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India travel guide
Ultimate guide to visiting this dynamic nation + experiencing a technicolor feast for the senses.
India is an alluring journey of sights, sounds, joy and mayhem. Ancient architecture, virgin beaches, bustling bazaars and exotic jungle wildlife are just a drop in the Arabian sea of what you can experience.
You’ll find it’s a spiritual nation overflowing with temples, palaces and sacred sites. Delve deeper still for an explosive culinary tour: Vegetarians and vegans will find plentiful vegetable-based dishes seasoned with regionally-sourced spices and chutney.
Whether traversing by plane, train or auto rickshaw, discover why Mark Twain called India “the cradle of the human race.”
You’ll need to apply for and obtain a tourist visa in advance if you’re travelling to India from the US, because it doesn’t offer visas upon arrival. The India travel visa for tourists expires after one year.
When it comes to immunization for travel to India, all travelers should be up-to-date with routine vaccines and should be vaccinated for measles, according to the CDC. It also states that most travelers should be vaccinated for Hepatitis A and Typhoid, while some travelers should be vaccinated for cholera, Hepatitis B, malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, rabies and yellow fever. Talking to your doctor can help determine what’s best for you.
What is the Golden Triangle?
A popular tourist route connecting Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. You can book tours and private coaches to take you on a journey to see a tantalizing cross-section of Indian culture rooted in religious history:
Humayun’s Tomb.Delhi. The resting place of Mughal Emperor Humayun, commissioned by his wife in 1569 and laid out in Islamic “paradise garden” style.
Taj Mahal. Agra. One of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal was built by a grieving emperor for his beloved wife in the mid-1600s. It’s made of ivory-white marble that shimmers in response to the day’s changing light.
Jama Mosque. Fatehpur Sikir, near Agra. The second-largest mosque in India, it’s made of red sandstone and white marble. It cost over a million rupees to build in the mid-1600s.
Hawa Mahal. Jaipur. The so-called Palace of Winds, it was built in 1799 and painted pink, creating a rippling, honeycomb facade.
Transportation in India
First things first: India is immense. More than a country, it’s considered a subcontinent — it even rests on its own tectonic plate.
With major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore situated as far as 310 to 1,243 miles from each other, moving within such a large country can be a challenge for travelers.
The key is to embrace trains and cheap domestic flights, buying tickets in advance if you can. Within cities, the options get more creative. But be sure to keep rupees on hand, as cash is the predominant payment method for private transportation within India.
Traveling from city to city
India hosts six major climates within its 1.269 million square miles. Here’s how to experience the delicious diversity of different regions:
Internal flights
In a country as large as India, air transport is a good option for covering long distances over short periods.
Air India has a large number of domestic routes, connecting about 70 cities.
Other internal carriers include:
Jet Airways
SpiceJet
AirAsia
IndiGo
Major airports are scattered around the nation, in cities like:
Delhi
Mumbai
Bengaluru
Hyderabad
Chennai
Kolkata
Depending on the length of your journey, expect economy class fares to range from $40 to $200.
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For short and medium journeys in India, buses offer great flexibility. You can almost always find a seat when booking a day in advance. But longer journeys on bumpy roads can be fairly uncomfortable.
For the most part, there are two types of buses in India: cheap, standard ones and costlier, air-conditioned tourist buses. These are operated by numerous bus companies.
A good place to start searching for your bus options online is Bus India.
Trains
India has one of the largest rail networks on earth. Trains cover long distances and are a reliable, comfortable method of ground transport in India. Traveling in air-conditioned coaches is highly recommended, as these cars tend to be less crowded, with better comfort and more safety overall.
There are three ways to book train tickets in India:
At the stations. You can buy tickets by filling in a pink slip of paper with your personal information and the train you want to take. It’s possible to make advance bookings and same-day bookings at the station. However, be advised that lines for same-day tickets can get rather long.
Booking online. Reserve tickets online through the Indian Railways’ official website. Booking online means you’ll have a shorter wait at the station.
Booking through a travel agent. If you want to avoid the hassle of figuring out India’s rail system yourself, you can book your tickets through a travel agent. This will likely cost you an extra $5 to $10. But it’s recommended that you double-check the fare yourself to avoid overpaying.
On Indian Railways, there are three types of reservations:
Standard reservation. This is the most common way to book a journey. Be aware that seats allocated for standard reservations get filled very fast. You must book tickets at least 40 to 50 days in advance if you are traveling between major cities.
Reservation against cancellation (RAC). When seats allocated for standard reservations have been filled, you have the option to make a RAC. This gives you next-in-line priority in case of cancellations or unsold quotas. Note that you have to share the berth with another person in RAC seats.
Tatkal. Tatkal reservations allow you to book your tickets the day before your trip, but competition for these is fierce. You can book tatkal tickets both online and at stations — though lines are long, and seats for busy routes tend to fill up within five minutes of the booking window opening online.
Indrail Pass
If you plan to travel extensively through Indian Railways, you can buy an Indrail Pass, which offers international tourists the flexibility of unlimited travel on any route. This pass doesn’t guarantee you a seat and you still have to make an advance booking. But it might save you money if your route is long enough. The cost of an Indrail pass varies depending on the period of validity, which class you ride in and whether or not the car has AC.
Here’s what you can expect to pay for an Indrail pass in AC class:
1 day. $95
2 days. $160
4 days. $220
7 days. $270
15 days. $370
30 days. $495
Note that tickets in non-AC cars are more than 50% cheaper, though these cars can get very crowded.
Traveling within cities
Whether you’re exploring the beach vibes of Mumbai or navigating the capital of Delhi, here’s how to get around within Indian cities:
Types of public transportation
City buses. Almost every city in India is serviced by city buses, which run frequently. However, it’s tough to get a seat, and it’s possible your personal space will be encroached upon. City buses in most Indian cities don’t follow a set schedule. They are most commonly used by locals who know their routes and stops.
Local trains. These are more accessible than buses in cities like Mumbai, but are no less crowded. Trains are cheap and are mainly used by locals for their daily commute.
Subway. Only Delhi Metro has an extensive subway network. Other major Indian cities also have metros, but they only operate on limited routes.
Paying for public transportation
Individual train and bus tickets must be purchased using cash. For intra-city travel, all cities with metro and local trains have their own passes.
Getting to and from the airport
In every major Indian city, buses connect the city center with the airport. Other typical options include:
Private transfers
Airport shuttles
Taxis
Best app for getting around in India
The official Indian Railways app IRCTC Connect lets you book and cancel tickets, check your ticket status and get live location updates.
Private transportation
Taxi
Taxis are available for private transportation in most cities. In some places, like railway stations and airports, there are prepayment booths to ensure you’ll only be charged the stipulated fare. If you hail a taxi from the street, insist the driver restarts the meter. Otherwise, it’s best to negotiate and agree to the fare for the trip in advance.
Auto rickshaw
The auto rickshaw, also known as tuk-tuk or simply auto, is a cheaper alternative to taxis and ideal for connectivity in urban areas. Auto rickshaws are three-wheeled vehicles the size of a golf cart — but with the hustle of a taxi. Just beware of auto drivers persuading you to book a hotel or buy goods from a specific shop.
Are auto rickshaws safe?Here are the stats: In 2017, auto rickshaws claimed 6,762 lives in a total of 29,351 crashes in India, according to the Road Transport Ministry. In response, the government stipulated that by October 2019, all auto rickshaws must have passenger doors or retention compartments (to keep people from falling out), as well as seat belts and two headlights.
If you do want to experience an auto rickshaw, make sure your ride has passenger doors, seat belts and headlights.
Cycle and hand-pulled rickshaws
These are becoming rarer and rarer in India, though some cities like Kolkata still rely on cycle rickshaws as part of intra-city transportation.
Uber
Uber is available in most major cities within India. But don’t count on it unless you’ve double-checked in advance — for instance, Uber’s not available in the coastal city of Goa.
In India, you can pay for an Uber with cash (rupees) or card.
Renting a car
It’s unlikely you’d want to drive in India’s chaotic traffic. Also note that India’s roads have some of the worst fatality statistics in the world.
However, if you’re so inclined, car rental desks for major car hire services like Avis, Budget, Hertz, Sixt and Thrifty are available at the major airports in India.
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Traveling during COVID-19
The CDC continues to advise caution when traveling within or outside the US, though it no longer requires self-quarantine or a COVID-19 test for fully vaccinated travelers as of April 2021. It recommends that you delay travel if you are not fully vaccinated to protect yourself and your family from getting or spreading the virus.
When traveling, follow safety measures that include wearing a mask in public, social distancing and washing your hands. If you are diagnosed with, have symptoms of or are waiting for COVID-19 test results — or are otherwise at risk of illness — do not attend gatherings or travel for 14 days.
Veronica is the senior publishing support for travel at Finder and has been scouting airline, hotel and tour package deals for over five years. She has a Bachelor of Tourism major in Travel Management from University of Sto. Tomas Legazpi, Philippines and has been a local tour guide. She does her own itinerary and budget research every time she travels and has mastered the art of packing light for her family of three.
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