Travel to India

Yes — almost all foreign nationals need a visa for India. Citizens of more than 165 countries can apply for the e-Tourist Visa (eTV) entirely online, with no embassy visit and no need to send a physical passport. A small number of nationalities (Nepal, Bhutan and a few others) are exempt or have special arrangements. Use the country selector below to confirm your status.

It depends on which e-Tourist Visa you choose. The 30-day double-entry visa gives you up to 30 days from the date of first arrival. The 1-year and 5-year multiple-entry e-Tourist Visas allow stays of up to 90 consecutive days per visit (180 days for citizens of the USA, UK, Canada and Japan), with no limit on the number of entries during the validity period. Total stay across all visits cannot exceed 180 days per calendar year.

October to March is the universal high season — dry, mild and ideal for the Golden Triangle, Rajasthan, Kerala and Goa. April to June is the only window for the Indian Himalayas (Ladakh, Spiti). July to September is monsoon — wet on the plains but spectacular for landscape photography and the only window for high-altitude regions like Ladakh.

Yes — the main tourist circuits (Golden Triangle, Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa, Himalayas) are well-developed and safe, visited by millions of international travellers every year. As anywhere, exercise standard precautions: keep an eye on belongings in crowded areas, avoid unmarked taxis, use registered Uber / Ola for city transport. Solo female travellers should dress conservatively, avoid late-night public transport, and stick to recognised hotels and tour operators.

No mandatory vaccinations except Yellow Fever if you arrive from or transit through (more than 12 hours) an endemic country (most of sub-Saharan Africa, parts of South America). Strongly recommended: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Tetanus, and routine boosters. Consider Japanese Encephalitis for rural travel in monsoon. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for some lowland regions in monsoon — consult a travel clinic 6-8 weeks before departure.

Almost all of them. The e-Tourist Visa is valid for travel anywhere in India except a few Restricted or Protected areas — parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim (only the Nathula Pass area), the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (some islands), and the Lakshadweep Islands. These require a separate Inner Line Permit (ILP) or PAP, which can be obtained on arrival or in advance through a tour operator.

The e-Tourist Visa is for sightseeing, family visits, short-term yoga or wellness courses, and casual visits to friends. The e-Business Visa is for technical meetings, conferences, recruiting Indian staff, attending trade fairs, or setting up an industrial venture. The e-Business Visa allows longer continuous stays (up to 180 days per visit) and a wider range of permitted activities. Choose based on the purpose of your trip — they cost the same.

India is unusually affordable. Backpacker: $25–40 per day (guesthouses, local trains, street food). Mid-range: $80–150 per day (3–4★ hotels, AC trains, restaurant meals, occasional driver). Luxury: $300–800+ per day (heritage palace hotels, private cars with driver, fine dining). Internal flights are cheap ($30–80 one-way booked early). The Taj Mahal entry fee is ₹1,300 (~$15) for foreigners, plus ₹200 for the mausoleum itself.

Hindi (spoken by ~40%) and English (the second official language) are widely understood across the country. India has 22 constitutionally recognised languages and hundreds of regional languages: Bengali (Kolkata), Tamil (Chennai), Marathi (Mumbai), Kannada (Bangalore), Telugu (Hyderabad), Malayalam (Kerala), Punjabi (Amritsar). English is universal in tourist areas, hotels, restaurants, signage and inter-state communication.

Yes. ATMs are widely available in cities and tourist towns — HDFC, ICICI, Axis Bank and SBI ATMs accept international cards. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most mid-range and luxury hotels, restaurants and shops. India is also the global leader in UPI mobile payments (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm) — most local vendors prefer it over cash; foreign tourists can now link an Indian SIM to a UPI app for the duration of their trip. Always carry ₹2,000–3,000 in small notes for tips, autos and rural travel.

Internal flights (IndiGo, Vistara, Air India) are the fastest way to cover long distances — Delhi to Kerala is 3 hours by plane vs 50 hours by train. Trains are the iconic Indian experience — comfortable in AC2 or AC1 class, cheap, and book through IRCTC.co.in or 12go.asia. Private car with driver is the best option for Rajasthan and Kerala — about $50–80 per day all-inclusive. Within cities: Uber and Ola are reliable in Tier-1 cities; auto-rickshaws are cheaper but always agree on the meter or fix the price upfront.

Diwali (October-November) — the festival of lights, oil lamps and fireworks across the country. Holi (March) — the festival of colours, especially in Mathura, Vrindavan and Pushkar. Pushkar Camel Fair (November) — Rajasthan's most photogenic event. Onam (August-September) — Kerala's harvest festival with traditional snake-boat races. Durga Puja (September-October) — Kolkata at its most theatrical. Book accommodation 3-4 months in advance during major festivals; prices triple and the best hotels sell out.