Visas
📋 India Visa
e-Visa available for most countries online (indianvisaonline.gov.in) · Tourist visa valid 1 year multiple entry · Apply 1 week before · ₹2,500 approximately
💡 Most nationalities get e-Visa easily
Currency
💰 Indian Rupee
₹1 = approximately £0.0095 · Withdraw from ATMs (HDFC, ICICI, SBI) · UPI apps work for payments · Carry some cash for remote areas
💡 Currency exchange at airports + banks
SIM Card
📱 Indian SIM
Get Airtel or Jio SIM at airport arrival · ₹299 for 30 days unlimited data · 5G in major cities · Works with WhatsApp immediately
💡 Bring passport + photo for SIM registration
Transport
🚆 Getting Around India
Train — Indian Railways app (IRCTC) book in advance · Book AC First or AC 2-tier · Overnight trains save hotel cost · Cab/Uber in cities
💡 Book trains 60 days in advance on IRCTC app
Safety
🛡️ India Safety
India is safe for foreign tourists · Tourist areas completely normal · Follow standard travel precautions · Women should dress modestly at temples · Avoid displaying expensive items
💡 Register with your embassy on arrival
Health
💊 Health Tips
Drink only bottled water · Avoid raw vegetables at street food initially · Carry rehydration salts · Altitude medicine if going Ladakh/Himalayas · Travel insurance essential
💡 Book travel insurance before departure
Weather
🌤️ When to Go
Oct-March best for most of India · April-June hot (45°C in north) · June-September monsoon (beautiful green + some disruption) · December-January cool
💡 December-February perfect season almost everywhere
Budget
💵 India Budget Tips
5-star hotels cheaper than UK budget hotels · Book Innova cab for group (₹3,000/day splits well) · Street food safe + delicious · Bargain only at handicraft stalls
💡 India is extraordinary value — upgrade everything
Religion
🙏 Temple Etiquette
Remove shoes before temples, mosques, gurudwaras · Head cover in gurudwaras/mosques · Modestly dressed (shoulders + knees covered) · Ask before photography
💡 Accept prasad (offered food) with right hand
Food
🍛 Food Safety
Indian 5-star + 4-star restaurants completely safe · Street food from busy stalls generally fine · Avoid water-washed raw foods initially · Veg India is excellent
💡 Jain food available everywhere — ask for it
Apps
📲 Essential Apps
Google Maps (works offline) · IRCTC (trains) · MakeMyTrip (hotels) · Ola/Uber (cabs) · Zomato (food) · PayTM (payments)
💡 Download before leaving home country
Hindi
🗣️ Useful Hindi
Namaste (Hello/Goodbye) · Shukriya (Thank you) · Kitna hai? (How much?) · Bohot sundar (Very beautiful) · Madat karo (Please help)
💡 English widely spoken in tourist areas + cities