Visas & entry
Most travelers from eligible countries use India’s e-Visa system for tourism, applied for online before travel; eligibility, permitted entry airports and allowed stay lengths vary by nationality. Pakistani nationals and some other passport holders generally face different, more restrictive visa procedures, while OCI cardholders have separate entry rights. Check the official Indian visa portal and your nearest Indian mission before booking non-refundable travel.
Getting in
- Delhi — Indira Gandhi International Airport: India’s most useful first gateway for the Golden Triangle, Rajasthan, Varanasi and domestic connections to almost everywhere else. It is the logical arrival for a first northern itinerary.
- Mumbai — Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport: Best for Mumbai, Goa and western India, with extensive international service and strong domestic flight connections. Use it for a west-coast trip rather than forcing it into a short Delhi–Rajasthan itinerary.
- Bengaluru — Kempegowda International Airport: A major international and domestic hub for Karnataka, Hampi connections and onward flights across southern India. It is often the most practical flight gateway for a south-focused trip.
- Chennai — Chennai International Airport: The practical entry point for Tamil Nadu’s temple-and-Coromandel Coast circuit, including Mahabalipuram and Puducherry. It has good regional and international connectivity but is less useful for a first north India route.
- Kochi — Cochin International Airport: The cleanest arrival for Kerala: Fort Kochi, the backwaters, Munnar and the western Ghats are all reachable from here, though hill-road transfers are slow.
Getting around
India’s rail network is excellent for the right city pairs and worth using for the experience, but it is not frictionless: reserve popular classes early and assume stations, traffic and delays consume more time than timetables suggest. Private cars are often the sensible choice for Rajasthan and Kerala’s hill routes, where point-to-point rail links are awkward. Domestic flights are the pragmatic answer for crossing between north and south or reaching distant regions, but leave generous airport time and avoid building a tight itinerary around same-day connections.
Money
The Indian rupee (INR) is the currency. Cards and contactless payments work well in cities, hotels and better restaurants, but cash remains essential for small shops, drivers, markets and many smaller towns; carry modest notes. Tipping is expected in tourism-facing situations but should be modest and service-led rather than automatic.
Book before you land
Ranthambore Tiger Reserve safari permits, booked through the official Rajasthan Forest Department channel
- Build buffer time into every transfer; traffic, station logistics and delays routinely defeat optimistic itineraries.
- Use official sites for wildlife permits and protected-area activities. Unofficial safari and ticket sites are common.
- Delhi’s air quality can be severe in late autumn and winter, while December–January fog can delay flights and trains across the northern plains.
- Dress and behave conservatively at religious sites; remove shoes where required, ask before photographing people, and never photograph cremations in Varanasi.
- Use app-based taxis where available, agree prices before unmetered rides, and keep small cash for tips, snacks and local transport.
- Do not treat Holi as a passive photo opportunity: in celebration areas expect color, crowds and physical participation unless you deliberately avoid the streets.
Entry rules change — verify visa requirements for your passport before booking this country.