IndiaTravel Tips

Typical weather seasons by month.

When the city is peak, balanced, or quieter.

Typical monthly AQI index trends.

What to know before drinking water, eating street food, or dining out.

• Drink sealed bottled water or filtered water from serious hotels.
• Choose busy kitchens with fast turnover; empty buffet counters are a bad sign.
• Street food is best eaten hot, freshly cooked, and early in service.
• Avoid raw salads outside trusted restaurants unless you know the wash source.

Common scams and safety precautions during your stay.

• Use airport prepaid counters, hotel cars, or app based rides in major cities.
• Ignore claims that your hotel, monument, or ticket office is closed without checking yourself.
• At markets, agree the price before accepting tailoring, shipping, or guided shopping help.
• Keep phone and wallet secure in stations, bazaars, festivals, and crowded monuments.

Respectful behavior for temples, neighborhoods, and restaurants.

• Use your right hand for giving money, food, or documents when practical.
• Remove shoes before entering homes and many sacred interiors.
• Dress conservatively at temples and rural sites; shoulders and knees covered works well.
• Public affection draws attention outside luxury hotels and private venues.

Plugs, voltage, and electrical charging standards.

Tipping customs for dining, taxis, and services.

• Restaurants: 5 to 10 percent when service charge is absent.
• Drivers and guides expect tips after full day service; pay in cash.
• Hotel porters and housekeeping appreciate small rupee notes.
• Luxury hotels may add service charges, but direct tips still matter for guides and drivers.

Essential local laws and regulations to respect.

• Carry passport ID for hotel check in and domestic flights.
• Alcohol rules change by state; some states restrict sale days and locations.
• Drone use needs formal permission and is risky near borders, airports, and official buildings.
• Photography can be restricted at airports, bridges, military zones, and some sacred sites.

Health advice for climate, insects, and well-being.

• Carry oral rehydration salts; heat and stomach issues are common first week problems.
• Use strong mosquito repellent in humid, forested, and coastal regions.
• Air purifiers are worth requesting in Delhi and other northern cities in winter.
• Buy travel insurance that covers private hospitals and evacuation from remote mountain areas.

Simple local phrases that help with greetings and polite conversation.

Useful phrases for shopping, bills, and price negotiations.

Phrases for dietary preferences, vegetarian choices, and water.

Polite ways to decline offers, transport, or street vendors.

Directions for finding toilets, basic shopping, and asking help.

Emergency calls, hospitals, and help phrases in the local language.