India · AsiaIndia
A billion-person sensory explosion - temples, spices, and ancient chaos
from $25/day Generally safeculturefood
Quick Facts
Capital
New Delhi
Population
1.44 billion (world's most populous)
Best airports
DEL (Delhi), BOM (Mumbai), BLR (Bangalore)
e-Visa
Available for 170+ nationalities at indianvisaonline.gov.in
Avg temp (Rajasthan peak)
22°C / 72°F (Oct–Feb)
Safety
Generally safe
Vibes
culturefoodhistoryspiritualunique
Best Time to Visit
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best months This month
Daily Budget
Backpacker
$25
per day
Mid-range
$65
per day
Luxury
$200
per day
Top Experiences
🕌$15
Taj Mahal at Sunrise
Shah Jahan's monument to love - 20,000 workers, 22 years, and the world's most beautiful building
🪔Free
Varanasi Ganga Aarti
Watch 50 priests perform the evening fire ceremony on the ghats of the world's oldest living city
🏰$5–15 each
Rajasthan Palace Circuit
Jaipur's Amber Fort, Jodhpur's Mehrangarh, and Udaipur's lake palaces in one royal loop
Must-Try Food
Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)
Delhi's 1950s invention: chicken in a velvety tomato-cream-butter sauce with naan
Masala Dosa (South)
Crispy fermented rice crepe stuffed with spiced potato, served with sambar and coconut chutney
Biryani
Hyderabad's layered saffron rice with meat - every city claims the best version
Getting Around
🚂
Indian Railways$5–30
The world's 4th largest rail network - book AC tiers online at irctc.co.in weeks in advance
🚗
Uber / Ola$2–10
Reliable app-based cabs in all major cities - avoid auto-rickshaw overcharging
🛺
Auto-rickshaw$1–5
Negotiate a fixed price before getting in - the quintessential Indian city transport
✈️
IndiGo / Air India domestic$20–60
India is vast - flying saves days of travel between regions
Cultural Tips
Remove shoes before entering temples, mosques, and many homes
Use your right hand for eating and giving/receiving - the left is considered unclean
The head wobble (side-to-side) means yes, okay, or I understand - not no
Dress modestly at religious sites - women should cover hair at Sikh gurdwaras
Street food is safe at busy stalls with high turnover - avoid stagnant oil and pre-cut fruit
India's diversity is staggering - North India, South India, and Northeast feel like different countries
Hidden Gems
Hampi - surreal boulder-strewn landscape with a ruined Vijayanagara Empire capital scattered across 26 km²
Spiti Valley - Himalayan cold desert valley at 4,000m with ancient monasteries and minimal electricity
Pondicherry - French colonial town on the Tamil Nadu coast with yellow colonial villas and ashrams
Going beyond the trip?
Explore the India country profile
Cost of living, visas, healthcare, taxes, expat life and everything you'd need to actually move and stay long-term.