India Travel Guide: Entry Rules, Money, Trains and What to Know Before You Go

The electronic Tourist Visa (e-Visa) is the standard entry route for citizens of more than 175 nationalities, handled entirely online via the official portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html without needing an in-person consular visit. Eligibility specifically excludes Pakistani nationals and persons of Pakistani origin. When applying, you need a digital passport photograph, a scan of your passport bio-page, an online payment method, and a passport valid for at least six months with two blank pages. Applications can be submitted between 4 and 120 days before your intended travel date.

Tourist e-visas are offered in three tiers, all granted with multiple-entry privileges: a 30-day option that begins on your date of first arrival (which is non-extendable and non-convertible), a 1-year visa that runs from the date of grant with a maximum stay of 180 cumulative days per calendar year, and a 5-year visa that also runs from grant with the same 180-day annual limit. Choose the tier that matches your trip length, keeping in mind the differing start dates.

Do not assume a single blanket fee or duration applies to every traveller. Visa fees vary by nationality, and payment processors may levy payment surcharges on top of the base fee. Always verify your specific passport's fee category and requirements directly on the official government visa portal before applying, and ignore third-party websites claiming to expedite approvals or charging inflated service fees.

India's domestic payments are dominated by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a rapid digital network used by street stalls and major merchants alike. However, UPI is a closed-loop system tied directly to an Indian domestic bank account and an Indian phone number. International bank cards cannot be linked directly to standard UPI apps, so foreign visitors cannot simply arrive and expect to use UPI for their routine daily purchases.

To bridge this gap, the National Payments Corporation of India developed 'UPI One World,' a prepaid rupee wallet created for foreign visitors without a local bank account or SIM card. However, availability remains restricted: it is offered only through selected issuers and at major international airport counters rather than being widely accessible everywhere. International credit and debit cards work reliably across major cities in hotels, shopping malls, and upscale restaurants, but are far less useful at smaller neighborhood shops.

Carrying cash in Indian rupees remains necessary throughout any trip. ATMs are widespread across urban centers and airports, making cash withdrawals straightforward with an international card. You will need paper currency for auto-rickshaws, roadside stalls, local bazaars, and travel outside urban areas. Maintain a modest reserve of rupee notes alongside your cards so you are never caught unprepared when a vendor cannot accept card payments.

The Indian Railways network connects virtually every corner of the country, with bookings officially administered through the IRCTC portal. International travellers can access the Foreign Tourist Quota (FTQ), which reserves berths on select long-distance trains and premium travel classes—specifically First AC (1AC), Two-Tier AC (2AC), and Executive Chair Car (EC). These quota tickets can be booked up to 365 days in advance at approximately 1.5 times the standard fare plus an IRCTC service charge.

Booking short-notice train travel online has become much harder for international visitors. Since 1 July 2025, IRCTC's last-minute Tatkal booking scheme requires Aadhaar authentication. Because foreign tourists do not possess an Indian Aadhaar identification number, online Tatkal reservations are effectively closed to them. It is crucial to plan long-distance rail journeys well ahead of time rather than counting on last-minute digital ticket releases once your journey is underway.

If you need to book rail travel after arriving in India, look for dedicated International Tourist Bureau counters located at major railway hubs. Counters operate at key stations including New Delhi, Agra Cantonment, Varanasi, Mumbai Central, Chennai Central, and Howrah in Kolkata. These physical bureau desks assist foreign tourists with booking quota tickets in person, providing an indispensable workaround when online booking portals prove unworkable.

A few fundamental etiquette guidelines are consistently observed across India. The right hand should always be used for eating, passing objects, and handing over money, as the left hand is traditionally associated with personal hygiene. Handing or receiving an object with both hands is viewed as a sign of extra respect. You must remove your footwear before entering private homes and places of worship, including Hindu temples, gurdwaras, and mosques.

Dress codes at sacred sites require modest attire covering shoulders and knees. At Sikh gurdwaras, including the Golden Temple in Amritsar, head coverings are mandatory for all visitors of every gender. Certain Hindu temples, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, enforce stricter customs: men may be required to enter the inner sanctum bare-chested, women must wear sarees or full-length dresses, and leather goods such as belts and wallets are occasionally banned from temple grounds.

India's profound regional, religious, and linguistic diversity means that no single etiquette rule applies uniformly across the entire subcontinent. Customs vary significantly from state to state and even between individual religious shrines. These recommendations reflect consensus drawn from experienced travellers and cultural guides rather than statutory government mandates, so take cues from local worshippers and temple caretakers whenever entering unfamiliar religious environments.

The southwest monsoon officially spans June through September across India, progressing as a rolling weather system from the south toward the north. July represents the nationwide peak of rainfall, and August is historically the wettest single month. Rather than relying on specific annual weather forecasts or rainfall percentages, plan on heavy precipitation, high humidity, and occasional transit delays if you travel during this mid-year window.

The shoulder months—specifically September to October as the rains subside, and February to April before summer temperatures peak—are widely considered the most comfortable periods for exploring India. Visiting hill stations and the Himalayan foothills during peak monsoon is feasible, but requires caution: intense rainfall in the Western Ghats and Himalayan regions frequently triggers landslides, road blockages, and severe travel disruptions.

Avoid broad claims that India is either universally safe or unsafe. The US Department of State categorizes India at Level 2 ('Exercise Increased Caution') nationwide due to risks associated with crime, terrorism, and civil unrest—the exact same tier assigned to popular European destinations including France and Italy. Travel advisories are updated regularly as conditions shift, so always review current official government guidance before finalizing your plans.

Specific geographic regions carry distinct official advisories that must be factored into your itinerary. The US State Department maintains a Level 4 ('Do Not Travel') warning for Jammu and Kashmir, though the union territory of Ladakh (including Leh) is treated separately and excluded from this restriction. Additionally, elevated caution is officially advised in Manipur and parts of the Northeast due to civil unrest. Check official territorial advisories when planning regional travel.