travel in india 2022

• Destinations
• Hotels & Homestays
• Food & Drink
• People & Culture
• Mindful Travel
• Readers' Travel Awards
• Escape to Rajasthan
• READERS TRAVEL AWARDS
• #LOVEGREATBRITAIN
• TAJ SAFARIS
• BOUTIQUE HOTELS
• CNT TOP RESTAURANT AWARDS
• DESTINATION WEDDING GUIDE
• DON’T TRAVEL WITHOUT IT
• #UNDISCOVERAUSTRALIA
• ESSENTIALLY RAJASTHAN

The 12 best places to visit in India in 2022

By Ria Gupta

The year may not have started in the best possible way, but 2022 still holds out the promise of new adventures. The year has 19 long weekends , which means 19 mini-vacations, if you plan it right. So, where do you go? From the beautiful but endangered floating islands of Assam to the holy lakes of Ladakh, these are our picks:

12 best places to visit in India in 2022

Sindhudurg, maharashtra.

With the new Chipi Airport in Sindhudurg now in business, this coastal town is now less than two hours away from Mumbai. There is plenty to do: go diving off the coast of Tarkarli, visit the Sindhudurg Fort in Malvan, head up the 19th century lighthouse near Vengurla Rocks, or just drive a bit to reach the shores of north Goa.

Keoladeo, Rajasthan

Keoladeo National Park

In February, Keoladeo National Park becomes a birdwatcher’s paradise. Thousands of migratory species like the spoonbills, greylag geese and glossy ibis can be spotted around the park along with those flying in from China, Turkmenistan and Siberia. The park was once a popular duck hunting ground of the maharajas, but is a UNESCO World Heritage Site now.

Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu

Rameshwaram

Take the new Pamban Bridge—expected to be open by March 2022—through turquoise waters to the island city of Rameshwaram. The northern winds offer a great opportunity for kitesurfing through the Gulf of Mannar, after which you can unwind at the Dhanushkodi beach at the tip of the subcontinent.

North Sikkim

Rhododendrons in Sikkim

Jahnavi Bhatt

Condé Nast Traveller

Laura Lai Coughlin

Geetika Sachdev

Come April, the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary in Yumthang Valley is spotted with crimson coloured blossoms wherever you look. About 40 varieties of rhododendrons can be found here. On the other end of the spectrum lies Sikkim’s white beauty at Zero Point—the highest motorable point in the state which is covered in snow around this time.

Darjeeling, West Bengal

The narrow winding lanes and steep foothills of Darjeeling give way to vast plantations of its famous tea. March to October is the plantation season here, and also when the aroma of the shrubs fill the air across the hill station. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll get to witness the harvesting of the Oolong at Makaibari estate, which is only picked on the season’s first full moon night.

Tso Moriri Lake, Ladakh

The deep blue palette of the lake is no less mesmerising than the lofty mountain slopes it contrasts. Tso Moriri— India’s largest high altitude lake—is a lesser frequented counterpart of the famous Pangong lake. The area will attract you for its ravishing beauty with open landscapes and clear skies, both frequented by rare wildlife like migratory birds and Tibetan wolves and more common animals herded by local changpas.

Gavi, Kerala

July brings cool temperatures and lush greenery to the untainted beauty of Gavi. The evergreen forests of this Malabar town are home to wild species of fauna like the sambar and barking deer. The rest of the land is covered with vineries where you can explore wine making and majestic waterfalls to take a dip in

Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand

Valley of Flowers

A trek laden with Himalayan glaciers, wooden bridges and dense forests leads you to this natural bouquet of flowers spanning 87 square kilometers. The valley comes alive with blooming orchids, calendulas, marigolds, primulas and other species during August. And if you’re a slow explorer, the quaint village of Ghangaria provides the perfect resting spot with its laid back lifestyle and quiet village life.

Yercaud, Tamil Nadu

If you’re already explored the popular plantation towns of south India, this year, head to the bamboo forests of Yercaud, one of the best places to visit in India. Located at the foothills of Salem, the small town has numerous viewpoints overlooking the valley as well. A downhill trek leads you to Kiliyur Falls. The Yercaud lake is unmissable for its pristine beauty and quiet atmosphere.

Majuli, Assam

Situated between two channels of the Brahmaputra, Majuli island remains submerged for most part of the year. But the fading of monsoons reveals its glittering beaches and brings back the Assamese farming community to the land. Head to this quiet destination soon, for the rapidly changing climate and rampant flash floods from nearby tributaries are expected to take the district down permanently in the coming years.

Shillong, Meghalaya

The Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off in November as the capital city of Meghalaya begins to turn pink. Explore the ethereal beauty of root bridges creeping through the Mawphlang Sacred Forest here. As monsoons fade by October, the weather also becomes ideal for you to plan an immersive trip to the matrilineal culture of the Khasi tribe—one of the last to exist in the entire world.

Usgalimal, Goa

Instagram content.

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

It is entirely possible to be in Goa in December and not be surrounded by too many people. The village of Usgalimal in South Goa is home to ancient petroglyphs, chiselled on a bed of laterite rock some 30,000 years ago, although the exact period is still debated. Enjoy a moment of solitude at the Kushavati river here, and head to the nearby Budbud lake, which is known to bubble throughout the day. Why it does so, is a mystery to unravel with the locals while you’re there.

• Asia Briefing
• China Briefing
• ASEAN Briefing
• India Briefing
• Vietnam Briefing
• Silk Road Briefing
• Russia Briefing
• Middle East Briefing
• Asia Investment Research

India’s Latest Guidelines on International Travel

This timeline summarizes the most recent developments in the rules and regulations governing international travel to and from India.

Webinar – Navigating Global Minimum Tax in Asia: Insights for Businesses 

Thursday, November 16, 2023 | 9:00 AM San Francisco / 12:00 PM New York / 6:00 PM Brussels / 1:00 AM (Nov. 17 th ) Beijing 

Partner Kyle Freeman will introduce how key Asian economies are implementing the new changes, how companies are going to be impacted by the OECD’s global minimum tax framework, and what businesses should be doing to be prepared. 

Join us in this free webinar.

REGISTER NOW

February 2023

• From February 13, 11 AM , passengers coming to India from or via China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand will not require a negative RT-PCR report from a pre-departure test for COVID-19. Travelers from these five countries will no longer have to fill the self-health declaration form on the Air Suvidha portal either. The 2% random testing on arrival in India [from any country of origin] policy that was started December 24 last year, shall continue.

January 2023

• Reported by Times of India , all Indians traveling to Sri Lanka will have to follow the country’s revised COVID-19 protocols. Sri Lanka has announced that all tourists to the country will be required to carry their vaccination cards, and unvaccinated travelers must carry a negative PCR report obtained 72 hours prior to their arrival.

December 2022

December 29, 2022.

• On December 29, 2022, India’s Federal Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that RT-PCR test would be mandatory from January 1, 2023 for international passengers travelling to India from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand . The test must be conducted within 72 hours of undertaking the journey to India. 
• These negative RT-PCR reports must be uploaded on the Air Suvidha portal before travel.
• This requirement is in addition to the random two percent tests of all international passengers in all incoming international flights on their arrival in India irrespective of their port of departure.

December 28, 2022

Air India Express, India’s first international budget carrier that offers flights to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, has issued guidelines for the maintenance of Covid-appropriate behaviour by travellers travelling from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India. The guidelines include:

• All passengers from UAE should preferably be completely immunised as per the approved primary schedule of Covid vaccination. 
• All visitors should preferably use masks and follow physical distancing on flights/travel and at all points of entry.
• Post-arrival random testing is not required for children under the age of 12. However, if they have Covid-related symptoms upon arrival, they have to undergo testing in accordance with protocol. 

December 26, 2022

• On December 24, 2022, Indian Health Ministry announced that international arrivals from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand will have to mandatorily present RT-PCR test results . In case any passengers from these countries are symptomatic or test positive for Covid-19, they will be quarantined. 
• Economic Times reporting that Air Suvidha form filling to declare current health status will also be made compulsory for international passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand.
• Times of India reporting that Qatar has reinstated visa-on-arrival (VOA) facility for Indian travellers , which were temporarily halted due to FIFA World Cup 2022 in the country. Indian nationals can get a free VOA in Qatar for a maximum stay of 30 days or as per the hotel reservation and under the following conditions: valid passport for at least six months, confirmed return tickets, and confirmed hotel reservation through ‘Discover Qatar’ website only.
• Times of India  reporting that effective from January 1, 2023 , Serbia has discontinued visa-free travel regulations for Indian citizens , keeping in line with the requirements of European Union (EU) visa policy and measures to control illegal migrants. 

December 23, 2022

New guidelines applicable for international arrivals from December 24, 2022: “All travelers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 in their Country.” See here for the official Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notification issued December 22.

India will randomly test 2 percent of international travelers arriving in the country’s airports for COVID, with effect from Saturday (December 24) 10 am IST , as announced by Mansukh Mandaviya, Health Minister on Thursday December 21. Travelers will be allowed to leave the airport after submitting their sample. After the random testing, if found COVID-positive, the person’s sample shall be sent for genomic testing at a designated INSACOG laboratory network; reports shall be hared with Integrated Disease Surveillance Program at [email protected] by the concerned testing laboratory (besides sharing with the airport health organization APHOS) to be in turn shared with concerned state or union territory for further follow-up action.

• India is becoming increasingly cautious after a surge in cases recorded in neighboring China as well as in Brazil, US, Japan, and Korea, besides it being the ongoing holiday and festive season, which witnesses a jump in travel. In another move, visitors to the Taj Mahal (Agra, Uttar Pradesh state), will undergo a COVID-19 test before they enter, as per reporting from news agency ANI. While wearing masks are not currently mandatory in most parts of the country, it will likely be increasingly encouraged. For example, the southern state of Karnataka has made wearing masks mandatory indoors and in closed spaces in guidelines released December 22.

December 14, 2022

• DNA  reporting a travel advisory issued due to the ongoing chaos at Delhi international airport: “To ensure a quick security check, Air India has urged all travelers to bring just one piece of carry-on luggage and arrive at least 3.5 hours early.”
• Times of India  reporting that Hong Kong and Nigeria are among the latest to remove COVID-19 travel rules for international travelers. 
• Business Today  reporting that IndiGo has announced 32 connecting flights between India and Europe – flying to Milan, Manchester, Birmingham, Rome, and Venice – starting December 7, 2022. These international flights will operate in partnership with Turkish Airlines.

November 2022

• Times of India  reporting that Germany is relaxing visa appointment rules for Indian tourists. According to German Missions in the country, Indian travelers can book their visa appointment at any VFS global Visa Application Centre in major Indian cities and the Schengen visa can be applied for three months before the travel date. However, this relaxation does not apply to the D-visa category – students, employment, and family reunion visas, among others.
• New Air India flights announced between India and US, Europe ( Business Traveller ): – Air India is launching new flights connecting Mumbai with New York, Paris, and Frankfurt, and resuming non-stop flights connecting Delhi with Copenhagen, Milan, and Vienna. The new daily Mumbai-New York service to John F Kennedy International Airport will commence February 14, 2023, which will take Air India’s India-US frequency to 47 non-stop flights per week. – The new Air India flights from Delhi to Europe announced are: four weekly Delhi-Milan from February 1, 2023 and three weekly flights each on the Delhi-Vienna and Delhi-Copenhagen routes starting February 18 and March 1, 2023, respectively. – From Mumbai, new Air India flights are currently being planned to Paris* (thrice-weekly) and Frankfurt* (four weekly) from the next quarter. 
• India is discontinuing the Air Suvidha self-declaration form starting November 22, 2022. Passengers flying into India will no longer need to fill out the Air Suvidha form from November 21-22 midnight and will not need to take an RT-PCR COVID-19 test.

On November 14, the Canada  government concluded an expanded Canada-India Air Transport Agreement “to allow unlimited flights between both countries”. The announcement said: “The expanded agreement allows designated airlines to operate an unlimited number of flights between the two countries. The previous agreement limited each country to 35 flights per week. The new rights under the expanded agreement are available for use by airlines immediately. Money Control reports that this will give Canadian airlines access to the Indian cities of Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai while Indian airlines will receive access to Toronto, Edmonton, Montreal, and Vancouver as well as two additional points (Canadian cities) selected by India. India is Canada’s fourth largest international air transport market and there are an estimated 1.5 million Indians living in Canada. Presently the only non-stop direct flights in this market are from Air India and Air Canada.

October 2022

The Financial Express  reports plans of Air India to add 20 weekly, non-stop flights to the US and UK between October and December. “With five additional flights a week to Birmingham, nine additional flights to London, and six additional flights a week to San Francisco, Air India said it will be able to offer over 5,000 additional seats every week.” Soon there will be seven Indian cities offering direct Air India flights to London.

September 2022

• No new updates were made to the “Risk Levels” and “Safety and Security” sections of the Canadian government’s travel advisory for India: The Hindu report .
• Hong Kong is lifting compulsory quarantine requirement for arrivals starting from September 26. There will be three days of medical surveillance during which inbound persons are free to go out but are obliged to comply with Amber Code restrictions under the Vaccine Pass, followed by a four-day self-monitoring period, making it a 7-day observation period in total, as per the Hong Kong government’s notification .
• Taiwan will end mandatory quarantine for travelers arriving in the country from October 13 as per reporting from Reuters . Speaking to the media, Taiwan’s Cabinet spokesperson Lo Ping-cheng stated that from September 29, visa-free entry will be resumed for overseas travelers that previously enjoyed that status. Under its ‘New Taiwan Model’, the government is set to increase weekly arrival limits for international travelers to 60,000 from 10,000 and will not require PCR tests for arrivals. If the pandemic situation is stable, the country will end quarantine from around October 13 and increase the weekly arrival limit to 150,000.
• Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced travel relaxations in Japan while in New York for the UN General Assemebly session. “… from 11 October, Japan will relax border control measures to be on par with the US, as well as resume visa-free travel and individual travel.”  BBC  reports that the cap on daily arrivals will also be lifted.
• Fiji removed its COVID-19 test requirements for international travelers from September 5, 2022.
• Media is reporting that Indians traveling to Indonesia can fast track their visa applications on arriving in Jakarta as VFS Global has reached an exclusive agreement with the Indonesian Immigrant Department.
• See India’s guidelines for international arrivals – dated September 2, 2022 – which came in effect the next day. The document provides protocols to be complied by international travelers as well as those to be followed by airlines and all points of entry (airports, seaports, and land border). 
• International flights resumed operations starting September 3, in Guwahati’s (Assam state) Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA), after a gap of two years. In the next few months, officials speaking to the  Hindustan Times said that the LGBIA airport will start flights from Guwahati to Yangon (Myanmar), Kathmandu (Nepal), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Hanoi (Vietnam), and Bangkok (Thailand).

January – August, 2022

• Airlines and travel agents in India have to share details of international travelers with the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBIC) 24 hours before departure and arrival. The information will be provided to the National Customs Targeting Centre-Passenger (NCTC). While this rule had been proposed five years ago, to combat tax avoidance and tax evasion, the government has only now developed a regulatory framework to implement this. India is among 60 countries collecting such details of international passengers. The Ministry of Finance issued the notification on August 8, 2022, as per media reports .
• China no longer requires COVID test information for international arrivals from August 31, 2022 : On Thursday, August 25, 2022, China’s General Administration of Customs released  a new health declaration form for international arrivals, which removes the requirement for visitors to report their nucleic acid test results, infection status, and vaccination dates. This ninth version of the health declaration form will be implemented starting from August 31, 2022, and international visitors can report their health status online by filling out a form on the related WeChat account or webpage. Some  media  interpret that with this update, the current entry requirement, that is, the requirement to have international passengers take two PCR tests for COVID-19 within 48 hours of their departure, the second of which must be within 24 hours of their departure — will be lifted.  However, considering that China is still sticking to its dynamic zero-COVID strategy, we recommend that international travelers double-check with their flight companies for further information.
• The Chinese Embassy in India has updated its “ Application Procedures and Material Requirements of China Visa “, to be implemented from August 24, 2022. See here for the list of requirements and procedures for various types of Chinese visas, including the M-Visa (commercial and trade activities) and the X1-Visa (long-term study): http://in.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/qz/202208/t20220822_10748221.htm 
• The  Business Standard  noted in a report that China was working to facilitate the return of foreign students, including from India, who have been stuck due to the COVID-19 visa restriction. The paper quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin who told media that the Chinese side were working intensively for the return of foreign students to China. In updated comments on the foreign ministry website, Wenbin said: “We are confident in seeing the return of the first group of Indian students in the near future. Building on that, the Chinese side will further proceed with the return of other Indian students in a well thought-out and orderly manner.”
• India’s domestic air fare caps will end from August 31, as the civil aviation regulator DGCA rolls back restrictions imposed in 2020. This minimum to maximum price band had been introduced to avoid sky high ticket prices due to pent up demand in the domestic travel market. 
• India’s passport offers visa-free access to 60 countries , including Bhutan, Nepal, Macao, Oman, Qatar, and Fiji. According to the latest Henley Passport Index, published by immigration consultancy Henley & Partners, India’s passport ranked 87th. India had ranked 90th in Q3 and Q4 in 2021. The latest index is topped by Japan, whose passport offers visa-free access to 193 countries, followed by South Korea and Singapore (at 192 countries each), and Germany and Spain (190). As per reporting by the Hindustan Times: Indians have ‘visa-on-arrival’ access in Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, and Sri Lanka as well as 21 countries in Africa.
• Speaking at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, the Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, promised to relax restrictions on international travel in an “orderly” way , which would include facilitating the return of foreign students to rejoin Chinese colleges. Around 500,000 foreign students are enrolled at universities in China, including 23,000 Indians. Li said: “All international students may return to China to continue their studies should they so wish, and outbound commerce and trade activities and cross-border travel for labor services will be advanced in an orderly fashion.” The comments were made during a Special Virtual Dialogue with Global Business Leaders hosted by the forum. Foreign diplomatic missions in China are presently trying to speed up the process to facilitate the return of international students to China. While this is now in a small-scale trial mode, any large-scale opening can be expected only when the country’s epidemic outbreaks slow down.
• Competent authorities in China and India are communicating on securing the resumption of flights and to bring back the first group of Indian students to China at the earliest as reported in  The Economic Times.
• Bhutan is allowing travelers into the country from September 23, 2022 – after a two-year gap. Tourists from India should note the levy of a sustainable development fee (SDF), charged at 1,200 ngultrums (approx. INR 1200) per day; children between the age of six and 12 are charged INR 600 per day and no fee is charged from children below the age of five. The SDF fee is not applicable everywhere – there are exemptions to the levy in 11 districts in the less popular Eastern Bhutan region, until December 2024. 
• India is working to roll out e-passports as per its external affairs minister S. Jaishankar. The minister also informed that the Passport Seva System had been integrated with the DigiLocker system to facilitate paperless documentation. Jaishankar added: “The Ministry in collaboration with the Department of Posts operationalized 428 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) to reach out to our citizens at their doorsteps. The Ministry has successfully integrated the passport issuance systems in 178 of our Embassies and Consulates abroad.” 
• Saudi Arabia has lifted COVID-related travel restrictions on citizens travelling to India, Ethiopia, Turkey, and Vietnam and is accepting pilgrims for the forthcoming annual Hajj season, The Hindu  reports June 20, 2022. The requirement to wear face masks in closed places has also been relaxed.
• China has updated its visa policy for Indians , including Indian professionals and students. China will accept visa applications of foreign nationals and their accompanying family members seeking to return to China for resumption of work in all fields. Visas for tourism and private purposes remain suspended. The details of over 12,000 Indian students have reportedly been forwarded to the Chinese government for visa processing. (Over 23,000 Indian students – mostly enrolled in medical colleges in China – had to return to India and were stuck during the last few years due to the coronavirus pandemic, which first broke out December 2019.) However, China is yet to announce resumption of normal flight facilities between the two countries.
• The US does not require arriving international travelers to take a COVID-19 test within a day before boarding their flights to the country from June 12, Sunday. “As of 12:01AM ET on June 12, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will no longer require air passengers traveling from a foreign country to the United States to show a negative COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board their flight. For more information, see Rescission: Requirement for Negative Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result or Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19 for all Airline or Other Aircraft Passengers Arriving into the United States from Any Foreign Country .”
• Media reports say the DGCA has made masks mandatory at Indian airports and during flights. India recorded 7,240 new cases in 24 hours [ June 9 MoHFW update], the highest since March.
• On Wednesday, June 8, India’s aviation regulator DGCA announced fresh guidelines for COVID-appropriate behavior. The wearing of masks is now mandatory inside the flight / throughout the air travel , and mask removal is permitted only under exceptional circumstances. Violators could be treated as ‘unruly passengers’ and removed from the flight before departure. This is in line with a Delhi High Court order, which stipulates that violators can be put on ‘no fly list’. 
• India’s  overall passenger traffic  (both domestic and international) at airports reached 93 percent of pre-COVID levels in May 2022. International passenger traffic reached 63 percent and 72 percent of pre-COVID levels in April and May, respectively. Recovery of domestic travel reached 98 percent of pre-COVID levels in May 2022.
• Turkey has relaxed all the conditions for Indian travelers entering the country, Turkiye Tourism Board said on Monday, June 6.​​ Now, Indian travelers no longer have to show proof of vaccination or proof of recovery from COVID-29 or negative RT-PCR test report.
• The United States Embassy in India has tweeted (8.23pm, May 29): “The US Mission to India is pleased to announce that we are resuming routine in-person tourist visa appointments in September 2022. Previously scheduled placeholders have now been cancelled. Applicants whose placeholder appointments were cancelled may now reenter the scheduling system to book regular appointments. Appointments have been opened through 2023.”
• Media reports say that Israel has removed COVID-19-linked travel requirements for foreign visitors, such as presenting a negative RT-PCR test prior to departure, undergoing an RT-PCR test upon arrival, and quarantine observation.
• Livemint reports: “Malaysia Airlines will add new routes, increase frequencies and upgrade aircraft to cater to the Indian market, which remains a key geography for the airline.”
• Saudi Arabia has banned its citizens from travelling to sixteen countries, including India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, after the Gulf state has recorded a five-fold rise in COVID-19 cases. News18 reports : “Saudi Arabia’s General Department of Passports dropped several Covid-19 restrictions towards the end of last year but are now reimposing some of them as Covid-19 cases are being reported from various parts of the world and China and North Korea bearing the brunt of the Omicron variant which is leading to fresh cases.”
• Indian announced on May 12 that citizens planning to travel abroad are now eligible to get a third (booster/precaution) dose of vaccine three months after their second dose. The rules otherwise stipulate a nine-month gap between the second dose and booster shot. 
• Scoot, the budget airline from Singapore Airlines Group, has launched daily flight services between Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) and Singapore, up from three times a week. As per reporting by The Hindu  [April 27, 2022], Scoot has a network of 42 destinations in 16 countries and territories, including Australia and Southeast Asia.
• VietJet has announced that it will resume operations of six flights – on the Delhi-Hanoi route and Delhi-Ho Chi Minh City route from April 29, 2022. New flights have also been added by VietJet on the Mumbai-Phu Quoc route and New Delhi-Phu Quoc route, which are scheduled to start from September 9, 2022.
• Hong Kong has banned Air India flights till April 24 due to COVID-19 as three passengers on board one of its flights had reportedly tested positive on arrival.
• On April 11,  Times of India  reported that fully vaccinated passengers from the UAE traveling to India will not necessarily require a pre-departure RT-PCR test at the airport. The move is on a reciprocity basis. However, UAE travelers will need to fill out the passenger locator form on the Air Suvidha portal – same as travelers from any other destination visiting India. Also, travelers need to upload their COVID-19 vaccination certificate onto the Air Suvidha portal.
• Scheduled international flight services have resumed from Sunday, March 27, 2022 after being suspended for two years due to COVID-19. Starting March 27, six Indian airlines and 60 foreign airlines will connect India with 63 countries . Under the new summer schedule (March 27 to October 29), foreign airlines will operate 1,783 weekly flights and Indian carriers will operate 1,466 departures every week. Among domestic airlines, IndiGo will operate 505 departures per week, followed by Tata Group-owned Air India at 361 weekly flights and its subsidiary Air India Express will operate 340 flights per week.
• From the  Indian Express : More international airlines add flights to India : “Emirates said… it will be operating the 35 weekly flights from Mumbai, 28 from Delhi, 24 from Bengaluru, 21 each from Chennai and Hyderabad, 14 from Kochi, 11 from Kolkata, nine from Ahmedabad and seven from Thiruvananthapuram.”
• On March 21, 2022, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced  that from April 1, the Government will lift the flight ban on nine countries (i.e., Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK, the USA, and Nepal)  and cut the hotel quarantine period for arrivals. Currently, passenger aircraft from these nine countries are not allowed to land in Hong Kong. The Chief Executive also announced the preconditions for boarding a flight to Hong Kong and the COVID-19 control and prevention measures to be implemented upon arrival. Given this, there are  comments  saying that traveling to Hong Kong will not get much easier even after the ban is lifted. Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. plans just one inbound flight every two weeks for fear to be subjected to the city’s 14-day ban on airlines that carry too many passengers found to be infected with COVID-19.
• Singapore announced it is lifting restrictions for all vaccinated travelers from next week. According to officials, from April 1, fully vaccinated adults and unvaccinated children will be allowed to enter Singapore without quarantining, if they take a pre-departure test . Only travelers on a ‘restricted list’ will face curbs in entering Singapore; as of March 24, 2022 – there are no countries on this list.
• On March 21, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) announced relaxed COVID-19-related regulations. NDTV reports MoCA saying “cabin crew members need not wear PPE kit, airlines need not keep three seats vacant on international flights for medical emergencies and security personnel at airports can resume pat-down search of passengers.” However, the use of face mask and maintenance of hand hygiene/sanitizer continues to be mandatory . Airlines may carry additional PPE protective gear, sanitizers, and N-95 masks to handle any respiratory infections related to cases on air – for passengers as well as the crew.
• Cochin International Airport announces summer schedule (March 27 to October 29) with 1,190 weekly operations (international and domestic flights). 20 airlines will operate flights to destinations abroad (including 16 international carriers). Indigo has the most weekly departures to international destinations (42) and Air India Express accounts for 38 weekly departure operations. Other prominent carriers are Air Asia Berhad, Ethihad, Emirates, Oman Air, Qatar Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Thai Airways, Sri Lankan Airlines, Gulf Air, and Fly Dubai. 44 weekly departures are scheduled for Dubai, followed by Abu Dhabi with 42. Air India Express will continue its weekly operations to London and Thai Air Asia will resume Kochi operations in June, with 4 weekly direct flights to Bangkok. Source:  The Hindu Business Line
• Useful Quick Links from the Air India portal: – Official Circular on Restoration of Indian Visa (E-Tourist Visa and Tourist Visa) for Foreign Tourists   – Circular For Generating and Accessing International Digital Covid 19 Vaccination Certificate – International Travel Advisories
• Singapore Airlines Group press release: All Singapore Airlines flights from India to Singapore will operate as vaccinated travel lane (VTL) services from March 16, 2022. This will provide eligible customers with quarantine-free entry into Singapore from eight points across India. Scoot, SIA’s low-cost subsidiary, will also progressively convert its non-VTL services from Amritsar, Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchi, and Visakhapatnam to VTL services. Short-term visitors and Singapore work-permit holders who seek to avail VTL services must apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) prior to their visa application. VTP applications should be made between three and 60 calendar days before the person’s intended date of entry into Singapore. Travelers must ensure their eligibility to use the VTL services before their flight. 
• Regular international flights to resume March 27, 2022 after two years suspension. This is the start of the summer schedule 2022.
• Economic Times reporting “ Global travel shedding Covid baggage as several nations ease restrictions for Indians “. 
• India has once again extended its ban on regular commercial international passenger flights – until further orders – as per a circular dated February 28, 2022 issued by the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Flights under air bubble arrangements and international cargo flights will continue.
• On February 28, 2022 , the Indian government updated its “ List of Countries/Regions in respect of which primary vaccination schedule completion certificate is allowed to be uploaded ” on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website: see document here . There are 88 countries now on this list . (The Union health ministry has removed the at-risk categorization of countries.) 
• India and Thailand have finalized an air bubble arrangement, bringing the total number of such bilateral flight agreements to 37. Airline carriers between India and Thailand will begin operating flights starting in March, which will be subject to approval from the government. Thai Airways will commence flights between India and Thailand starting March 1 under this air bubble. Travelers should note the health protocols and the respective schedules of approved flights between Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Bangkok. Meanwhile, on February 25, SpiceJet announced it will launch six new international flights to Bangkok, commencing from March 10 in a phased manner. SpiceJet plans to launch flights connecting Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata with Bangkok. India reportedly has plans to reopen its regular international travel from March 15, but this is still a tentative date.
• Singapore, UAE, and Kuwait have updated their travel guidelines and COVID-prevention protocols for travelers from India. See here to know more.
• The Airport Authority of India has updated its state-wise guidelines for arriving passengers – by region. The PDF links may be accessed here: COVID Guidelines India Northern Region 14-02-2022 COVID Guidelines India Western Region 21.02.2022 COVID Guidelines India Southern Region 22-02-20212 COVID Guidelines India Eastern Region 18-02-2022 COVID Guidelines India North East Region 17-02-2022
• Dubai ends rapid RT-PCR rules for Indian travelers. Under the new rules , travelers from India have to produce a negative COVID-19 test certificate issued by an approved health service provider and generated 48 hours before scheduled departure of the flight. Passengers will undergo a PCR test upon arrival in Dubai. Transit passengers will be expected to follow rules governing entry at their final destination.
• It is being reported in The Economic Times that the aviation ministry has requested approval from the health ministry to allow resumption of international flights from mid-March. Reason cited by unnamed government source is that domestic traffic has rebounded.
• The government has removed restrictions on the number of flights that can be operated between India and Ukraine under their bilateral air bubble arrangement to facilitate travel of Indians from the eastern European country. India has advised its citizens to temporarily leave Ukraine amid its deteriorating relations with Russia.
• Indian media are reporting that the government is soon to make a decision on whether regular international flights can resume in the summer (March/April). It is being reported by The Economic Times that the aviation ministry has set an internal target of resuming international flight services once domestic airlines capacity touches 80% of pre-COVID flights. (Domestic airlines operated over 2,800 flights before the pandemic struck in 2020; as of February 13, they operated 2,058 flights. To reach the 80% mark, this number has to exceed 2,200.)
• No testing or mandatory quarantine required for international travelers from February 14, 2022: On February 10, India revised guidelines for international arrivals, which will come into effect February 14, 2022 (Monday, 00.01 Hrs IST). The new guidelines remove the category of ‘at risk’ countries and has scrapped the seven-day mandatory quarantine. Instead, India’s health authorities recommend self-monitoring of 14 days for symptoms . The Union Health Ministry stated that there is “need to monitor the continuously changing” COVID-19 virus but accepted that “economic activities need to be taken up in an unhindered manner”. As per the latest guidelines, all foreign arrivals have to fill a self-declaration form online (Air Suvidha web portal), including a travel history of the past 14 days. They must also upload a negative RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hours of the departure date. Alternatively, they can upload a certificate confirming that they are fully vaccinated. This alternative option is only available for passengers arriving from the 72 countries whose vaccination program are recognized by the Indian government. They include Canada, Hong Kong, USA, UK, Bahrain, Qatar, Australia, New Zealand, and some European countries. See here for the official notification on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare portal.
• Australia will reopen its borders for international tourists from February 21 , subject to conditions. The move comes after almost two years of pandemic-linked travel restrictions. Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said while making the announcement: “The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia. That’s the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it.” However, travelers to Australia should note the state-wise rules and restrictions.
• Vietnam reported to reopen for tourism, welcome foreign travelers from March 15, 2022. See here for information pertaining to travel to Vietnam .
• On February 5, Bali reopened its borders for international travelers and resumed direct international flights. See here for information on travel to Indonesia .
• On February 4, the state of Kerala released revised guidelines for international travelers. ( See here for the official notification by the Kerala government.) Any international traveler coming to Kerala, irrespective of their duration of stay, must undergo symptom surveillance. If they are found symptomatic, they must undertake an RT-PCR test at cost at the airport and take further action as per the test results. The revised rules advise home quarantine for international travelers who do not show symptoms; they must self-monitor their health for 7 days from the date of arrival and undergo testing if they develop symptoms. Rapid Antigen Test is advised on the 8th day after arrival. There will be random testing of 2% of international travelers on the flight, irrespective of the country of departure, and the costs will be borne by the Kerala state government. 
• Singapore Airlines has restarted the vaccinated travel lane (VTL) with India. VTL flights allow quarantine-free travel into Singapore. There are VTL flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai into Singapore. (Singapore has also restarted its vaccinated travel lane with Malaysia.) Passengers should note that there are limited flights and reduced seat quota on these routes.
• The West Bengal state government announced on January 31, that it is rolling back its ban on all international direct flights coming from the United Kingdom to Kolkata.
• Indians who are fully vaccinated can reportedly travel to these seven countries: UK, Thailand, Singapore, Cyprus, Vietnam, Israel, and Saint Lucia in the Caribbean.
• Canada has relaxed COVID-19 testing requirements for travelers from India, starting January 28, 2022. People traveling on direct flights or on a one-stop flight from India do not have to show a negative RT-PCR test done at the Delhi airport within 18 hours of their departure. However, Canada still requires travelers from India to show an RT-PCR test report from an ICMR-approved lab . Fully vaccinated travelers must upload their relevant details onto the ArriveCAN app or website. 
• India’s Ministry of External Affairs – Guidelines for International Arrivals – Quick Access to Documents: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidelinesforInternationalarrivalsupdatedon10thFebruary2022.pdf 
• India has extended the ban on scheduled international commercial flights to 23:59 February 28, 2022: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This ban does not apply to international all-cargo operations and the DGCA-approved flights. The notification was released by the DGCA on January 19, 2022.
• Hong Kong bars flights from India, U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, France, Pakistan, and Philippines over Omicron fears, reports The Hindu (Jan.5, 2022).
• Countries reported to be requiring mandatory vaccine booster shots for travelers include Kuwait, Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Croatia, Austria, Greece, and Israel. 
• Gulf News is reporting that India is currently making a “day to day” assessment on the resumption of normal international flights. “One has to balance the concerns of public safety and travel,” said Rakesh Kumar Verma, Additional Secretary, Tourism, Government of India. “We will take very expeditious action as and when things improve and the assessment is carried out. I’m hopeful that [full] international travel will resume soon.”
• Starting January 1, 2022, India’s air bubble arrangement with Saudi Arabia will be in effect. 
• India has reached an air bubble agreement with Australia. According to reporting from Livemint : “Australian airline Qantas has recently started flights between Sydney and New Delhi. The airline is also set to start flights between New Delhi and Melbourne before Christmas. Air India also operated direct commercial flights connecting New Delhi with Melbourne and Sydney before scheduled international flights were suspended by the Indian government. Air India flights between India and Australia will resume in coming days, said a senior official with the airline.”
• As of December 7, 2021 , India’s Civil Aviation and Health Ministry has made contactless self-declaration at Air Suvidha Portal mandatory for purpose of contact tracing. Exemption forms from the Air Suvidha portal has been discontinued. All international passengers arriving in India must fill in all the details.
• 108 countries recognize India’s COVID-19 vaccination certificate for travel purpose as per data available on December 6, 2021 .

Commercial international flights were suspended in India since March 25, 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak. Travel restrictions have begun to be gradually relaxed from October 2021.

Below we highlight the latest guidelines for international travel to and from India.

Latest updates

Status of india’s international air operations.

• On March 8, an order from the government confirmed resumption of regular international flights from March 27, 2022 . “After being recognized the increase of vaccination coverage across the globe and in consultation with the stakeholders, the government of India has decided to resume scheduled commercial international passenger services to/from India from March 27, 2022, ie [that is] start of the summer schedule 2022,” said the order. India had suspended international flights for the first time in March 2020 and began operating air bubble arrangements since July 2020. 
• As of February 28, 2022, India has extended its suspension of scheduled international flights “till further orders”. 
• India rolled back its intention to resume normal international flight schedules from December due to the emergence of the Omicron COVID variant. On December 9, 2021, the civil aviation regulator announced announced the postponement of international scheduled commercial flights till February 28, 2022. Air bubble and evacuation flights schedules, approved flights, and air cargo will function.

India releases periodic guidelines for international passengers coming into India based on the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic and emergence of regional variants and their threat assessment. The latest travel guidelines for international arrivals to India were released on February 10, 2022 (and supersede previous notifications): https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidelinesforInternationalarrivalsupdatedon10thFebruary2022.pdf

• The Air Suvidha portal for submission of Self Declaration Form, which is mandatory: https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/apho-registration 

For evacuation flight schedule Phase 14 (October 1, 2021 to March 26, 2022), see Air India Vande Bharat Mission here (download PDF): https://www.airindia.in/images/pdf/VBM-schedule-dtd-30sep2021-PHASE14.pdf . The evacuation mission has been in place since May 7, 2020. For destinations operated under air bubble arrangement Phase 13 ( September 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021), click here for PDF download .

• As of April 15, 2021, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has restored electronic visa (e-visa) facility for foreigners from 156 countries. The e-visa facility is applicable for international tourists who wish to visit India for conferences, medical purposes, or business. The e-visa also extends to medical attendants.

Air Transport Bubbles

India has also established “Transport Bubbles” or “Air Travel Arrangements”, which are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are reciprocal in nature, meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits.

The details of such arrangements were last updated in February 2022.

India now has 37 air bubble arrangements in place: Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine, UAE, UK, USA, and Uzbekistan.

More details can be seen on the government website here: https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/en/about-air-transport-bubbles 

• Full service carrier Vistara has started non-stop flight services to Paris from Delhi under the air bubble agreement between India and Europe, according to reporting from The Economic Times . Under the air bubble pact, Vistara’s Boeing 787-9 (Dreamliner) aircraft will fly twice a week between Delhi and Paris – on Wednesday and Sunday. London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Doha, Sharjah, and Male are the other international destinations covered by Vistara, which is a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines.
• The US will be lifting travel restrictions on foreign countries from November 8, Monday. Travelers must show proof of vaccination (WHO-approved vaccines); unvaccinated minors will be subject to testing requirements; and all travelers will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before departure to the US. See here for Reuters coverage of the changing rules.
• Air India will offer non-stop flights between Delhi and Sydney starting November 15, 2021. Air India will operate the thrice-a-week service on the Delhi-Sydney-Delhi route under the Vande Bharat Mission. Australia has also formally recognized Covaxin, India’s COVID-19 vaccine.
• India’s new visa norms stipulate that visas will be granted to foreigners only if they use water and air routes, not land routes. The Ministry of Home Affairs has allowed the gradual resumption of international travel to start from October 15, 2021 and tourist and e-visas will be issued for only a single entry per month. From November 15, all individual foreign nationals (on fresh tourist visas) will be allowed to enter India after observing prevailing COVID-19 protocols as notified by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. 
• The Union Home Ministry announced on Thursday that India will allow foreign tourists traveling by chartered flights (Vande Bharat and air bubble flights) from October 15, rest from November 15, 2021. Foreigner tourists will be allowed to come in on non-charter flights from November 15 unless the extended restrictions on scheduled flights is substantially lifted. See the Home Ministry’s press briefing here  and reporting by the Economic Times here .
• The Hindustan Times reporting on October 2 : “Australia’s visiting trade and tourism minister Dan Tehan said foreign students will be able to start “returning towards the end of this year and the beginning of next year”, ahead of the start of the first semester in February-March 2022. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia listed Covishield and China’s Coronavac (Sinovac) as “recognised vaccines” after an initial assessment of data on protection offered by the two jabs.”
• CoWin, India’s digital platform for COVID-19 vaccination, is allowing travelers to download an international version of their COVID-19 vaccine certificate, which is compliant with WHO’s international travel guidelines. This feature went live on September 30, 2021, and allows fully vaccinated individuals to update their existing photo identity to passport number and date of birth to get their International Travel Certificate. See website: https://www.cowin.gov.in/
• The Indian Bureau of Immigration noted the specific categories of foreign nationals who are permitted to enter India by water routes or by flights, including those under the Vande Bharat Mission, or ‘Air Bubble’ (Bilateral Air Travel Arrangements) Scheme, or by any non-scheduled commercial flights as allowed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in its notice MHA O.M. No.25022/24/2020-F.V/F.I dated October 21, 2020. See here for reference.
• Air India has said it will run direct services between Muscat and Vijayawada “once a week or thrice from the first week of July”. The Vijayawada International Airport resumed international flights to Gulf destinations, such as Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat in June, to Singapore in April.
• Budget carrier Air India Express will operate a total of 64 flights between Malaysia and India in July under Vande Bharat Mission. More below.
• Foreign nationals who wish to travel to India for medical treatment can apply for a fresh visa under this category and choose one attendant to accompany them as per the visa category provisions (that is, if the original applicant has their medical visa approved).
• On October 8, 2020, India’s civil aviation authority said the future of international flights will depend on the availability of a vaccine, hinting at the extension of air travel bubble arrangements into March-April next year.
• Low-cost carrier SpiceJet announces its new flight operations connecting Delhi and Mumbai with London, starting December 4, which will come under the India-UK air bubble agreement.
• New standard operating protocol announced August 22, 2020 for non-scheduled commercial flights under the repatriation scheme, Vande Bharat Mission, and Air Transport Bubble Agreements.

(Note: This article was originally published on August 4, 2020 and last updated on February 10, 2023.)

India Briefing  is produced by  Dezan Shira & Associates . The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in  Delhi  and  Mumbai . Readers may write to   [email protected]  for business support in India.

• Previous Article Latest Updates on India’s FTAs in 2022
• Next Article A Guide to Popular Income Tax-Saving Investment Options in India

Our free webinars are packed full of useful information for doing business in India.

DEZAN SHIRA & ASSOCIATES

Meet the firm behind our content. Visit their website to see how their services can help your business succeed.

Want the Latest Sent to Your Inbox?

Subscribing grants you this, plus free access to our articles and magazines.

Get free access to our subscriptions and publications

Subscribe to receive weekly India Briefing news updates, our latest doing business publications, and access to our Asia archives.

Your trusted source for India business, regulatory and economy news, since 1999.

Subscribe now to receive our weekly India Edition newsletter. Its free with no strings attached.

Not convinced? Click here to see our last week's issue.

Search our guides, media and news archives

Type keyword to begin searching...

Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

India Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors

I’ve never been to India. I know. Crazy, right? It’s not that I don’t want to go but life has just always gotten in the way. However, India is a place a lot of people visit and, since I can’t write about it, I want to bring in someone who can: my friend Mariellen Ward. She’d a travel writer who has been going to India since 2005 and runs the website Breathedreamgo . We’ve known each other since 2010. Today, she’s going to share some tips on how to visit India for first-time visitors.

I will never forget my first time visiting India. My first car trip in Delhi felt like a roller-coaster ride. Cars and trucks of every size, overloaded bicycles and motorcycles, and even the occasional bullock cart, seemed to be coming at me from every direction. No one was paying any attention to lanes or the rules of the road. Vehicles were driving the wrong way. I couldn’t make sense of what was happening.

I had heard about the “sensory overload” travelers feel in India, and now I was experiencing it. It was exciting and nerve-wracking in equal measure. And just a taste of things to come.

I spent six months crisscrossing the subcontinent on my first trip, back in 2005 and was often overwhelmed by the huge crowds, the foreign traditions, the perplexing bureaucracy, the mind-boggling complexity, and the bewildering culture shock.

These things combined make India a challenging — though very exciting and rewarding —destination.

However, if you read and follow these travel tips for first-time visitors, they could help smooth out some of the more disorienting bumps.

1. Slow down

It takes time and some know-how to successfully navigate in India. This is not a place for hurried travel. Don’t try and see as much as you can; that is not the right approach. It’s tiring to travel in India, and the object should be to experience it, not to check things off a list.

As a general rule, for every two weeks you are in India, pick one region. For a one-month trip, just pick two regions — say, two weeks in Rajasthan and two weeks in Kerala . You can even sit in one place and still not miss anything. No matter what, if you are in India, you will experience India.

2. Adjust your attitude

Likewise, accept that things will not go as planned. Cultivate the philosophy that things happen the way they are supposed to, not the way they are planned. This attitude can lead to the most marvelous adventures.

3. Be careful who you trust

Having said that it’s a good idea to be open, a healthy level of skepticism also comes in really handy in India. There are many con men there, especially in the travel and hospitality sector. They have a sixth sense for first-time visitors and will try and take advantage.

So, learn the prices by asking locals and other travelers before negotiating with auto-rickshaw drivers and market vendors. Don’t believe drivers — or random people you come across at airports, train stations, and tourist attractions — who tell you things such as your hotel burned down, or the train you want was canceled.

Often, an opportunity to make money off of you will spur creative tactics, and some of these scams can easily catch you off guard. Once, I was looking for a new iPhone case and the vendor showed me one and told me it was made by Apple. But a close look revealed four spelling mistakes in one short sentence engraved inside the case.

4. Practice safe travel

There are also anecdotal reports of women being molested, especially in busy, crowded places. Follow basic precautions and safe travel strategies, and use common sense in India.

Here are several safety travel tips (please read my top tips for women traveling in India for more details):

• Buy a local SIM card so that you can make local calls and stay in touch.
• Research carefully where you want to go, ensuring it is an area frequented by other travelers, with good infrastructure and hotels.
• Plan your travel so you don’t arrive late at night; travel during daylight hours only.
• Be careful when posting to social media, so that you are not revealing your current location.
• Stay alert to your surroundings, and keep a close eye on your handbag and luggage.
• Keep the Tourist Helpline number handy and call if you need any assistance: 1-800-111363.

5. Try a small group tour

For your first time in India, try taking a small group or custom tour to help you get your feet wet. My company, India for Beginners , was founded to help women travel safely and well in India. We offer a few small group tours, but we specialize in creating custom tours and providing a high level of personal service, such as meeting travelers at the airport and assigning a tour manager who is available 24/7. We hold your hand in India!

6. Take the train

Taking a train in India is a great experience and should not be missed. However, you need some basic knowledge about the classes and the trains. You may not want to dive into sleeper class or general class immediately; I would recommend 2AC (second class with air conditioning) or CC (chair car). Or even 1AC (first class with air conditioning) or EC (executive chair car).

Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains are among the best in India, so try and book one of these. Overnight trains can be a problem because they don’t clean the toilets at night, so keep that in mind when you book.

7. Eat the food

India is one of the world’s great culinary destinations, and first-time visitors should not shy away from trying all the delicious cuisine on offer, even street food. Some of the famous Indian items you shouldn’t miss are masala chai, sweet lassi, biryani, pakoras, dosas, and sweets such as gulab jamun and kheer.

It’s hard to avoid getting sick in India, though, because you never know when a tainted item will cross your plate. It could be at a street stall or a five-star restaurant. However, you can reduce the chances of getting sick by following these basic rules:

• Drink filtered or bottled water only.
• Watch for undistilled water in ice or sauces.
• Avoid salad and other raw food unless you can peel it (such as an orange or banana).
• Eat only food that is freshly cooked.
• Look for busy stalls and restaurants with high turnover.

8. Get a local SIM card

Everything in India runs on WhatsApp, one-time password (OTP) verification, and text messages. Because of this, you need a local number. To do so, get a local SIM at the airport when you arrive. Still, you may have trouble paying for things online with a foreign credit card, as India requires OTP verification, and getting registered with Indian Railways so you buy train tickets online is nearly impossible.

9. Remember where you are

For example, unless you’re on the beach in Goa, it’s wise to wear modest clothing in India . Long, loose, and flowing are key for dressing for the climate and the culture.

It’s also best to be very respectful, especially with regard to the myriad religions. And be aware that genders relate differently in India, and overfriendliness can be misconstrued. Be polite, but with strangers, and especially those working in the hospitality sector, it’s usually best to dial back effusive friendliness.

10. Follow the seasons

Weather and the season matter in India. It’s incredibly hot almost everywhere in May and June, the monsoon season is July to August, and it’s surprisingly cold in north India in winter, December to February. Do some research and find out the best places to visit in India by season .

So, when it’s cold in north India, head down to tropical Kerala or Goa and hit the beach. In the heat of summer, check out Ladakh, a high desert plateau that sometimes seems otherworldly. Note: Fall is festival season, so you can experience Durga Puja in Kolkata, Diwali in Jaipur, or the Camel Fair in Pushkar.

11. Visit attractions in the morning

(However, this rule does not apply to shopping. Stores, and even restaurants, tend not to open until 10 or even 11 am. Urban Indians tend to do everything late. Breakfast and lunch are late, and dinner can be very late indeed.)

12. Head into the countryside

You can go trekking in the mountains, take a tiger safari , visit one of the many national parks, camp out overnight on a sand dune in Rajasthan, or take a boat cruise on the Brahmaputra River.

And don’t forget the rural areas. Most Indians still live in villages. It’s really worthwhile to meander through the quaint villages of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, or Uttarakhand.

India is not an easy place to travel. It’s not a relaxing vacation destination. It is, though, an experience — often a life-changing experience. Start by doing research, read books about India , watch movies about the country, learn about the cultures and various destinations, and get ready for a transformative travel experience.

Like many before you — from The Beatles to Steve Jobs to Elizabeth Gilbert — you may just fall in love with the place. As writer Rumer Godden said, “Once you have felt the dust of India, you will never be free of it.”

Mariellen Ward fell in love with India, with travel, and with travel blogging on her first trip to the country in 2005. She has spent more than seven years of the last 18 in India, and now lives there. Though Canadian by birth, Mariellen considers India to be her “soul culture.” With her travel blog, Breathedreamgo , she tries to encourage and help other female travelers to go after their dreams. And her custom tour company, India for Beginners , is dedicated to helping women travel safely and well in India.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

Related Posts

Get my best stuff sent straight to you!

Pin it on pinterest.

© Sylwia Bartyzel

Check out this year's Best in Travel winners

With its sumptuous mix of traditions, spiritual beliefs, festivals, architecture and landscapes, India will set your memories ablaze long after you've left its shores.

Best Time to Visit

Best places to visit, leave the planning to a local expert.

Experience the real India. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Rising perpendicular and impregnable from a rocky hill that itself stands 120m above Jodhpur’s skyline, Mehrangarh is one of the most magnificent forts in…

Poet Rabindranath Tagore described it as 'a teardrop on the cheek of eternity'; Rudyard Kipling as 'the embodiment of all things pure'; while its creator,…

City Palace

A complex of courtyards, gardens and buildings, the impressive City Palace is right in the centre of the Old City. The outer wall was built by Jai Singh…

Eastern Rajasthan

This magnificent fort comprises an extensive palace complex, built from pale yellow and pink sandstone, and white marble, and is divided into four main…

Conceived as the cosmic chariot of the sun god Surya, this massive, breathtakingly splendid temple was constructed in the mid-13th century, probably by…

Brihadeeshwara Temple

Thanjavur (Tanjore)

Come here twice: in the morning, when the honey-hued granite begins to assert its dominance over the white dawn sunshine, and in the evening, when the…

Golden Temple

The legendary Golden Temple is actually just a small part of this huge gurdwara complex, known to Sikhs as Harmandir Sahib. Spiritually, the focus of…

Mehrauli Archaeological Park

There are extraordinary riches scattered around Mehrauli, with more than 440 monuments – from the 10th century to the British era – dotting a forest and…

Top picks from our travel experts

The 22 best things to do in india.

Dashashwamedh Ghat

Varanasi’s liveliest and most colourful ghat. The name indicates that Brahma sacrificed (medh) 10 (das) horses (aswa) here. In spite of the persistent…

Chandni Chowk

Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)

Old Delhi’s main drag is lined by Jain, Hindu and Sikh temples, plus a church, with the Fatehpuri Masjid at one end. Tree-lined and elegant in Mughal…

Kaziranga National Park

The park’s 2400 one-horned rhinos represent about two-thirds of the world’s total population (in 1904, there were only 200). Kaziranga offers popular 4WD…

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve

West Bengal

The 2585-sq-km Sundarbans Tiger Reserve has 100-plus Royal Bengal tigers lurking in its impenetrable mangrove forests and sometimes swimming its delta…

Amrit Sarovar

Spiritually, the focus of attention within the Golden Temple Complex is the tank that surrounds the gleaming central shrine. Known as the Amrit Sarovar,…

Bandipur National Park

This park covers 880 sq km and was once the Mysore maharajas’ private wildlife reserve. It's noted for herds of gaurs (Indian bison), chitals (spotted…

Devaraja Market

Mysuru (Mysore)

Dating from Tipu Sultan’s reign, this huge and very lively bazaar has local traders selling traditional items such as flower garlands, incense, spices and…

Vittala Temple

Hampi's most exquisite structure, the 16th-century Vittala Temple stands amid boulders 2.5km from Hampi Bazaar. Work possibly started on the temple during…

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

The Western Ghats

In the foothills of the Nilgiris, this newly enlarged 765-sq-km wildlife reserve is like a classical Indian landscape painting given life, with chital…

Dudhsagar Falls

Panaji & Central Goa

Situated in the far southeastern corner of the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, Goa’s most impressive waterfall splashes down just west of the border…

The furthest south of the main ghats and one of the biggest, Assi Ghat is particularly important as the River Assi meets the Ganges near here and pilgrims…

Manikarnika Ghat

Manikarnika Ghat, the main burning ghat, is the most auspicious place for a Hindu to be cremated. Dead bodies are handled by outcasts known as doms, and…

Nagarhole National Park

West of the Kabini River is the 643-sq-km wildlife sanctuary of Nagarhole National Park (pronounced nag-ar-hole-eh). The lush forests here are home to…

Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary

The entrance to Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is easily accessible from Molem and, with an area of 240 sq km, this is the largest of Goa’s four…

Airavatesvara Temple

Three kilometres west of Kumbakonam, this late-Chola Shiva temple was constructed by Raja Raja II (1146–73). The steps of Rajagambhira Hall are carved…

Hemis National Park

Hemis National Park covers the roadless villages of Rumbak and Yurutse, the whole Markha Valley, and the passes and access trails to Stok trekking point…

Virupaksha Temple

The focal point of Hampi Bazaar is this temple, one of the city’s oldest structures, and Hampi’s only remaining working temple. The main gopuram (gateway)…

Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple

The temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram ('City of the Chola who Conquered the Ganges'), 35km north of Kumbakonam, is dedicated to Shiva. It was built by…

Pench Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh

Pench is made up mostly of teak-tree forest rather than sal, and so has a different flavour from nearby Kanha or Bandhavgarh. It also sees fewer tourists …

Kanha Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh is the king of the jungle when it comes to tiger parks, and Kanha is its most famous. The forests are vast, and while your chances of…

Itimad-ud-Daulah

Nicknamed the Baby Taj, the exquisite tomb of Mizra Ghiyas Beg should not be missed. This Persian nobleman was Mumtaz Mahal’s grandfather and Emperor…

Corbett Tiger Reserve

Uttarakhand

This famous reserve was established in 1936 as India’s first national park. Originally called Hailey National Park, then Ramganga National Park, it was…

Around 2km south of the palace, Stok's small monastery has some crumbling old stupas, but the dominant feature, 200m above, is its huge 21m-tall gilded…

Hemis Gompa

This expansive, 17th-century monastery is the spiritual centre of Ladakh’s Drukpa Buddhists; it was the fifth Gyaling Drukpa who founded Hemis after…

Thiksey Gompa

Glorious Thiksey Gompa is one of Ladakh’s biggest and most recognisable monasteries, photogenically cascading down a raised rocky promontory. At its heart…

Panna Tiger Reserve

Tigers are making a comeback after being reintroduced in 2009 to Panna Tiger Reserve from other Madhya Pradesh reserves; there are now thought to be more…

Kuldhara Village

This abandoned village is 19km west of Jaisalmer, 6km south of the Sam road. It was abandoned by its Paliwal Brahmin inhabitants – just like the area’s 83…

Sam Sand Dunes

The silky Sam dunes, 41km west of Jaisalmer along a good sealed road, are one of the most popular excursions from the city. About 2km long, the dunes are…

Jagannath Mandir

This mighty temple is home to Jagannath (Lord of the Universe), an incarnation of Vishnu. Built in its present form in 1198, the temple – closed to non…

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

If your only reason for visiting a tiger reserve in India is to see a tiger, look no further. A couple of days at Bandhavgarh should net you a tiger…

Wah Tea Estate

Himachal Pradesh

One of the Kangra Valley's oldest tea estates, Wah has been continuously cultivating since 1857. Half-hour visits let you walk through tea and herb…

Gir National Park

Gujarat & Diu

Early-morning sunlight filters through the leaves and shadows skittle through the undergrowth. Suddenly, the silence is broken by the high-pitched alarm…

Kachchh (Kutch)

This beautiful palace, built in 1752 and part of the Darbargadh palace complex, lost its top storey in the 2001 earthquake, but the lower floor is open,…

Jaisalmer Fort

Jaisalmer’s fort is a living urban centre, with about 3000 people residing within its walls. It is honeycombed with narrow winding lanes, lined with…

Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

Maharashtra

One of the best places to see tigers in India, the seldom-visited Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, 150km south of Nagpur, is now much more accessible thanks…

Guru-Ka-Langar

At the southeast end of the Golden Temple Complex is the Guru-Ka-Langar, an enormous dining room where an estimated 100,000 pilgrims come to eat every day…

Kumbhalgarh

One of the many forts built by Rana Kumbha (r 1433–68), under whom Mewar reached its greatest extents, this isolated fort with a derelict palace is…

Yungdrung Gompa

Lamayuru's gompa is one of the most photogenic Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh. Behind glass within the gompa’s main prayer hall is a tiny cave-niche in…

Mehtab Bagh

This park, originally built by Emperor Babur as the last in a series of 11 parks on the Yamuna’s east bank (long before the Taj was conceived), fell into…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip.

Best Things to Do

The scale of India is staggering – where to begin in this magical country? Don't worry, we've done the planning for you with our list of top things to do.

Things to Know

India's overwhelming size and diversity can be a lot for first-time visitors. Make it easier with our tips on what you need to know before you go.

Transportation

The sheer scale of India can be overwhelming. Find your way around with our tips on train tickets, bus services and accessible transportation.

Visa Requirements

India is an incredible country with so much to offer travelers. Ensure you breeze across the border with our guide to its visa requirements.

Money and Costs

India is one of the most affordable countries in the world to visit. Make your money go even further with these budget friendly tips.

Traveling with Kids

The incredible sights, sounds and smells in India mean your little ones will never be bored for long. Here's how best to visit India with tots in tow.

Best Road Trips

The vast expanse of India has infinite incredible experiences awaiting you. See this beautiful nation on your schedule on one of our top road trips.

Accessibility

Led by India-based Planet Abled, people with various disabilities and those without disabilities travel side by side.

Plan with a local

Experience the real India

Let a local expert craft your dream trip.

Latest stories from India

Filter by interest:

• All Interests
• Adventure Travel
• Art & Culture
• Beaches, Coasts & Islands
• Food & Drink

Destination Practicalities

Dec 20, 2023 • 7 min read

Dec 20, 2023 • 11 min read

Dec 17, 2023 • 22 min read

Dec 16, 2023 • 12 min read

Dec 15, 2023 • 17 min read

Dec 15, 2023 • 14 min read

Dec 13, 2023 • 7 min read

Dec 12, 2023 • 12 min read

Dec 12, 2023 • 11 min read

Dec 11, 2023 • 14 min read

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in India

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks.

Get to the heart of India with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

India and beyond

Update April 12, 2024

Information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

• Travel Advisories |
• Contact Us |
• MyTravelGov |

Find U.S. Embassies & Consulates

Travel.state.gov, congressional liaison, special issuance agency, u.s. passports, international travel, intercountry adoption, international parental child abduction, records and authentications, popular links, travel advisories, mytravelgov, stay connected, legal resources, legal information, info for u.s. law enforcement, replace or certify documents.

Share this page:

India Travel Advisory

Travel advisory june 23, 2023, india - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued with updates to health information.

Exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism.

Do not travel to:

• The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest .
• Within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict .

Country Summary : Indian authorities report rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, has occurred at tourist sites and in other locations.

Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and government facilities.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in rural areas from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal as U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel to these areas.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to India.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined India has a moderate level of COVID-19.  Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.

If you decide to travel to India:

• Do not travel alone, particularly if you are a woman. Visit our website for Women Travelers .
• Review your personal security plans and remain alert to your surroundings.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report for India.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Terrorist attacks and violent civil unrest are possible in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Avoid all travel to this state (with the exception of visits to the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh). Sporadic violence occurs particularly along the Line of Control (LOC) separating India and Pakistan, and in tourist destinations in the Kashmir Valley: Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. The Indian government prohibits foreign tourists from visiting certain areas along the LOC.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas .

India-Pakistan Border – Level 4: Do Not Travel

India and Pakistan maintain a strong military presence on both sides of the border. The only official India-Pakistan border crossing point for persons who are not citizens of India or Pakistan is in the state of Punjab between Attari, India, and Wagah, Pakistan. The border crossing is usually open but confirm the current status of the border crossing prior to commencing travel. A Pakistani visa is required to enter Pakistan. Only U.S. citizens residing in India may apply for a Pakistani visa in India. Otherwise apply for a Pakistani visa in your country of residence before traveling to India.

Northeastern States – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Incidents of violence by ethnic insurgent groups, including bombings of buses, trains, rail lines, and markets, occur occasionally in the northeast.

U.S. government employees at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India are prohibited from traveling to the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur without special authorization from the U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata.

Central and East India – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Maoist extremist groups, or “Naxalites,” are active in a large swath of India from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal, particularly in rural parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and on the borders of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha. The Naxalites have conducted frequent terrorist attacks on local police, paramilitary forces, and government officials.

Due to the fluid nature of the threat, all U.S. government travelers to states with Naxalite activity must receive special authorization from the U.S. consulate responsible for the area to be visited. U.S. officials traveling only to the capital cities in these states do not need prior authorization.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas . 

Travel Advisory Levels

Assistance for u.s. citizens, search for travel advisories, external link.

You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State.

Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.

You are about to visit:

India received 6.19 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during 2022 as compare to 1.52 million during the same period of 2021.

There were 10.93 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during pre-pandemic year 2019. Tourism Industry has shown good signs of revival after Covid-19 pandemic. According to latest information received from Bureau of Immigration, India received 6.19 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during 2022 as compare to 1.52 million during the same period of 2021.

Ministry of Tourism, Government of India under its Schemes of Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD and Assistance to Central Agencies, provides central financial assistance to State Governments/ Union Territories/Central Agencies for development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities in the country to provide an enriching tourism experience to visitors in a planned and phased manner.

The Ministry of Tourism has set up a 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Info-Helpline on the toll free number 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 in 12 Languages including 10 international languages (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic), Hindi & English for domestic and foreign tourists to provide support service in term of information relating to Travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance to tourists in distress while travelling in India.

The details of Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through tourism in India during 2021 and 2022 (in Rs. Crore) are given below:

*: Provisional estimates

The Ministry of Tourism has taken several initiatives to give boost to the tourism sector in the country and to increase foreign tourist arrivals, details of which are:

i.          Launched Dekho Apna Desh initiative with the objective of creating awareness among the citizens about the rich heritage and culture of the country and encourage citizens to travel within the country.

ii.         Conducting Programmes under the ‘Capacity Building for Service Providers’ (CBSP) Scheme to train and up-grade manpower to provide better service standards.

iii.        Launched Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme, a digital initiative that aims at creating an online  learning platform with the objective of creating a pool of well trained professional tourist facilitators across the country to support tourists.

iv.        24x7 toll free Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline.

v.         Providing facility of e-Visa for 5 sub-categories i.e. e-Tourist visa, e-Business visa, e-Medical visa, e-Medical Attendant visa and e-Conference visa for nationals of 166 countries.

vi.        E-Visa has been further liberalized and the visa fee has been substantially reduced.

vii.       New mountain peaks have been opened for Mountaineering/Trekking to give boost to adventure tourism in the country.

viii.      Lowering of GST on hotels rooms with tariffs of ₹ 1,001  to ₹ 7,500/night to 12%; those above ₹ 7,501 to 18% to increase India’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.

ix.        On the recommendation of the Ministry of Tourism, 59 tourism routes have been awarded to the identified airlines by the Ministry of Civil Aviation under the RCS UDAN Scheme, for which Ministry of Tourism extends financial support in form of VGF (Viability Gap Funding). 51 of these routes have been operationalized till date.

x.         In order to boost visitor arrival, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has declared “Incredible India! Visit India Year 2023”.

G20 meetings are being held at 55 destinations throughout the country. The infrastructure at these cities are being augmented and upgraded for the G20 meetings.

Tourism offerings are being highlighted in run up to these meetings. Excursion of Delegates is also organised to nearby tourist attractions. Effort is being made to make G20 Delegates visiting these destinations are going back to their countries as tourism ambassadors. Important tourism sites and facilities are being upgraded to international standards.

This reply was given by Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North-Eastern Region Shri G Kishan Reddy in Rajya Sabha yesterday.

India Tours & Vacations

There’s probably no other country on the planet that blazes its way into your memory like India.

Years later, you can still hear the morning calls of the chai wallahs; see smoke curling over the Ganges during a golden Varanasi sunrise , and smell the rich aromas of simmering curry. A lot of India tours rush from highlight to highlight, ticking them off in a blur of temples and tikka. But not us. Our India holidays are more about spotting Bengal tigers in Ranthambhore or Panna National Park, hanging with nomads in Jaisalmer, meeting the holy men of Pushkar, or hunting down the best street eats. This isn’t just the India you see on postcards. This is India as it is. Raw, bizarre and totally addictive.

Our India trips

Let's create an exclusive trip for your group.

India tour reviews

Filter by rating

India's Golden Triangle

Indian Getaway

The 7 best places to go on a hot air balloon ride  

Savor Delhi with the best of the capital’s street food

From Delhi to Udaipur, here are the five Rajasthan cities I think you should visit in India

Following in sacred steps on a journey from India to Nepal  

Lighting up hearts: My Diwali experience with a family in India

What to expect on an Intrepid Premium trip

10 awesome places to go for your 21st birthday

10 things you’ll only know if you’ve travelled in India

Popular local regions 

India at a glance, capital city.

Delhi (population, 32.94 million)

1.408 billion

Indian Rupees (INR)

Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Bengali, Kashmiri, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, English

(GMT+05:30) Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type C (European 2-pin) Type D (Old British 3-pin) Type M (see D)

Learn more about India

Best time to visit india.

Due to India's size and topography, the climate varies from place to place but the best time to visit, generally speaking, is in the winter from December until early March. During the coolest months (December-January), temperatures can get quite cold in Delhi and in the north, especially at night. The whole country tends to get very hot from April onwards and most regions experience the summer from late May to around October. The summer offers hot and humid conditions, although this is considered one of the best times to visit Ladakh and the hills.

Learn more about the best time to visit India

Culture and customs

India is one of the world’s oldest civilizations with a culture steeped in ancient beliefs and traditions. Religion also plays a massive role in everyday life with 80% of the population practicing Hinduism while the remaining 20% is divided into Muslim (India has the world’s second-largest Muslim population), Christian, Sikhism and Buddhist populations.

At its core, India remains a deeply conservative nation; however, it has been touched by rapid modernization and Western influences in recent years. Some families still adhere to a traditional structure (especially in more rural areas) with generations living under the same roof, the eldest male at the head of the family and arranged marriages. But this is becoming less and less popular, particularly in larger cities, where Western ideas and societal shifts heavily influence the culture due to things like Bollywood films.

While some behavioral standards remain the same (public displays of affection are still taboo), it’s important to keep in mind that with more than one billion people speaking over 122 languages across 28 states and seven territories, it’s impossible to describe one unified culture for the entire nations and the character of India’s people can vary greatly from city to city.

Witness India's multi-faceted culture firsthand on a Delhi to Goa adventure - 15 days

Top places to visit in India

Surely there isn't a more iconic image of India than the Taj Mahal. It's spectacular and soul-stirring, but words simply aren't enough to describe the beauty of this immense mausoleum (even when it's packed with tourists). Best known as a monument to love and loss, the 17th-century building was built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his second wife – a bold declaration of love, indeed! Wander around Agra on our 3 day Taj Mahal Extension or on our 15 day Real Kathmandu to Delhi tour.

2. Udaipur, Rajasthan

Welcome to Udaipur, India's most romantic city that could easily give Venice a run for its money. You'll undoubtedly fall in love as you explore its grand marble palaces, shimmering lakes, and winding alleys filled with cozy chai bars and dizzying bazaars. It's also a popular hub for Indian artists, dancers, and musicians whose talents will pull you deeper under Udaipur's spell. Get lost in the beauty of Udaipur on our 15 day Rajasthan Experience or on our 15 day Classic Rajasthan tour.

3. Ranthambhore National Park

Ranthambhore National Park was once a famous hunting ground for the Maharajas of Jaipur, but these days it's a haven for wildlife. Jump into a 4WD and search for Bengal tigers, hyenas, jackals, deer, langurs, marsh crocodiles and more. You can also hike up to the stunning ruins of the 10th-century fort or experience the peace and tranquillity of the ancient Ganesh temple (one of the oldest temples in India). Go wildlife spotting on our 14 day Premium India in Depth tour or on our 10 day Northern India Family Holiday.

4. Kerala Backwaters

Surrounded by tea and coffee plantations and connected by a series of blissful, palm-shaded backwaters, Kerala is a peaceful oasis deep within India's colorful chaos. Float along the dreamy waters of rural Kerala on a houseboat, paddle over to an island village on a pole boat for an overnight homestay with a local family, and enjoy traditional Keralan food served on a banana leaf. Explore the Kerala Backwaters on our 13 day Premium South India tour or on our 13 day Classic South India tour.

5. Varanasi

Varanasi is a place that will be etched in your memory long after your time in India is over. Uncover the stories and secrets of this holy city with your local guide, get lost in the laneways, cruise along the golden Ganges at dawn, or witness ancient religious traditions and groups of pilgrims praying in the river. Even if all you do in Varanasi is sit along the ghats and watch life go by, you'll walk away with countless stories to tell. Experience Varanasi's holiness on our 4 day Varanasi Homestay Extension , on our 11 day India Getaway or on our 11 day Real North India adventure.

This holy desert city is one of the main pilgrimage destinations for Hindus. Explore the bustling ghats and temples around Pushkar Lake, watch devout rituals and worship at the Brahma Temple, share a meal with a local family while learning about their life and culture, or hike up the hill to the beautiful Savitri Temple for unbeatable sunrise views over the town. Embark on a pilgrimage on our 22 day North India Revealed tour or on our 15 day Cycle Rajasthan tour.

Get ready for delicious bites and lots of Bollywood. Some say Mumbai is the food capital of India, and you'll see, smell and taste huge culinary diversity here that celebrates regional cuisines from across the country. You might also like to watch life go by at Dhobi Ghat (the world’s largest outdoor laundry), check out the Bollywood Walk of Fame, or explore the sprawling Crawford Market selling everything from fruit to jewelry. Snack your way through Mumbai on our 15 day India Real Food Adventure .

8. Dharamsala

The mountainous Himalayan town of Dharamsala, also known as McLeod Ganj, is home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile. Tibetan culture is central to life here and it won't take long for the town's calming, grounding energy to wash over you. Sip chai and watch robed monks strolling between the monasteries, listen to the prayer flags fluttering in the breeze, and visit the Dalai Lama’s temple. Soak up the Tibetan culture on our 13 day Mountains & Mystics of India tour.

9. Rishikesh

Not only is Rishikesh the yoga capital of the world, but it's also one of the best places to experience the sacred soul of the Ganges. Join a yoga or meditation class along the riverbanks, enjoy delicious vegetarian food in one of the many rooftop cafes, go white-water rafting down the Ganges for a different perspective of this holy river, or experience the nightly fire ritual known as Ganga Aarti at one of the city's dazzling temples. Meditate in Rishikesh on our 19 day Best of India tour.

Tinged with Portuguese influence (and flavors!), the state of Goa boasts lovely beaches, rich traditions, World Heritage-listed buildings and mouth-watering food. Kick back with a coconut (or cocktail), join a yoga class on the beach, visit a local spice farm to learn about some of the essential ingredients in Indian cuisine, or pick up fresh ingredients at the market and cook up a storm with a local Goan cook. Experience Goa on our 37 day Iconic India tour or on our 16 day South India Revealed tour.

The gorgeous pink stone buildings in Jaipur’s old town have earned the city its 'Pink City' nickname. Discover buzzing bazaars filled with handcrafted textiles and jewelry, dodge camel carts and rickshaws as you stroll through the streets, explore the oh-so-impressive Amber Fort, or visit the home of a local Brahmin family to learn about their culture and way of life over a delicious homemade meal. Marvel at Jaipur's pink-hued streets on our 8 day India's Golden Triangle tour or on our 12 day India Women's Expedition.

Home to the magnificent Mysore Palace and the birthplace of Ashtanga yoga, there's no denying Mysore is one of South India's most captivating cities. Lose yourself in the grandeur of the palace's ornately decorated rooms, marvel at the intricate Hoysala architecture of Keshava Temple, go on a hunt for the tastiest idli, or share a tasty biryani lunch with a local family. Explore Mysore on our 15 day Southern India tour.

Delhi is a place where ancient temples stand beside Bollywood billboard ads, people commute to work alongside sacred cows and monkeys, and pockets of peace exist within the chaos. The electric energy of India's capital city is palpable, and while it can take some getting used to, there's no denying the excitement of discovering new sights, sounds, tastes and smells at every turn – especially when you have a local leader by your side. Experience the chaos of Delhi on our 15 day Delhi to Kathmandu tour or on our 9 day North India Highlights tour.

14. Thar Desert, Rajasthan

Check another item off your bucket list as you travel across the pristine dunes of the Thar Desert on camelback, stopping at a few dhanis (small villages) along the way. When you reach your camp, enjoy dinner in the relaxing desert ambiance before sleeping in a comfy permanent tent under the stars. This desert safari is bound to be one of the main highlights of your adventure. Soak into the sand on our 16 day Real Rajasthan tour or on our 11 day Rajasthan Adventure .

Food and drink

Intrepid believes that one of the best ways to experience a country is by eating. Whether you're sampling street food, savoring a cheap eat or indulging in a banquet, there are endless options to choose from wherever you are in the world. Indian food is one of the world's most favored cuisines, and travelers will be in for a real treat when visiting India. Relying heavily on spices and vegetables, vegetarians will be delighted with the multitude of meat-free dishes available and visitors will be able to notice marked differences in the cuisines of each region.

Read more about Indian food

Read more about Indian drinks

Geography and environment

India shares land borders with   Bangladesh ,   China , Pakistan,   Nepal ,   Myanmar   and   Bhutan , and also has wide stretches of coastline along the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean. As the seventh largest country in the world, India is home to a variety of terrains - the Himalayas of the north, the deserts and plains of the west, the fertile waterways of the south and the hills and forests of the east. Development is occurring at a rapid pace, with India's large, sprawling cities consisting of everything from five star hotels to shanty towns, and with modern malls and cinemas sitting comfortably alongside bazaars and street food vendors. A trip through India will reveal a diverse range of landscapes, villages, cities and environments.

History and government

Early history.

Humans have inhabited India for as long as 75,000 years, with early civilizations flourishing as early as 3300 BC. Over the centuries, India both influenced and was influenced by other nations and kingdoms, with far-reaching trade, conquest and migration spreading the subcontinent's culture far and wide. Empires rose and fell over the centuries, with the wealthy Mughal Dynasty ruling most of India by 1600. At the same time, different European nations started showing an interest in India after being brought to the area for trade. The Portuguese, Dutch, British and French all had vested interests in India, with the British East India Company being given the rights to trade in India in 1617. The 1857 rebellion and War of Independence culminated in the decline of Mughal rule and were considered the first movements against the British Raj's heavy-handed rule of the country.

Recent history

By the 1920s, India's independence movement had grown considerably with Mohandas Gandhi leading mass movements based on passive resistance and non-cooperation against the British Raj. Although it took decades, India finally gained independence in 1947. More recently, India has seen dramatic societal changes mainly due to modernization and globalization. A new wave of prosperity has seen the rise of the middle class, with men and women entering into new work roles in telecommunications, manufacturing and business. India's large cities are dealing with the mass migration of rural citizens, who are moving to the city to seek better employment, education and opportunities for their children.

Top 10 sensory experiences of India

1. potent pleasures.

Breathe in the intoxicating aroma of fresh spices while wandering through the bustling markets of India. Cardamom, coriander, cinnamon and nutmeg are classic spices of the subcontinent and aren't hard to find - the fresh scent envelopes markets across the country.

2. Fiery flavours

Treat your tastebuds to the spicy flavors of India with a traditional aromatic curry. Indulge in the heady mix of coconut milk, chili, ginger, ghee and spices, then cool down by sipping on a refreshing Lassi - the perfect antidote to the unrelenting heat of an Indian curry.

3. Colourful chaos

Experience the urban cacophony of Delhi - a unique collision of cultures, cattle and people. Hear the rumble of cars, trucks and buses, the frantic calls of street vendors and hawkers, the sizzle of food and the rustic ring of a cow's bell in this unforgettable and irrepressible city.

4. In the pink

Admire the dazzling pink hues of Jaipur. Watch the historic palaces, forts, temples and monuments of the 'Pink City' be bathed in a dusky pink glow as the golden sun sets over the dramatic Aravalli Range.

5. Rat race

Walk barefoot through the Karni Mata Temple as thousands of rats scamper across the marble floor. Just felt a furry rodent scurry over your feet? Fear not - it's a sign of good luck in this unique rat-worshipping temple.

6. Instant karma

Experience the multi-sensory wonder of an Aarti ceremony on the banks of the Ganges. Hear the clanging of bells, watch the luminous glow of fire, smell wafts of pungent incense and hear rousing devotional songs and mantras. Be immersed in the fire and prayer of this Hindu ritual and be changed forever.

7. Gorgeous Goa

Sit beachside in Goa and gaze into the sublime beauty of the ocean. Take a moment to kick back and soak up the clear skies and deep blue sea of this exotic island. Watch the sun's rays shimmer on the horizon and bask in the golden glow of this balmy retreat.

8. Silky sophistication

For a slice of extravagance, feel the soft, luxurious touch of traditional Indian silk. Made in a variety of vibrant colors and perfect for making everything from saris to prayer mats and decorative hangings to upholstery, the inimitable feel of finely crafted silk is a simple pleasure in life.

9. Answered prayers

Hear the flutter of prayer flags as they flap in the wind near the isolated monasteries of Dharamsala. In a stark environment of rugged, mountainous landscapes, quietness permeates the air, except for the unique sound of prayer flags collecting prayers and sending them to the heavens above.

10. Big screen brilliance

Be treated to a feast for the senses at a bombastic Bollywood movie screening. Covet the glamorous costumes, marvel at the energetic choreography and delight in the lively music. Revel in the razzle-dazzle of the whole spectacle and be swept away by the irresistible charm of India's triumphant cinematic phenomenon.

India's fragrant bazaars, modern boutiques and village markets are brimming with wares harnessing centuries of artistic traditions. With talented artisans and top quality items at low prices, India is a shopper's paradise. It's a good idea to check with your local customs officials to ensure that you are able to bring certain items back into your home country. Australia and New Zealand generally have strict quarantine laws.

Things to buy in India

From big, chunky ornate silver earrings to vibrant bangles and bold statement rings, India's silversmiths and jewelry makers ensure there are lots of pieces to choose from in the bazaars and shops.

2. Wraps, scarves and shawls

Whether you're looking for pricey pashmina, luxurious silk or colorful cotton, India has a huge variety of materials to wrap yourself in.

If you're lucky enough to be able to bring tea into your home country, then pick up some of the world's finest tea from the Darjeeling, Assam or Nilgiri regions.

Indian cotton sheets, embroidered bedspreads and colorful cushion covers can be picked up in bazaars at a fraction of the price paid elsewhere.

Many shops are open between 9 am and 7 pm, Monday through Saturday, though hours can vary at bazaars. Most shops are closed on Sunday.

Festivals and events in India

Many of India’s biggest festivals are religious and follow either the Indian lunar calendar or the Islamic calendar. The dates may change each year, but the fervor of celebration never does. Some of the best and biggest festivals to keep an eye out for in India are:

Holi (Festival of Colour)

Take a whole lot of colored powder and water, add thousands of happy people not afraid to get a little (or a lot) dirty and you have Holi – a technicolor Hindu celebration that marks the beginning of spring and the triumph of good over evil. Celebrations take place across India in either February or March.

Diwali (Festival of Lights)

India’s biggest festival – meaning ‘rows of lighted lamps’, people decorate their homes with colorful lights, candles are lit and firework displays take place across the country. The celebrations are particularly spectacular in Varanasi, where illuminated candles and earthen lamps are floated down the Ganges River as fireworks light up the sky. This five-day festival takes place every October or November.

Gujarat Kite Festival

Large, colorful and unusual kites flood the skies of Gujarat each January to commemorate the start of summer and the beginning of harvest. Purchase your own at Patang Bazaar, a famous kite market, or just watch the others dance through the sky.

Mumbai Ganesh Festival

The birth of the elephant-headed god, Ganesh, is celebrated for 10-days each August or September in cities across India, but Mumbai takes it to another level. An incredible energy can be felt throughout the city as people pack the streets for a massive party and an elaborate statue of Ganesh is paraded around.

Pushkar Camel Fair

Thousands of camels (and their owners dressed in their finest garb) descend upon Rajasthan's Pushkar for the annual camel fair. Camels are traded and raced, acrobats and performers entertain crowds at a nearby fair, while finely dressed males and bejeweled females take the chance to let their hair down.

Learn more about festivals in India

Further reading

Similar destinations.

We have a variety of similar destinations, trips and routes that you could consider! Tie another trip into your holiday, or, see how we can help you get from A to B. We have tours departing from a variety of locations around India. The options below may be of interest:

Kathmandu to Delhi Tours From Delhi Tours to Delhi

India travel FAQs

Do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before traveling?

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

Is it safe to travel to India?

India can be overwhelming sometimes, but it's generally a safe country for travelers and many people enjoy their time without any problems.

Is it safe for women to travel in India?

India can be overwhelming sometimes but most travellers enjoy their time in India without any problems. That said, some regions experience ongoing issues, and there are several things a traveler should keep in mind when traveling through India to minimize their chances of running into any trouble.

Do I need a visa to travel to India?

Yes, all foreigners entering India will need a visa. Whether you can apply for an e-visa is dependent on your nationality, the duration of your India tour and how you plan on entering the country.

This page is for general information only and may be subject to change. It is your responsibility to obtain relevant visa and travel information required for entry, departure and travel to each country or region you visit on your trip. You should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates. 

Last updated: 22/06/2023

Is tipping customary in India?

While traveling through India, on a tour or otherwise, it’s expected one would tip porters, drivers, restaurant staff and other service workers given the low wages they earn.

What is the internet access like in India?

Internet access is generally very good in India, with most cafes, restaurants and accommodations offering free wi-fi, even in the more rural areas. There is also good phone coverage for data use if you choose to purchase a local SIM card to stay connected for the duration of your India tour.

If you do wish to purchase a local SIM in India, make sure your phone has been unlocked before your tour begins. There are quite a number of carriers that are all very competitive, but Airtel is probably the best option for travelers. You’ll need to a copy of your passport and visa to pick up a SIM, and the process can sometimes be a hassle, but rates in India are very affordable given the competition.

Can I use my cell phone while in India?

Yes, you’ll be able to use your cell phone while on an India tour, but only if you have activated global roaming or purchased a local SIM card.

What are the toilets like in India?

Squat toilets are the most common toilets in India. Always carry your own toilet paper and soap or hand sanitizer, as they are usually not provided. Flushable, Western-style toilets can be found in up-market restaurants, some higher-end hotels and in some tourist areas.

What will it cost for a...?

India’s unit of currency is the rupee:

• Cup of tea = INR 7-10
• Small bottle of beer = INR 150-350
• Meal at a local restaurant (thali, masala dosa or similar) = INR 100-200
• Meal in a tourist restaurant = INR 350-600

Can I drink the tap water in India?

India is notorious among travelers for sickness – we’ve all heard horror stories about Delhi belly. We do not recommend ever drinking tap water in India, and travelers should avoid drinks with ice and foods that haven’t been cooked or peeled. Salad is off the menu for now ­– let your inner child rejoice!

Are credit cards widely accepted in India?

Credit cards are being accepted in an increasing number of cafes, shops, restaurants and hotels in India, with Mastercard and Visa being the most common. That said, cash is still king, especially outside of cities like Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai.

What is ATM access like in India?

ATMs are widespread across India in both cities and smaller towns. Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus and Maestro are the most commonly accepted cards, but of those Visa and Mastercard are more likely to have success. The daily withdrawal limit differs from bank to bank.

What is the weather like in India?

The weather in India varies from region to region, but it’s generally safe to say that December–February sees dry, cooler weather before the heat intensifies from March–May. June, July and August are the monsoon months, though the amount of rain differs across the country, while October, September and November see rainfall ease once more.

What public holidays are celebrated in India?

India has different classifications of holidays because of the multitude of faiths in the country. There are compulsory holidays and then various others chosen by government offices within each state. The following are the compulsory ‘gazetted holidays’ taken by government offices across India:

• 26 Jan: Republic Day
• Feb/Mar: Maha Shivaratri*
• Mar/Apr: Rama Navami*
• Apr: Mahavir Jayanti*
• Mar/Apr: Good Friday*
• May: Buddha’s Birthday*
• May: Eid ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan)*
• Jul/Aug: Eid ul-Adha*
• 15 Aug: Independence Day
• Aug/Sep: Janmashtami*
• Aug/Sep: Islamic New Year*
• Sep/Oct: Dussehra*
• Oct: Birth of the Prophet Mohammed*
• 2 Oct: Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday
• Oct/Nov: Diwali*
• Nov: Guru Nanak Jayanti*
• 25 Dec: Christmas Day

* Please note, India public holidays may vary.

Is India safe for LGBTQIA+ travelers?

The majority of Indian society is still conservative, and while most travelers will have a welcoming and hospitable experience, discretion is still advised for LGBTQIA+ travelers, particularly in more remote towns and villages which may be more conservative. The same advice is also given to heterosexual couples (and couples of all other sexual orientations) as public displays of affection other than hugging and holding hands are generally frowned upon.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting  Equaldex  or  ILGA  before you travel.

Is India accessible for travelers with disabilities?

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

As a general rule, knowing some common words in the local language, carrying a written itinerary with you and taking to the streets in a group, rather than solo, can help make your travel experience the best it can be.

What to wear in India

What you decide to pack and wear in India will depend on where you are and what time of year it is. The weather across India usually follows the monsoon cycle, so it’s quite easy to plan what to pack when it comes to rain, but temperatures will vary quite a bit from the north to the south.

How do I stay safe and healthy while traveling?

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

How will I be traveling around India?

Intrepid believes half the fun of experiencing a new country is getting there, and getting around once there! Where possible, Intrepid uses local transport options and traditional modes of transport - which usually carry less of an environmental impact, support small local operators and are heaps more fun.

Depending on which trip you're on while in India, you may find yourself traveling by Jeep.

Safari through jungles and national parks aboard a jeep, which is ideal for conquering the difficult terrain and offers supreme wildlife viewing opportunities.

Cruising the waterways of India is a revealing, inspiring experience. Whether it’s the iconic Ganges or peaceful Kerala backwaters, seeing India from the water is a must.

Traveling by train is one of the great experiences of India. It's a system which looks like chaos, but it works - and well.

Use the efficient metro to get around the sights and suburbs of Delhi.

Zip around the big cities of India by auto rickshaw.

What kind of accommodation will I be staying in?

Traveling with Intrepid is a little bit different. We endeavor to provide travelers with an authentic experience to remember, so we try to keep accommodation as unique and traditional as possible.

When traveling with us in India you may find yourself staying in a homestay.

Make new friends, feast on authentic home cooking and receive kind hospitality while staying with friendly families in India.

With walks, wildlife spotting and adventure sports nearby, staying in a jungle resort is the perfect way to see another side of India.

From ex-royal palaces to historic hill stations and converted forts, India is full of heritage properties that have been turned into comfortable accommodation with an old-world touch.

What is it like traveling on a small group tour?

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or you’re about to embark on your first trip, traveling can be as intimidating as it is exciting. That's the beauty of a small group tour. From handling the logistics and organizing amazing cultural activities to local leaders who know each destination like the back of their hand (like which street has the best markets and where to get the most authentic food), traveling on a small group tour with Intrepid will give you unforgettable travel experiences without the hassle that comes with exploring a new place. Plus, you'll have ready-made friends to share the journey with. All you have to do is turn up with a healthy sense of adventure and we’ll take care of the rest.

Does my trip to India support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveler. Trips to India directly support our foundation partner, Positive Change for Marine Life. 

Positive Change for Marine Life

Positive Change for Marine Life nurtures ocean health with community-led conservation initiatives. Donations help them expand and implement vital programs in India that empower local communities, support sustainable fishing practices, restore marine habitats and drive policy change. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

• India Today
• Business Today
• Reader’s Digest
• Harper's Bazaar
• Brides Today
• Cosmopolitan
• Aaj Tak Campus
• India Today Hindi

Get 72% off on an annual Print +Digital subscription of India Today Magazine

The travel trends 2022 will likely see, there is a marked change in both the behaviour and outlook of travellers post the pandemic.

Listen to Story

Says Ritu Mehrotra, regional manager, South Asia, Booking.com , "As a business and industry, we need to be flexible knowing that the recovery trajectory will not always be linear or predictable, but overall, we know travel will eventually be back and continue to grow.”

Before the news of the Omicron variant started coming in, Booking.com saw search interest from Indian travellers to countries such as the UAE, Sri Lanka, UK, and France for the month of December. Vistara, on the other hand, did see temporary fluctuation in their domestic travel bookings in the beginning of December, but the airline has a positive outlook towards the new year. According to Vinod Kannan, chief commercial officer, Vistara, "We look forward to gaining momentum in expanding our international network and are also gearing up to add 10 to 12 destinations to our network as soon as we can."

So, what would the travel trajectory be like in 2022? Besides safety and high-hygiene standards, convenience in terms of flexibility in booking and cancellations will continue to remain a key ask from travellers.

Vipul Prakash, chief operating officer, MakeMyTrip points out that some of the trends that will continue to remain strong in 2022 will include people opting for staycations in homestays such as villas and holiday homes, preference for mini-holidays over one big annual trip besides demand for travel deals, offers and value-adds. “The pandemic has also led to a conscious shift among travellers with many searching and booking sustainable travel options.

Another big shift in travel behaviour during this period has been an increase in interest to discover and explore some of the hidden gems or unexplored destinations," adds Prakash. And In 2022, he hopes to see many people—majorly couples and young adventure travellers—booking multiple trips to some of the unheard leisure spots across the country.

The travel predictions research by Booking.com for 2022 indicates that travellers will make the most of their trips and move cautiously through unpredictable times, given health and safety remain top priorities.

Says Mehrotra, “Vacations will become an important facet to travellers’ emotional well-being, as voiced by 84 per cent of Indian travellers, who feel travel helps their mental and emotional well-being more than other forms of self-care." With this in mind, Booking.com expects to see a significant increase in travellers looking to separate work from vacation time. "In the year to come, there will be an increased desire to connect authentically with local communities as travellers will seek to be more mindful about every trip they take," adds Mehrotra.

One of the most prominent travel trends that have emerged from the pandemic is the increased preference for non-stop, direct connectivity, especially on long-haul routes. Another notable trend that has emerged is that people don't book as much in advance now as compared to pre-pandemic times. Explains Kannan, "Right now, a significant number of people make their travel bookings within 10 to 15 days of travel. This is primarily because they want to be sure of being able to travel given the changing Covid-19 restrictions and requirements."

Technology and digitalisation have transformed several aspects of every day life and the story with travel is no different. The pandemic has fast-tracked digital transformation across the travel ecosystem, which customers have adapted to well.

Subscribe to India Today Magazine

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Travel and tourism industry in India - statistics & facts

The most profitable travel segments, agents to help package travel, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Travel & tourism development rank India 2011-2021

Leading global travel markets by travel and tourism contribution to GDP 2019-2022

Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP of India 2019-2022

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

Value of travel market in India FY 2018-2027

Travel market distribution in India FY 2018-2027, by type

Related topics

Recommended.

• Tourism worldwide
• Hotel industry worldwide
• COVID-19: impact on the tourism industry worldwide
• Tourism industry in China

Recommended statistics

Key figures.

• Basic Statistic Direct contribution of tourism and hospitality to GDP in India 2012-2028
• Basic Statistic Revenue share from tourism in India 2013-2022, by segment
• Premium Statistic Distribution of direct travel and tourism GDP in India FY 2023, by spending type
• Basic Statistic Number of jobs in travel and tourism sector in India FY 2014-2022
• Premium Statistic PE/VC investment deals in travel and hospitality 2013-2022

Direct contribution of tourism and hospitality to GDP in India 2012-2028

Direct contribution of tourism and hospitality to GDP in India from 2012 to 2017, with an estimate until 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue share from tourism in India 2013-2022, by segment

Distribution of revenue from tourism to GDP in India from 2013 to 2022, by segment

Distribution of direct travel and tourism GDP in India FY 2023, by spending type

Distribution of direct travel and tourism GDP in India in the financial year 2023, by spending type

Number of jobs in travel and tourism sector in India FY 2014-2022

Number of direct and indirect jobs in the travel and tourism sector across India from financial year 2014 to 2022, with projection for 2023 (in millions)

PE/VC investment deals in travel and hospitality 2013-2022

Number of private equity and venture capital deals in the travel and hospitality sector in India from 2013 to 2022

• Premium Statistic Tourist arrivals at India 2022, by region
• Basic Statistic Number of domestic tourist visits in India 2000-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of foreign tourist arrivals in India 2008-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of visitors to national monument India FY 2017-2022, by type
• Premium Statistic Number of domestic visitors to ticketed monuments India FY 2023
• Premium Statistic Number of foreign visitors to ticketed monuments India FY 2023

Tourist arrivals at India 2022, by region

Tourist arrivals at India in 2022, by region (in 1,000s)

Number of domestic tourist visits in India 2000-2022

Number of domestic tourist visits in India from 2000 to 2022 (in millions)

Number of foreign tourist arrivals in India 2008-2022

Number of foreign tourist arrivals in India from 2008 to 2022

Number of visitors to national monument India FY 2017-2022, by type

Number of visitors to national monuments across India from financial year 2017 to 2022, by type (in millions)

Number of domestic visitors to ticketed monuments India FY 2023

Leading ticketed monuments in India in financial year 2023, by number of domestic visitors (in 1,000s)

Number of foreign visitors to ticketed monuments India FY 2023

Leading ticketed monuments in India in financial year 2023, by number of foreign visitors (in 1,000s)

Travel services

• Premium Statistic Online travel agency usage India 2023, by gender
• Premium Statistic Agencies used for online services India 2023 by gender
• Premium Statistic Device used for online travel agency India 2023, by age group
• Premium Statistic Purpose of online travel agency usage India 2023, by age group
• Premium Statistic Reason for not using online travel agency India 2023, by gender

Online travel agency usage India 2023, by gender

Share of online travel agency usage in India as of June 2023, by gender

Agencies used for online services India 2023 by gender

Share of agencies used for online travel services in India as of June 2023, by gender

Device used for online travel agency India 2023, by age group

Device used to access online travel agencies in India as of June 2023, by age group

Purpose of online travel agency usage India 2023, by age group

Purposes of using an online travel agency in India as of June 2023, by age group

Reason for not using online travel agency India 2023, by gender

Share of reasons for not using online travel agencies in India as of June 2023, by gender

Market overview

• Premium Statistic Value of travel market in India FY 2018-2027
• Premium Statistic Travel market distribution in India FY 2018-2027, by type
• Premium Statistic Travel market distribution in India FY 2018-2027, by booking channel
• Premium Statistic Value of hotel market in India FY 2018-2027
• Premium Statistic PE/VC investments in travel and hospitality 2013-2022

Value of the travel market in India from financial year 2018 to 2020, with an estimate for 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Distribution of Indian travel market from financial year 2018 to 2020, with an estimate for 2027, by type

Travel market distribution in India FY 2018-2027, by booking channel

Travel market distribution across India from financial year 2018 to 2020, with an estimate for 2027, by booking channel

Value of hotel market in India FY 2018-2027

Value of hotel market in India from financial year 2018 to 2020, with an estimate for 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)

PE/VC investments in travel and hospitality 2013-2022

Private equity and venture capital investments in travel and hospitality sector in India from 2013 to 2022 (in million U.S. dollars)

Hotel industry

• Premium Statistic Distribution of hotel market in India FY 2018-2027, by type
• Premium Statistic Distribution of the hotel market in India FY 2018-2027, by booking channel
• Premium Statistic Number of hotel rooms in India FY 2001-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of approved hotels in India 2022, by category
• Premium Statistic Supply of hotel rooms in India FY 2022-2023, by city
• Basic Statistic Occupancy rate in hotels in India FY 2001-2024

Distribution of hotel market in India FY 2018-2027, by type

Distribution of the hotel market across India from financial year 2018 to 2020, with an estimate for 2027, by type

Distribution of the hotel market in India FY 2018-2027, by booking channel

Distribution of the hotel market across India from financial year 2018 to 2020, with an estimate for 2027, by booking channel

Number of hotel rooms in India FY 2001-2023

Number of hotel rooms across India from financial year 2001 to 2023, with an estimate until 2027 (in 1,000s)

Number of approved hotels in India 2022, by category

Number of approved hotels in India in 2022, by category

Supply of hotel rooms in India FY 2022-2023, by city

Existing supply of hotel rooms across Indian cities from financial year 2022 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

Occupancy rate in hotels in India FY 2001-2024

Occupancy rate in hotels in India from financial year 2001 to 2023, with estimates of 2024

Major players

• Basic Statistic Leading hotel and restaurant companies in India 2023, by market capitalization
• Basic Statistic Domestic market share of airlines across India FY 2023, by passengers carried
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Airbnb India FY 2018-2020
• Premium Statistic Revenue of OYO across India FY 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Thomas Cook India revenue FY 2020-2023
• Premium Statistic MakeMyTrip's revenue FY 2015-2023

Leading hotel and restaurant companies in India 2023, by market capitalization

Leading hotel and restaurant companies in India as of 2023, based on market capitalization (in billion Indian rupees)

Domestic market share of airlines across India FY 2023, by passengers carried

Domestic market share of airlines across India in financial year 2023, by passengers carried

Revenue of Airbnb India FY 2018-2020

Revenue of Airbnb India from financial year 2018 to 2020 (in million Indian rupees)

Revenue of OYO across India FY 2019-2023

Revenue of OYO across India from financial year 2019 to 2023 (in billion Indian rupees)

Thomas Cook India revenue FY 2020-2023

Revenue of Thomas Cook (India) Limited from financial year 2020 to 2023 (in billion Indian rupees)

MakeMyTrip's revenue FY 2015-2023

Revenue of MakeMyTrip Limited from financial year 2015 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Further reports Get the best reports to understand your industry

Get the best reports to understand your industry.

• Economic Outlook India
• Domestic tourism in India
• International tourism in India

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)

Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)

Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)

Interested in blogging for timesofindia.com? We will be happy to have you on board as a blogger, if you have the knack for writing. Just drop in a mail at [email protected] with a brief bio and we will get in touch with you.

Please note:

• TOI will have complete discretion to select bloggers
• TOI's decision in this regard will be final
• There's no remuneration for blogging
• TOI reserves the right to edit all blogs

• Times Evoke
• Entertainment
• Spirituality
• Environment
• Foreign Media

Follow us on

Going places in 2022: the new face of tourism in india.

Pallavi Agarwal

Pallavi Agarwal, Founder & CEO, goSTOPS

The concept of travel has changed drastically over the last two years. Travel is no more a luxury limited to a few. The pandemic has made everyone pine for travelling. With international borders not opening up completely, and parts of the world still battling with the virus, India seems to have opened up possibilities for travellers across genres.

The new breed of travellers, led by millennials and GenZ, are redefining the way one travels. Staycations and workations are a couple of buzzwords that made an appearance over the past two years of the pandemic. Off-beat locations are ‘bae’ for the Gen Z and travelling in groups – community living and shared economy are some of the guiding principles of these travellers. Young travellers today are keen to safely explore their world and are looking for access to high quality infrastructure and a fun inclusive community set up without burning a hole in their pockets. With safety and sanitization being the important factors, youth are now mindful about how they are travelling.   

The tourism and hospitality industry too had to pivot to cater to this new breed of travellers who are seeking a different experience than travellers from the pre-pandemic era. The industry is sp eaking to a group of younger, well informed audiences who are stronger, responsible and hence well-equipped to travel in uncertain times.

As we step into another year full of travel experiences and places to explore what are some of the trends that come to the fore given the multitude of challenges that both the traveller and the industry has faced.

Workations continue to rule the roost

Many companies began restructuring their work policies to motivate and retain their employees, through a pandemic. ‘Work from office’  that evolved into ‘work from anywhere’ as a temporary solution at the start of the pandemic – is now morphing either as a hybrid work model or a permanent work solution. Both these options throw open possibilities to work from destinations in addition to the home destination, either for longer durations or short. The workation therefore seems to be here to stay – allowing the employee in the new normal to work from anywhere their gadgets allow them to!

The ardent traveller can ‘work from home’ from hostel rooms,  homestays at hill stations or beaches. Despite a difficult year with the pandemic, we saw a resounding spike in 2021 for bookings to offbeat locales as the year ended . The New Year, too which has come with its new set of challenges, has encouraged travellers to choose destinations that offer separate co-working space, high-quality internet to make sure work continues uninterrupted albeit in more picturesque locations! 

Fostering a travellers’ community

Isolation because of multiple lockdowns have left the youth (and all else) starving for human interaction and a feeling of community. As a few restrictions began to ease, friends and family came together to try out new adventures. Travellers began to explore places that were not featured in ‘must visit’ pages, locations that were remote and not frequented by ‘tourists’. These far-off travel destinations have now evolved as destinations to meet like-minded people, more so in hostels which offer both a sense of community and an opportunity to venture into virgin travel destinations.

This led to yet another interesting pivot in the hospitality industry. Hostel owners and homestays, understanding the pulse of such travellers, began to offer accommodation with a sense of community and belonging included in it. These included well-designed community areas, common kitchens, work stations, libraries, gyms, cafes etc which are designed like 4 star hotels but easier on the travellers pockets.

As the pandemic progresses this year,  with fewer restrictions, sporadic lockdowns and safer ways to travel in place, the urge to travel will grow. 

Solo travel gaining ground

During the lockdown phase several people craved company. But there is yet another stream of lockdown-afflicted travelers who prefer their own company – to rejuvenate themselves, to discover themselves or well – to be alone. 

There has been a significant number of women who are now turning towards solo travelling. Women are seeking new and authentic experiences, venturing outside their comfort zones and willing to experiment with destinations, experiences, and activities.  

Solo travel for women in India has gained that added momentum making destinations and properties invest in the women-centric tours, and we see hostels are geared towards creating safe spaces for women to live amid a community setting. As more hostels and homestays offer special arrangements for solo women travellers, this trend is primed for further growth in the year ahead. 

Get more value from travel

The concept of a shared economy is creating a large impact on our lives and has brought about significant changes in the way we work and live. The travel and hospitality industry has understood the benefit to customers that the shared economy brings. This has made the  industry create shared experiences and facilities that it feels easy on the pocket. Community-living in high-class facilities, on a much lower budget will make a mark this year. With travelers being able to stretch their stay for longer and explore more – almost live like a local – shared economy will only make travel more enriching in 2022. 

While the trends are encouraging for travellers, and give an optimistic view for the industry in India, they have cascading benefits for the tourism and hospitality ecosystem. States across India are promoting their offbeat locations and these are offering new experiences to ardent travellers. GenZ and millennial travel to these unexplored locations and create opportunities for growth for local communities’ in such places.

Despite a difficult year last year the hospitality and tourism industry has accounted for about 7.5% of the country’s GDP in 2021 . This owing to the pandemic that has challenged the industry to keep the customer central, adapting to the needs of a quickly evolving traveller rather swiftly. The travel industry is raring to go to places it hasn’t ventured before, reinventing and adapting to the changes at an uncertain time.

Top Comment

{{{short}}} {{#more}} {{{long}}} ... Read More {{/more}}

Start a Conversation

Views expressed above are the author's own.

END OF ARTICLE

Wanted: Evolutionary leadership with a heart

Mental health and well-being- A CWSN perspective

‘Global media often paints one-sided picture’

Two years of inaction on misleading Patanjali ads

Young, bored and not voting

What’s the real issue? Distribution of growth benefits post-reforms is uneven, across the board

It’s not done & dusted

Trust is key: As SC again hears petitions on poll process, EC should consider increasing VVPAT verification

That’s enough: Israel, Iran should now stand down

Heat’s on, vote’s on

TOI Edit Page,Voices

Bachi Karkaria

Erratica,TOI Edit Page,Tracking Indian Communities

Jug Suraiya

Juggle-Bandhi,TOI Edit Page

Speaking Tree

TOI Edit Page

TOP EDITORIALS

• Three Algorithms For Blisstech
• No, cloud seeding didn’t drown Dubai
• Accept & adapt before changing the world

• Screen Reader
• Skip to main content
• Text Size A
• Language: English

Case Studies

• EXIM Procedure

Media & Events

• Image Gallery
• Media Coverage

Other Links

• GI of India
• Experience India
• Indian Trend Fair 2022

India Organic Biofach 2022

Gulfood dubai 2023, tourism and hospitality, indian tourism and hospitality industry analysis, the tourism sector is projected to contribute us$ 250 billion to the country’s gdp by 2030, generating employment for 137 million individuals., advantage india, robust demand.

* The Medical Tourism sector is predicted to increase at a CAGR of 21.1% from 2020-27.

* The travel market in India is projected to reach US$ 125 billion by FY27 from an estimated US$ 75 billion in FY20.

* International tourist arrivals are expected to reach 30.5 million by 2028.

* According to WTTC, over the next decade, India’s Travel & Tourism’s GDP is expected to grow at an average of 7.8% annually.

Attractive Opportunities

* India is geographically diverse and offers a variety of cultures that come with its own experiences, making it one of the leading countries in terms of international tourism expenditure.

* Travel and tourism are two of the largest industries in India, with a total contribution of about US$ 178 billion to the country’s GDP.

* The country’s big coastline is dotted with attractive beaches.

Policy support

* US$ 2.1 billion is allocated to Ministry of Tourism in budget 2023-24 as the sector holds huge opportunities for jobs and entrepreneurship for youth. Rs. 2,400 crore (US$ 289.89 million) allocated to the Ministry of Tourism as the sector holds huge opportunities for jobs and entrepreneurship for youth.

* Under the Union Budget 2023-24, an outlay of US$ 170.85 million has been allocated for the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

* 68 destinations/sites have been identified in 30 States/UTs for development under the PRASHAD Scheme as on March 31, 2022.

Diverse Attractions

* According to WTTC, the contribution of India's travel and tourism sector to India's economy was worth Rs. 15.9 trillion (US$ 191.25 billion) in 2022.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Report

India is a large market for travel and tourism. It offers a diverse portfolio of niche tourism products - cruises, adventure, medical, wellness, sports, MI CE, eco-tourism, film, rural and religious tourism. India has been recognized as a destination for spiritual tourism for domestic and international tourists. In his Independence speech from Red Fort, Prime Minister Mr.

Narendra Modi urged people to visit 15 domestic tourist destinations in India by 2022 to promote tourism. India ranked 34 in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019 published by the World Economic Forum. India is the most digitally advanced traveller nation in terms of digital tools being used for planning, booking, and experiencing a journey. India’s rising middle class and increasing disposable income have supported the growth of domestic and outbound tourism.

India has been ranked 54th in Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) in 2021 published by the World Economic Forum.

According to WTTC, the contribution of India's travel and tourism sector to India's economy was worth Rs. 15.9 trillion (US$ 191.25 billion) in 2022.

The Indian travel and tourism industry is expected to record an annual growth of 6.7% per annum and achieve 9.2% of GDP with US$ 488 billion. According to WTTC, over the next decade, India’s Travel & Tourism GDP is expected to grow at an average of 7.8% annually.

In WTTC’s Economic Impact 2022 report, India’s Travel and Tourism GDP contribution grew by 5.8%, which was the sixth-highest after the US, China, Germany, Japan and Italy.

In 2021, the travel & tourism industry’s contribution to the GDP was US$ 178 billion; this is expected to reach US$ 512 billion by 2028. By 2029, it is expected to account for about 53 million jobs.

As per the Ministry of Tourism, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in October 2023 were 8,11,411. FTAs during the period January-October 2023 were 72,43,680 as compared to 46,55,160 in January-October 2022.

The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India during October 2023 among the top 5 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (34.74%) followed by Mumbai Airport (14.75%), Haridaspur Land Check Post (9.03%), Chennai Airport (7.05%), Bengaluru Airport (5.71%). FTAs during the period January-September 2023 were 6.43 million.

The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India during October 2023 among the top 5 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (21.41%), followed by USA (15.65%), UK (11.27%), Australia (4.38%) and Canada (3.81%).

In 2023-24* (January-October), 24.97% of foreign tourists visited for Indian Diaspora which marks 72,43,680 foreigners.

Tourism is the third largest foreign exchange earner for the country. FEE during the period January-October 2023 were US$ 22.32 billion.

Domestic visitor spending increased by 20.4% in 2022, only 14.1% below 2019. International visitor spending rose by 81.9% in 2022, but still 40.4% behind 2019 numbers.

Cumulative FDI equity inflow in the Hotel and Tourism industry is US$ 17.29 billion during the period April 2000-September 2023. This constitutes 2.60% of the total FDI inflow received across sectors.

The G-20 Presidency will give India’s tourism sector an unparalleled opportunity to highlight India’s tourism offerings and share India’s tourism success stories on a global stage

By 2028, Indian tourism and hospitality is expected to earn US$ 50.9 billion as visitor exports compared with US$ 28.9 billion in 2018.

Tourism Ministry has undertaken the ‘NamasteIndia’ Campaign for encouraging international visitors to travel to India.

In the Union Budget 2023-24, US$ 290.4 million has been allocated to the Ministry of Tourism. Under the Union Budget 2023-24, an outlay of US$ 170.85 million has been allocated for the Swadesh Darshan Scheme to develop a complete package of 50 tourist destinations for providing a wholesome tourism experience by facilitating physical, digital, and virtual connectivity, availability of tourist guides and tourist security.

Ministry has sanctioned 76 projects under the scheme since its inception under 13 themes for a revised sanctioned cost of US$ 668.95 million and has released US$ 534.9 million (till December 31, 2021).

Under Budget 2023-24, the Government has allocated US$ 30.25 million for the development of tourist circuits under PRASHAD. Since its launch in January 2015 and Ministry has sanctioned 37 projects in 24 states with estimated expenditure of US$ 146.4 million and a cumulative amount of US$ 91.6 million has been released for these projects. 68 destinations/sites have been identified in 30 States/UTs for development under the PRASHAD Scheme as on March 31, 2022.

Ministry of Tourism has partnered with the Quality Council of India (QCI), to assist the Hospitality Industry in their preparedness to continue operations safely and mitigate risks arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic through an initiative called SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness and Training for Hospitality Industry). A hotel/unit goes through the SAATHI framework and agrees to fully follow the requirements wherever applicable possible, and a self-certification is issued. Self-certified hotels/units attend webinars to clarify doubts through live interactions. If Hotel/unit desires, they may undertake a site assessment based on the SAATHI framework through QCI-accredited agencies and an assessment report with opportunities for improvement is shared with the assessed unit.

In June 2022, the Ministry of Tourism along with the Associations of Indian Universities (AIU) initiated a 12-episode webinar series under ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’ (AKAM) to engage and expose young minds of our country to the rich and diverse heritage of the country.

Accor, a French hospitality major will expand its India portfolio by adding nine additional hotels in the mid-scale and economy categories, bringing the total number of hotels to 54 in India.

The Medical Tourism sector is expected to increase at a CAGR of 21.1% from 2020-27.

The travel market in India is projected to reach US$ 125 billion by FY27 from an estimated US$ 75 billion in FY20.

The Ministry of Tourism has approved 16 projects for over Rs. 1,300 crore (US$ 171.2 million) in India's North-East.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced a new scheme called ‘All India Tourist Vehicles Authorisation and Permit Rules, 2021’, in which a tourist vehicle operator can register online for All India Tourist Authorisation/Permit. This permit will be issued within 30 days of submitting the application.

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation selected Pochampally in Telangana as one of the best tourism villages in November 2021.

In December 2023, IHCL expanded its presence in Maharashtra as it signed a hotel in Bandra, Mumbai. The Brownfield project will be branded an IHCL- SeleQtions hotel.

In December 2023, TAJ won the ‘World’s finest luxury grand palaces’ award at the ‘101 Best Executive Summit’ in Germany.

In November 2023, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) announced the opening of Ginger Mumbai, Airport. The 371 Keys flagship Ginger hotel, strategically located near the domestic airport will introduce the brand’s lean luxe design and service philosophy of offering a vibrant, contemporary, and seamless hospitality experience to its guests.

In September 2023, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts (MHRIL) signed an MOU with the Government of Uttarakhand (UK) to invest Rs. 1,000 crore (US$ 120.16 million) and build 4-5 large marquee resorts over the next few years in Uttarakhand.

OYO estimates India to present a US$ 26 billion opportunity by 2030. To further strengthen its position in India, in October 2021, the company filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) for an initial public offering (IPO) of Rs. 8,430 crore (US$ 1.2 billion) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

The Government of India launched the e -Visa on November 27, 2014 and subsequently e-Tourist Visa was initially introduced for 46 countries.

The e-Tourist Visa is part of t   e-Visa facility which includes an e-Business Visa, e-Conference Visa, e-Medical Visa, and e-Medical Attendant Visa.

In 2021, the Government of India announced 40,000 e-tourist visas out of 500,000 free regular visas to the tourist, to ensure a geographical spread of the incentive to important source markets globally.

In December 2019, e-visa facility was offered to around 170 countries.

The facility for e-tourist visa has been extended to passengers arriving at these ports of Mumbai, Mormugao, Mangalore, Kochi, and Chennai and immigration counters have been set up at five major ports visited by cruise ships, thus facilitating the cruise passenger arrivals at the seaports.

‘Medical Visa’ has been introduced, which can be given for specific purpose to foreign travelers coming to India for medical treatment. ‘E-Medical Visa’ has also been introduced for 166 countries.

India has invested heavily in AYUSH and is in a unique position to attract medical value travellers for a cure through AYUSH and for enhancing wellness.

India is ranked 10th out of the top 46 countries in the world in the Medical Tourism Index 2020-21 by Medical Tourism Association. The Indian medical tourism industry was estimated to be valued at US$ 7,417 million in 2022 and it is projected to surpass US$ 42,237.47 million by 2032.

Cruise tourism is one of the most vibrant and fast-growing sectors of the leisure and travel industry. The Indian government has estimated that India would emerge with a market size of 1.2 million cruise visitors by 2030-31.

Moreover, India is looking to take advantage of its 7,500 km coastline to tap the growth potential of the cruise tourism segment.

Ministry of Tourism is funding the development of cruise terminals, lighthouses, and other tourist infrastructure in several coastal locations to promote domestic and international cruise terminals at selected ports by 2023.

Ministry of Tourism has also sanctioned US$ 27.7 million for various projects towards the development of Cruise Terminals and related infrastructure in different States at the major ports under the scheme for ‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development.

National strategy and roadmap for the development of rural tourism aims at prioritization of rural tourism at the national level.

This can benefit the local community economically and socially and facilitate interaction between tourists and locals for a mutually enriching experience.

India has rich natural and eco-tourism resources ranging from pristine forests, the snow-clad Himalayas, montane grasslands, golden and silver deserts, rivers, lakes, wetlands, mangroves, beaches, volcanoes and corals, housing tremendous biodiversity.

In 2021, the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change issued “Ecotourism guidelines in and around protected areas 2021” based on the key recommendations of the Tiger Task Force (2005), provisions contained in the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006.

Related News

The Indian Staffing Federation reports 3.6% growth in the staffing industry during Q3 FY24, driven by demand for a flexible workforce across key sectors like e-commerce, retail, and manufacturing.

Indian enthusiasm for global sports peaks as bookings rise 25-30%, reflecting rising incomes and youthful zeal, signalling a vibrant economy and aspirational culture.

India's hospitality sector experienced a notable increase in investment in fiscal year 2023, reaching an unprecedented US$ 401 million.

Retail brands are expanding into religious cities to cater to growing tourism, offering tailored experiences for pilgrims' needs.

Digi Yatra app surpasses 45.8 lakh users, transforming air travel with contactless experiences and rapid adoption.

States with Largest Domestic Tourist Arrivals in 2021

• Uttar Pradesh
• Andhra Pradesh
• Maharashtra

Industry Contacts

• Department of Tourism
• Palace on Wheels
• Hotel Association of India
• Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India

ANCIENT AND RICH

Approximately 8000 years old, India is the world's oldest surviving civilsation.

IBEF Campaigns

APEDA India Pavilion Gulfood February 20th-26th, 2022 | World Trade Centre,...

Ibef Organic Indian Pavilion BIOFACH2022 July 26th-29th, 2022 | Nuremberg, ...

Promoting Indigenous Start-ups: Case Study of Investor Interest in Small-town Start-ups

As urban markets become saturated, investors are turning their gaze towards the untapped potential of small-town innovation, driven by a desire to fos...

India's White Revolution

The "White Revolution" in India refers to the successful implementation of Operation Flood, a dairy development program launched on January ...

The Growth of Ayurveda in India

Ayurveda, an ancient health system originating from India, has a longstanding history. It revolves around using plants and herbs to maintain health an...

India's Solar Power Revolution

India is leading the renewable energy revolution, with a strategic emphasis...

Empowering MSMEs: Fintech Solutions for Small Businesses in India

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of the Indian...

Unlocking India's Digital SME Credit Gap and Economic Potential

The Indian economy thrives on the contributions of the Micro, Small, and Me...

Not a member

This Is The Latest Travel Trend In India

Image: Unsplash

The MakeMyTrip 'India Travel Trends Report' dived into travel behaviours based on insights from its users

The report revealed indians are travelling more to destinations like ayodhya, ujjain and badrinath, searches for spiritual tourism witnessed a 97 per cent increase in 2023 compared to 2021, according to the report, tier-2 and tier-3 cities, in particular, are witnessing a surge in searches for destinations with religious significance, searches for ayodhya soared by a whopping 585 per cent in 2023 compared to 2022, as per the report.

X.com/@ShriRamTeerth

Similarly, Ujjain and Badrinath, saw search increases of 359% and 343%, respectively

Weekend getaways continue to be a favourite, with jim corbett national park witnessing a 131% rise , ooty and munnar are also popular choices, especially for those from the southern part of the country, dubai, bangkok, and singapore remain the top three most searched international travel destinations, london, toronto, and new york hold the fort for long-haul travel, check more stories.

Image: Reuters  

CONNECTING YOU TO THE INDIAN TRAVEL MARKET

11 - 13 september 2024 jio world convention centre, mumbai, india.

BOOK A STAND FOR 2024

BE A SPONSOR

EVENT AT A GLANCE

ABOUT ITB INDIA

REGISTER AS A SPEAKER

OUR EVENTS IN 2024

TRADE VISITOR REGISTRATION

Register your 2024 booth

About itb india - international conference travel mart.

The 4th edition of ITB India will take place in-person from 11 - 13 September 2024 in Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, India. This 3-day business-to-business travel and tourism trade fair for India has been put together to bring different facets of the Indian Travel Market.

Every segment of tourism will be represented at this international travel & tourism exhibition in India with industry leaders, important buyers and key service providers from across the country meeting and interacting in one place. International players in the MICE, Leisure travel and corporate travel segments will also attend to learn more about the tremendous Indian outbound travel market that is quickly emerging as an important global market

ITB India is going to be more than a travel trade show in India but rather an important platform where the most influential organizations in the International and Indian Travel and Tourism industry can meet, build strong partnerships or strengthen existing bonds.

India is the Second Largest Outbound Market in Asia and the 8th Largest Travel Market in the World. The value of the Indian Outbound Travel Market in 2024 is estimated to be around 42 Billion USD. These tantalizing numbers show that India is one of the most promising travel markets in the world but it remains untapped in large parts. Travel events in India need to address the key factors that will increase outbound travel the country.

ITB India 2024 is going to be the travel and tourism fair in India that does just that with fascinating content that covers a wide variety of topics that drive travel in India. Our proposed agenda includes specific topics that pertain to MICE, Corporate and Leisure travelers in India in the vein of Travel Technology, the future of MICE, Global Consumer Trends, Social Media & Influencer Marketing, Destination Marketing and so many more topics. This India travel fair will work to access the markets that go well beyond the established metropolitan cities by bringing in buyers from tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India with the Hosted Buyer’s Programme. We ensure that the buyers meet the service providers and exhibitors through our pre-scheduled appointments, so that they can focus on building great relationships at the event itself.

ITB India is also going to be a truly innovative tourism conference for India as we strive to bring the newest ideas and concepts in travel and tourism that are set to change things in the future. The discussions, panels and presentations at ITB India are going to be attended or presented by esteemed individuals that have distinguished themselves in the travel and tourism industry.

Participate in ITB India 2024

ITB is working with individuals and organisations across India and the rest of the world to create a real India International travel mart. If ITB India 2024 is something that you want to be a part of, we have various ways through which you can participate. Interested parties can choose to register as a buyer, a speaker or book a stand at the conference itself.

As a buyer , ITB India is the ultimate platform to meet service providers in every category of travel and tourism in India. Since this is a 3-day business-to-business travel and tourism fair in India, we have focused and targeted our attendees to ensure that the most relevant players are going to be present and ready to do business. Whether it is MICE, Corporate or Leisure Travel, the local and international exhibitors at ITB India are going to be the key to capturing the Indian outbound travel market.

ITB India is putting together travel content for all kinds of travel and tourism topics and to do this we are constantly looking for some of the best experts in the business. Do you have an interesting topic that you want to share about the India travel industry? If so, then ITB India is definitely the forum for you to share your incredible insight. Learn more about which sectors we’re looking at for ITB India 2024 and register as a speaker to spread your voice on one of the biggest platforms for travel in India. If you are looking to become an exhibitor at ITB India , then register your stand for the event with us. As an exhibitor, you can showcase your product or service to all kinds of impressive attendees that are looking to develop the Indian travel market.

April 28 2023

ITB India 2023 Marks a Major Success

April 20 2023

ITB India 2023 on Track for Impressive Live Comeback

February 20 2023

ITB India 2023 Conference to Unveil Major Trends in the South Asia Travel Market

February 07 2023

ITB India to premiere as an in-person event in April 2023

April 07 2022

Major market players paved the way to recovery & new opportunities in the travel industry at ITB India Virtual

April 05 2022

ITB India 2022 Virtual opens with Indian and South Asian markets driving towards recovery and growth

January 27 2022

ITB India 2022 to be held as a Virtual Event

April 09 2021

ITB India Virtual Concluded with Impressive Results of 9,500 Business Appointments Recorded

April 07 2021

ITB India Virtual Kicks Off with Over 400 Buyers and 150 International Sponsors and Exhibitors

March 24 2021

Saudi confirmed as Official Partner Country of ITB India 2021

March 08 2021

Rebuilding Travel: ITB India 2021 Virtual Conference Theme and Speakers Revealed

November 18 2020

ITB India goes all-virtual for 2021 Event

I’D LIKE TO EXHIBIT

Capture the immense growth of the Indian outbound market by being an Exhibitor at ITB India - Connecting you to the Indian Travel Market.

I’D LIKE TO BE A BUYER

If you're a travel procurement professional, be a buyer and unlock business opportunities at ITB India.

I’D LIKE TO BE A SPEAKER

Be a thought-leader and join trade professionals and experts as they share their views and market opinion in an exciting 3-day conference. Come speak at ITB India.

Organised By

Please tilt your device view in portrait mode for better view

You will be redirected to your dashboard shortly. We will also call you back in 24 hrs .

• 24 Influential Travel Bloggers Of 2024 Who Fuel Our Wanderlust

24 Dec 2021

We all have heard at least one of our colleagues talk about ditching it all to travel the world, but how often do people make a career out of being on a permanent or partial vacation? Not many. These are some influential social-media-savvy travellers and digital nomads who’re inspiring people to do what makes them happy and venture into the unknown. So, here is our list of 24 top travel bloggers in India and let’s see what these top travel bloggers in India have to say about their travel love. FYI: The list is in no particular order and hence, does not indicate the ranking of bloggers.

24 Most Influential Travel Bloggers of India.

From brilliant photographers to solo travellers, these travel bloggers are a true inspiration to the people who love to travel and explore. Check our list of top travel bloggers in India to know more about them.

1. Neelima Vallangi

A brilliant, brilliant photographer and solo traveller, Neelima Vallangi is a true inspiration to budding travellers and explorers. If you’re having a bad day, just go to her Instagram profile and scroll through her feed for some refreshing pictures of heavenly landscapes. Neelima is a trekker, adventurer, and you will mostly find her in the mighty Himalayas.

What prompted Neelima to go on her first journey?

She started her travel journey in 2008. It was her trip to Ladakh with her family when she first witnessed India’s diversity. Her first time in the Himalayas turned into an obsession.

What kind of travel does Neelima like?

Neelima is a sucker for adventure, trekking, and anything that involves travelling to the magnificent Himalayas.

What are Neelima’s top travel experiences?

She has stalked a snow leopard in Ladakh, snorkelled in one of the world’s most pristine coral reefs, hiked for a whole month in Turkey, explored the vast steppes of Mongolia by a truck for weeks, spent a lot of time in the snowfields and slopes of Himalayas.

Blog | Facebook  

A Letter To All The First-Time Solo Female Travelers

Looking To Book A Holiday Package?

Book memorable holidays on TravelTriangle with 650+ verified travel agents for 65+ domestic and international destinations.

Spellbinding Cochin Family Tour 2D/1N Package @ Rs 2,750

Plan your trip today!

Himachal Family Tour Package 4D/3N @ Rs 8,750

Get quotes from multiple travel experts.

Exciting Andaman Family Trip 5D/4N @ Rs 10,250

Compare & customize quotes before booking.

Gangtok & Darjeeling Tour Package 5D/4N @ Rs 13,000

Have Questions? Talk to our travel experts today.

Wonderful Goa Family Package 3D/2N @ Rs 6,500

Best prices guaranteed.

Riveting Rajasthan Vacation 3D/2N Package @ Rs 6,499

EMI option available.

Enchanting Uttarakhand Tour 4D/3N Package @ Rs 7,199

Explore best destinations with our experts.

Delightful South Weekend Tour 3D/2N Package @ Rs 4,999

Thrilling weekend full of fun.

Marvelous Gujarat Tour 3D/2N Package @ Rs 4,999

Talk to our experts today.

See more at TRAVELTRIANGLE.COM

2. Archana Singh

Archana Singh is an award-winning travel writer and speaker. Her impressive storytelling and photography skills have made her travel blog extremely popular around the world. Archana’s social feed is a testimony of her travel adventures and she is definitely one of the travel bloggers you must follow on Instagram . 

What prompted you to go on your first journey?

Thanks to an army background and hostel life, I have been traveling since I was a kid. But one trip that changed my outlook on solo travel was my trip to Europe in 2012. I was a bundle of nerves when I went on that trip, but since then, there has been no looking back.

What’s your favourite travel destination?

Japan. I loved it for the unique mix of culture and modernity it offers. I visited it during the autumn season when the whole country was ablaze with autumn foliage.

What’s that one travel gadget you always keep in your backpack?

Camera either in the form of a mobile phone or a DSLR/GoPro.

Do you have a favorite travel book or a travel movie?

Into the Wild for presenting the true essence of travel and finding oneself while travelling to unknown territories.

A piece of advice for all the wanderlust-ERS out there?

Travel is like an addiction and you can never have enough of it. With every travel, you grow as an individual. My only advice would be to travel with an explorer’s open mind and be adaptable. The humbler and grounded you become, the more love you get in return. Also, travel for the love of travel not just for the GRAM.

A travel quote that always inspires you to travel.

Happiness is only real when shared.

Blog | Facebook

3. Seema Gurnani

When talking about top travel and food bloggers, Seema Gurnani is the first name that pops up in the minds of individuals. Starting her journey of ‘Panda Reviewz’ in Vijayawada, this award-winning 24-year-old star quit her comfortable job and started to take the road of thrill and excitement. A zeal for exploring the nooks and new tastes is what keeps this young entrepreneur going!

My first, and the most memorable journey till date, was my first solo escape trip to Goa when I had just turned 16. The curiosity and passion to explore new destinations, cultures, and most importantly – the food. This resulted in a lifetime memorable trip.

Your favourite travel destination

Goa and Auroville remain my personal favourites among all the places I have visited in India. In abroad, Melaka (Malaysia) takes the crown. For yet-to-visit destinations, backpacking through Europe remains at the top of my wish list.

One travel gadget you always keep in your backpack

I’m Dora and my smartphone is the arsenal of my exploring tools. From local maps to translating languages, to capturing beautiful memories, to get all the updated information; Everything is possible because of this trustworthy companion.

Your favourite travel book/movie of all time

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Queen, Eat Pray Love

A piece of advice for all the wanderlust-ERS out there

Don’t wait for the perfect moment, take the moment and make it perfect by getting to where you wish to be. If your heart is set to travel, just pack up your bags, head out, and explore what all this planet has to give you that will make the moments and memories of your life.

A travel quote that always inspires you to travel

Travelling is brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comforts of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things. -air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.

40 Most Romantic International Honeymoon Destinations On Your Budget In 2022

4. Ajay Sood

A travel photographer by profession and passion, Ajay Sood is one of the top Indian travel bloggers of India. His Instagram feed is an array of incredible landscapes, people, streets, and architecture. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he has covered most of the continents during his travel.

I was 9 years old and my parents had to visit my grandparents’ place in Phagwara, which is a town 35km from my hometown, Ludhiana. My grandma was a brilliant cook. So, visiting her was always a treat. I insisted I’ll also come to Phagwara after school gets over. So, I travelled alone as a 9-year old. And, ever since, got hooked on travel.

That destination had remained on my bucket list for decades. It was only in late November 2017, when I finally visited Iceland. The place has all the magic I had expected. It has some of the largest glaciers in Europe you can snowmobile for miles on, craziest eerie ice caves that you can sing in, sprawling natural Jacuzzis (thermal baths) for sipping a chilled beer in arctic winters, Northern lights that remind you of a discotheque, caves filled with centuries-old lava, stunning landscape you can’t get enough of, gigantic waterfalls that inspire awe, and… and a large number of ‘Game of Thrones’ locations.

My iPhone with scores of apps that range from Translate Voice Pro (my go-to app in countries where very few can communicate in English), The Photographer’s Ephemeris (it tells me the sunrise/sunset time and direction of the sun at any spot I plan to shoot in), Night Sky (helps me find the Pole Star during my Astro-photography night outs), and many more.

Do you have a favourite travel book or a travel movie?

My favourite movie is ‘Into the wild’. The biographical story of Christopher from ‘Alexander Supertramp’ to ‘The Magic Bus’ is a story of someone who is a true explorer at heart. My favourite book is ‘Atlas Obscura’. As the foreword of the book mentions it, this book is not for travellers, but for explorers.

Here’s a money-saving travel hack. When abroad, don’t exchange currency. Use ATM. You’ll save around 8%. A travel quote that always inspires you to travel. Leave behind only footsteps. Bring back only memories.

5. Shivya Nath

A prominent name in the travel industry, Shivya needs no introduction. At the age of 23, she quit her comfortable and high-paying corporate job to travel the world. This solo female traveller has packed her life into a backpack and now inspiring people around the world to do what they love. She has travelled in parts of Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caucasus region and the Indian subcontinent.

How does Shivya like to travel?

Shivya is an offbeat traveller who loves to explore the lesser-explored parts of the world. She likes to go slow while travelling, go under the skin of a place, talk to the locals, and live her stay. She’s usually seen travelling solo in the lesser-known countries and cities of Europe.

Tips to save money for travel?

1. Don’t do unnecessary shopping and find free hobbies to keep you entertained and busy at weekends. 2. Avoid eating out in restaurants and cafes. You can easily save INR 500 to INR 1000 a day. 3. Shivya recommends working online. 4. Sell the things you don’t need. 5. Get rid of that credit card and save for small and budget trips.

58 Fabulous Places To See In A Day Around Bangalore In 2022!

6. Ami Bhat

A restless ball of energy, Ami is a wanderer for life and one of the top Indian travel bloggers. She’s a photography enthusiast and a travel blogger by passion. Ami is a total sucker for heritage destinations, turquoise beaches, and lofty mountains. 

Honestly, I don’t recall my first journey. It was just a natural progression of things. However, my earliest memories of my travel for leisure abroad was with my parents as I toured the Far East (Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines). It was our family holiday together and for some reason, though I was just 7, I remember it all.

I don’t have one, I have many and it keeps increasing. For now, Ladakh, Meghalaya, Bhutan, Gold Coast, and Udaipur.

My Camera. I just cannot travel without it.

My favourite movie I would say is Queen.

Travel not to tick off lists. Travel coz you want to enjoy what you see and experience.

Travelling is like Breathing.

7. Nivedith Gajapathy

In 2015, Nivedith Gajapathy quit his Digital Marketing job to explore the world. Other than being a traveller, Nivedith is an experienced collector, foodie, and tech-savvy guy. His blog offers insights into food, culture, and lifestyle of different communities around the world. Nivedith is among the most famous travel bloggers in India, and if you want some serious travel inspiration, you need to follow him on his journey.

I have been travelling with family all my life, but the trip that changed the way I travel was my solo trip to Malaysia, which actually made me realize that it is the journey that matters, not the destination and that’s when I started seriously documenting my experience on social media channels and blog as well.

My personal favourite has been Australia. Although I have just seen 0.1% of this beautiful country, I will be doing a solo 1-month-long trip to Australia again in the near future.

As a tech-freak, half of my baggage allowance goes into gadgets. When I travel, I primarily rely on my phone and DSLR.

My favorite travel movies are Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and EuroTrip.

A piece of advice for all the wanderlust-ERS out there .

Don’t Plan a trip, live it. I prefer doing impromptu trips and that’s where the journey counts.

Travel is the only thing that you buy, that makes you richer.

Wanna Get Paid To Travel? Check Out 10 Lucrative Careers For The Wanderer In You!

8. Umang Trivedi

One of the top travel bloggers of India, Umang Trivedi loves to explore the remote corners of the world. He’s an adventurer, mountain lover and an admirer of unspoiled nature. Umang has conquered mountain peaks like Rupin Pass and Stok Kangri.

For me, the discovery of beautiful landscapes and immersive experiences is very exhilarating. The urge to discover something new and unique, which is not possible in everyday life, prompted me to go on my first journey.

Bhutan would forever remain my favourite travel destination. In fact, I started writing about my travels after paying a visit to Bhutan . The surreal landscapes and friendly people with great hospitality left an everlasting impression on me.

I recently purchased a GoPro and since then, I have always made sure of keeping it. It’s very easy to handle and produces great results for both, photos and videos.

My favourite travel movie would be The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I love how he takes brave decisions in the breathtaking backdrop of Iceland and then continue to go on adventures that bring him closer to his purpose.

At least once, you should go somewhere unplanned. No bookings, no reservations, no itinerary. Just go and see where the road takes you. I used to plan my itineraries very intricately to not miss out on things. But, since I started travelling in an unplanned manner, I find my travels to be much more fulfilling.

“It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Edmund Hilary.

9. Abhinav Singh

Abhinav has travelled to more than 200 destinations in past 10 years in India and abroad. He was fired from his corporate job of 7 years for travelling too much. After about of depression and anxiety he changed his situation to advantage and became a successful travel blogger within the 1st year of blogging.

My first independent solo trip was to Chennai, Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry in 2010. It was an emotional journey as I was revisiting the place to re-live the special memories I made there some years ago. I loved managing everything on my own. The financial power—thanks to my first job—gave me the ability to do things my way in a new place. The freedom and the new sensory stimulations excited and inspired me. Since then I am hooked.

I have been to more than 200 places in India in the last 10 years and also visited many countries. However, Mumbai remains my favourite place. Ever since I have left it, I go back at least once a year to visit Mumbai. Goa, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh are also close to my heart.

One travel gadget you always keep in your backpack.

I keep it really simple. I can not travel without my DSLR and cellphone. Yes, I am a digital slave.

Your favourite travel book/movie of all time.

My favourite travel books are Rediscovering Dharavi, Hot Tea Across India, To The Ends Of The World, Falling Off The Map, Into The Wild, Motorcycle Diaries.

My favourite travel movies are, Dhanak, Ye Jawani Hai Diwani, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Wild, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Into The Wild.

A piece of advice for all the wanderlust-ERS out there. Stay humble about travel. Do not conquer mountains, love and protect it instead. Do not be in a hurry to travel too much too soon. Enjoy travel at a slow place. And most importantly, be a responsible traveller. Please do not take a ride on elephants, horses or buy plastic mineral water bottles.

A travel quote that always inspires you to travel. India is the one land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for all the shows of all the rest of the globe combined. – Mark Twain

36 Most Famous Festivals Of India You Must Experience In 2022

10. Indrani Ghose

Indrani is no ordinary traveller. A fun and courageous wanderer, she’s an ex-Indian Air Force employee, who once dreamt of travelling around the globe. From Singapore to Portugal and Jaisalmer to Guwahati, she has travelled to over 21 countries and 250+ cities till now. She has done many road trips across Europe and Southeast Asia with her family. She is also known as one of the best travel bloggers in India . 

We as a family, place travel as a must-do thing during vacations. I think it is in the genes. My parents have taken us, siblings, out during vacations and now I travel with my family often. For us, travel is another kind of learning experience, something which is impossible to get in schools and colleges.

It is all the Unesco World Heritage sites. Our road trips in different countries have been planned along with the Unesco sites of that country. The last major road trip we did was through Spain and Portugal – 3155kms. We covered 23 sites on this trip alone.

I am not a big fan of tech gadgets but mobiles with google maps, a good camera and a good collection of music have been a constant companion on our road trips.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is my most favourite travel book now.

I am not sure if I am there yet to advise, but I would like to say, travel responsibly. Travellers today travel to the remotest part, popularise it and the next thing we know a horde of tourists marching to the newly discovered destination spoiling it in the process. Respect locals, their lifestyle and their privacy.

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” – Confucius

11. Swati & Sam

A software engineer duo, Swati and Sam are among the top Indian travel bloggers in the luxury travel segment. They have travelled to 16 international destinations and to many corners of Indian towns and cities. Now the pair are the go-to travel guides for travellers in and around the world.

It’s difficult to pick one. We love Bali, Maldives, Seychelles, Switzerland and Thailand.

Powerbank is what we need with us on our trips.

Under the Tuscan Sun, Lost in Translation, and Into the wild

Don’t overthink. If budget is a constraint, you can spend your weekends exploring nearby places.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Taiwan

9 Historical Places In Mauritius To Visit In 2022 That Tells A Great Deal About This Country!

12. Agniswar and Amrita

Two backpackers from Kolkata, Agniswar and Amrita love to explore and look for unconventional experiences and destinations. Amrita is adventurous while Agni always wanted to play safe. Together they’ve faced hailstorms of the Himalayas, did scuba diving 12 metres below sea level, froze during Chadar River trek and even got stuck at a riot in Jammu. They share their stories of adventure and fun on their awesome blog, which makes them one of the most influential Indian travel bloggers.

The travelling bug had bitten us long back. The first trip we took together was way back in 2011 in Goa. We wanted to see the crazy world and Goa seemed to be the best place. One trip followed another and finally on our Amarnath trip, we did find the travellers in us.

Your favourite travel destination.

Northeast India is our favourite destination. We love the rugged and unexplored terrains and the varied cultures and customs of the Northeast lure us the most.

Our Camera, smartphone, and power bank

Our favourite book is Journey to Lhasa – The Diary of a Spy by Sarat Chandra Das. We both love a movie called “The Way Back”.

Travel as if no one is watching you. Travel makes you admire the smaller beauties of life. Do not just tick off your list of things to do. Enjoy a place and experience the culture and cuisines of the place. Travelling is not just about numbers, it is about the experience.

“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before” – Dalai Lama

13. Prachi & Himadri Garg

Prachi & Himadri Garg are two sisters who have been exploring unexplored India for the last 8 years. Popularly known as Ghoomophirosisters, the two women are among the most famous travel bloggers in India. They have recently been awarded by MP Tourism as their best friend on Social Media in travel awards 2016 and by Gujarat Tourism Board for their services.

In Feb 2007, there was a forecast for a sub-zero temp in Delhi, this pushed us to pack our bags and plan a trip to Shimla. This was our first solo backpack trip as ghoomophirosisters where-in we planned an impromptu trip without any prep. Since then, there has been no looking back.

Our DSLR Nikon-750

Our favourite travel movie is Everest.

Don’t think about the perfect time. Just pack your bags and travel.

“All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

4 Enchanting Islands Near Phi Phi That Will Leave You Awe-Struck!

14. Mayuri Patel

If you want to learn how to travel with your full-time job, Mayuri is the person you should follow. She believes that in every aspect routine is lethal and hence, she keeps a balance of work and travel to make her life sweet and salty. You can follow her adventures on her blog.

I took my first trip in 2011 to Rajasthan. This was the start and those feelings of liberation and seeking new destinations, culture and experiences triggered my travel journey. From that year onward, I started exploring more and more and gradually I fell in love with travelling.

Kasmir, India. It has everything a traveller wants. I am a mountain person and I wouldn’t deny that Kashmir is heaven on the earth .

My Mobile Phone and DSLR.

I don’t watch many movies but I love Dil Chahta Hai and Ye Jawani Hai Diwani. If we talk about books, Azadi Mera Brand by Anuradha Beniwal is my fav.

Don’t plan too much while you leave your home. Don’t live only by guidebooks. Engage with locals who can give you more recommendations about the destinations. Also, put some flexibility in your schedule and go with the flow.

“The most dangerous risk of All – The risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.”

15. Karthik Murali H

A data scientist by profession and a travel my heart, Karthik is among the top travel bloggers of India. His interesting blog talks about travel, lifestyle, and technology. Want some smart travel hacks? An Asian Traveller can be your go-to guide.

I’ve been travelling since my childhood, at least to a min of two destinations per year. Ever since it caught on as a passion and I have begun to explore more and more destinations each year thanks to the lower airfares, more direct flights, it just got a whole lot easier.

Nothing has fascinated me more than the beautiful city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Digital Camera. No mobile cameras can replace the 300 dpi quality of a digicam.

Plan your travel in a way it doesn’t affect your budget a lot. Find low flight fares during sales and book in advance. Don’t compromise on comfort and quality. Travel is not about seeing new places. It’s about being comfortable in your own space wherever you are. Never let go of that.

No amount of education or degrees can teach you the same.

9 Best Hotels In Nashik: Assuring Unmatched Comfort Under Budget

16. Archana & Vidur

This awesome travelling couple is an inspiration to many. While Vidur is responsible for clicking the most gorgeous pictures for TravelMyNation, Archana keeps their travel adventures. Their Instagram profile is where one should go for some real travel inspiration.

I think it was the urge to see what’s out there. Archana and I are both very fond of the outdoors, are curious about wildlife and generally love being on the road. That’s how we started and we haven’t looked back since then.

Your favourite travel destination Of the ones we visited, we love Arunachal Pradesh the most. And in our bucket list are Mongolia and New Zealand.

GoPro Action camera and iPhones

Why We Ride and Into The Wild

Everybody travels now but only a few engage in ecotourism/responsible tourism. Our advice to all the wanderlusts out there is to make sure that they leave very little carbon footprint wherever they go!

A travel quote that always inspires you to travel “I don’t want to know what time it is. I don’t want to know what day it is or where I am. None of that matters.”

Reshma’s itchy feet have made her a popular solo globetrotter. A writer and dream-chaser, she loves to take the roads less travelled on a shoestring budget. Laos, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Bhutan, Thailand, and Cambodia are some of the nations Reshma has ticked off the bucket list.

I had been travelling with friends and family for many years, which I thoroughly enjoyed. But at some point, I felt like planning a trip to travel by myself. So I went on a weekend trip alone, and I loved it absolutely. That trip led to many trips, and solo travel became a part of my life.

Your favourite travel destination .

I find this question really hard to answer every time. I can’t pick just one. So I would choose the Philippines and Bhutan.

It is not exactly a travel gadget, but I always carry my music player.

My favourite travel movie is Into the Wild. When it comes to books, I have many, but I think it is The Motorcycle Diaries.

Sometimes, it is okay to skip a ‘popular attraction’ for any reason, whether you lack time or interest or both. The FOMO while travelling can never be avoided no matter how much you try because the world is just too big and we are going to miss experiencing one thing or the other. So accept that it’s totally fine.

“When no possessions keep us when no countries contain us, and no time detains us, man becomes a heroic wanderer, and woman, a wanderers.” The Wanderers

Royal Enfield India Bhutan Road Trip 2017: An Account Of Our Most Incredible Bike Journey!

18. Sahil Singh

Sahil left his corporate job in 2017 to quench his travel thirst. He’s a big-time foodie and believes in responsible travel. One can say Sahil is a weekend getaway expert.

I use to travel a lot with my family earlier, but in March 2017, I took a life-changing decision to travel with 20 strangers on a Himalayan trek for the first time. This trip changed my perspective about travel.

What’s your favourite travel destination?

Ladakh (going in June), till now – Triund, Bhrigu Lake, Jaisalmer

What’s that one travel gadget you always keep in your backpack?

I call my smartphone my best travel partner, so for its survival, I always carry a power bank.

Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, Highway, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Travel is a beautiful feeling and a great teacher too. You learn a lot from the experiences you gather while travelling. So, just take a break from the mundane lifestyle of cities, plan a small or a long trip to any place of your choice. But, always remember to travel in a responsible manner. Never spoil the dignity of the place you are visiting to especially nature.

A travel quote that always inspires you to travel. “Looking for a sign? Travel, you won’t have this opportunity forever.”

19. Niranjan Das

A nomad, Niranjan has travelled throughout India and covered over 10 countries in Europe and Asia. He believes that life is a travelogue and we all are just nomads.

The inquisitiveness to explore unknown places, languages, cultures and roads were the reason behind my early travels. The reasons remain the same even now, every time I travel.

Cannot pick one, as I love quite a few. Gokarna, Spiti, Rishikesh and Florence heads the list.

More than gadgets, I make sure to carry guide books and maps of the places I travel to.

Motorcycle Diaries and Into the Wild are my favourites.

The world out there isn’t as bad as it is often portrayed. There are strangers who are friendly, there are untrodden roads that take you to gorgeous places and there are unexplored villages that would greet you warmly. Go out and explore every nook and corner of the world.

“Travelling-It leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller”- Ibn Batuta.

6 Adventure Sports In Kochi That Will Let You Challenge Your Fears In 2022!

20. Supriya Sehgal

A wayfarer, Supriya has seen many colours and cultures of India during her travel. She has been contributing to prominent travel magazines and newspapers, including National Geographic Traveller, Outlook Traveller, and Mint to share her knowledge about travel with the world.

I wanted to get out of an expected Bangalore’s weekend rigmarole and explore a state that I hadn’t seen till then. It was the first time after college that I could travel independently, which was a big box to check.

That’s really difficult to answer, but I NEVER get bored of Varanasi.

Phone and battery pack.

Pico Iyer’s Falling off the map and The Sly Company of People Who Care by Rahul Bhattacharya

If travelling is a significant part of your profession, keep an eye on your progress alongside enjoying wandering about. Build realistic financial and skill development goals. This will help to keep the momentum on for a long time to come.

“I love to travel because you may be uncomfortable, hungry, hot and sweaty, cold and shivering…but damn it, you will never be bored.” – Tony Wheeler

Often found travelling through India’s vibrant and gorgeous towns and villages with her father, Arti is a wanderer at heart. One can find a lot of useful travel information on her blog.

I went on my first trip with my mom and dad, and all I can say is that I have only loved travelling ever since.

I love travelling within India. India is truly a wonderland for every traveller and I am no exception. Internationally, my favourite is Japan.

Not gadgets exactly, but a diary and a pen are always my companions on the road.

One of my favourite travel movies is Wild Chronicling Cheryl Strayed.

It’s not mine but a wise person’s advice. It’s a wild, wonderful world, follow your heart and let the adventure unfold!

“As I make my slow pilgrimage through the world, a certain sense of beautiful mystery seems to gather and grow.” – A. C. Benson

Visit Turkey In July To Explore The Ancient Ruins And Turquoise Beaches

A storyteller and rambler, Elita truly believes in the redemptive power of narratives. One can follow her blog Nomadic Thunker to be a part of her travel journeys.

My first journey was a classic scenario. I had office leaves that would lapse if I didn’t utilize them and on the other hand, had friends who wouldn’t make up their minds about the dates we could lock-in. I didn’t want to have to sit at home and do nothing, so I took off for my first solo travel journey.

Arunachal Pradesh. There’s a calm vibe to it.

Not a travel gadget exactly, but I always keep my portable charger with me.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach (it’s not a typical ‘travel’ book but it’s amongst the most beautiful books on journeys of transformation – which is what I associate travel with)

A piece of advice for all the wanderlust-ERS out there.

Be receptive. Mute your prejudices. Search, find, examine and then retell your own stories about people, places, and culture. Because if you’re going to say what ‘everyone else’ is already saying, what are you contributing to?

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver

23. Sumit Sharma

Sumit is an online marketer by profession and a traveller by passion. His love for India and its rich culture and heritage is eternal, which has led him to cover more than 15 cities of the nation.

My wanderlust started back in August 2016, when my friends and I travelled to Udaipur & Mount Abu. Udaipur is a really adorable city that casts a magic spell with its fine art, rich culture, and sparkling lakes that mesmerise your senses. In the last 21 months, I have been to more than 15+ Indian cities.

So, my favourite travel destination in India will obviously be Kashmir. It is one of the amazing tourist destinations in India & the real paradise on earth. Travelling to Kashmir is in my bucket list.

There are some essentials that I will not travel without are pen, notebook, and mobile. But nowadays universal travel adapters & portable chargers are my go-to travel gadgets.

“Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” and “Eat Pray Love”

The skills and experience you gain from travelling can give you life-long lessons. Trust me! With all the ways a trip can make you more of an awesome person, there’s no other way.

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page”.

Udaipur Travel Tips: Know What To Do And Not To Do Before Visiting The City Of Lakes!

24. Revati & Charles Victor

A travel blogging couple from India, Revati and Charles Victor are proving to travel seekers that you don’t need to quit your jobs to travel with one awesome vacation at a time. Their travel blog opens doors to history, culture, flavours, and experiences from places around the world.

While both of us have enjoyed travel from a young age, we planned the trip of a lifetime to Paris after we got married. As someone who speaks French, I had always wanted to visit Paris and Charles is a big patron of the arts, so he could not wait to discover the museums of Paris.

It changes every day, but one favourite we always return to is Paris. Between us, we’ve been there over a dozen times!

Our camera. Currently is the Sony A7RIII

We loved ‘The Way’ which features the walk of Camino del Santiago from France to Spain and we hope to do that 800 km walk someday.

Travel with an open mind and heart, and you’ll always come away richer.

Mark Twain’s, ”Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” It’s such a powerful one.

Whether you are a travel enthusiast or not, these top travel bloggers in India will surely inspire your to travel and explore the magic of travel. Follow them to know about all the travel tips and amazing things you explore around you.

For our editorial codes of conduct and copyright disclaimer, please click here

Frequently Asked Questions About Top Travel Bloggers In India

How much travel bloggers earn in India?

Travel blogging has come out as a trending profession and people can actually 3-4 lakhs per month from a widely read blog.

How to start a travel blog in India?

The first step to start a travel blog in India is by creating a blog or a website. Then start posting your travel experiences along with sharing useful tips for the readers to travel better.

Who are the best travel bloggers in India?

Some of the best travel bloggers in India who are known for sharing their travel stories in the most beautiful way are Shivya Nath, Neelima Vallangi and Archana Singh.

How do Instagram travel bloggers make money?

Instagram travel bloggers can money through various sources like sponsored campaigns with tourism boards, destinations, hotels and airlines. Alongside that, there are other ways like sponsored posts, brand ambassadorship and also marketing consulting.

Who is a travel blogger?

A travel blogger is a person who travels and explore the world to take experiences and write them to earn from various online sources.

Looking To Book An International Holiday?

Trip to Sri Lanka at Rs 13,500/-

Plan Your Vacation Today!

Trip to Singapore at Rs 20,499/-

Get Quotes From Local Experts

Mauritius Holiday Starting at Rs 65,000/-

Talk to Our Experts Today

Maldives Honeymoon Trip at Rs 39,800/-

Pay with easy EMI Option

Europe Trip at Rs 89,999/-

All Inclusive Deals

Vacation in Dubai at Rs 27,499/-

Hong Kong Holiday at Rs 24,999/-

Money Safe Guarantee

Thailand Holiday at Rs 7,999/-

Flights Excluded

People Also Read:

Road Trip During Covid-19 Covid-19 State-wise Advisory Essentials For Travel During COVID Times

Recent Posts

7 Best Spas In Sri Lanka For A Rejuvenating Getaway

10 Cheapest Cities In Europe Where Backpackers Can Travel On A Budget!

Holi In Udaipur 2023: A Royal Affair For All Those Who Love The Festival Of Colors

Go Paragliding In Khajjiar For A Thrilling Weekend Retreat In 2023

The Ever Growing Living Root Bridges, Meghalaya – A Nature’s Marvel In The Northeast

Paragliding In Kalimpong Completes A Northeast Trip In The Most Sumptuous Way

Trending Blogs

20 Mysterious Places In India To Visit In 2023 More Bizarre Than The Bermuda Triangle

10 Scariest Roads In India That Are A Driver’s Nightmare

101 Places To Visit In India Before You Turn 30 in 2024

35 Exotic Places To Visit In December In India 2024 To Enjoy A Surreal Vacation

60 Best Honeymoon Destinations In India In 2024

95 Best Honeymoon Destinations In The World In 2023 For A Romantic Escape!

Best Places To Visit In India By Month

Best places to visit outside india by month.

• TravelTriangle
• topical »
• Tour Packages
• Honeymoon Packages
• Family Packages
• Budget Tour Packages
• Luxury Tour Packages
• Adventure Tour Packages
• Group Tour Packages
• Kerala Tour Packages
• Goa Tour Packages
• Andaman Tour Packages
• Sikkim Tour Packages
• Himachal Tour Packages
• Uttarakhand Tour Packages
• Rajasthan Tour Packages
• Tour Packages From Delhi
• Tour Packages From Mumbai
• Tour Packages From Bangalore
• Tour Packages From Chennai
• Tour Packages From Kolkata
• Tour Packages From Hyderabad
• Tour Packages From Ahmedabad
• Kerala Tourism
• Goa Tourism
• Sikkim Tourism
• Andaman Tourism
• Himachal Tourism
• Uttarakhand Tourism
• Rajasthan Tourism
• Hotels in Kerala
• Hotels in Goa
• Hotels in Sikkim
• Hotels in Andaman
• Hotels in Himachal
• Hotels in Uttarakhand
• Hotels in Rajasthan

• Meet the Team
• Work with Us
• Czech Republic
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Scandinavia
• Philippines
• South Korea
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Budget Travel
• Work & Travel
• The Broke Backpacker Manifesto
• Travel Resources
• How to Travel on $10/day

Home » Asia » India » Backpacking Guide

Backpacking India Travel Guide (Tips + Secrets • 2024)

Backpacking India… It’s a hell of an experience. I have visited India five times now, spending nearly two years backpacking across this crazy sub-continent.

When I was nineteen, following a life-changing injury, I threw all of my shit into a battered pack and caught a one way flight to Delhi, I had just $2700 to my name and was able to make this last over a year whilst backpacking in India.

The wonderful thing about backpacking India is that pretty much anybody can afford it, especially if you don’t mind being a little uncomfortable.

I jumped off the deep end and hitchhiked, couchsurfed and slept rough a lot to make my travel dreams a reality but, to be honest, backpacking in India is so cheap that you don’t really need to do this… A budget of just $500 a month will go a long way when backpacking India and it’s possible to do it for far less.

Why Go Backpacking in India?

Since I was nineteen, I’ve been coming back to India again and again. Often I promise myself that this will be the last time and like many India backpacking veterans, I have a love/hate relationship with India!

Your first time in India may well come as something of a shock even for experienced travellers. It is generally dirty, crowded, noisy, chaotic and frustrating. There are wild animals everywhere, a lot of extreme poverty and widespread dilapidation. Some of the local customs also take some serious adapting to – get used to been stared at, hassled, scammed & having your personal space invaded.

So yes, the real India can be a real challenge but, for adventurous backpackers, India offers some of the most incredible exploring in all of Asia. If it gets under your skin, you will keep on coming back time and time again. Visiting the beautiful places in India is a task worth taking on.

Best Travel Itineraries For Backpacking India

After nearly a total of two years backpacking in India, I reckon I’ve only seen about half of this truly incredible, massive, country. The country is so big that is really does make sense to plan your backpacking route before you rock up and to focus on seeing one part of India at a time.

There are plenty of amazing spots to explore but you need to be sure you choose the right spots at the right time – you don’t want to be travelling in the Great Thar Desert during summer!

To make things a bit easier, I’ve popped together some different backpacking routes for India; these can easily be combined or added together to create the absolute perfect India itinerary.

But whatever India backpacking route you take, prepare to be astounded, amazed and a little bit frustrated! You need at least one month in India to enjoy these itineraries.

Backpacking India 1-Month Itinerary # 1 – Spiritual Extravaganza

Rajasthan (paired with Varanasi) is a great introduction to backpacking India! This is an area that checks most boxes – There are plenty of chilled out sites well on the backpacker radar but if you dig a little deeper you can find isolated villages and hidden temples rarely visited by travellers.

After getting your bearings and hopefully avoiding getting scammed in New Delhi , head on over to Varanasi for the spiritual experience of a lifetime. After a quick stop in off beat Khajuraho , settle into Agra to see the Taj Mahal, AKA the most famous landmark in India.

Then it’s time to experience Rajasthan, one of my favorite places in India. Jaipur will serve as a sweet introduction–it’s quite a nice Indian city–where as Pushkar is like a desert version of Goa. Bundi is a true gem, and a place you shouldn’t rush through. Package tourists don’t make it here.

Finish off your epic Rajasthani adventure with the big three, Jodhpur (known as the Blue City), Jaisalmer , and Udaipur . A better trip through one of India’s most beautiful states doesn’t exist.

One important thing to note is that Rajasthan can be damn hot… This means that you really, really want to try and explore this part of India during November to March; outside of these months, it can be fairly unbearable.

Backpacking India 1-Month Itinerary # 2 – Off the Beaten Track Adventures in South India  

This is perhaps the best South India travel itinerary for explorers keen to see a bit of the real India before diving into the heady parties of Goa and Gokarna.

Bangalore is a tech hub of sorts and one of India’s cleaner cities, but don’t spend more than a few days here before heading to the very offbeat Kodagu –don’t be surprised if you’re the only foreigner in town.

Next up, take a relatively short local bus to Mysore , which is easily my favorite city in India. It’s clean, has some delicious street food and is pretty easy to manage overall. A night train is the best way to move onwards to Fort Kochi , a cheeky little beach town that checks every box of what you’d want from a sticky place.

You final two stops will bring you back to the tourist trail, but rest assured that it will be worth it. The back waters of Alleppey are best seen from the local boats, and even popular Varkala (which can be reached by train or bus) has plenty of hidden spots to get off the beaten track in.

Backpacking India 1-Month Itinerary # 3 – Mountains and Yoga in Northern India

Traveling to the Subcontinent to find yourself? Then this Backpacking India itinerary may be for you.

The Himalayas are unlike any other part of India, mountains have always held a special place in my heart and the Indian mountains are some of the best in the world… although not quite as incredible as neighbouring Pakistan, the ultimate adventure destination !

If you’re coming from said neighbour, you’ll be starting right in Amritsar , which is home to the famous Golden Temple and legendary Sikh hospitality. Otherwise, break your Rishikesh virginity, though do be warned that it will be an absolute zoo in May and June.

Once you’ve got that out of the way–it’s time for the mountain fun to begin! First head to Mcleod Ganj , a spiritual mecca home to the famous Dalai Llama. Be warned–it’s easy to get stuck here! Next, make a stop in Bhagsu before moving on to Manali .

These days Manali is a commercialized mess, so I highly encourage you to get to the more authentic Vashshist as SOON as possible. The hippie vibes are only beginning amigos, as the mountainous roads will then lead you to Kasol , the main hub of the iconic Parvati Valley.

After enjoying hashish, trance and natural beauty for days, answer the Himalayas’ call and get yourself on the next HRTC bus to Leh , capital of Ladakh.

After you’ve spent a solid amount of time living the high-altitude life, it’s time for Srinigar , the capital of India’s portion of Kashmir. I highly recommend giving this region the time it deserves. It might be more expensive than you’d like, but Pakistan’s Azad Kashmir is very hard to travel in as a foreigner so get your fix here!

Be warned; travelling in the Himalayas is uncomfortable, tiring and sometimes dangerous. It is worth getting to grips with your route before you go travelling in India, planning on the road doesn’t work so well in the Himalayas as the roads have a tendency to get washed away!

Best Places To Visit In India

You can spend a lifetime and still not see everything this mega-country has to offer, but I think these are the very best places in India that you just shouldn’t miss…

Backpacking Delhi

Many backpackers arriving in India for the first time will start their adventure by staying in Delhi , which is unfortunate.

Delhi is probably my least favourite city in the whole world and whilst it may have some hidden charms, I have yet to find them despite visiting the city over half a dozen times. The traffic is crazy, and driving my multicolored rickshaw through the streets was a truly nutty and hair-raising experience.

Delhi is not one of the friendliest places in India. When you arrive into Delhi’s main airport, catch a metro into town and make your way to the Panchsheel area; this is where you can find the widest array of backpacker-friendly accommodation, and is the best area in Delhi to stay in. Some of the best hostels in Delhi are in Paharganj and more quieter, cleaner options can be found in the upscale South Delhi area.

In general, I recommend getting the heck out of Delhi as quickly as possible… There are plenty of much lovelier places within India to spend your time. However, if you do want a better and more comfortable experience, there are some pretty epic Delhi Airbnbs to choose from.

Backpacking Varanasi

You can’t explore India without having a proper Varanasi experience… I say experience because Varanasi is totally nuts and will leave you reeling as you navigate through twisting alleys, passing holy men and funeral processions, stray cows and colourful stores selling silken saris.

Make your way to the river and catch a sunset boat ride on the Ganges, the most holy river in Hinduism. On the way, make sure to pick up one of the best lassis in all of India at Blue Lassi in the market.

There are plenty of cheap hostels in Varanasi , and just as many budget guesthouses. Varanasi has to be seen to be understood… I recommend spending three or four days here. There are good train links between Delhi and Varanasi and I recommend catching a sleeper train – go for 3AC class.

Backpacking Khajuraho

From Varanasi you should be able to catch a train directly to Khajuraho. As always you should book your ticket in advance and try to get a night train to save on accommodation. This area is famous for its hilariously erotic temples. Hire bicycles as some of the main sights are spread out and it is a great way to explore.

Try to catch the temples at sunrise, they are amazing. It is possible to arrange a rickshaw to take you to a lovely river where you can swim, ask around. Touts are persistent here and like to target fresh backpackers. I recommend staying for two to three days so you can get a well-deserved break before heading onwards to Agra…

Backpacking Agra

There are only three things worth seeing in Agra. The first and best is ‘ Joney’s Place ’ – it offers the best, and cheapest food in all of India.

The second is the Taj Maha l, it costs a whopping 1100RS to get in and this will probably continue to rise for foreign visitors in the coming years. Finally, 26km outside of Agra is the ruins of Fatehpur Sikri which is interesting if you have time but is unfortunately filled with very pushy touts.

The Taj Mahal is chief amongst the top sites to see in India. However, staying in hostels in Agra for more than two days is not recommended… Sadly it’s a true shit-hole of a city and not to be dwelled in… From Agra you can catch a train to Jaipur – but may have to change at Delhi.

Backpacking Jaipur

My second least favourite city in India is undoubtedly Jaipur. You can however mitigate its horror by choosing carefully where to stay in Jaipur . Try to spend just a day here if you can as the city is stressful and ugly. Ajmer Palace , 12km outside of the city, is stunning and worth the trip.

The Monkey Temple (Galtaji) is not to be missed – set beautifully into the side of a hill, make sure you go all the way up and over to the other side of the hill to find it. Other than the old buildings, Jaipur is a great place to shop for textiles, custom-made clothes and jewelry.

Jaipur is a great place to be during the festival of Diwali, easily one of the most important festivals in India.

Stay at one of Jaipurs’ best hostels –there are plenty to choose between. From Jaipur, you can catch an overnight train to Jaisalmer and work your way back towards Delhi across Rajasthan or jump to Pushkar. The airport does some good value domestic flights – if you book ahead you can get to Goa for $40.

Backpacking Pushkar

Finally, somewhere to relax now that you’ve done the obligatory sights of India! You could happily spend a week in Pushkar, exploring the many temples and the gorgeous lake within the centre of the town.

Pushkar is renowned as a town of religious importance and you can’t drink or eat meat here… meaning that, of course, you can but your beer will be disguised in a teapot and will cost more.

Pushkar is a shoppers paradise and is filled with thousands of stores selling pretty much everything… the market is a great place to buy bulk if you’re planning to sell your travel souvenirs back home 😉

There’s a strong backpacker community here, the town suffers from many a hippie-wannabe, and there’s lots of yoga and meditation classes available. Whilst exploring the lake, avoid the priests like the black plague – they are extremely skilled scammers. Do not let them place a wristband upon you, they will ask for a ridiculous payment.

For a truly striking sunset, climb one of the nearby hills surrounding the town. Pushkar has great but, very strong, Bhang (marijuana) lassis; these will knock you out if you are not careful.

Every year, the famed Pushkar Camel Festival comes to town – this is a totally insane event but well worth seeing if you happen to be in India at the time; book your accommodation in advance as everything tends to sell out.  Four to five days is about right for a visit to Pushkar although its possible to linger for weeks.

To get to Pushkar you must first catch a train to Ajmer and then catch a forty five minute bus onwards to Pushkar itself. From Ajmer you can catch a bus to Bundi, a logical next stop.

Backpacking Bundi

I loved Bundi. It’s well off the tourist radar and definitely worth visiting. I stayed in a lovely little guesthouse called simply The Lake View Guesthouse . Rooms were cheap, just $6 for a huge double with bathroom. Bhayvam Homestay does rooms for $3 but they are basic and you have to share a bathroom.

Definitely visit the palace and the fortress atop the hill (take a stick to deter the monkeys ) as well as Kipling’s house. Hire bicycles to go exploring outside the city, you will be utterly alone and this is a great chance to do some real exploring.

Stay for at least three days in Bundi and be sure to check out Krishna’s Tea Stall .

Backpacking Jodhpur

Although there may not be a great deal of tourist sites to visit, Jodhpur is an excellent example of a Rajasthani market town, a good wander through streets to soak up the busy vibe and colours is a must during your stay. In the state where every town has a fort, Jodhpur is no exception and it’s definitely worth visiting.

It’s one of the most amazing fortresses in the world. Take the audio tour to find out plenty of awesome history about this amazing place. I would stay for one or two days. You then easily catch a bus from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer.

Backpacking Jaisalmer

A giant sandcastle rising out of the desert, Jaisalmer fort is one of my favourite places in all of India and the starting point for the annual rickshaw race across India.

Even better, if you’re keen to go camel trekking and to spend a night camping out in the desert with fellow backpackers, this is the place to do it! Haggle hard… The prices vary wildly!

The legal Bhang shop sells shakes and cookies – they can get you very high and are a fun way to while away an evening; as always, be careful if you’re experimenting with drugs on the road. Not including time for a camel trek, you only need two days to explore Jaisalmer. There are good train links out of Jaisalmer.

Backpacking Udaipur

What a truly wonderful place. I lingered here for almost a month when I was on my first backpacking trip to India at the age of nineteen. There are wonderful hostels in Udaipur , great restaurants, interesting cycle rides, captivating lakes and atmospheric temples.

Try to stay somewhere near the central Jagdish temple. Shop around for accommodation as it’s possible to find good rooms for $4. I got some beautiful, custom made shirts in Udaipur which cost about $4 each – well worth it.

Five days is a good length of time to spend in Udaipur before catching a train back up to Delhi or travelling onwards to Goa or Mumbai. A train to Goa, via Gujurat, takes around 46 hours and I strongly recommend that nobody ever attempts this again… It was one of the most god-awful journeys of my life!

Backpacking Bombay

Let’s start with the name. Nobody calls this sweltering city Mumbai and the city is very much Bombay.

Now that the name is out of the way, let’s get onto the city. Bombay is, in a single word, intense! If you survive Bombay you have done well. Bombay is not only dirty, crowded and full of touts, it is also the most expensive city in India and can quickly drain your bank account on account of the wild nights out… Tinder works well in Bombay.

I loved Bombay and spent over 2 weeks hanging out but I was couchsurfing and had some great friends to show me Mumbai’s best neighbourhoods and help keep my costs low . I highly recommend trying to make a friend in Bombay as they will show you a side of the city that most backpackers in India simply are not aware of.

In case you can’t find a host, worry not as there are now loads of decent Mumbai hostels. You should definitely brave the local trains at some point, they are packed to bursting but are a quintessential Indian backpacking experience.

From Bombay, you can easily catch a train to Aurangabad.

Backpacking Ajanta & Ellora

The famed cave temples and dwellings of Ajanta and Ellora rival those of Petra… Huge temples and structures have been carved into the rock and occupied by holy sects for centuries, the history here is absolutely fascinating.

To visit Ajanta and Ellora, you will need to make a base in Aurangabad; a quintessential middle-of-nowhere Indian town.

You’ll need a full day to visit the incredible cave temples of Ellora, travel by tuk tuk for 600RS. Be sure to make a stop at the truly awesome ruined fortress of Daulatabad, a place with a bloody and fascinating history.

On day 2, take a taxi (1200RS) if in a group or a bus (150RS each way) if you are on your own to the Ajanta Caves; a collection of thirty Buddhist monasteries carved into a shoehorn of rock sitting above a lush green forest. On day 3, get the heck out of dodge (there really is fuck all to do in Aurangabad) and catch a train (6 hours) to Nashik.

Backpacking Nashik

The ghats, stone steps leading down to the river for washing and praying, in Nashik are truly mesmerising and, unlike in Varanasi, there are no pushy touts looking to make a quick rupee from backpackers.

If you are into your photography, Nashik is one of the best places to visit some truly untouched Ghats and to capture scenes of Indian rural life.

One day in Nashik is enough; besides the ghats there isn’t much to see. I couchsurfed here and found myself in a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class in the evening… such is travelling in India! If you fancy spending a second day in Nashik, there is a pleasant day hike to Trimbak which is worth checking out.

From Nashik you can arrange a sleeper bus towards Goa, or if you are feeling adventurous catch a train to Gulbarga and then onwards to Bidar and Bijapur, you may have to go via Bombay. I couchsurfed in Nashik.

Backpacking Bidar

The epic fort in Bidar is probably one of the most untouched forts in all of Asia and, best of all, if you visit you will probably have it all to yourself.

From Gulbarga, a bus (three hours) runs to Bidar, there is very limited accommodation options here – I stayed in the Hotel Mayura , right next to the bus station. Bidar Fort is filled with hidden, locked, passageways and epic buildings.

If you find an attendant, you can tip him 100RS to wander around with you or, even better, simply give you the keys. The fort alone is well worth coming to Bidar for but the city itself does have some other interesting sites and is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for the Sikhs. From Bidar, it’s a seven hour, ass-bruising, bus ride to Bijapur.

Backpacking Bijapur

Palaces, tombs, gateways, temples and minarets, all carved from solid basalt and covered in twisting vines and flowers. The architecture in Bijapur is simply stunning and it is widely renowned as one of the most important historical cities in India, despite this it attracts very few backpackers and you are likely to have it all to yourself.

A couple of days is adequate time to see all of the sites, it could be done in one single day if you are tired of the heat and are keen to hurry on to somewhere a tad more relaxing.

I recommend staying in Hotel Pleasant Stay , the cheapest accommodation is next to the bus-stand – it’s fairly horrible. From Bijapur, catch a bus to Hospet (3 – 4 hours) and from Hospet catch a thirty minute rickshaw to Hampi…

Backpacking Hampi

Backpacking Hampi is hands-down my favourite thing to do in India. I’ve been a total of five times and, every time, it’s changed drastically. It is famed for its climbing boulders as well as the assortment of ancient temples and Hampi’s primary backpacker area across the river.

Local buses from Hosepur to Hampi begin running at around 7am but expect usual Indian delays. The ride takes 30 – 40 minutes and costs about 15 rupees. Tuk Tuks are available and will charge you between 200 – 400. Tuk Tuk drivers will also lie and tell that you that the busses to Hampi start at 8.00, 9.00 or even that there aren’t any at all to try and get your custom.

Scooters can be rented cheaply in Hampi (300-400 rps), but aren’t actually necessary. Bicycles can be obtained for 200 – 300 rps. I recommended joining a bike tour around the temples and ruins of the main island – they can be joined for 300 including bike, last 4 hours and cover about 9km with lots of stops – bring sun cream and water.

Note that as of February 2020, the local government has began totally demolishing the entirety of the development “across the river”. This means all of the hostels and the entire Hampi backpacker hub is gone. The temples are still there, as are the rocks but to be frank, Hampi just lost half of its appeal and charm in one fell swoop. It remains to be seen how the demolition will affect Hampi’s.

Backpacking Goa

Probably the most famous place in all of India and a magnet for hippie wannabes and all kinds of backpacker assholes, traveling in Goa is a complicated, chilled, paradoxical place that is well worth a visit no matter what you hear.

The trick with Goa is choosing where in Goa to stay.

• Baga is for package tourists.
• Anjuna and  Arambol  for party people.
• Vasco da Gama  and  Margao have more local Goan life and traces of the Portuguese colonial era.
• South Goa for those seeking some peace.

Both Palolem and Patnem are pretty relaxed. You can arrange fishing, dolphin watching and kayaking from the beach.

Another beach well worth considering is Arambol beach in the North. It’s a lively, hippy mecca, and you’ll be sure to find some cute Goa Airbnbs and hostels to base in. There are loads of yoga classes and meditations, there are jam sessions every night and shops selling some genuine boutique items as well as the standard backpacker stuff. 

If you shop around you can still get a beach front shack for around 500 rps though prices spike between Christmas and February. There are also a number of trendy eco-resorts in Goa that are worth checking out!

Most restaurants along and around the beach are very similar and do perfectly decent Indian standards as well tantalisingly fresh fish tandooris. Cheeky Monkey has a great fusion menu and the shack next to the coconut seller does amazing thali’s for 100 – 150 rps.

There are no big parties in Arambol itself although Rusta has began doing Wednesday Techno Parties. Morejim however is a short ride from Arambol (don’t drink/drug & ride) and has a number of club nights featuring all minds of music.

That said, Arambol itself has numerous happenings every single night until around 10:30pm (midnight if its away from then main drag). I recommend attending Ecstatic Dance at the Source and seeing what weird and wonderful stuff is going on at Magic Cafe and the Love Templ e.

The big, wild, legendary Goa parties take place in and around Anjuna & Vagator . There are parties catering to different tastes each night during high season (Dec – March) so if you like commercial, techno, R & B or house you can find it.

However, my absolute premium advice is to attend at least one Goan Trance Party as they are utterly mind blowing. Try Shiva Valley on Tuesday nights or Shiva Place on Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Hilltop & Origens claim to be “temples of trance” and do attract big name DJ’s, but they are overpriced, soulless & shit.

Backpacking Gokarna

For a taste of ‘Goa before the tourists’, many people backpacking India head to Gokarna. The main beach is quickly catching on and becoming more touristy, much like Goa. That said, there are plenty of smaller beaches which are only accessible by boat and are home to small communes of hippies.

Gokharna is a short(ish) way from Goa and its relatively quiet. Beaches generally act as either a warm up for or come down from the madness of India’s tourism capital. Gokharna itself is classic Indian small town with a few temples, some dirt roads and lots of cows. There are plenty of guest houses, shops, travel agencies and ATM’s to be had here and its worth a look.

However, people come here for the quiet, secluded beaches which are 6km and 150rps in a Tuk Tuk away. My personal nickname for Om Beach is Jaffa Beach as its firmly established on the Hummus trail. By day, play volleyball, explore the temples in the old town or fish upon the high seas. By night, discover the real reason that many hippies have moved to Gokarna; a better supply of mushrooms and weed.

The guest houses here range from 300 to 500rps and the quality differs drastically. Shopping around and checking them all out is strongly advised as many don’t have WI-Fi or reliable electricity and are frankly depressing. The absolute pick has to be Mooksa with its extensive grounds at the back of the cafe. Dolphin Bay is to be avoided.

Some of these places don’t even have electricity so if you’re looking for something a bit more out there – this might be it. I would recommend staying at the Zostel hostel.

The necklace sellers on the beach are mostly young and pleasant but do get annoying. If you don’t intend to buy anything then make it very clear and be firm without been rude. If you say “I may buy later/tomorrow” then they will try to hold you to that.

Snakes are also very common here. I found one, 2 foot long, in my room and saw several small snakes in the jungles immediately surrounding the beach. The local staff told me they’re not poisonous but Google tells me there are some cobras around. The beach dogs are very friendly and the beach cows are generally harmless, but may try to eat your belongings. Remember, these animals are sacred in Hindu culture so respond accordingly if this happens.

Backpacking Rishikesh

Famous since the Beatles first rocked up here and got stuck into an Ashram, Rishikesh is a popular stop with yogis backpacking India and is well worth checking out, even if you are not into yoga. If you are into yoga, Rishikesh is the perfect place to take a course or earn your yoga certification.

Catch a train from Delhi to Haridwar and then catch a bus (one hour) onwards to Rishikesh bus station – from here, you will then need to get a tuk tuk to drop you near Lakshman Jhula, cross the bridge and find a place to crash.

There are lots of cheap backpacker accommodation options around as well as good Rishikesh hostels . I recommend staying at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram which is near Ram Jhula. You should definitely eat at the awesome Beatles Cafe,  Ira’s Tea , and Ramana’s Café .

Whilst in Rishikesh, hire mopeds for 300RS a day and go exploring. The foot-traffic within Rishikesh of thousands of pilgrims can be quite intense but once you are over the bridge and happily zipping along the mountains roads it’s a lot of fun. You can also arrange to go white water rafting in Rishikesh.

I recommend three or four days in Rishikesh. There are loads of Yoga and Meditation courses available ranging from a matter of days to entire months. Oh, and “ The Beatles Ashram ” is now an urban art museum which is well worth checking out.

From Rishikesh you can reach the incredible Valley of Flowers. I recommend taking around 3 days to make stops along the way. Trust me, it’s so worth it. From nearby Haridwar, you can also catch a train to Amritsar.

Backpacking Amritsar

The Golden Temple, the most sacred temple in the Sikh faith, is simply breathtaking. Sikhism welcomes all and you can stay for free in the golden temple dorms. Wander around until someone shows you where to go.

Ask the temple guards if unsure. Keeping with the spirit of Sikh hospitality, you can also get free food at the temple all day long.

You should visit the Wagah border ceremony in the evening and have a giggle at the ridiculous flag ceremony performed by soldiers from the Indian and Pakistani armed forces… It’s better from the Pakistani side!

One full day in Amritsar is enough as it’s very hot. After a night in the temple dorm you can catch an early morning bus to McLeod Ganj, or a sleeper train south. For more info, check out my amigos guide to Amritsar .

484 pages with cities, towns, parks, and ALL the out-of-the-way places you will WANT to know. If you truly want to discover Pakistan , download this PDF .

Backpacking McLeod Ganj

Home to the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetan’s in Exile, McLeod Ganj (or little Tibet) is a chilled place to spend a couple of days among the Tibetan people and is a great place to pick up souvenirs. There are many interesting day hikes around the area.

I would recommend staying at Backpackers Inn but you can also find tons of really cheap Tibetan family run places if you shop around a bit.

We stayed at one of these for 250RS a night, though prices will likely be higher these days thanks to inflation. McLeod is pretty small and a few days here should be more than enough unless you are doing yoga or choose to get involved with a charity.

There are several projects for volunteers here working with Tibetan refugees, be sure to check out Tibetan World where you can sign up for hour long language exchanges with the Tibetan monks, who are always keen to improve their English. And to leave you with a cheap food tip, The Black Tent Cafe does a fantastic Tibetan breakfast.

Backpacking Bhagsu and Dharamkot

Just a short twenty minute walk from McLeod Ganj is the backpacker hub of Bhagsu.

Lower Bhagsu is pretty modernised and my advice is to keep going up the hill. Bhagsu is an Indian backpackers paradise with hand made crafts, tie-dye clothing and Didgeridoo lessons at every turn. When travelling through India the first time, I fell in love with Bhagsu.

The area is very popular with Israeli’s and there is even a Hebrew book exchange. In the evenings, head along the stone paths into the hills and follow the music and the scent of ganja, there are many little cafe’s and lodges along the trail where musicians jam into the early hours of the morning.

Bring a torch as finding you way back after dark could be a challenge on a night with no moon! There are some great treks that can be done from Bhagsu without a guide; the most popular is Triund which only takes about three or four hours and is manageable even for newbie trekkers.

You can rent a tent to sleep in at the summit, it gets cold so bring layers if you have them.

Backpacking Old Manali

Arriving into Manali, you will be dropped in the main bus station in the modern part of the town, whatever you do; don’t stay here!

The real Manali is still a couple of kilometers away and you can choose between basing yourself in Old Manali or Vashisht. Old Manali is far busier than Vashisht and definitely the place to base yourself if you want to party – there are plenty of great hostels in Old Manali to meet party friends here too!

In Old Manali, ‘ Dylan’s Toasted and Roasted ’ does great deserts and has a movie room. Meanwhile the Sunshine Cafe has incredible food from all over the world and is a solid bet for nightly live music. The marijuana in Manali is amazing and freely grows everywhere.

Manali is an adventurer’s paradise and you can arrange white water rafting, paragliding, zorbing and canyoning… or, you could just get blazed all day. If you have plenty of time, it’s worth checking out both Old Manali and Vashisht, if you’re short on time, you’ll have to choose…

Backpacking Vashisht

If, like me, you prefer to simply chill with a cheeky smoke and watch the mountains, Vashisht is the place to go. Old Manali is great but, recently, it’s become overrun with large hordes of party-orientated backpackers, usually from Israel. Vashist is just a fifteen minute tuk tuk ride from Old Manali.

Vashisht is roughly set across the valley opposite Old Manali and is kind of like its little brother. The small town is much quieter than Old Manali and therefore a fantastic place to stay if you want some peace and tranquility.

There is a hot spring at the top of town and daily religious processions where you can watch devout locals fall into a state of trance. The Rasta Cafe is a great place to hang out and is famed for its Special Lassis ( be warned, they can be very strong ).

Private rooms can be found from between 600-1000Rs if you are willing to go door to door and haggle and you can sometimes even bag a room with a stunning mountain view.

From Vashisht, you could consider getting hold of a Royal Enfield and exploring the Spiti Valley  or, if you are short on time and funds, you can begin the epic bus journey to Leh in Ladakh.

The overnight minibus is supposed to take at least eighteen hours but when I did it, it took closer to thirty six hours due to landslides…

It was an awful journey but, ultimately, was so worth it. You can fly to Leh but, well, the bus journey is a rite of passage when backpacking India so you should do it, the views will be stunning if there is no cloud cover. Remember to take Diamox with you to combat altitude sickness.

Alternatively, from Vashisht, you can head south to Kasol for some easy treks within the lower Himalayas.

Backpacking Kasol

If you are taking a trip to Parvati Valley , chances are you will pass through Kasol, which is a popular backpacking destination for good reason. The town of Kasol can be reached by a five to six hour bus ride from Manali for 200RS.

Kasol has soared in popularity in the last few years and is now rivalling Manali as the backpacker hub for Himachal Pradesh. Depending on how long you spent in Manali, it is definitely worth heading here for a few nights if you have the time.

Kasol itself is largely popular with Israeli travellers and you will see many a hippie wannabe, from all nationalities, clad head to toe in hilariously impractical gear they have bought from the many stores selling hippy dippy shit upon every corner.

If you’re into shopping, you will probably love Kasol. It’s a good place to pick up quality clay chillums – 120RS – anyway. Kasol itself is, like Manali, famed for its marijuana and laid back backpacker vibe.

There are many day-hikes and longer multi-day treks that can be attempted from around Kasol. For a full run down of chilled out places to visit in the area have a good look at the  Kasol and Around guide  by Drifter Planet.

Backpacking Kalga and Kheerganga

From Kasol, you can catch a minivan up into the mountains and trek for forty five minutes to reach the truly serene village of Kalga.  It’s well worth spending a couple of days here, hanging out in the very chilled Sunset Cafe run by the unendingly friendly Nepalese manager, Hans – he is a man of many names.

From Kalga, most backpackers head off on the six hour hike to Kheerganga where you can bathe in a hot spring said to be one of Lord Shiva’s favourite places to relax after a hard day’s godding.

Despite this, it’s well worth spending one night in Kheerganga to see the stunning night sky at elevation; the lack of light pollution makes for some soul-stirring stargazing.

Kheerganga itself has, sadly, been hit with rapid unchecked development and is not a particularly nice place to stay – accommodation is crowded, dirty and overpriced. If you have a tent, bring it. Kheerganga might have some of the most disgusting toilets in all of India, which is no easy accomplishment.

Backpacking Leh and Ladakh

There is a lot to do in Leh and some great trekking in Ladakh. Start by the visiting the amazing palace and the massive Stupa – the donkey sanctuary is also worth a visit.

If you fancy some trekking, there is the 6-day Markha Valley Trek in Hemis National Park (the largest national park in India ), the 5 day Nubra Valley trek and the challenging Rumtse to Tso Moriri-dayer.

Ladakh and Kashmir are great places to travel on your own wheels and ideal for motorbike trips. You can also try hitchhiking or get a shared Ladakh taxi to explore the region.

Backpacking Srinagar

From Leh, you can take a jeep (very expensive) or an old bus to Srinagar (or you can fly). I would recommend flying… or avoiding Srinagar altogether!

I visited Srinagar as one of the very last stops on my first fourteen month adventure in India and by the time I got there I was totally broke… Unfortunately, without cash, it’s pretty difficult to see Kashmir as you really do need your own transport or to book yourself onto jeep tours which tend to start at around 2000RS a day.

In Srinagar, the one must-try experience, in my opinion, is to explore the lake by shikara. The lake is truly gorgeous and a peaceful place to spend an afternoon exploring. From Srinagar, you can catch a bus down to Amritsar or fly to Delhi.

Backpacking Bangalore

Bangalore is something of a boom town in India and has firmly established itself as the centre of the sub-continents mega tech industry. The city is something of a typical modern Indian city; unplanned, chaotic and ugly.

That said it is much more tolerable than Mumbai and Delhi; you will get far less hassle and meet with less scams. Because of its booming tech and business scene, the city also has a young, educated, enterprising crowd who are in many ways the cream of India’s youthful crop. There are lots of micro pubs, some great places to eat, and a few clubs putting on gigs and electronic music nights.

For a kick ass Mutton Biryani, check out the ever busy and beautifully basic Shivaji Military Hotel in Banashankari and for a classic South Indian breakfast of rice cakes head to Sree Krishna Kafe in Koramangala.

If you’re exploring South India then you should consider flying into Bangalore instead of the disappointing, punishing shit hole that is Mumbai. The hostels in Bangalore are way better and international flights are regular and affordable.

Backpacking Kodagu

A six hour bus journey from Bangalore lies the largely unexplored Kodagu region.

Although Lonely Planet claims to have been to Kodagu the information in the book is so point blank wrong that I find this hard to believe.

This is real exploring territory. It is easy to arrange a homestay once you reach the administrative capital of Madikeri. From Madikeri it is worth taking the hour long bus to Bylakuppe to visit a Tibetan colony.

The best thing about Kodagu is arranging a homestay, I recommend Homestay Kodagu , and simply heading off into the hills on a hiking adventure…  

A bus to Mysore from Kodagu takes about four hours. It is one of the most romantic destinations in India. Kodagu is perhaps one of the top romantic destinations in India.

Backpacking Mysore

Mysore is a truly ancient city and it still has a real feel of the British Raj about it.

You should definitely visit Chamundi Hill, climb the thousands of steps if you fancy a workout. The imposing Mysore Palace is well worth an afternoon and, if you can find them, there is word of underground parties in Mysore by night. Srirangapatna makes a great day trip from Mysore.

Mysore is, hands down, my favourite city in all of India… Saying that, it’s still a city in India and so you might want to do a runner after a few days to the more chilled out coast.

Backpacking Fort Kochi

Famed for the ancient Chinese fishing nets lining the shore, Fort Kochi is a great place to chill out for a couple of days.

Think laidback beach vibes, plenty of delicious seafood, and lots of opportunities for colourful travel photography.

To get away from Fort Kochi, you must first travel to Ernakulam so that you can catch onwards transport (two hours by bus) to Alleppey.

Backpacking Alleppey

There’s only one real reason to come to Alleppey when backpacking India… to arrange a trip on a houseboat and explore the backwaters .

A three day, two night jaunt is the standard and when haggling for the rental make sure food is included in the price. There are hundreds of houseboats so take your time choosing and make sure to haggle.

Check out this list of awesome Houseboats on the backwaters. If you do end up having to stay in the town there is a YMCA . Just outside of Alleppey is a little known but very beautiful stretch of beach and some interesting villages easily explored by bicycle.

Backpacking Munnar and Periyar

By now, you’re probably a bit stressed and need some time out, never fear; simply get your ass to Periyar wildlife sanctuary. To get to Periyar you must first head towards the town of Kumily.

Bank to spend a week between Periyar and nearby Munnar as you cycle, hike and drink way too much coffee. There are buses to Periyar from both Ernakulam and Alleppey.

Backpacking Varkala

The very tip of India, Varkala is reachable by train from Alleppey (three hours) and the train line does in fact run all the way to Bangalore. Varkala is a lovely stretch of sand and restaurant shacks but sadly suffers from a crowd of rather pushy shop owners.

If you have your own transport, you can explore some of the surrounding, quieter, beaches where it’s possible to camp without being bothered…

Getting Off the Beaten Path in India

Whilst India is well worn by tourist footfall, it is an insanely massive county and therefore getting off the beaten path is a lot easier than you would imagine. There is so much more to India than the Golden Triangle route that most first-timers take.

For example even tried and trodden Rajasthan has hidden gems like Bundi just a 4 hour bus ride away from Jaipur.

In Goa, it is simply a case of getting a bike and driving inland to explore the forest and villages that other tourists never get to.

Or you can go to places most tourists simply never make it to. Northeast India is like a country within a country, giving all the vibes of Southeast Asia while still in India. Majuli Island is a particular gem that I recommend getting to now–it might be underwater in coming days. Other Indian islands are worth checking out too.

While Bombay itself sucks, the state of Maharashtra does have some fantastic, lowkey beaches that will show you what seaside life in India used to be before mass tourism. Guhagar is perhaps my favorite beach in the country that you’ll have all to yourself during the day.

Meanwhile Tilmati Beach (near Karwar, another offbeat town worth checking out) is a real black sand beach only known to locals and fishermen.

While you’re in the area, you can stay in Mahabaleshwar and enjoy epic sunset views from the killer vantage point at Wilson Point.

We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.

Want more deetz on why these packs are so  damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!

Top Things To Do in India

India is a truly weird and wonderful country, travelling in India is totally unlike travelling anywhere else – this is a subcontinent comprised of 29 states , each of which could be, and once was, it’s own country.

When backpacking India, you will be assailed on all sides by mind-boggling sights, sounds, smells, and tastes… Here are a few must-try experiences whilst travelling in India…

1. Try the street food

Eating plenty of Indian street food is one of the best ways to stretch your budget and you can pick up meals for as little as 10RS in some places…

Indian street food can be truly fantastic; I highly recommend Masala Dosa but Pokhara’s, Paaj Bhuri & Fried Chillies are also delicious. Try to pick a vendor with lots of Indian customers, they usually have the best food.

2. Visit a Hindu temple

Yes the Taj Mahal is a must see, but India is absolutely full of other stunning mausoleums, shrines, and temple ruins, many of which never make the news.

My favourites are in Khajuraho and Hampi, but it’s not just the ancient temples that should appeal.

For a taste of something a little bit different, check out a Hindu temple that is still running; some of the best ones are in Udaipur.

3. Couchsurf with the Sikhs

Couchsurfing in India is a great way to keep the cost of traveling in India low, and to get to know the local people. The Sikhs are some of the most hospitable people in India and whilst travelling in India I was frequently invited to stay by turbanned fellows sporting mighty fine mustaches.

These guys were almost always unbelievably hospitable and kind. Turn to Couchsurfing  to help keep your costs down whilst backpacking in India.

4. Explore the East

While most travellers plan to stick to North India or South India, the country has a massive East Coast (plus the 7 states that make uo Northeast India) that few foreigners make it to.

The hub of the east is undoubtedly Kolkata, a fantastic city where you’ll likely be one of only a handful of other backpackers.

The states of Tamil Nadu and Odisha are both quite unique in their own way, and are definitely worth the trip if you’re truly committed to travel India as authentically as possible.

5. Attend a festival

India is world-famous for its truly amazing festivals , my favourites of which are Diwali, the festival of light and Holi, the paint-throwing festival, one of the most famous festivals in the world . However, please note that Holi is not so cool for female travellers. Basically, local men get very drunk & excited which often culminates in spates of sexual assault; sorry to have to be so blunt.

Even so, a festival of some kind should be on your India itinerary.

6. Travel India with your own transport

The best way to see the real India is to travel with your own transport. I’ve motorbiked extensively across India and, more recently, drove a rickshaw 2500km across the country.

Even if you just hire a scooter for a day, travelling with your own transport in India is the best way to peel back the layers and get to grips with this amazing country.

7. Get off the beaten path

The backpacker enclaves of sleepy little Hampi, Goa and Manali are always full of backpackers chatting shit about how much they love India… the only thing is; this isn’t the real India.

The real India can be tough, it can be challenging but it is also one of the most rewarding budget travel destinations in the world. Furthermore, if you take the time to get off the beaten track, to hit the road and to go on a proper adventure you won’t regret it.

Best of all, when the real India has tired you out, then you can make a run for one of the backpacker enclaves… lucky you’ll never run out of epic places to visit in India .

8. Party in Goa

Experiencing Goa’s insane nightlife is must for your India itinerary. Yes, it’s popular, yes, it can be a bit touristy.

But trust me when I say you haven’t been to a party until you’ve danced the night away at a psy trance party.

9. Take a hike

India is home to the majestic Himalayas, and the trekking opportunities are endless. While not quite as awe-inspiring as neighbouring Pakistan, you can find some pretty epic views all over the North of the country.

India has some absolutely world class trekking op’s up in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand (the Gaumukh Trek takes you to the start of the Ganges) and Ladakh. Alternately though you can also find ample–though more restricted–opportunities in if you visit Kashmir and/or Sikkim.

10. Explore Little Tibet AKA Spiti Valley

Spiti Valley is one of the most unique places you can visit on an India backpacking trip. It’s quite a small region, yet it will truly make you feel like you’ve left India altogether and crossed the border into Tibet.

Locals look Tibetan, their language is almost identical, and they practice Buddhism. It’s in Spiti where you can find the oldest monastery in all of India.

This high-altitude region is similar to Ladakh, but is very much its own. Even if you plan to head towards Leh, a week in Spiti is one you won’t soon forget.

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Backpacker Accommodation in India

When I first went backpacking in India, hostels did not yet exist. Instead, there was mostly cheap hotels and guesthouses available.

This is still largely true but there are now many high-quality backpacker hostels throughout India .

Guesthouses and commune-style accommodation can be a great experience as well; I’ve stayed in some amazing places and ended up enjoying it so much that I stayed for weeks at a time. With an increasing number of eco-resorts popping up as well, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

There is a lot of commune-style accommodation around; it tends to attract plenty of wannabe hippies but don’t give up if your first experience isn’t great, try a few of them to see if you can find a place with a vibe to suit you. Zostel Hostels is a decent backpacker hostel chain worth checking out.

And as a quick insider tip: If you want to see all – and we mean ALL – hostel options in India, be sure to check out BOOKING.COM . You can even filter your personal travel needs to find the perfect place for you.

The Best Places To Stay in India

India backpacking costs.

The good news is that India is one of the cheapest countries in the world to go travelling if you’re smart with your money it’s possible to travel in India on a budget of just $10 a day, even less if you haggle like a pro.

The trick to super cheap backpacking in India is to travel slow. The faster you travel, the more it will cost. In general, it’s likely you will spend between $10 – $30 a day depending on how comfortable you want to be.

A Daily Budget in India

These prices are based on the current exchange rate of 73 rupees to the dollar (March 2020).

Money in India

There are lots of international ATMS but they can be tough to find once you are outside of the cities and are in more remote areas. Also note that some ATM’s will not accept certain cards and a lot of them are often empty or broken.

Typically, you can expect to try 2 – 3 ATM’s before finding one that works. Many will charge 200 rps per transaction and this is in addition to any charges your bank levies. It’s advisable to avoid small ATM transactions and get out a bunch of cash at once – just make sure you hide it well.

Travel Tips – India on a Budget

Normally, my top three tips for budget travel are to hitchhike, camp and cook your own food but in India, food, transport and accommodation are already so cheap that this is not really necessary unless you are backpacking India on a budget of just a couple of dollars a day.

Don’t get me wrong – it is totally possible to travel in India with almost no money, I’ve done it, but it’s also possible to go travelling in India on a modest budget and still travel in relative style.

• Local Transport:  India is home to over one billion people, and many of India’s people need to travel great distances on just a few rupees. Journeys can be long and uncomfortable but it is possible to get from the top of India to the bottom for cheap. The sleeper trains are a great way to travel around India cheaply and the buses are a decent second option.
• Couchsurf :  Accommodation in India varies wildly in quality and cost but, in general, you can find a quality room for just a couple of dollars – especially if you are in a backpacker hub. It can be harder when you are out exploring the wild side of India but, as always, Couchsurfing comes to the rescue. I couchsurfed in India about twenty times and it was a great way to cut down on costs – just be careful when picking a host; you want somebody with plenty of positive reviews.
• Haggle:  India is the worst country I have ever been to from the point of view of people trying to rip me off… Even when the price of an item is clearly printed on the packaging, some unscrupulous motherfuckers will try to charge three times as much. India is a country where you simply must haggle for almost everything – accommodation, tuk tuks, street food, souvenirs… All can be haggled down.
• Become an expert:  Learn the secrets to unlocking sustainable long term travel .

Why You Should Travel to India with a Water Bottle

Plastic washes up on even the most pristine beaches… so do your part and keep the Big Blue beautiful

You aren’t going to save the world overnight, but you might as well be part of the solution and not the problem. When you travel to some of the world’s most remote places, you come to realise the full extent of the plastic problem. And I hope you become more inspired to continue being a responsible traveller .

STOP USING SINGLE-USE PLASTIC! If you’d like some more tips on how to save the world , be sure to watch the video below.

Plus, now you won’t be buying overpriced bottles of water from the supermarkets either! Travel with a filtered water bottle instead and never waste a cent nor a turtle’s life again.

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress  rigorously  from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

Best Time To Travel To India

Below is a general guide to India’s weather patterns, but India’s massive size means you need to closely investigate the weather patterns for your specific destination at the time of year you plan to visit. For example, some careful planning could see you travelling just in front of the monsoon as opposed to travelling in it, it could see you hitting the hill stations in the heat and the plains in the cooler months…

The “best” time to visit India is generally October to March when the weather is warm, dry and sunny. The Himalayas are cold but clear. This is peak tourist season and the time when most backpackers visit India.

Around April to May , the temperatures and humidity start to increase along with periodic thunderstorms so this part of the year is when it makes the most sense to head up into the mountains.

From June to September , the Indian Plains are scorching and many locals retreat to hill stations to escape the heat, eventually, the cooling monsoons sweep across the country.

Be aware of the very real possibility of heat stroke and dehydration particularly if landing in Delhi. Ladakh in the far north is generally only accessible between June and September by road, but careful monitoring of conditions is necessary if you are headed that way.

Road closures due to weather changes can be instant, and last for weeks. My overland journey between Manali and Leh took a horrific 35 hours when an avalanche washed away part of the road.

What to Pack for India

Here’s what I would never leave off my India packing list :

Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.

Hanging Laundry Bag

Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.

Sea To Summit Micro Towel

Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.

Monopoly Deal

Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.

Grayl Geopress Water Bottle

Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!

Staying Safe in India

India can be a real assault on the senses, the body and the mind. This is a country with many lessons to teach . Whilst India is generally not considered a “dangerous” destination, there are actually a lot of little hazards to watch out for.

Perhaps the single biggest danger is traffic. Roads are jammed and motoring standards low and reckless. Take care when crossing roads and try to follow locals across. If you rent a bike or scooter, drive very carefully, cautiously, wear a helmet, and do not drink/drug drive – tourists are killed in this way every year.

Other dangers are disease and sickness. Do not ever drink tap water and even take care when showering in low budget guesthouses as the water can cause infections. Food hygiene standards have improved but “Delhi Belly” can still strike; try to avoid very dirty restaurants, eat only fresh street, frequent busy eateries, and use hand sanitiser.

You should also see your Doctor before visiting as a number of vaccinations are advised.

Bring sickness. and diarrhea medicine from home along with a supply of paracetamol and anti-septic. Whilst medicine is available in India, a lot of it is fake.

Crime against tourists is pretty rare (except for sex crimes against women) but pick pocketing occurs and unattended valuables will go missing. A simple padlock  is well worth taking with you and if you want to go all out, I recommend the PacSafe to protect your gear.

That said, scams in India against tourists are very common and you can expect to encounter them daily. There are far too many to list but a few classics include holy men asking for donations, various street beggars, been sold invalid tickets and taxi drivers saying your hotel is burned down. Basically, as a rule distrust pretty much everybody who approaches you and anybody who can make money out of you.

In 2016 veteran adventurer Justin Alexander, went missing whilst trekking around Kheerganga with a Sadhu of dubious intent. Justin was a real mountain man and a big inspiration for me.

The Sadhus, wandering Hindu holy men of India, are a fascinating group of people but can be extremely dangerous, I do not recommend interacting with them if you are alone – many of them are outlaws, frauds & drug addicts. Hiking into the mountains with them is not a good idea.

Be careful with the police in India, getting arrested is not fun. You can bribe your way out of most situations fairly quickly but the trick is to do it fast; the more police become involved the more expensive it will become – get your ass out of the situation before you arrive at the police station.

There are plenty of animal hazards in India. These inside street dogs & as well as mosquitos, snakes & parasites. Monkeys are amusing but can be vicious and will try to steal from you (phones, food, washing lines etc). Even street cows can get aggressive so keep your distance. If you head into the wilderness then add Tigers, Bears, Hyenas and Elephants to this list of beasts.

Another hazard is falling coconuts – they claim a lot of lives across Asia each year.

Despite the daily challenges, Backpacking India is an experience that easily outweighs these small dangers.

Some Extra Travel Tips for Staying Safe in India

• Check out Backpacker Safety 101 for tips and tricks to stay safe whilst backpacking.
• Pick yourself up a backpacker security belt to keep your cash safe on the road.
• Check out this post for plenty of ideas on ingenious ways to hide your money when travelling.
• I strongly recommend travelling with a headlamp whilst in India (or anywhere really – every backpacker should have a good headtorch!)

Staying Healthy In India

Travelling in India and totally avoiding traveler’s diarrhea is pretty impossible. Be sure to completely avoid the tap water, even when brushing your teeth (use purified water!) to improve your chances of escaping…

Many backpackers travelling in India tend to go vegetarian for the duration; not a bad idea considering Indian’s suck at cooking meat.

Eating street food is fine; just make sure the food is well cooked and is cooked in front of you – you don’t want something that’s been sitting out for hours. Potato and egg dishes tend to be the safest.

Female Travellers in India

Time to touch on a touchy topic…

One of the biggest problems with India is the attitude of many Indian men towards women, especially foreigners. Frankly, the way women are treated can be disgusting and the country is sadly in denial about the problem.

Most female backpackers encounter some sort of problem at one time or another whilst travelling in India. This can range from being stared at, “wanked at”, groped, followed or worse. Which is why choosing solo-female traveller friendly destinations is key.

Female travellers need to be extra careful and super vigilant at all times in India especially on public transport and after dark. You can minimise hassle by dressing modestly, saying you are married and being direct – note that any politeness you show to strange men may be interpreted as a “green light”.

Having some self defense skills  when you’re on the road, or off it, is always worthwhile and in my opinion everybody should have a go at training in martial arts at least once in their lives.

I’ve met many kick ass ladies who have travelled India by themselves and I’ve asked a whole bunch of them for their advice on the matter… For even more tips on how to travel the world fearlessly as a kick ass solo female, check out my mate Teacake’s Top Tips for How to Travel Safely as a Women  – she is a legend and I have a huge adventure crush on her.

Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll in India

Marijuana is widely available across most of India (it’s where it came from) and it’s also possible to pick up psychedelics and party drugs pretty easily in places like Goa. Take the usual precautions when buying and taking drugs as arrests and deaths do occur.

Usually, it’s smoking weed that will get you arrested so be subtle to avoid problems in the first place. Avoid buying weed from tuk tuk drivers.

Tinder works in India and is a great way to meet people, especially in some of the bigger, more modern cities. However, Indian society is conservative and sex a taboo subject. Don’t expect to get your rocks off with the locals.

If you are travelling with your partner , I advise saying you are married. Keep public displays of affection to a minimum especially in holy cities and especially when there are a lot of local men around.

Dating in India

India remains very conservative when it comes to dating and gender relations. Furthermore, dating foreigners is a serious no-no for many Indian’s who are still encouraged to marry within their “caste”.

That said, female travellers to India can expect to receive a lot of attention from Indian men and will have no trouble hooking up if they so wish. For guys looking to hit a home run though, the situation is substantially more challenging as Indian women really do have to take social pressures very seriously.

Tinder is now established in big cities although you may well find that matches rarely go beyond polite chat.

Same sex relationships are still taboo in many parts of Indian society, though LGBT travel in India is possible if you stay discrete in public. PDA is a no go for heterosexual couples too, though hand-holding is common in major cities.

Why You Should Get Insured BEFORE Travelling to India

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

How To Get into India

There are multiple international flights to dozens of cities in India but most backpackers arrive via Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa or Kolkata. You can also cross the Wagah border from Pakistan, cross from Nepal and Bhutan or cross from South East Asia via Myanmar over the recently opened Tamu-Moreh border.

Entry Requirements For India

You will need a Visa to enter India unless you are from Nepal.

The Indian Visa process has undergone a lot of changes in recent years and the types of visas available, and fees, vary between nationalities with little logic or consistency.

Most nationalities can now get a sixty day E-visa online, prior to arrival and this is the most coming visa type. However, sixty days travelling in India is simply not enough. If you have the time, I suggest taking 3 months or more. Note that citizens of the UK, EU and US can now get a 12-month or even 5-10 year Visa. Other nationalities should check.

For further information visit the Indian Government E-visa website .

I recommend iVisa  for sorting your visa ahead of time – these guys are quick, efficient and not too expensive – a good shout if you are low on time and want to get your visa sorted in advance.

Find the best transport, best time and the  best fare with 12Go . And why not use what you’ve saved to treat yourself to something nice upon arrival?

It only takes 2 minutes!  Book your transport on 12Go now  and guarantee your seat easily.

How To Get Around India

One of the biggest challenges facing backpackers is travelling around India. India is a truly vast country and sometimes the travel distances are absolutely massive. I once spent thirty-two hours crushed into a third class steerage carriage on a long-distance train, it was an interesting experience…

The most comfortable way to get around India is usually by internal flights but for backpackers on a budget, the trains are usually a better bet. There are also VIP tourist buses, super cheap local buses and, of course, hitchhiking is always an option.

I spent a good bit of time on local buses. Whilst they are cheap, they can be seriously uncomfortable. For journeys of over 5 hours, I strongly recommend booking ahead and paying the extra money for a tourist, VIP bus.

Read this article for more tips on how to save money while travelling in India. When you are in the cities, try to avoid catching taxis or rickshaws as this is where you are most likely to get ripped off.

Traveling by Train in India

No India guide is complete without some train talk. When backpacking India, most travellers opt to make use of the trains and this is a quintessential experience. In general, most backpackers in India go for the 3AC class; these are six bed cabins with air-conditioning (which is usually fucking freezing; avoid the top bunk!).

You can also opt to go for the non air-conditioned coaches but these are often rammed full of people; for short journeys it’s OK but for longer, overnight, train journeys I recommend going for 3AC. To book your train tickets, you should register online with IRCTC but note that the website can be confusing as fuck.

You can book train travel via a travel agent but note that they will charge a fee – some even rip you off by selling you less class than you asked for but this is just one of the many, many scams played on travellers in India.

Train tickets tend to sell out really fast; book in advance if you can. When travelling on trains in India, take a padlock and chain to lock your backpack to something; you can usually buy one on the station from a tout for 100RS. 

Keep valuables in a day pack and use it as a pillow. Often when you book a train you will be put on a waiting list – provided you have booked a couple of weeks in advance and are in, say, the top fifteen you will almost always get a seat.

You must book in advance though. If travelling alone I recommend booking a ‘side upper’ berth as it has a curtain and you won’t be bothered as much. When you book your train make a note of the train number, the time it leaves, arrives and the PNR number, you will need this to get your ticket off of the PNR machine at the station or from a mobile phone.

Travelling By Bus in India

In general, buses tend to have fixed prices and you buy your tickets on board. There is a ton of VIP sleeper buses set up for tourists and these are the most comfortable way to travel when there are no rail-links; beware though, due to the hairpin bends, crazy driving and shitty roads, a good night’s sleep is rare unless you have a Valium to hand.

If you’re heading off on a proper backpacking adventure and leaving the tourist zones, local bus is often the only way to travel in India. Travelling by local bus is one hell of an experience; it can be frustrating, rewarding, enlightening and sometimes simply damn hilarious.

You will meet a lot of Indians on local buses who will try to befriend you. They can sometimes be annoying but do try to be patient – it’s not every day they meet somebody travelling in India… Be mindful for some common scams that you might get pulled into.

Traveling by Rickshaw in India

In general, it makes sense to get a rickshaw rather than taxis for short distances as they are usually cheaper. You must ALWAYS haggle when getting a rickshaw or a taxi in India, otherwise you really will be taken for a ride.

Uber is also widely used in major cities, and keeps you from getting scammed as you get a fixed price.

I drove a multicoloured rickshaw across India, this is the best way to travel in style…

Note that Uber (car, bike and Tuk Tuk) is now available in most major cities and ensures better services and better prices. There is no Uber in small towns, many backpacker enclaves and Uber is strangely absent from Goa.

Travelling by Motorbike in India

One of the best ways to see India is from the back of a motorbike and if you have a tent with you your options vastly expand… Suddenly it’s possible to get pretty much anywhere, to live off the beaten path and to camp out in some truly stunning places.

The iconic Royal Enfield is the bike of choice for most backpackers in India and you can normally buy one for around $2000. If you are travelling India by motorbike it’s well worth taking a good backpacking tent.

Hitchhiking in India

I’m a huge fan of hitchhiking and have hitched rides in over seventy countries, India can be a great place to hitch a ride but it’s not recommended if you’re a solo female traveler – please, don’t even try it.

It helps to have a sign and a map  so you can make it 100% crystal clear where you want to be dropped. Before you get in the vehicle, make sure you clarify that you are not going to pay for the ride – some Indians will expect payment as you are a ‘rich backpacker’.

Onwards Travel From India

India shares land borders with Pakistan, Nepal and Myanmar. The Pakistan Wagah border can be crossed via Amritsar although you must obtain a visa in advance.

The border with Myanmar is accessed via the Eastern Syam region, though as of December 2022, it remains closed to travellers.

The most commonly crossed land border is Nepal. Visas are issued on arrival and transport links well established. You can take a bus from Delhi – Kathmandu (24 hours) or Varanasi-Kathmandu (12 – 18 hours).

• Backpacking Nepal
• Backpacking Sri Lanka
• Backpacking Myanmar
• Backpacking Bhutan

Working in India

The Indian rupee is not one the worlds more powerful currencies and relatively few people emigrate to India in search of work. Westerners working properly in India are few and far between generally working in multi-national firms and in political roles. 

However, there is no shortage of westerners hustling a living in and around backpacker hubs such as Goa and Himachal Pradesh.

Many Westerners work as DJ’s, run boutiques, or offer Yoga classes. Most are actually working illegally, do not have the necessary papers and do not declare their income. The Indian authorities are rather lax in addressing this and the underground economy is quietly tolerated.

If you do want to work in India legitimately, then business visas are available although Indian bureaucracy makes actually obtaining one a real challenge.

Many westerns work in the backpacker economy. Either they obtain business visas or work illegally.

A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic – booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM!

An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! You’re connected the minute you land. It’s that easy.

Is your phone eSIM ready? Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and  ditch the plastic .

Teaching English in India

Perhaps one of the best options for backpackers wanting to explore India long-term and experience living in this truly incredible country is to get a Teaching English as a Foreign Language course online and teach English abroad .

TEFL courses  open up a huge range of opportunities and you can find teaching work all over the world.

Volunteering in India

Volunteering abroad is an amazing way to experience a culture whilst giving something back. There are loads of different volunteer projects in India ranging from teaching, to animal care, to agriculture to pretty much everything!

India is a developing country so there are quite a lot of volunteer opportunities in health and social. However, bear in mind that English is an official language in India so its less common to find volunteer teaching gigs than it is other places in the world. Its also very uncommon for travellers to volunteer in hostels as these roles are usually filled by local employees.

If you do volunteer in India, be careful to do your research and trust your gut to avoid been taken advantage of by unscrupulous hosts. Volunteer programs run through reputable work exchange programs like Worldpackers and Workaway are a good way to get your foot in the door of the volunteer community.

However, whenever you are volunteering, do stay vigilant especially when working with animals or children.

If you Signup for Worldpackers – as a Broke Backpacker reader, you’ll also get a special discount of $10. So for just $39 a year, it is definitely worth giving it a shot.

Indian Culture

India is a full on culture shock. It is a colourful, loud, lively and smelly carnival of carnage. The exact quirks of Indian culture do vary from region to region but as rule, expect a lack of personal space and a lot of staring!

Indian society is still quite conservative so dress modestly and behave respectfully.  That said, Indians are very interested in foreigners and you can expect to be approached rather a lot.

It’s very common to be invited to stay the night or offered a free meal, especially in offbeat areas that seldom see tourists.

Useful Travel Phrases For India

There are countless languages and dialects spoken across India. The 2 official languages however are Hindi and English. If you speak English, you will get by fine. English standards vary dramatically.

Here are some useful Hindi (North Indian style) phrases;

Hello – Namaste (Stick to hi/hello for a casual greeting)

My name is _______ – Mera naam ______ hai.

How are you? – Aap kaise hain?

I’m fine. – Main theek hun.

I don’t speak Hindi – Mujhe hindi nahi aati.

No plastic bag –  koee plaastik kee thailee nahin

No straw please –  nahin puaal krpaya

No plastic cutlery please – K oee plaastik katalaree krpaya

Where is the bathroom? – Bathroom kidhar hai?/ Bathroom kahan hai?

How much does this cost? –  Yeh kitne ka hai?  

I want water- Mujhe paani Chahiye  

This is too expensive – Y e bahut mehenga hai         

Make your price less – B haav (or daam) kam karo

Cold – Thanda / Hot – Garam

Help! – Bachao!

I do not know – Mujhe nahi pata

Idiot/ Dumbfuck – Chutiya

Stop – Ruko

Okay/good/whatever –  Theek hai

What To Eat In India

Indian food is one of the worlds greatest cuisines and my personal favourite. Food does vary quite a lot from region to region but is generally on the spicy side. India is also home to the largest vegetarian population on earth and in some regions, the sale of meat is forbidden! 

Let’s take a look at some Indian classic dishes:

Chicken Tikka Masala – This tomato sauce based dish is actually an example of British-Indian cuisine but you will find it on offer at most tourist spots. Best served with rice.

Biryani – Spicy rice based dish. Regional variations include veg, chicken, mutton and many more. Delicious.

Daal – Translating as “lentils” Daal comes in endless varieties. It is a cheap, filling & ubiquitous Indian staple.

Thali – Coming in veg, fish or meat options, a Thali is a round silver dish filled with daal, rice and mixed veg. A great value, filling lunch standard.

Pakoras – Deep fried batter cakes filled with onions, spices and assorted veg. A fantastic snack.

Masala Dosa – A paper thin flour pancake filled with spiced potatoes. Served with samba sauces and enjoyed as a South Indian breakfast.

Lassi – Delicious milk drink. Comes in sweet and sour versions.

Chai – Sweet, milky Indian tea served everywhere as often as possible.

Paneer Tandoori – Soft cheese marinated in spices and baked in a charcoal oven.

Please/ Sorry/ Excuse me/ Taxi/ Train/ Bus/ Plane are all things you can say in English and people will get you just fine!

A Brief History of India

India is ancient and boasts as much history as them rest of the world combined. What is now India existed as a series of separate & often warring states, sultanates and ‘Raja’s’ from antiquity, until been unified under British Colonial rule during the Victorian era.

Modern India was formed on 15th August 1947 when British rule officially ended. Upon leaving, the British partitioned the sub-continent into India and Pakistan. Goa remained a Portugese Colony until 1967 when the Indian army annexed it – many Goan’s still consider themselves not to be Indian.

Today, India is undergoing something of a personal identity crisis. The current Prime Minister Modi is a Hindi nationalist rabble rouser who is stirring anti-Islamic sentiment. Bizarrely, this is manifesting in a pitiful attempt at the “de-mughalisation” of India.

Books To Read About India

You will get so much more out of your backpacking trip to India if you read up a bit whilst out there… Luckily, India has to be one of the most written about destinations in the world, and there are some fantastic books out there. Here are a few of my favourites:

• Shantaram : The first book I ever read on India, Shantaram inspired me to book a one way flight to Delhi and travel around India for 14 months. The book follows the possibly true, possibly exaggerated, story of an escaped Australian convict and his (absolutely balls-to-the-wall) crazy adventures in India.
• The White Tiger : One of the first books I read whilst backpacking India, this is a really useful, often amusing, sometimes horrifying, tale that will help you better understand the caste system.
• Nine Lives : Nine people, nine lives; each one taking a different religious path, each one an unforgettable story. William Dalrymple is one of the best writers when it comes to offering insight into Indian culture and I highly recommend reading everything he has written.
• Full Tilt, Ireland to India with a Bicycle:  Shortly after her tenth birthday, Dervla Murphy decided to cycle to India. Almost 20 years later, she set out to achieve her ambition. Her epic journey began during the coldest winter in memory, taking her through Europe, Persia, Afghanistan, over the Himalayas to Pakistan, and into India.

FAQs About Backpacking India

A few more commonly asked questions before you head out to backpack India…

How long do you need to backpack India?

A lifetime! And no I’m not kidding–even after 2 years in India, I reckon I’ve only seen half of it. But for backpackers with a lot of time, give India at least 6 months. Anything less than 1 month isn’t worth the flight cost if I’m being honest.

Is it safe to backpack around India?

While India definitely isn’t the safest place for solo female travellers, it is a relatively safe country overall with proper planning and research. For couples and guys, India is certainly safe enough, though do beware of scammers in and around major tourist spots.

What are the dos and don’ts in Indian culture?

Always remove your shoes when entering an Indian temple or home, never criticize the country or the military, and for female travellers in particular: dress modestly. Unless your in a backpacker enclave like Goa, shorts are a no-go.

How much does it cost to travel around India?

India is damn cheap! While not quite as budget friendly as it used to be, there are plenty of backpacker hostels to choose from as well as tons of cheap guesthouses. The street food is plentiful and costs pennies, and if you don’t mind being uncomfortable, even long distance transport will only set you back a few dollars. In short, it’s definitely possible to visit India for $500 a month, or less if you’re really ready to rough it.

Is India good for partying?

Hell yes! India’s backpacker hot spots have some of the wildest parties you could imagine. Hit up Goa and Parvati Valley for some of the trippiest vibes. Meanwhile, nightclubs and bars are plentiful in major cities.

Final Advice Before Visiting India

How did you enjoy the best India travel guide on the internet? Backpacking through India can be one hell of a crazy party at times. Take it from me, it can be easy to get carried away. It is important to keep in mind that you are an ambassador for your country, which is awesome. You can make a positive impact on people when we travel and get rid of any ugly stereotypes that may be associated with your homeland.

If you visit indigenous villages or small communities in the rural areas always ask before taking photos. The people who live in these villages are not exhibits in a museum. They are normal folks just living their lives. Always show them the complete respect that they deserve.

When buying a local craft, do not haggle so low that the price is unfair to the person who spent countless hours crafting it. Pay people what they are worth and contribute to the local economies as much as possible.

Backpacking India or any region for that matter often illuminates some of the great socio-economic inequalities of the world. Never take it for granted that you are healthy and financially able to go traveling. Show the world around you some gratitude and help to make a positive impact on it. Most of all have the time of your life and spread the love!

• Essential Info For Your First Time in India
• Buying a SIM Card in India
• 21 Beautiful Places in India
• Backpacking Pakistan

Updated December 2022 by Samantha Shea of Intentional Detours

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Will Hatton

Share or save this post

125 Comments

Amazing travel guide for the travelers.. Thanks for providing.

I do t see anyone talking about east north east India? Starting in Kolkata and moving north/west. Do people say that’s not an ideal route? Thoughts?

There is nothing wrong with North East India and some people absolutely love it. However it does receive far less visitors and I must confess, in my 7 times in India I never got there either! One day I would like to as some of the regions look just incredible.

I’m planning to do a few trips to India over the next 2 yrs and this web site has been very informative. It has made light work for me in deciding what to do. So, a big thanks for that.

Thanks for the fast reply! By the way I have a 5 year, multiple entry visa. I understand a single stay should not exceed 180 days, as for the rest it is a bit unclear to me. I can stay for a maximum of 180 days before having to leave India, now if I cross borders into a different country can I re-enter into India for an additional maximum stay of 180 days with the same 5 year visa. And can I continue to do this for the duration of the five year visa? Hope this makes sense as I’m sure many others do similar things. Thank you!

Best Forward Joseph

Thanks for the quick reply! By the way I have a five year visa, multiple entry. I understand I can not exceed 180 days at a time, and the validity is 5 years. The guidelines are a bit unclear to me. I wonder if I am able to stay for a max of 180 days, leave India, return for another max of 180 days for the duration of 5 years, with the same visa. I hope this makes sense. As I am looking for clarification from others who have done similar.

Best Forward, Joseph

I have in some cases read that if you stay the full 180 days, you cannot return for two months afterwards. I have also read you can only stay 180 during each calendar year.

India, being India anything is possible… so you may be able to return the very next day after leaving.

Unfortunately you will need to check directly with Indian immigration to be sure.

How easy is it to renew visa in India (extend my 180 days)? And how would one do this?

It’s painfully difficult. It requires getting a C form, making multiple visits to a Police station as well as the consulate.

For the sake of your sanity I would leave India and get your next visa from either Kathmandu, Sri Lanka or Dubai.

Love your blog!! My interest in visiting India is 100% piqued.

That said, I probably can’t take off more than 10-14 days due to my job. How would you recommend compressing these itineraries? I understand India is a big country, call me daunted ?

Where would you coming from? Because if you are flying from the UK, US or Aus then you are going to lose a few days to jet lag so if you can only get 1 days, forget it and go somewhere else.

If you can manage 14 then pick one area and explore it. That could mean doing 2 weeks in Goa, or 2 weeks up in North India enjoying the mountains.

Alternatively, if you want to see palace and fortress, then start in Delhi, take a trip to Agra and then spend 7 – 10 days in Rajasthan.

Thanks for visiting India. It’s my country and I just love it. It is a land of vivid culture, language, religion and many more interesting things. Keep writing more on India and keep sharing. Love to read your articles.

Wow!! This is such an amazing and sensational post. A complete guide to travelers who wants to visit India. You’ve done a great job, Will!! I impressed with your points on tips for female travelers in India. Yes, Still harassment over women persists in India, especially in the Northern parts. I would like to advise solo women travelers to take care of their belongings. Thanks and Have a nice journey all!!

Great article.

Hi! This post (like all of your others) is amazing & so informative – thank you!! I was wondering if you can recommend any good places to be for the Holi festival. I’d love to see it with locals rather than tourists 🙂 thanks

Hi Liv, Personally Ive celebrated in Jaipur previously, it was wild (and local) experience. I think the thing to remember is there are locals everywhere, even in tourist places, so there will be locals around to celebrate with if you want. You could also consider specifically heading to a Krishna strong hold as they will certainly be celebrating there. Northern India is well known for their celebrations. It’s an awesome event, have fun and cover your phone:)

The bike which you showed in one pic is awesome

Great guide! Definitely going to be referring to it when I take my trip. I’m planning on heading to India from mid-April this year to late May. I know it’s going to be very hot everywhere but the mountains, so I plan to spend most of my time up there, but is it still do-able to visit Delhi, Agra and maybe even Varanasi as well? It seems crazy to me to go to India and not see these places as a minimum requirement. I’ve done the south of Spain in the height of summer (think 40 at midnight in Sevilla) so I’ve been there before. Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks.

Hi Will im thinking on going for a month and a half with my girlfriend to the north side starting around rishikesh on February and March.

Do you think is a good time of the year to go visit? And enough time?

Thanks for all the great info! .

Hi Francisco, This is a good time to visit, as it avoids the monsoon period and it shouldn’t be as hot as some other parts of the year. In 6 weeks you should be able to cover a decent number of destinations, especially if you are focusing on a particular area of the country. Love it or hate it, there is a lifetime adventure to be had in India!

India is one my favorite countries to travel in for it’s beautiful photo opportunities! Thanks for this guide!

Amazing guide thank you so much!!

I am planning on travelling to India for 10 days which I know is not a lot but unfortunately I dont have any more time. I will be in Sri Lanka before that so I want to stick to the south of India. In your opinion, what are the best places to see in the Southern part of India? I’d like to see as much as possible but I’d rather see a couple places really well, instead of many places very fast and spend ages traveling between places. I was thinking potentially Kochi-Munnar-Kumily-Alappuzha but I would love to get your opinion

Don’t miss Hampi! 🙂

Thanks! Is there a way to get from Bengalore to Munnar?

Immense website, thanks for the effort, a huge leg up for me planning my trip, hope you still check these posts. Ive got just over 3 weeks to have a look around India in feb/march, my plan was to first visit a region in the himalayas then travel south but this is not looking practical in feb weather. So was thinking of flying into delhi, then checking out Bundi, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer then heading to Goa for the last week to fly out while stopping off at Ellora on way. How would you prioritise this, how flexiable can I be with trains, I don’t really want to commit X amount of days to each place booking trains in advance as I’d rather wing it, would I need to book the train south in advance though, Any recommendations?

You can’t be too flexible with trains as all the 3AC tickets (the class you want) will sell out… so do try and book ahead when you can 🙂

Hi Will. Loved your blog, relieved to have read it at the right time. I am planning to travel Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the coming month. I do not have any limitation in time but money yes. Can you advice me on below question: 1. What are must visit and must do (both in Himachal and Uttarakhand) 2. How do I find budget stay (Considering I am a solo female traveller) 3. Is there any community to connect with other travellers

Hey Sneh, sorry but all the info we have is in this gigantic guide 🙂

Wow the great post with nice tips for all traveler…

Travelling is important as it helps to keep us fresh and encourage to work. It helps us to learn many new things and culture of India. There are many amazing places to travel solo, these are some amazing places of it. I have visited some, will plan soon for next of the given list.

Hi Will. Loveddddd your blog post on India. Going in Jan. Did you travel to Sri Lanka after? If so do you recommend the best way to get there from Goa, is it ferry or plane and if you did travel there can you travel on the same visa you get for india? Thanks Maya

We haven’t been to Sri Lanka yet, but a flight is going to be the easiest! As different countries, the visa process is different and depends on your nationality too.

Thanks for sharing such an amazing article. After reading the article, I feel it your article will definitely help me a lot in my next journey.

I am literally on this page since I woke up! Feels so good to start a travel plan with this great Guide you wrote down here! Thank you for that!

My plan is a little ambitious I think. 1 month to cross the country. I would arrive in Delhi, jump straight to Rishikesh (yoga lover), then Bundi – Mumbai – Goa – a few stops until I get to Mysore for 1 week ashram. You can give me any opinions (please do it!) but what I am most concerned is the distances and not many transport options between the stops in the north, specially Delhi – Bundi – Mumbai.

What are your thoughts about it? Will be great having your support!

The country is actually surprisingly well connected. If there isn’t trains, there are buses. Having said that things can move very slowly sometimes. For an itinerary like this it might be worth flying to Mumbai to save some time.

Thanks for the great post! Absolutely inspiring! I’m going to travel in India from February till July. So far I booked my flight to Kochi and the first 2 nights in a hostel. In beginning of march I’ll be at a wedding in east India (Vijayawada). That’s all I planned so far. I don’t want to have an exact itinerary, but a rough idea where I can go at all due to waether conditions. So I guess I’ll do Kerala in Feb. After Vijayawada, I guess it might make sense to do something like your Delhi-itinerary, so I can see that area at all before the great heat arrives. (Originally I thought I’d do that last, because my flight back is from Delhi, but weather apparently doesn’t like that plan. 😉 ) Than in April I kind of have to escape to the north, I guess? Do you think it is worth spending 3 months up there, or would it make sense to go to a neighbouring country at some point? Thanks for your advice!

3 months in Northern India would certainly not be time wasted, but if you felt inclined Pakistan and Nepal are both equally if not more spectacular countries 🙂

Amazing guide, Will! Super comprehensive.

I’m so happy I found this guide — Amazing!!

Curious: you’ve mention Workaway for volunteering, which I’ve been looking into. I’m also looking at WOOFING and others. That said, I’m curious what your experience with this is in relation to visas? Do you travel India on the longer 6 month, 1 or 10 year TOURIST visa and are still able to volunteer? Or have do you recommend getting a volunteer visa?

Everything I’ve read, says that volunteering is illegal on a tourist visa, yet the volunteer visa is for the duration of work? I wouldn’t know this if travelling from project to project.

Am I overthinking this? Are backpackers just working on a tourist visa and the Workaway hosts don’t care/ask?

I don’t think you’re going to get in trouble for volunteering on a tourist visa, you should be fine 🙂

Gujarat is great great great…..the best food in india

and kassardevi after December the Beit Habad is empty from israelis that time and the weather is great, hot and cold at night.

le hishtamea Alex Sternick on he way to Gujarat

Hi clair! Thanks alot for the feedback, so the idea is to land in delhi and see some mountains and yoga, on the itinerary Will says the better months are between may and september so we are still a bit not so sure If its wise to go on that direction for the weather conditions.

You think its ok to try to see a bit of the moutains side?

Thanks you once again

Hi Francisco, it depends what time of the year you will be travelling. Currently in the north it is cold, especially at night. That doesn’t mean you can’t venture there it just means you need to check the forecast of specific places you want to visit. Especially if you are looking to go far north, road closures etc are certainly possible. If you were looking at somewhere like Rishikesh, at this time of the year, its likely cold at night but still ok in the day.

Hi clair! Thanks lot for the info one more time! 😉 yeah we arrive next week so we will stay February and march guess we will check out rishikesh and from there we collect more info and we follow your advice on moving depending the weather. Thanks again!

Hi Will, First of all, it’s amazing how much heart and effort you put in this blog. I’m planning to travel india and nepal via backpacking next autumn and your report was really inspiring to me. The limit I set myself is about 6 weeks and I am asking, do you have any suggestions, which places are really worth travelling, if I wanted an impression of not just small parts of the country? Thanks Simon

Hey Simon, I’m glad you found it so helpful 🙂 For Autumm, I recommend spending your time around Rajahstan and then heading up to Manali. Don’t miss Bundi!

Hi Will! This page is honestly amazing. So so happy I found it. A friend and I are doing Asia for 4 weeks and never really considered India till now. If you only had 2 weeks to do India, what would you recommend. I would love to go back one day and do a bit more but I only have a 2 week window before I have to start work in London. I’m from Australia 🙂

With 2 weeks in India – I would go: Delhi overnight train to Jaisalmer – Jodhpur – Pushkar – Bundi – Agra / Dharamasala – Back to Delhi… Or Hampi – Goa – Gokarna Or Delhi – Rishikesh, Manali and surrounding area, Dharamasala 🙂

I am so thankful that I found this super duper helpful post about India, sadly, most of the Itineraries that you provided are rougly for a month/months, sighs…I got 10 days only to visit India…probably I will stick in Delhi.

Wow…. never seen before such a rich and helpful guide!

I’m from Israel and as you could have saw, many places had become little israel with hebrew signs everywhere this route is known in israel as the “hummous route” haha and there is not many info about places out from this route in israeli website

I want to visit again and to be honest I want to keep distance from my fellow israelis….I see them every day here 🙂 in Kasol and Old manali I didnt saw 1 tourist from other countries !!

wich places in the northen india are you recommand?far from israeli menu in resturants for 3 weeks second visit in India

Hey brother, there certainly are many Israelis in India, that’s for sure – as for where to go to escape the crowds, that’s tough to answer – India is SO massive and easy to get off the beaten track. My advise would be to head to Ladakah – still MANY tourists – and then to do a 5 – 7 day hike from there, lots of options around 🙂

I did a 2 month south india tour, and I plan to do a north trip soon. Thanks for the amazing list of places and things to do, I have added few more things after reading this. I agree with all the things you mentioned, except for non vegetarian food part. I got to taste some really good meat dishes while I was here, especially in Muslim/Christian dominated regions, and in state of kerala and tamilnadu. Meals in hyderabad was one of the best I have had, you should try hyderabadi haleem next time you are there.

I read your blog post and it was amazing there are full of information about your backpacking experience. I would like to go to India someday. I have a question? The locals from there? Are they taking advantage to a foreign tourist? I mean, when it comes to fare, food, and others?

It’s impossible to generalise against a whole nation like that. India does however have more than it’s fair share of touts and scam artists.

hi, its depend u will get bad guys all over the world, but india is nice country you should make a small group.

Great blog Will – many thanks.

If you had to recommend one place in India which fits the bill for being a relaxing place to hang out and chill for a week or so (looking for a recharge), where would it be? Ideally, somewhere with a few Western comforts and other travellers to meet. Cheers G x

Manali / Hampi / Kasol / Gokarna / Dharamasala / Jaisalmer / Bundi

Traveling to India has never seemed more appealing than after reading your stuff! great work!

I am planning on traveling from end of August to mid October but not sure where to go within India and outside of it (Nepal, Sri Lanka…)

Could you recommend a good itinerary that contains a bit of tracking in the beginning and some relaxing stuff at the end (plus good weather of course)?

Thanks in advance!

Hey buddy – thanks for your kind words! For the itineraries – look in the article… there’s about six recommended ones.

Hi I’m in India now have been here for last 11 months fly back to uk on 29th this month I am planning to come back and travel for another year love it here!! But I’m suddenly worried I may get rejected for another 1 year multiple entry visa 2 months after this one expires as I did nepal visa runs same day and had problems at immigration have you got any experience with this any advice would be much appreciated would be heart broken if my visa was rejected because I went to nepal and returned same day

Great advice on India from all perspectives. Loved the details, tips and tricks you describe accurately!!! I have been there done that and will go back again this year. Thank you very much and please keep posting inspiring travel stuff!!! Namaste 🙂 JP

Wow! The great places to visit once in a lifetime. I stayed at Jaipur Zostel & Moustache too. These are indeed the best travel guide to the budget.

The statement ” Indians suck at cooking meat ” is generalized. Being the home for curries, there are many great non vegetarian food in India ( except beef ). If you avoid meat, you’re missing a lot of really good dishes there. It really depends on where you buy meat or consume it. Most Indians know the best places to find quality meat and dishes, and the tap water in India is not for drinking. Indians buy 20 litre water cans for drinking, so packaged water is a better option. Like Anthony Bourdain, Indian food won’t give you troubles.

We are heading to India from Thailand next month. We will be landing in Chennai. My wife works remotely and needs reliable internet Wednesday to Saturday. We have give 0r take 6-8 weeks. what would you suggest for an itinerary that would let us see and experience as much as we could based on this time of year. We are not big into trekking as we are just barely on the better side of 50. Slainte!

I have no advice at all I’m afraid when it comes to needing to build an itinerary around reliable internet…

Man what a great post! We are coming to India via Chennai in about a month. we are looking to spend about 6-8 weeks. Based on the time of year how would you maximize your time. My wife works online so reliable wifi is important and we have wanted to come to India for years! Is the whole currency thing pretty much sorted out? Cheers!

Currency situation is now sorted 🙂 With 6-8 weeks, I would definitely 100% go up to the mountains -Dharamasala, Manali, Kasol, Ladakh as it’s gonna be seriously hot everywhere else in the country.

Thanks again for this blog mate, its my go-to for info for my trip at the moment Do you have any experience/advise on getting hold of a Royal Enfield in India, and if so would you advise rent or buy? and from which city?

Thanks a million

Hey brother! I would recommend buying rather than renting because you can probably sell without making a loss – there are Royal Enfields in most cities 😉

reply to will : It’s always to book trains whatever through IRCTC official website. 3ac for a caucasian tourist would not be a very good idea as it would not provide them desired comfort and privacy.

What on earth are you talking about? Being caucasian does not make you rich… And anything above 3AC is a rip off.

Hi. This is a very honest informative article. I’ve just started my search of destinations. I plan to leave in 2 days time and go for 2 weeks. Oh, where to go, where to go. I like the idea of a 3 day boat trip, fishing, a chilling on rustic beaches

Hi Will, his was so helpful, thank you for sharing. I’m hopefully going to follow your northern route for a while as I need to escape the heat during June-July. I was wondering if you could advise me on whether or not I need to pre-book rail and bus tickets around the Rish-Amr-Mcl-Bhag-Man-Kasol areas or if you were able to buy on arrival? Regards, Tristan

It’s always worth pre-booking trains in India. Buses not so much but train tickets sell out weeks in advance on some routes, especially for 3AC – which is probably the class you want.

Thank you, relevant trains booked, taking a gamble with the buses. Have read and reread this post more times than I can count now. You’re a star, not only for providing this info but ditching your desk too. Hopefully I can join one of your trips to Pakistan in the future!

Thanks Tristan, I’m glad you found this mammoth post helpful! Come join me for a smoke in Pakistan some time 🙂

Loved this blog Will. I did a 6 month tour of India back in 1992 and have been back on many shorter trips since. My Mum and Stepfather have a small villa in South Goa on an incredible stretch of beach called Velsao, so i visit them twice a year. I live in UAE so its only a short flight. I just turned 50 and plan to move to Philippines in a couple of years with my Filipina wife to take things easi(er). Before that i plan to do a 3 month tour of India – some places ive been to before, but many ive read about and missed out previously. That may hopefully get the country “out of my system”. Trouble is ive got about 40 places on my list already and your blog gave me another 10 at least. I am looking at Pondicherry in the South to Srinagar in the North…. so i think 3 months is cutting it a bit fine, might need to add another 6 weeks at this rate. Back in 1992 i was really on a tight budget, probably 50 quid a week, this time i will have more money, im not sure i can handle too many overnight bus journeys any more. Cheers. Andy

Hey Andy! Sounds like an epic adventure dude – traveling in India is always different, that’s why I love to return! 🙂 Hope to catch you on the road for a beer sometime 🙂

Yep should be a good one. Trying to get the Mrs excited about joining me. She is trying to persuade me instead to back pack from South to North Philippines. I think there might have to be some compromise, or better I save harder now and we do both. Cheers.

Hi Will, Me and a friend have 6 weeks in india in June/July, we fly into Delhi and out of Kulcuta. As its high summer we are staying out of Rajesthan. However do you think we have time to head north out of Delhi into the mountains for 2 or 3 weeks before heading east towards Kulcuta? if so how would you alocate the time? I was thinking a few of the places of your itinery #3 before heading east.

Cheers Fred

Hey Fred, I would definitely recommend going up to the mountains – it’s gonna be fucking hot around Delhi and Kolkata. Swing up to Manali, visit Kasol for sure, you could swing up to Ladakh if you want to do some hiking… Honestly though, going at that time of year; I would try to spend MOST of it in the mountains, it’s going to be sweltering everywhere else.

Thanks for the advise Will, How does this look as a rough itineary, will it be possible in 6 weeks? Delhi- Paliala- Amristar- Dharamshala- Manali(and Vashisht)- Leh(Ladakh)- Rishakesh- Agra- Varanesi- Kolkuta

Many thanks in advance

Ambitious but do-able – if you go at the right time of year! I would recommend flying back down from Leh, to Delhi, and possibly skipping Rishikesh – you’ll save some time that way.

Hi Will, I get new piece of info everytime re-read your article! Thumbs up for the superb insight of your baling in India. Any recommended website to book the houseboat accommodation in Srinagar?

Hey Will! Really appreciate your website, its hugely helpful when planning a trip to have advise from someone like minded! My partner and I are off to India in September for two months to kick off our big travels. Im working through a rough itinerary, enough to know the areas that we will go so we can book the trains in advance. So far we have Delhi – Varanasi – Khajurajou – Agra over 12 days then a 10 day Vipassana course in Pushkar. After that Pushkar (4 days) – Bundi (3 days) – Udaipur (5 days) – Jaisalmer (3 days) – Jodhpur (2 days) – maybe Bikaner. It looks we have 12 or so days free after that Im wondering what you would recommend. Is this enough time to head up to Manali or somewhere up there and if so where would you recommend? We are kiwis and into hiking but dont want to be taking a crap load of hiking gear so cant really do any huge hikes. I also dont want to be a tick box tourist jumping from sight to sight, would be better to just stick with what we have and space it out more to get more involved with the places we are at? Cheers!

Hey Renee, you are going to have an epic time in India and hell yes; book those trains in advance! AC3 all the way! Your itinerary looks solid and yes for sure, with 12 days left it makes sense to head up to Manali for a few days and explore the area around Kasol – there’s some great hikes you can do, and I strongly recommend taking some chill time at Kalga – go visit Hans and stay in his Sunset Guesthouse. Kheerganga is a popular trek destination but personally, I loved the hike and was less keen on the end destination – crowded and litter everywhere. Vashisht is a chill place to spend some time. RE Hiking gear – you won’t need to carry much, just be sure to have proper hiking shoes and you should be golden. You can buy waterproofs and warm clothes easily once in India and you won’t need camping gear unless you want to do something more ambitious. Have an epic trip!

Great info Will, this will definitelycome in handy as a great source of info for our travels later this year where hopefully I will be one step behind you. You never know, I may be able to buy you that beer finally. Happy travels Dude

Looking forward to the beer bro!

Two friends and I are planning on traveling to travel India in late February for a month. We are al 18/19. Our initial plan is to fly into New Delhi then travel to Varanasi, Khajuraho, Agra, Jaipur, Pushkar, Bundi, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and back to Delhi. Is there anything you would recommend doing or not? We are also considering Udaipur? We are looking for a mixture of a proper Indian experience and a relaxing/spiritual time. We all enjoy a good smoke etc but don’t have the biggest budget. Any thoughts? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

Hey buddy, That’s a pretty fucking good itinerary, it’s actually similar to the first itinerary I did myself! I would cut Jaipur and make the dash down to Udaipur. Make sure you spend enough time in Bundi, it’s the highlight! India is cheap – but, you have to haggle! If you don’t, it ain’t cheap at all.

This has been the most helpful thing I’ve read leading up to my trip–thanks! I’d love a bit of advice. Right now what’s set in stone for my trip are stops in Delhi, Jaipur (for a wedding), and a variety of stops in the south. What’s up in the air is another stop in Rajahstan. If you had to pick just one stop inbetween Delhi and Jaipur what would it be? I was most interested in Varanasi and Udaipur I think but would love your take. Thanks man!

Hey bud, between Jaipur and Delhi – there isn’t much to stop at to be honest. You could swing to Ajmer Fort, 11km outside of Jaipur but you would be better off making a dash down to Bundi.

Hi Will! This is such an amazing guide, I’m going to take all of your tips into account on (and while planning) my trip!

In November I’m flying to Delhi and then the plan is as follows: Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Keoladeo National Park – Jaipur (might scrap this after reading your post) – Pushkar – Bundi (after reading your post ;)) – Chittorgarh – Udaipur – Jodhpur – Jaisalmer – Bikaner – Nawalgarh – Mandawa and then back to Delhi.

I’d like to do this in about a month. Do you have experience with Chittorgarh and Udaipur? I’ve read good stories on these locations, but am not sure yet. Also, are you familiar with Bikaner, Nawalgarh and Mandawa? Then last but not least, do you think the Keoladeo National Park is worth a visit?

Thanks in advance for your answer!!

Hey Laura, I actually lived in Udaipur for a month – loved it there, amazing city! I’m stoked you are heading to Bundi, definitely one of the highlights of Rajahstan! I have no tips for Bikaner, Nawalgarh or Mandawa I’m afraid! Have an awesome trip.

I see these blogs looks very useful,but manali and shimla is also great places for travelling.these are perfect for the tourist.December and January tourist can enjoy a lot .so we have to go in these months.

Wow Will this is such a detailed and useful guide! It must have taken you ages 🙂

Great Article Will. I am in early phase of my planning to travel whole of India. I was born and raised there but have been living in US for last 15 years and working in the corporate world. I love the diversity of culture and being a photographer want to capture the true essence of the country. I am planning on following the route Guru Nanak (1st Sikh Prophet) took during his 5 travels around India and world. I believe this will give me good structure and allow me to explore some historical sites as well. I can also stay in these historical gurudwaras and visit other local locations nearby or enroute. I want to get your feedback on what would be an ideal loop and whether there are any concerns from your experience, carrying camera gear around. I have home in Chandigarh and will probably travel out from Delhi. Here are websites showing the different locations Guru Nanak visited. Appreciate your feedback with this. I am planning to account around 3 months for this and if needed can rent my own vehicle as well. Money is not an issue but I would like to get the best experience. http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/The_Udasis_of_Guru_Nanak http://www.singhsahib.com/travel-route-map-of-sikh-guru-nanak-dev-ji.php

Okay, we’ll scratch Jaipur off the list! 🙂 I found a sleeper bus from amrit to bikaner via Neelam Travels (10hrs) and it made delhi-dharam/amrit-bikaner doable. I also read about Indian Himalayas and I think that part including Leh and Srinagar and Rishikesh should be a whole another trip for another time. I would really love to include Nepal cause I heard that the atmosphere and the people are more pure. Is that true? We also plan on trekking in the himalayas from Kathmandu(?) for 3 days. Do you think I should trade Nepal for Manali and Kasol? Thanks soooo much! 🙂

So Ladakah and Srinigar should definitely be saved for another whole trip but you can get up to Manali relatively easily, I recommend staying in Vashisht for a more chill vibe, with less people, or Old Manali if you want to party. From Manali, head to Kasol – You don’t need to spend any time here and can instead transfer from Kasol up to Kalga; Kalga is awesome and has a very chill, somewhat Tibetan, vibe – go and stay in the Sunset Cafe and say hello to my friend Hans! Sunset Cafe in Kalga is just a gorgeous place to soak in some mountain views and from here you can do a relatively easy two day round trek up to Kheerganga. Nepal is amazing – I would hesitate to say the people are more pure, you have good people and bad people in every country in the world, but there is certainly less hassle in Nepal. Saying that; if you get yourself up to Manali, and especially Kalga, you won’t have any hassle up there – plus the hash is awesome. Nepal is great but my gut instinct is that you should save it for another trip and trade in Kathmandu (a fascinating place but a city all the same) for some time around Kalga; Manali and Kalga is a great place to end a trip 🙂

Wow! Sunset Cafe is beautiful! Will definitely include that in our itin. So, we decided to stick with our route but added Manali and Kalga before going to Dharamsala. We traded Jaipur for Bundi and moved some days to spend a 4-day trek in Pokhara and 2 days around Kathmandu. Thanks so much for all your suggestions! 🙂

Hi Will! Many thanks for this meaty post! My friend and I (both women) are planning to backpack India for 3 weeks and Nepal for a week in July. What do you think of this route? Delhi-Dharamsala-Amritsar-Bikaner-Jodhpur-Pushkar-Jaipur-Agra-Varanasi-Nepal-Delhi

Any tip/advice/suggestion would be much appreciated! 🙂

For three weeks, that’s a truly massive amount of ground to try to cover… I would probably cut Varanasi and to try and see India and Nepal in three weeks just isn’t possible, unless you simply want to spend a couple of days in Kathmandu, this look like a very tiring itinerary to me though to be honest. It’s gonna be hot! Especially in Rajahstan… Do not miss Bundi in Rajahstan though, epic place. Maybe go Delhi – Agra – Jaisalmer (via Delhi, skip Jaipur it’s shit), Jodhpur, Pushkar, Bundi, Delhi – from Delhi you could then make a dash to either Varanasi, Kathmandu or up to Dharamasala and Amritsar, but not all three. Not unless you want to spend like a day in each place anyway because the distances are absolutely massive and you’ll lose a lot of time travelling. Amritsar will be hot, you should maybe make a break for Manali or go trekking around Kasol instead; doable from Delhi in six or seven hours I think, bus, and will be cooler, well worth it. Good luck!

Thanks for your response! ? Why is jaipur shit? ? I thought the pink city is a must see. Anyway, we’ll do 2 days in delhi, 2 days in dharamsala, 1 day in amritsar (golden temple), 2 days bikaner; Jaisalmer is too far so we won’t be able to do it. We opted for Bikaner (just for the overnight desert safari) instead. Then 2 days jodhpur, 1 day pushkar. And maybe skip Jaipur and do Bundi for 2 days then agra for 2 days and varanasi for 2 days. From varanasi we’ll take the bus to sunauli (1day) then 3 days in pokhara and 3 days in kathmandu then fly back to delhi. 23 days all in all. We’ll take sleeper buses/trains to save on accomodation costs. What do you think? Many thanks! ?

Sorry for the unnecessary question marks; those are emojis that apparently didn’t work. 🙂

Jaipur just isn’t so great; if you have to skip somewhere that’s on your list, I would skip Jaipur. I guess it depends what you want but it’s possible to do an overnight train from Delhi to Jaisalmer and then work your way back through Rajahstan via Jodhpur, Pushkar, Bundi. I would definitely not miss Bundi. I would also spend 2 nights in Pushkar and one night in Jodhpur, there’s more to see and do in Pushkar. Pokhara and Kathmandu are both nice – your trip is totally doable, just bear in mind that it’s a lot of long journey… like, a lot! I would consider cutting Varanassi and spending a week in the Indian himalayas; around Manali and Kasol is great trekking and it’s really chill; which you might want towards the end of your trip. Pokhara is pretty nice but it’s still a city and Kathmandu is amazing but far from chill. Do whatever works for you for sure, just throwing some stuff out there 🙂 – they are all great destiantions, but to get them all in to 3 weeks will be tiring.

The most racist blog I have ever read about backpacking in India. Indian men want white girlfriends who can get them out of the country? Most white female travellers I have met date Indian men who literally pay for their entire trips including flights, accomodation and experiences. Maybe you can cut down on the racism next time you visit an Asian country or you might as well stay in your little bubble of white privilege and spare us the torture of such racist blogs.

You’re an idiot – most white female travellers you have met date Indian men? That is clearly wrong. If you don’t like my blog, fuck off and don’t read it – problem solved.

salivating at the thought of masala dosa. Fuck it, I’m back there next year. There’s also a plant that only flowers every twelve years up in the Tamil hills, so that alone makes it worth the effort.

Cheers for the rump-kick.

Shine on, Dude.

Hi Will, I’m an Indian living in Mumbai. I have travelled the coastal areas of Gokarna and Goa on the bike several times. However I’ve always been fasinated with the Himalayas, and your article would make a dead man want to backpack. Im Planning to ride from Mumbai to rishikesh – manali – khirganga – kasol – leh and the places youve mentioned next month. Thanks again for everything you do. This is pretty awesome.

That sounds like an amazing ride dude! Happy trails…

Waouh just thank you for doing such an amazing post on this country !! I’m planning to visit India by the end of the year for the first time, and you litteraly answered every single questions I have !!! Bouddha bless you ^^ I’ll definitely start with the easy itinerary for a first 🙂 especially as I may be travelling solo, I prefer to play it safe first ! Thanks again. This is Amazing content !!!

I’m happy you found it helpful 🙂

Sharing your experience like these will definitely help a lot of people, including myself. It’s a great advantage to know what to expect so travelers can prepare themselves properly!

Great post man. Currently travelling around India with my Girlfriend for the first time. Absolutely incredible place and we echo everything you have said!!

Any recommendations for Rajesthan?

Bundi is my favourite place in Rajahstan. Don’t miss it out. Go up into the fort early on in the day and take a staff to ward off the monkeys; it’s an amazing experience and view up there. Indiana Jones-esque shit!

India always a romantic land! I have backpacking to a lot of places, perhaps I will planed to India! Your post so clearly! Thank you!.

It has always been a dream of mine to travel along the original hippie trail and end up in Goa. Fingers crossed, I get to actually do that one day! Thanks for all the details about India 🙂

If you do the original hippie trail, you shall have to come through wonderful Pakistan as well! 🙂

Hi Will, Just found your this post and your blog – great advice here! I’m thinking about going to India from April-September this year and was wondering if you could help me out with a few queries. I want to slow travel through the south of the sub-continent, or at least start off doing this, though it will be ‘off-season’ for the months that I’m hoping to go. Have you had much experience travelling during the off-season? Would I be better off travelling the north of the country where it will be much cooler?

Hi Dom, India is so big that even in off season you will still find places to go and things to do. When the heat arrives (and in some places it does get damn hot) head for the hill-stations, or to the mountains in the north. If its monsoon season, try and plan head, check local weather forecasts, often info is pretty good on where and where it going to rain. Try to keep out of its path.

Thanks for sharing your experiences about India. Have couchsurfed through the US but wouldn’t have imagined doing it in India, have heard so many bad things and it seems like a risky country but also equally fantastic. I didn’t realise it was such a cheap country either. What would you recommend in terms of carrying currency? Is it dangerous to have cash on you? Someone told me i might be better with an http://icicibank.co.uk/personal/travel_card.html “>Indian Rupee Travel Card but wondered what your experience was. Thanks.

Thanks for your comment! You definitely can couchsurf in India but I have to say I would be very careful as a woman – when I was surfing and I had female surfers with me, even when I was there, we had to be on our guard 24/7. It is safe to surf if you have a male companion but otherwise I wouldn’t recommend it. The CS boards are great ways to find travel buddies though! I simply took my debit card and got out the maximum amount of cash – 10,000 rupees ($200) – once every two weeks, it was always absolutely plenty. I usually had about 500 rupees on me and the rest in my day bag which came with me everywhere; I got pickpocked once (whilst drunk) and lost about 3000 rupees ($60) – really not too bad for over 14 months in the country. If your careful and avoid flashing your cash you will be fine; muggings are extremely rare in India; it certainly is not like south america! Let me know how you get on and definitely give India a go; currently the rupee is weaker than it has been in thirty years so it really is wonderfully cheap! 🙂

We traveled across India on bicycles for 5 months. We finished less than half a year ago. And all this time I felt safe there. Talking about the money. We always had cash with us just because outside bigger cities it’s not possible to pay with credit card and the same way it’s almost 100%, that you will not be able to pay with credit card for those cheap hotels, even if they will be in big cities. Taking out cash is not a problem, as there are a lot of ATMs, many with security guards. I would suggest to have two credit cards. One with small amount of money on it, used for cash withdrawals. And second one, hidden, with all other money.

Hi Kaspar! I would love to do some long-distance cycling adventures, I have a buddy who cycled from Australia to the UK via most of the ‘stans – a seriously epic adventure. To be honest when I was in India I never really had many problems with money – it certainly helped to have cash on me where possible, I got the best exchange rates but I mostly just used my debit card to make cash withdrawals. Although I was robbed a couple of times, without my knowledge, in my 14 months in India I never felt particularly threatened – then again, I met a lot of female backpackers who did.

Hi Will !.just found your post and found it absolutely helpful. I am from northeast india and always dreamt of backpacking through the country. .After reading your detailed information i just want to jump onto next train available..hopefully i get to do it someday.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.

• Insider Reviews
• Tech Buying Guides
• Personal Finance
• Insider Explainers
• Sustainability
• United States
• International
• Deutschland & Österreich
• South Africa

• Home ›
• travel ›
• india ›
• article »

10 Ultimate road trip routes in India for 2024

Leh-Ladakh Circuit: See stunning mountains and cool monasteries

• JNK India IPO allotment date
• JioCinema New Plans
• Realme Narzo 70 Launched
• Apple Let Loose event
• Elon Musk Apology
• RIL cash flows
• Charlie Munger
• Feedbank IPO allotment
• Tata IPO allotment
• Most generous retirement plans
• Broadcom lays off
• Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
• Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
• Nestle Sept 2023 report
• India Equity Market
• Best printers for Home
• Best Mixer Grinder
• Best wired Earphones
• Best 43 Inch TV in India
• Best Wi Fi Routers
• Best Vacuum Cleaner
• Best Home Theatre in India
• Smart Watch under 5000
• Best Laptops for Education
• Best Laptop for Students

• Advertising
• Write for Us
• Privacy Policy
• Policy News
• Personal Finance News
• Mobile News
• Business News
• Ecommerce News
• Startups News
• Stock Market News
• Finance News
• Entertainment News
• Economy News
• Careers News
• International News
• Politics News
• Education News
• Advertising News
• Health News
• Science News
• Retail News
• Sports News
• Personalities News
• Corporates News
• Environment News
• JNK India IPO allotment
• JioCinema New Subscription Plans
• Realme 70X 5G Launched
• Apple Let Loose Launch event
• Top 10 Richest people
• Top 10 Largest Economies
• Lucky Color for 2023
• How to check pan and Aadhaar
• Deleted Whatsapp Messages
• How to restore deleted messages
• 10 types of Drinks
• Instagram Sad Face Filter
• Unlimited Wifi Plans
• Recover Whatsapp Messages
• Google Meet
• Check Balance in SBI
• How to check Vodafone Balance
• Transfer Whatsapp Message
• NSE Bank Holidays

Copyright © 2024 . Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved.For reprint rights. Times Syndication Service.

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

• Revenue share from tourism India 2013-2022, by visitor origin

Distribution of spending from tourism to GDP in India from 2013 to 2022, by visitor origin

Additional Information

Show sources information Show publisher information Use Ask Statista Research Service

October 2023

2013 to 2022

Previous reports have been accessed for historical data.

Other statistics on the topic Domestic tourism in India

• Leading source countries of foreign tourist arrivals in India in 2022
• Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in India 2013-2023
• Number of foreign tourist arrivals in India 2000-2022
• Number of departures of Indian nationals 2000-2022
• Immediate access to statistics, forecasts & reports
• Usage and publication rights
• Download in various formats

You only have access to basic statistics.

• Instant access  to 1m statistics
• Download  in XLS, PDF & PNG format
• Detailed  references

Business Solutions including all features.

Statistics on " International tourism in India "

• Direct contribution of tourism and hospitality to GDP in India 2012-2028
• Foreign exchange earnings from tourism in India 2000-2022
• Change in foreign exchange earnings from tourism in India 2000-2022
• Share of FTAs to India 2022, by leading port of entry
• Number of foreign tourist visits in India 2022, by leading state
• Number of e-tourist visa arrivals India 2014-2022
• Non-resident Indian arrivals in India 2014-2022
• Occupancy rate in hotels in India FY 2001-2024
• Average daily rate of hotels in India FY 2016-2023
• Supply of hotel rooms in India FY 2022-2023, by city
• Number of classified star hotels India 2023, by category
• Duration of stay of international tourists in India 2021
• Business travelers in selected countries worldwide 2024
• People booking hotel or private accommodation in selected countries worldwide 2024
• Number of visitors to national monument India FY 2017-2022, by type
• Number of foreign visitors to ticketed monuments India FY 2023
• Share of international outbound passenger traffic India 2023, by region
• Domestic departures by Indian national airlines FY 2009-2022
• Passenger traffic from India FY 2023, by leading destination
• Number of visitor arrivals to Dubai 2022, by country of origin
• Share of tourist arrivals Qatar 2022, by country
• Number of Indians departing to Maldives 2009-2022
• Leading city destinations in Germany 2018-2022

Other statistics that may interest you International tourism in India

Tourism economy

• Basic Statistic Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in India 2013-2023
• Basic Statistic Direct contribution of tourism and hospitality to GDP in India 2012-2028
• Basic Statistic Revenue share from tourism India 2013-2022, by visitor origin
• Basic Statistic Foreign exchange earnings from tourism in India 2000-2022
• Premium Statistic Change in foreign exchange earnings from tourism in India 2000-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of foreign tourist arrivals in India 2000-2022
• Basic Statistic Share of FTAs to India 2022, by leading port of entry
• Basic Statistic Leading source countries of foreign tourist arrivals in India in 2022
• Premium Statistic Number of foreign tourist visits in India 2022, by leading state
• Basic Statistic Number of e-tourist visa arrivals India 2014-2022
• Basic Statistic Non-resident Indian arrivals in India 2014-2022

Hospitality market

• Basic Statistic Occupancy rate in hotels in India FY 2001-2024
• Basic Statistic Average daily rate of hotels in India FY 2016-2023
• Premium Statistic Supply of hotel rooms in India FY 2022-2023, by city
• Premium Statistic Number of classified star hotels India 2023, by category
• Premium Statistic Duration of stay of international tourists in India 2021

Leading destinations in India

• Premium Statistic Business travelers in selected countries worldwide 2024
• Premium Statistic People booking hotel or private accommodation in selected countries worldwide 2024
• Premium Statistic Number of visitors to national monument India FY 2017-2022, by type
• Premium Statistic Number of foreign visitors to ticketed monuments India FY 2023
• Basic Statistic Number of departures of Indian nationals 2000-2022
• Premium Statistic Share of international outbound passenger traffic India 2023, by region
• Premium Statistic Domestic departures by Indian national airlines FY 2009-2022

Popular destinations among Indians

• Premium Statistic Passenger traffic from India FY 2023, by leading destination
• Premium Statistic Number of visitor arrivals to Dubai 2022, by country of origin
• Premium Statistic Share of tourist arrivals Qatar 2022, by country
• Premium Statistic Number of Indians departing to Maldives 2009-2022
• Premium Statistic Leading city destinations in Germany 2018-2022

Further related statistics

• Basic Statistic Travel & tourism GDP direct contribution share in South Korea 2017, by travel type
• Basic Statistic Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in the U.S. 2013-2017, by type
• Basic Statistic Travel & tourism to GDP impact in South Korea 2017, by type
• Basic Statistic Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Canada 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Total tourism contribution to employment in Cuba 2019-2021
• Basic Statistic Total tourism contribution to GDP in Cuba 2019-2021
• Basic Statistic Most tourism-dependent economies in the Caribbean 2022
• Basic Statistic Travel & tourism economic impact in South Korea 2011-2028
• Premium Statistic Tourism GDP in the Canary Islands 2015-2021
• Basic Statistic Revenue share from tourism in India 2013-2022, by segment
• Basic Statistic Travel & tourism direct economic impact in South Korea 2012-2028
• Basic Statistic Contribution of travel and tourism to employment in the Canary Islands 2010-2018
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism contribution to GDP in France 2017, by type
• Basic Statistic Latin America: travel & tourism preferences in 2017
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism contribution to GDP in Belgium 2017, by type
• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in Belgium 2023
• Premium Statistic Share of travel brands investing in chatbots 2019
• Premium Statistic Visitors from Hong Kong to Australia by purpose 2012-2016
• Premium Statistic Filipinos booking travel arrangements 2020, by preferences

Further Content: You might find this interesting as well

• Travel & tourism GDP direct contribution share in South Korea 2017, by travel type
• Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in the U.S. 2013-2017, by type
• Travel & tourism to GDP impact in South Korea 2017, by type
• Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Canada 2019-2022
• Total tourism contribution to employment in Cuba 2019-2021
• Total tourism contribution to GDP in Cuba 2019-2021
• Most tourism-dependent economies in the Caribbean 2022
• Travel & tourism economic impact in South Korea 2011-2028
• Tourism GDP in the Canary Islands 2015-2021
• Revenue share from tourism in India 2013-2022, by segment
• Travel & tourism direct economic impact in South Korea 2012-2028
• Contribution of travel and tourism to employment in the Canary Islands 2010-2018
• Travel and tourism contribution to GDP in France 2017, by type
• Latin America: travel & tourism preferences in 2017
• Travel and tourism contribution to GDP in Belgium 2017, by type
• Travel product online bookings in Belgium 2023
• Share of travel brands investing in chatbots 2019
• Visitors from Hong Kong to Australia by purpose 2012-2016
• Filipinos booking travel arrangements 2020, by preferences

INDIA’S LEADING TRAVEL & TOURISM EXHIBITION

Jaipur   • amritsar • varanasi • bhopal  • jammu   •  lucknow • goa •  ahmedabad • chandigarh • dehradun • .

EXPAND YOUR BRAND’S EXPOSURE WITH INDIA TRAVEL MART (ITM)

Upcoming exhbitions.

2024 – 2025

INDIA TRAVEL MART JAIPUR

02 – 03 – 04 august 2024, venue: to be announced.

01st – 02nd – 03rd  September 2024

17th – 18th – 19th October 2024

08th – 09th – 10th November 2024

22nd – 23rd – 24th November 2023

6th – 7th – 8th  December 2024

29th – 30th – 31st December 2024

08th – 09th – 10th February 2025

28th February 01st – 02nd March 2025

07th – 08th – 09th  March 2025

INDIAN STATES/UTs

WHY INDIA TRAVEL MART (ITM)?

India’s one of the prominent International Travel & Tourism Mart,  India Travel Mart (ITM) brings people together to promote Inbound, Outbound and Domestic Tourism in a unique style.

ITM offers unlimited opportunities for everyone to explore the market and publicize their destination/ product/ organization in one place.

Brands That Has Partnered With Us

PRESS CLIPINGS

Subscribe To Newsletter

Join us with over 35,000+ Subscribers!

- Stay Connected on Upcoming Events. - Hosted Buyer Programmes - Participation Benefits

Join What's App Channel

Join Our WhatsApp Channel Today!

– Get Instant Message In Channel – Stay Connected To Upcoming Exhibitions. – Hosted Buyer Programmes – Participation Benefits