India travel guide

Getting there

Major international airports include Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi and Goa; land borders are used mainly with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Best time to visit: Oct–Mar – cooler, dry weather across most of the country.

Tougher months: May and June bring extreme heat on the plains, and July to August brings heavy monsoon rain in much of the country.

Weather by month in New Delhi

• 21°J●
• 24°F●
• 30°M●
• 36°A
• 40°M●
• 39°J●
• 35°J●●●
• 34°A●●●
• 34°S●●
• 33°O
• 28°N
• 23°D

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Asia/Kolkata. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 6 of 198 other passports can enter India without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 161 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 31 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of India (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2025-06-16). Read the advisory.

Source and more: India travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to India are based around Delhi, Agra or Jaipur. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$20–35 for a backpacker and US$60–120 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun India page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, D, M. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +91.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Delhi (North · capital): Mughal monuments, bustling bazaars and grand colonial avenues in one sprawling city.
• Agra (Uttar Pradesh · Mughal heritage): Home to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and nearby Fatehpur Sikri.
• Jaipur (Rajasthan · Pink City): Palaces, forts and colourful bazaars in Rajasthan's vibrant capital.
• Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh · spiritual city): One of the oldest living cities in the world, centred on its riverside ghats.
• Kerala backwaters (South-west · lagoons & canals): Lush waterways, coconut groves and village life around Alappuzha and Kumarakom.
• Udaipur (Rajasthan · lakes & palaces): A romantic city of lake palaces and whitewashed havelis.
• Leh and Ladakh (Himalaya · mountains & monasteries): A high desert region of dramatic passes, monasteries and adventure.
• Hampi (Karnataka · ruins): A UNESCO-listed former imperial capital set among giant granite boulders.

Things to do

• See the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Watch the white marble mausoleum glow pink and gold as dawn breaks over Agra.
• Witness the Ganga Aarti. Join crowds on the ghats of Varanasi as priests perform a fire ceremony on the Ganges at dusk.
• Cruise Kerala's backwaters. Drift through palm-fringed canals on a converted rice barge around Alappuzha.
• Explore Rajasthan's forts. Climb the ramparts of Amber, Mehrangarh and Jaisalmer's living sandstone fort.
• Go on a tiger safari. Track Bengal tigers through the forests of Ranthambore or Bandhavgarh.
• Wander the ruins of Hampi. Explore boulder-strewn landscapes dotted with the temples of the Vijayanagara Empire.
• Trek in Ladakh. Hike high-altitude valleys past whitewashed Buddhist monasteries and turquoise lakes.
• Practise yoga in Rishikesh. Join classes in the self-styled yoga capital on the banks of the Ganges.

Source: full India guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Biryani – fragrant rice cooked with spices and meat
• Masala dosa – crispy rice pancake with spiced potato
• Butter chicken – creamy tomato chicken curry
• Chai – sweet spiced milk tea

Source: RoamSun India guide

Talk

Twenty basic Hindi phrases with a simple sound guide. Say them slowly; a smile does the rest.

Basic phrases: pronunciation is approximate and the list has not yet been reviewed by a native speaker. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable where that applies. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Money and safety

Currency: Indian rupee (INR). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: About 10% in restaurants; small tips for drivers and guides.

Emergency numbers: 112 all emergencies · 100 police · 101 fire · 108 ambulance.

• The Indian rupee is the currency; UPI mobile payments are everywhere, but tourists mostly rely on cards and cash.
• ATMs are widespread in cities; carry small notes for rickshaws, temples and street food.
• Watch for scams around major sights and stations, such as fake ticket offices and 'closed hotel' stories.
• Drink bottled or filtered water and choose freshly cooked, busy food stalls.

Source: RoamSun India facts