Delhi
India’s capital packs Mughal tombs, Old Delhi bazaars, leafy Lutyens avenues and the country’s best food scene into one sprawling, energetic city.
Oct-Mar 2-3 days
Visiting India
First trip to India? Start here
Everything a first-time visitor needs: the e-Visa and e-Arrival Card, where to go, how to get around, money, safety and our favourite first itineraries.
Your checklist
- 1Get your e-VisaApply on the official site at least 4 days before you fly.
- 2Fill in the e-Arrival CardRequired for foreign nationals, within 72 hours before landing.
- 3Pick your routeThe Golden Triangle is the classic first trip.
- 4Sort money and a SIMUPI One World, ATMs and an Indian SIM or eSIM.
- 5Book trains earlyForeign Tourist Quota opens up to 365 days ahead.
- 6Stay safe and healthyScams to know, water, food and heat.
Guides
How to get an India e-VisaThe complete, up-to-date guide to India’s e-Visa: who can apply, e-Tourist 30-day, 1-year and 5-year options,…
India visa for US citizensWhat Americans need to visit India in 2026: the e-Tourist visa (30-day, 1-year, 5-year), 180-day stays per vi…
India e-Arrival CardSince 1 October 2025, foreign nationals flying into India must submit an e-Arrival Card online within 72 hour…
India’s major airportsA practical guide to India’s main international airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, C…
Do’s and don’ts in IndiaSimple, practical do’s and don’ts for visiting India: temples, food, money, photos, dress, bargaining and sta…
First trip to IndiaA first-timer’s 2-week India itinerary combining the Golden Triangle, Varanasi and either Rajasthan or Kerala…
India’s most popular places, and how to enjoy them anywayThe most visited places in India, from the Taj Mahal and Golden Temple to Goa and Kerala, with simple ways to…
Golden Triangle itinerary (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur)A practical Golden Triangle itinerary for first-time visitors: how many days you need, the best order, train …
Rajasthan itineraryA Rajasthan road-trip itinerary through Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Udaipur, with timings, routes…
Kerala itineraryA 7-day Kerala itinerary: Fort Kochi, Munnar’s tea hills, an Alleppey houseboat and Varkala’s cliffs, with tr…
Money in IndiaHow to pay in India as a visitor: rupee cash, ATMs, cards, UPI One World for foreigners, NRI UPI, currency ex…
SIM cards and eSIMs in IndiaHow tourists and NRIs get mobile data in India: airport SIM counters, documents needed, eSIM options, activat…
How to travel India by trainEverything you need to ride Indian Railways: classes explained, the 60-day booking window, the Foreign Touris…
Getting around IndiaHow to travel around India: domestic flights, trains, app cabs (Uber, Ola, Rapido), auto-rickshaws, metros, b…
Is India safe to visit?An honest, practical guide to staying safe in India: common scams, safety for solo women, transport, health, …
Health tips for travelling in IndiaPractical health advice for India: safe water and food, vaccines to discuss with your doctor, heat and altitu…
What to wear in India (and etiquette tips)What to pack and wear in India by season and region, plus temple etiquette, greetings, eating customs and pho…
What to eat in IndiaA regional guide to Indian food (from Delhi chaat to Kerala seafood) plus vegetarian tips, thalis, street-foo…
Best time to visit IndiaWhen to visit India: the best months for Rajasthan, the Golden Triangle, Kerala, Goa, the Himalayas, Ladakh a…
Medical treatment in IndiaHow medical tourism in India works: e-Medical and e-Ayush visas, choosing an accredited hospital (NABH, JCI),…
Luxury IndiaPalace hotels, royal trains, private safaris and Himalayan spa retreats. The luxury experiences in India that…
Fun facts about IndiaSurprising, fun and true facts about India: languages, food, inventions, nature, festivals and record-breaker…Where to go
Agra
Home of the Taj Mahal, and the red sandstone Agra Fort and the abandoned Mughal capital of Fatehpur Sikri nearby.
Oct-Mar 1-2 days
Jaipur
Rajasthan’s Pink City: hilltop Amber Fort, the honeycomb Hawa Mahal, royal palaces and India’s best bazaars for textiles, block prints and gems.
Oct-Mar 2-3 days
Varanasi
One of the world’s oldest living cities: dawn boat rides on the Ganges, evening aarti, and life and death on the ghats.
Oct-Mar 2-3 days
Amritsar
The Golden Temple shimmering in its sacred pool, plus the world’s largest free kitchen and the Wagah border ceremony.
Oct-Mar 1-2 days
Mumbai
India’s maximum city: Bollywood, art deco seafronts, colonial landmarks and the best street food on the west coast.
Nov-Feb 2-3 days
Kochi
Kerala’s historic port: Chinese fishing nets, colonial Fort Kochi, spice warehouses, art cafés and the Kochi-Muziris Biennale.
Oct-Mar 2 days
Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters
Glide through palm-fringed canals on a traditional kettuvallam houseboat: Kerala’s signature experience.
Oct-Mar 1-2 days