Asia · South Asia

🇮🇳 India travel guide

Royal cities, mountain trails & a thousand flavours.

Best places in India

Taj Mahal, Agra. Arrive at sunrise for soft light and smaller crowds; closed on Fridays.
Jaipur & Amber Fort. Palaces, bazaars and the City Palace in the Pink City.
Kerala backwaters. A night on a houseboat around Alleppey.
Varanasi ghats. Evening Ganga aarti and a dawn boat ride.

Hampi, Karnataka. Boulder landscapes and ruined temples of the Vijayanagara empire.
Ziro Valley, Arunachal. Rice fields and Apatani villages (permit needed).
Chettinad, Tamil Nadu. Grand mansions and a famous spicy cuisine.
Spiti Valley, Himachal. High desert monasteries — roads open roughly June–October.

Best time. October–March for most of India; April–June for Himalayan hill stations.
Avoid. Peak summer heat (May–June) on the plains; heavy monsoon in mountain areas.
Festivals. Diwali (Oct/Nov), Holi (March), Pushkar Camel Fair (Nov).

Documents. Passport, visa or e-visa, hotel bookings, travel insurance.
Pack. Light cotton, a scarf for temples, slip-on shoes, power bank.
Apps. IRCTC (trains), Uber/Ola, Google Maps offline, Zomato.
Health. Routine vaccines; ask about hepatitis A and typhoid. Carry ORS sachets.

Start somewhere unforgettable. Jaipur for forts and craft; Kerala for backwaters; Rishikesh for riverside walks; Ladakh for high-altitude landscapes.
Choose your season. October–March suits much of the plains. Himalayan seasons differ; check local road conditions. Monsoon can disrupt mountain travel.
Before you leave. India spans many climates, languages and customs. Build your journey around a region rather than rushing across the country.

Currency · INR ₹. Indian rupees. Keep small notes for markets and rural stops; use bank ATMs and decline unsolicited currency exchange.
A daily budget. Illustrative, per person: budget ₹1,500–3,000; comfortable ₹4,000–8,000. Stays, season and city change costs. Flights and major activities are extra.
Paying locally. UPI is widespread, but foreign visitors may need an eligible visitor wallet. Carry a card and some cash; never share an OTP or payment PIN.

Documents first. Visa eligibility depends on your passport. Confirm requirements and entry rules on indianvisaonline.gov.in before booking.
Your first ride. Use an official prepaid taxi desk or a recognised ride service. Confirm the vehicle plate and fare before leaving.
Get connected. Buy a SIM from an authorised seller with the required identity documents. Save your stay address and an offline map before leaving Wi-Fi.

At sacred places. Dress respectfully, remove shoes where requested and follow photography rules. Some sites have entry restrictions.
People & photographs. Ask before photographing people. A friendly “Namaste” works in many places; regional greetings are welcome too.
Moving around. Traffic can be unpredictable. Use safe crossings and helmets; do not assume vehicles will stop at a crossing.

Jaipur · craft lanes. Explore block-printing and artisan workshops around Sanganer. Ask before entering or taking photographs.
Kerala · village waterways. Look for locally run canoe trips away from the busiest houseboat routes. Confirm life jackets and weather conditions.
Himalayas · tread lightly. Choose marked trails with local guides. Respect permits, altitude and changing weather; leave no litter behind.

A few first plates. Try dosa and idli in the south, a Rajasthani thali in Jaipur, and regional rice or bread dishes wherever you stop.
Eat with care. Choose busy places serving freshly cooked hot food. Use sealed or reliably filtered water; avoid uncertain ice.
Dietary needs. Ask about dairy, nuts and cooking oil. “Vegetarian” does not necessarily mean vegan; explain allergies clearly.

“Your hotel is closed”. Call the property using your confirmed booking number, not a number supplied by a stranger.
Tickets & guides. Buy through official counters or verified services. Agree guide fees and inclusions before starting.
Money requests. Never scan a QR code or enter a payment PIN to receive a refund. Avoid strangers offering to operate your phone or ATM.

Hello · Namaste. Thank you · Dhanyavaad. Please · Kripya. English is also used in many travel settings; Hindi is not universal.
How much? · Kitne ka hai?. Water · Paani. Help · Madad. I need help · Mujhe madad chahiye.
Where is …? · … kahaan hai?. Save the written address of your accommodation in the local language when possible.

Emergency · 112. India’s integrated emergency number. Save your accommodation, insurer and embassy contacts separately.
Health & altitude. Carry prescribed medicines, sun protection and safe drinking water. Ascend gradually; seek help for altitude symptoms.
Power & time. India uses 230V / 50Hz; sockets commonly accept types C, D or M. Time zone: IST, UTC+5:30. Bring a suitable adapter.

A gentle first journey. Delhi → Agra → Jaipur is a classic introduction. Allow travel time and rest rather than filling every hour.
A different pace. Choose Kerala for a slower coastal journey or one Himalayan base for mountain days. Check access and weather first.
Before confirming. This is a starter guide, not live advice. Verify visas, prices, opening times and safety conditions with official sources.