Travel Tips
India: A kaleidoscope of traditions, culture and vibrant geographies, India speaks for itself as a soul-stirring journey. From its dusty snow trenches, frolic coasts, gripping natural green to the mystic ravines of spirituality and clusters of cultural shades defining the raw beauty, India captures the heart of every tourist. Discover the different facets of this multicolored country as it shapes your vision at every of its fold. With the country's tourism branched into several forms, India has a chunk for every kind of a traveler.
Trip Planning: The planning stage of your trip can be instrumental in its success and an enjoyable part of the experience itself. You have a world of options...and plenty to consider.
Entry and Exit formalities: Visitors must hold a passport valid for at least six months & beyond at the time of entering the country. Some nationalities can obtain visa on arrival and for nationalities who requires visa please refer to the Indian consulate website:
Transportation: Figuring out how to get around is one of your biggest pre-trip decisions. Get our holiday expert best advice on deciding between your options.Based on your trip itinerary, our experts will help you choose wisely. You'll also find a wealth of practical travel tips.
Money: Use your money wisely. Know the best time to use cash or card — and how to avoid unnecessary fees either way — as well as tipping etiquette.
Phones and Technology: Phones and other smart devices can be huge time-savers...or expensive distractions. Get our tips for making the best use of technology during your trip, and for calling home with or without your own phone.
Packing Light: On your trip you'll meet two kinds of travelers: those who pack light and those who wish they had.
Sleeping and Eating: Your hotel and restaurant choices can be a matter-of-face chore…or they can provide rich opportunities to connect with locals and their culture.
Health & Hygiene: Take comfort: Doctors, hospitals, launderettes, and bathrooms aren’t that different. Dealing with them can even be part of the fun of travel.
Sightseeing & Activities: Once you're on the ground, the real fun begins…but it pays to have a thoughtful plan. Our experts will help you get oriented to your surroundings, use your sightseeing hours wisely, and find your way off the beaten path.
Things to see & do:
Mumbai-Massive city, home to Bollywood, grand colonial buildings & bazaars packed with antiques & textiles.
Agra-North Indian city with Mughal Empire landmarks like the Taj Mahal mausoleum & red-walled Agra Fort.
Jaipur-Known as "Pink City" for colored palaces & other 18th-century structures, including an observatory.
Goa-State in India known for Arabian Sea beaches & European-style churches like Se Cathedral in Old Goa.
Bengaluru-India tech hub known for parks, nightlife, Bangalore Palace & Lalbagh Botanical Garden.
New Delhi-Temples, shopping, monuments, tombs, and yoga.
Manali, Himachal Pradesh-Himalayan resort town & backpacking center with nearby skiing & hot springs, plus Old Manali.
Shimla-Himachal Pradesh capital known for colonial architecture, Himalayan views & shopping on The Mall.
Udaipur-Rajasthan city known for lavish palaces, Jagdish Temple & artificial lakes, including Lake Pichola.
Kolkata-West Bengal capital home to Mother Teresa's tomb, British-colonial architecture & art galleries.
Kochi-Indian port with colonial Fort Kochi, plus 16th-century Portuguese churches & Paradesi Synagogue.
Chennai-City known for Tamil classical music & dance, plus Kapaleeshwarar Temple & colonial Fort St. George.
Varanasi-Sacred Ganges River city with some 2,000 Hindu temples (including Kashi Vishwanath) & Ramnagar Fort.
Jodhpur-Indian city in Rajasthan known for light-blue buildings, clifftop Mehrangarh Fort & grand palaces.
Mysore-Indian city with ornate Wodeyar palaces like Mysore Palace, plus Hindu temples & Devaraja Market.
Darjeeling-Indian hill town known for tea plantations, Himalayan views & "Toy Train" narrow-gauge railway.
Munnar-Indian hill town with Nallathanni tea museum, waterfalls & Eravikulam National Park.
Hyderabad-Southern Indian city with landmarks like Golconda Fort & Chowmahalla Palace, plus Salar Jung Museum.
Gangtok-Sikkim capital & Himalayan trekking base also home to Buddhist sites & Gangtok Ropeway gondola.
Haridwar-Ancient city on the River Ganges, known for Hindu festivals, hilltop temples & Har Ki Pauri ghat.
Port Blair-Capital city of India’s Andaman & Nicobar Islands, known for museums & the Cellular Jail memorial.
Madikeri-Southern Indian hill town known for the Madikeri Fort, Raja’s Seat monument & Omkareshwar Temple.
Pune-Sprawling city in Maharashtra with Hindu temples, Maratha Empire landmarks & Mahatma Gandhi's ashes.
Dharamshala-Hillside city in Himachal Pradesh, home to the Dalai Lama, rich Tibetan culture & mountain trails.
Pushkar-Hindu pilgrimage town on a sacred lake, with hundreds of temples, including one devoted to Brahma.
Ahmedabad-Large Gujarat city known for the Gandhi Ashram, Calico Museum of Textiles & distinctive pols.
Amritsar-Sikh cultural & spiritual center, home to the Golden Temple complex & pilgrimage site.
Pondicherry-Indian coastal town known for its French Quarter, seaside promenade & Paradise Beach.
Fatehpur Sikri-Indian city with red sandstone Mughal architecture, from Jama Masjid mosque to Salim Chishti's tomb.
Havelock Island-Indian island in the Andamans, known for Radhanagar Beach, Elephant Beach, birdlife & dive sites.
Chandigarh-Indian city known for its themed gardens, Le Corbusier's Capitol Complex, plus art & doll museums.
Kanha Tiger Reserve-Indian national park known for Bamhnidadar plateau & Kanha Meadows, home to tigers & other wildlife.
Thiruvananthapuram-Capital of Kerala, known for Kuthira Malika Palace, beaches, Napier Museum & fine-art collections.
Madurai-South Indian city known for Dravidian temples, including Meenakshi Amman, plus palaces & festivals.
Shillong-Northeast Indian hill station with Lady Hydari Park, Elephant Falls & Don Bosco Centre museum.