IndiaTravel Guide
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India travel guide
A subcontinent of wonders.
In short
History, spirituality, food, wildlife and vivid culture reward anyone in India who can handle crowds. October to March is the best time for most regions. Get an e-Visa before you travel and allow two weeks for the Golden Triangle plus one more region.
India is the world's most populous country and one of its most varied, stretching from the Himalaya to the tropical beaches of Goa and Kerala. The Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur is the classic first route, taking in the Taj Mahal, Mughal forts and Rajasthan's pink city. India has more than 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Beyond the north, travelers explore the desert forts of Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, the ghats of Varanasi on the Ganges, the backwaters and tea hills of Kerala, the temples of Tamil Nadu, the beaches of Goa, tiger reserves such as Ranthambore and the mountains of Ladakh and Sikkim. Distances are huge, so focus on one or two regions per trip.
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Key Facts & Stats:
Capital: New Delhi
Others Largest City: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur
Currency: Indian rupee (INR, ₹)
Time Zone: India Standard Time, UTC+5:30
Major Language: Hindi, English and 20 other scheduled languages
Major Religion: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism
Best experiences in India
Find your kind of trip: 24 travel themes, each with the packages in India.
Wildlife
Hill Station
Ayurveda Tours
Seasonal/Event
Adventure
Wildlife & Safaris
Pilgrimage
Eco/Nature
Culture & History
Honeymoon
Romantic Getaway
Cruise
Water Activities
Backpacking
Luxury
Photography
City Slickers
Heritage
Beach & Relaxation
Sports & Recreation
Food & Wine
Train & River Journeys
Skiing
Overland
India at a glance
Apply for the e-Visa only on the official government site; money, plugs and time zone follow.
Best timeOct to MarDry and cooler in most regions
Daily budgetLow costOne of the cheaper destinations to travel in
VisaVisa requirede-Visa available for many passports
CurrencyIndian rupee (INR, ₹)UPI and cards in cities; cash elsewhere
LanguageHindi and EnglishPlus many regional languages
Time zoneUTC+5:30One time zone; no daylight saving
CapitalNew DelhiGateways: Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM)
Power230 V, 50 HzPlugs C, D and M
DrivingLeft-hand trafficHire a car with driver rather than self-drive
EmergencyCall 112Single number for police, fire and ambulance
Calling code+91Local SIMs need passport and photo
WeekendSaturday and SundayShops and attractions stay open; offices close
Top destinations in India
Pick a place by travel style: beaches, nature, cities, heritage.
DelhiMughal monuments and bazaars
RajasthanForts, palaces and desert
AgraHome of the Taj Mahal
MumbaiIndia's maximum city
JaipurThe Pink City
GoaBeaches and Portuguese heritage
KeralaBackwaters and tea hills
MaduraiTamil Nadu's temple city
MysuruKarnataka's palace city
PuriOdisha's temple-and-sea town
VaranasiIndia's holiest river city
BhujGateway to Kutch
HyderabadQutb Shahi monuments and Nizam palaces
KolkataCity of Joy
NashikKumbh city and wine country
PanajiGoa's Latin-quarter capital
ThrissurKerala's festival capital
ChennaiTemple towers and the Bay of Bengal
MargaoSouth Goa's market town
Nothing in that category yet.
Top things to do in India
The Taj Mahal, Rajasthan's forts, pilgrimage towns such as Varanasi and the backwaters of Kerala.
India
Agra Fort
Agra Fort is a Mughal fortress of red sandstone and white marble on the bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, a short way upstream of the Taj Mahal....
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India
Khirai Flower Garden (ক্ষীরাই ফুলের বাগান)
Khirai lies beside the Kansai, also called the Kansabati, near the town of Panskura in Purba Medinipur district. Khirai railway station is served by local train...
4.0 1 Review
India
Sanchi Stupa
The Sanchi Stupa is the Great Stupa at the centre of the Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, a hilltop complex in Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh, about 46 km north-e...
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India
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is the abandoned red-sandstone capital that the Mughal emperor Akbar built on a rocky ridge about 36 to 40 km west of Agra in Uttar Pradesh. Foun...
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India
Purana Qila (Old Fort), Delhi
Purana Qila, the "Old Fort", is a 16th-century fortress on a raised mound in central New Delhi, between Mathura Road and the Delhi Zoo near Pragati Maidan. Begu...
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India
Ellora Caves
The Ellora Caves are 34 rock-cut Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples and monasteries carved into a basalt escarpment about 29 km north-west of Chhatrapati Sambhaji...
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India
Pancha Rathas
The Pancha Rathas ("Five Chariots") are five monolithic temples carved from granite in Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), a coastal town in Tamil Nadu about 55 km so...
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India
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is the white marble tomb that Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built for his wife Mumtaz Mahal on the south bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Prade...
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Hyderabad
Golconda Fort
Golconda Fort is a fortified citadel and ruined city on the western outskirts of Hyderabad in Telangana, India. It sits on a granite hill and was the capital of...
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Mumbai
Gateway of India
The Gateway of India stands on the waterfront at Apollo Bunder in the Colaba area of south Mumbai, facing the Arabian Sea and the harbour. It was built to comme...
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Rajasthan
Sam Sand Dunes
Sam Sand Dunes lie near the village of Sam, about 40 kilometres west of Jaisalmer in western Rajasthan, on the road toward the border with Pakistan. They are on...
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Rajasthan
Salim Singh ki Haveli
Salim Singh ki Haveli stands in the old town of Jaisalmer in western Rajasthan, close to the eastern approach to Jaisalmer Fort. It is one of the three best kno...
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Where to stay in India
Hotels and resorts in India with guest scores, nightly prices and free cancellation.
Best time to visit India
October to March is dry and cooler on the plains; April to June sends people to the hills before the monsoon.
Best overall
October – MarchDry, sunny and cooler across the plains, Rajasthan and the south.
Hot season
April – JuneVery hot on the plains; head for the hills.
Monsoon
July – SeptemberHeavy rain in most regions; green landscapes and low prices. Ladakh is dry.
Planning tip
Book trains on popular routes weeks ahead, especially around Diwali (October or November) and the winter holidays.
Flight routes
Flights to India
Direct routes into and out of India with the airlines that fly them. Open a route for its airlines, aircraft and travel tips, or search your dates for flights and fares.
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Packages in Demand
A Journey to Remember
Tours, activities and day trips in and around this destination, with the details you need before booking.
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India travel tips
Entry, arrival, money, health, safety, hotels, transport, SIM cards and temple etiquette, answered in turn.
Visas and entry
e-Visa for most visitors
Almost all foreign visitors need a visa for India. Citizens of many countries can apply online for an e-Visa (tourist, business or medical); others must apply through an Indian mission. Use only the official government website, as many lookalike sites charge extra.
- Passport validity
- Check it is valid for at least 6 months (UK rule; yours may differ)
- e-Visa
- Official site: indianvisaonline.gov.in
- Entry
- e-Visa holders must arrive at a designated airport or seaport
- OCI cardholders
- No visa needed
Entry rules change. Treat this as a starting point and check the official rules for your passport before you book.
Getting there
Delhi, Mumbai and more
Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM) are India's main international gateways. Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi and Goa also receive international flights, and Goa has two airports, Dabolim and Mopa. From Delhi airport, the Airport Express metro runs straight to New Delhi station.
- South India
- Bengaluru (BLR), Chennai (MAA), Kochi (COK)
- Goa
- Dabolim (GOI) and Mopa (GOX)
Money and costs
Low cost destination
Money goes a long way in India. Cities run on UPI mobile payments and cards, but small towns and markets need cash, so carry small notes for rickshaws and tips. ATMs are common in cities and have withdrawal limits. Tip about 10% in restaurants if service isn't added, and bargain politely in markets.
- Tipping
- About 10% if service isn't added
- Agree auto-rickshaw fares or use Uber, Ola or Rapido.
Health and vaccines
Food, water, mosquitoes
See a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before India. Hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly advised, and your doctor may suggest others depending on your route. Drink only bottled or filtered water, protect yourself from mosquitoes because dengue and malaria are a risk in many areas, and buy travel insurance with medical evacuation cover.
- Mosquitoes
- Dengue and malaria risk in many areas
- Air quality
- Poor in Delhi and the north in winter
- Altitude
- Ladakh lies above 3,000 m; acclimatise
- Eat freshly cooked hot food and peel fruit.
Staying safe
Scams, traffic, harassment
A trip to India rarely goes seriously wrong. Touts and scams are common around stations and major sights, traffic is chaotic, and women travelers may face unwanted attention. Book taxis through apps or prepaid counters, call 112 in any emergency, and read your government's current travel advisory before you go.
- Emergency number
- Call 112 (all emergencies)
- Areas to avoid
- Jammu and Kashmir, and near the Pakistan border, carry UK warnings
- Ignore anyone who says your hotel is closed or your train cancelled.
- Use women-only carriages where available.
Where to stay
Best areas to stay
India has stays for every budget, from heritage havelis to beach huts. In Delhi, base yourself in Connaught Place or South Delhi. In Jaipur, stay near the old city or in a heritage haveli. In Kerala, split your time between Fort Kochi and Alleppey houseboats, and in Goa pick the north for nightlife or the south for quiet beaches.
- Goa
- North for nightlife, south for quiet beaches
Getting around
Trains, flights, drivers
Domestic flights are cheap and save time over long distances. Indian Railways is an experience in itself; book AC classes ahead. For the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan, a car with driver is the most comfortable option. In Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, metros and app taxis cover city travel.
- Trains
- Book on IRCTC
- Fast Shatabdi and Vande Bharat trains link Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, and overnight sleepers cover the long hops; book on IRCTC weeks ahead, earlier around Diwali and winter holidays.
- Class codes matter: 2A has curtained four-berth bays, while SL, the sleeper class most Indians use, has no air conditioning but opening windows.
- RAC means sharing a berth sitting up until one frees, and a waitlisted (WL) ticket does not let you board a reserved coach.
- When a train is full, a small Tatkal quota goes on sale a day before departure at a higher, non-refundable fare, and some trains hold a Foreign Tourist quota.
- The morning Shatabdi leaves New Delhi at 06:15 for Agra (arrives 08:12), and another leaves at 06:05 for Jaipur (arrives 10:30).
- Trains run late often enough that you should never take one on the day of a flight home.
- IndiGo, the largest airline, serves 88 cities; by road Delhi to Jaipur takes under 4 hours, and the Yamuna Expressway reaches Agra in about 3.5.
- Uber, Ola and Rapido avoid haggling, prepaid taxi counters beat touts, and Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh need permits.
SIM and internet
Local SIM or eSIM
Jio, Airtel and Vi (Vodafone Idea) sell cheap SIMs with generous data. To buy one you need your passport, visa, a photo and a local address, and activation can take a few hours. Coverage is strong on 4G and 5G in cities.
- You need
- Passport, visa, photo and a local address
Culture and etiquette
Customs and etiquette
India's many religions and regions shape daily life, and modest dress and respect at religious sites go a long way. Greet people with 'namaste', palms together. At temples, take your shoes off, cover shoulders and knees, and expect some to exclude non-Hindus. Eat and pass things with your right hand, and ask before photographing people.
- Temples
- Shoes off; some exclude non-Hindus
- Etiquette is easy to learn: eat with your right hand, take your shoes off at temples and keep arms and legs covered inside them.
Do
- Cover shoulders and knees at religious sites
Avoid
- Public displays of affection
- Pointing your feet at people or shrines
- Touching food on others' plates
Things to know before visiting India
Crowds, noise and touts overwhelm many first-time visitors to India, and preparation helps.
Why travelers love it
- The Taj Mahal and the Mughal monuments of Agra and Delhi.
- Rajasthan's forts and palaces in Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.
- Food that changes completely from region to region.
- Kerala's backwaters, beaches and tea hills.
- Spiritual India: Varanasi, Rishikesh and Amritsar's Golden Temple.
Good to know
- Crowds, noise and touts can be overwhelming at first.
- Delhi's air is very polluted in late autumn and winter.
- Travel days are long; fly between distant regions.
- Stomach upsets are common; be careful with water and food.
- Some regions carry travel warnings; check advice for Kashmir and border areas.
Trip fit
Value for money
Nature and outdoors
Food
Culture and heritage
Ease of getting around
English spoken
Nightlife
BookingMentor editorial ratings out of 5, based on a first-time visitor's experience.
New Delhi weather by month
New Delhi's table shows the north Indian year: cool, clear winters, blistering heat before the monsoon, then the rains. The south follows a different rhythm.
Best timeHot seasonMonsoon
Bar: average low to high temperatureRainfall
October – MarchDelhi, Agra, Jaipur, Goa, KeralaDry, sunny and cooler across the plains, Rajasthan and the south.
April – JuneShimla, Darjeeling, Rishikesh, Ladakh (from June)Very hot on the plains; head for the hills.
July – SeptemberLadakh, Kerala Ayurveda retreats, Udaipur lakesHeavy rain in most regions; green landscapes and low prices. Ladakh is dry.
Monthly averages for New Delhi from the climate table of its Wikipedia article (New Delhi (Ayanagar) 1971–2020, extremes 1967–present), compiled from the national weather service. The south is hot and humid all year; the Himalaya is cold in winter.
Choosing one or two Indian regions instead of all of them
Plan an India trip around one or two regions. India is the seventh-largest country on earth, and a trip that tries to join Rajasthan, Kerala and the Himalaya spends half its time in transit. Fly between distant regions, and build in a rest day after arrival, because many visitors fall ill from doing too much in the first week.
- One week: the Golden Triangle. Spend two nights in Delhi, then take the early Shatabdi to Agra for the Taj Mahal. Finish with two or three nights in Jaipur for the Amber Fort.
- Two weeks in the north: stretch the Triangle into Rajasthan with Udaipur, Jodhpur and the desert forts of Jaisalmer, ideally by hired car with driver.
- A southern fortnight: fly into Kochi, sleep on a houseboat in the Alleppey backwaters and head up to the tea hills of Kerala. Then end on the beaches of Goa.
Arrange a driver through your hotel or a local agency, or compare rental options.
India's cool season, scorching plains and the monsoon
New Delhi averages highs of 19°C in January and gets almost no rain in November and December. The south stays hot and humid all year, and the Himalaya is cold in winter.
April to June is punishing on the plains. Sightsee at dawn and dusk, or head for hill towns such as Shimla.
The monsoon sets in during June and lasts until September, bringing 75 to 80 per cent of the year's rain. Hotel prices fall, and Ladakh stays dry behind the mountains, though flights to Leh (above 3,000 m) are erratic.
Diwali, the festival of lights, falls in October or November; expect fireworks and trains booked solid. Holi (March or April) is a street battle of water and coloured powder on its second day; wear old clothes. In winter, thick fog around Delhi delays flights nationwide over Christmas and through January, so leave slack before an international departure.
Northern breads, southern rice and India's vegetarian cooking
Indian food divides broadly into wheat and flatbreads in the north and rice in the south, and between 20% and 39% of Indians are vegetarian, so meat-free food is excellent.
The north is wheat country. Meals revolve around roti, paratha and tandoor-baked naan. In Punjab try dal makhani, black lentils in a buttery sauce.
Further south rice takes over. Breakfast is steamed idli or a crisp dosa pancake, and lunch is often a thali with several small dishes. If you want a dish mild, say so when you order.
Drinking rules change at state lines: Bihar, Gujarat, Nagaland and Mizoram restrict or ban alcohol, and the legal age runs from 18 to 25. Alcohol cannot be sold within 500 m of a highway, which explains many dry hotels.
Contribute:
Travelers are asking
Apply only on the official site, indianvisaonline.gov.in, at least a few days before travel. Avoid unofficial sites that charge extra fees.
Yes. Book reserved AC classes in advance and keep your bags secured. Trains are a great way to see the country.
For Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle, a car with driver is comfortable and good value. You can pre-book one on bookingMentor.
Still looking?
Our travel desk answers questions about India
About this guide
How We Research This Guide
The Government of India e-Visa portal, Incredible India and UNESCO's India listings are the sources behind this guide. Climate figures come from New Delhi.
Last updated . Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk
Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change
Checked against trusted sources:
Government of India e-VisaIncredible IndiaUNESCO World Heritage Centre
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Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
India questions tend to cover the e-Visa, train bookings, the Golden Triangle, food safety and the best season.
Timing & weather
October to March is the best time to visit most of India, with dry, sunny weather. The Himalaya and Ladakh are best from June to September.
May is the warmest month in India, with average highs of 41°C, and January the coolest, with lows of 8°C. August is the wettest month, at about 188 mm of rain; November is the driest. New Delhi's table shows the north Indian year: cool, clear winters, blistering heat before the monsoon, then the rains.
Health & safety
Most trips are trouble-free, but scams, chaotic traffic and harassment of women are real concerns. Some areas, including Jammu and Kashmir, carry travel warnings. Call 112 in an emergency.
No. Drink bottled or filtered water and avoid ice from street stalls.
Dial 112, India's single number for police, fire and ambulance.
Visa & documents
Almost all visitors need a visa. Many nationalities can apply online for an e-Visa at the official site, indianvisaonline.gov.in; others apply through an Indian embassy.
Booking
The Golden Triangle needs about 7 days. Allow 14 to 21 days if you want Rajasthan, Varanasi or Kerala as well.
General
Top places include Delhi, Agra and the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Varanasi, Kerala, Goa, Rishikesh, Amritsar, Mumbai and Ladakh.
Hindi and English are used nationally, alongside many regional languages. English is widely spoken in tourism and business.
Sockets take type C, D and M plugs, and the supply is 230 V at 50 Hz.
bookingMentor lists 5 places to stay in India. Prices start from $341.00 per night. Types: Hotels and Resorts.
Domestic flights are cheap and save time over long distances. Indian Railways is an experience in itself; book AC classes ahead. For the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan, a car with driver is the most comfortable option.
Prices & payment
India uses the rupee. Cards and UPI work in cities, but carry cash for markets, rickshaws and small towns.
Daily travel costs in India are low cost. One of the cheaper destinations to travel in.
Getting there
Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM) are India's main international gateways. Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi and Goa also receive international flights, and Goa has two airports, Dabolim and Mopa. From Delhi airport, the Airport Express metro runs straight to New Delhi station.
