president of the United States and said his "journey to the White House" would inspire people around the world.

"Your extraordinary journey to the White House will inspire people not only in your country but also around the world," Manmohan Singh said in his congratulatory message.

"The people of India and the United States are bound by their shared commitment to freedom, justice, pluralism, individual rights and democracy. These ideals provide solid bedrock for friendship and strategic partnership between our two nations."

Inviting Obama to visit India, Singh said, "A warm welcome awaits you."

"I hope you will find an opportunity to visit India soon. A warm welcome awaits you," the PM said.

At the same time Congress President Sonia Gandhi termed Obama's win as a "historic election victory."