Practical Information for visiting India

India uses the rupee (INR). Digital payment is extraordinarily widespread — the UPI system means even street vendors accept scan-to-pay — but it generally requires an Indian bank account, so visitors still rely on cards and cash.

Cards work in hotels, restaurants and shops in cities; cash is needed for markets, rickshaws, small towns and temples. Keep small notes, as change is often genuinely unavailable.

Tipping is expected in restaurants at around ten per cent where service is not included, and small amounts for porters, drivers and hotel staff are normal.

Coverage for mobile networks is excellent and data is among the cheapest in the world. A local SIM requires passport and visa documentation and can take a day to activate; travel eSIMs avoid that and are increasingly the simpler route.

Wi-fi is standard in hotels. Trains are the backbone of long-distance travel and should be booked well ahead, particularly in sleeper and air-conditioned classes; domestic flights are cheap and plentiful for the longest routes.

India is generally safe for travelers who take sensible precautions, though it's an enormous, varied country and risk factors differ significantly by region and by traveler.

• Scams targeting tourists are common in heavily touristed areas -- overcharging, fake "government approved" shops steering commissions to touts, and unlicensed taxi/rickshaw drivers quoting inflated fares. Use registered prepaid taxi counters at airports/stations, agree on a fare or insist on the meter beforehand, and be skeptical of unsolicited "helpful" strangers near major sights.
• Solo women travelers should take extra precautions -- avoid traveling alone late at night, dress conservatively, and prefer registered transport over hailing anything on the street; India's own tourism boards and most guidebooks specifically address this given real, documented incidents.
• Food and water safety is a genuine everyday consideration -- stick to bottled or purified water, be selective about street food (busy stalls with high turnover are generally safer than empty ones), and expect some adjustment period for a system unused to local food and water.
• Traffic is a significant hazard in itself -- India has one of the world's highest road fatality rates, and crossing streets or renting a vehicle requires a level of defensive awareness well beyond what many visitors are used to.
• Border and conflict-sensitive regions, including parts of Jammu and Kashmir and the northeastern states, may have travel restrictions, permit requirements, or elevated risk -- check current government advisories before planning travel to these areas specifically.
• Emergency number: 112 works nationwide and connects to police, fire, or medical services.

Water and food

Do not drink tap water anywhere. Bottled or filtered water is universal; be wary of ice and of raw salad outside good establishments. Stomach upsets are the most common visitor complaint and are usually mild.

Vaccines and mosquitoes

Hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly advised, with others depending on where and how long you travel — check well ahead, since some need a course. India's listed health risks include dengue and malaria, Zika and chikungunya, and malaria prophylaxis is recommended for some regions. Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of the country.

Air pollution is a season, not a footnote

Severe air pollution is a major health hazard, especially in the winter months from October to February, and north Indian cities are the worst affected. Children, the elderly and anyone with a pre-existing condition may be especially affected, and the advisory suggests that anyone pregnant or with a respiratory or heart condition consult a doctor before travelling. For a visitor with asthma this can be the deciding factor on when to go.

Care, and what it costs

Medical facilities differ from those in Europe, especially in remote areas, and specialised treatment may not be available outside major cities. In the cities both government and more expensive private care exist; the private hospitals give the best care and expect payment or insurance confirmation up front. Travel insurance covering treatment and evacuation matters. Pharmacies are widely available and most medicines needing a prescription in Europe need one in India — take your existing packaging to show exactly what you need.

Heat, and water

Heat in the pre-monsoon months is extreme. And on the coast: there are strong currents off many shores and people drown every year, most beaches have no warning signs, flags or lifesaving equipment, and emergency response standards vary. Take local advice rather than assuming a patrolled beach.

Dry states, and what the penalty actually is

Alcohol laws — buying, drinking, the legal age — vary by state, and in five places the consumption, production or transportation of alcohol is illegal outright: Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram, Nagaland and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. If you drink or possess alcohol in those states you could be arrested and held without bail, and face a prison sentence of five to ten years. Elsewhere it is illegal to drink alcohol in public places such as parks, some states sell 30-day alcohol permits to foreign nationals and non-resident Indians, and there is often a ban on sales during major religious festivals, national holidays and elections, when police carry out vehicle checks.

Vapes are banned

Vapes and related products are banned in India: you cannot buy them in the country or bring them into it. Smoking is illegal in most public places — use designated areas only.

Satellite phones and GPS devices

It is illegal to possess or operate satellite phones and GPS devices without a licence, even in transit, and this may extend to handheld or cycling GPS units. British nationals have been arrested or detained over it. Apply to the Indian Department of Telecommunication before you travel.

Drugs

Drugs are not categorised into classes as they are in the UK, and possession of any illegal drug can lead to sentencing: a minimum of six months for small amounts deemed for personal consumption, up to ten years for other amounts. The judicial process is slow and you could be detained for several years while your case is processed — which is the part that matters most.

Temples, hands and dress

Remove shoes before entering temples, mosques and many homes, and cover shoulders and knees at religious sites; some require a head covering. Leather items are prohibited in some Hindu and Jain temples. Eat and pass items with the right hand. Public displays of affection attract disapproval in most settings. Dress conservatively outside beach resorts, which reduces unwanted attention.

Cameras

Photography is prohibited at military sites, in some border areas and inside many temple sanctums. Activities involving cameras and binoculars — photography, birdwatching, plane spotting — may be misunderstood, so take particular care near military sites, government buildings, airports and railway stations.

Numbers

112 is the national emergency number and reaches police, fire and ambulance; dial it and ask for an ambulance. The older separate numbers still function — 100 police, 101 fire, 102 ambulance. 1363 is the tourist helpline, available in several languages.

What response to expect

Standards of emergency response vary widely between cities and rural areas. In serious cases the private hospitals in major cities offer the best care and will expect payment or insurance confirmation up front. Specialised treatment may not be available outside the major cities at all, which is the argument for insurance that covers evacuation rather than only treatment.

Monsoon, cyclones and extreme weather

India can experience extreme weather that threatens life and disrupts buildings, roads and communications. The monsoon usually runs June to October and its rains cause flash flooding and landslides, often with limited warning and particularly in mountainous areas, sometimes with significant loss of life; towns and villages get cut off, roads close, and telephone, internet and electricity services are interrupted. Tropical cyclones are a risk especially on the east coast from September to December. Check the Indian Meteorological Department and follow local authorities and your travel company.

In the mountains

You are extremely unlikely to have a phone signal, so leave your route and expected return with your accommodation and have them register your whereabouts on the online C-form. Above 3,000 metres, altitude sickness and sudden weather changes including thunderstorms are year-round hazards.