Travel India Independently

e-Tourist Visa
India requires a tourist visa for most nationalities. For the vast majority of travelers, this means an e-Tourist Visa — applied online before departure in about 15-20 minutes. You fill a form, upload your passport bio page and a photograph, pay a fee, and receive an Electronic Travel Authorization on email within 24–72 hours. You print it, carry it to India, and immigration stamps your passport on arrival. There is no embassy visit, no agent, no interview. Apply at least 10–15 days before travel to give yourself buffer time.
→ e-visa types, eligibility, fees, and step-by-step process
→ Get e-Tourist Visa at zero markup

e-Arrival Card
All foreign nationals must complete an e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before landing — this is separate from your visa and captures travel and contact details for immigration records. Complete it before you board your final flight to India. At immigration, present your printed ETA, your passport, and your completed e-Arrival Card.
→ Fill e-Arrival card

Permits
Most of India is open to foreign travelers on a standard tourist visa. But certain regions near international borders — parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Sikkim, Nagaland, and others — require a separate Protected Area Permit or Restricted Area Permit in addition to your visa. If your itinerary includes any of these regions, apply for the permit before you travel and while in India. Your visa alone does not grant access.
→ Permit by state and how to apply
→ Find you permit

Currency
Indian Rupees cannot be imported by foreign nationals. You can bring your home currency in cash — up to USD 5,000 without declaration — and exchange into Indian Rupees on arrival, or withdraw cash at an ATM. Visa and Mastercard work at most ATMs across India. The practical approach is to exchange a reasonable amount at the airport on arrival, later from a authorized exchange and carry a mix of denominations. Cash remains essential — do not rely solely on cards.
→ Currency, exchange, ATMs, and UPI

Vaccination
Most travelers do not need vaccinations beyond standard travel immunizations for India. However, if you are arriving from a yellow fever endemic country, a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is mandatory at immigration. Verify what applies to your country before travel.
→ Vaccination requirements for India

Restricted Items
India restricts or prohibits certain items — satellite phones, drones, certain medications, and large quantities of foreign currency above USD 5,000 without declaration. Check the restricted items list before packing.
→ Restricted and declarable items entering India

Local SIM Card
A local Indian SIM is the most practical connectivity option for any trip longer than a week. Telecom operators like Airtel or Jio both have counters at international airport arrivals halls. You need four things: your passport, your Indian visa, a hotel booking confirmation showing your name and address, an email for KYC. Activation takes 30 minutes to 4 hours. Plans cost roughly ₹300–500 for 28–30 days with daily high speed data.
→ SIM cards in India — networks, activation, and plans

Getting Out Of The Airport
Use the prepaid taxi counter inside the arrivals hall — it is the clearest option for a first arrival. You pay a fixed fare to your destination zone at the counter, receive a receipt, and hand it to the driver. No negotiation. Ignore all informal offers and touts between baggage claim and the exit — walk past them to the official prepaid counter. Uber and Ola also operate from most airports — if you already have a working SIM — booking through the app is equally reliable.
→ App-based taxis, autos, and prepaid counters

Trains
Indian Railways connects virtually every city and town in the country. For long distances — anything over 7–8 hours — an overnight train saves you accommodation costs and travel time simultaneously. Tickets are booked on IRCTC, the official platform. You create an account, search by origin and destination, choose a class and departure time, and pay. Book as early as the 60-day before the planned travel date.
→ Train classes, booking, station navigation, and travel
→ Get train tickets at zero markup

Buses
Buses reach where trains do not or work best when a train ticket is not available. State transport operate scheduled services at every bus stand — walk to the counter and ask for your destination. Or use app-based platforms such as redBus to search and book buses on your route. Both state-run and private operators are listed — prefer buses with ratings of 4★ or higher. Advance booking is not generally required for bus travel in India; booking 2–3 days in advance is sufficient. For journeys under 6 hours where both options exist, a bus is a practical alternative to a train.
→ Bus types, booking, and intercity travel in India
→ Get bus tickets at zero markup

Domestic Flights
India has a well-developed domestic aviation network. IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air cover all major city pairs. For distances above 1,000 km — flying saves significant time. Book directly on airline websites or through any flight search platform. Note that Indian airports have multiple terminals and terminals are not always adjacent — confirm your terminal after booking.
→ Domestic flights in India

Outstation Cabs
For city-to-city distances where you want a personal hire over public transport. Uber and Ola both offer outstation cabs. You can also book through local cab operators by asking at your hotel reception. Before confirming, check whether the fare includes tolls. The app will either show an estimated toll amount or list it as payable during the trip. Confirm the total before you start.

If a driver demands additional money mid-journey beyond what was agreed — for fuel, unexpected tolls, or any other reason — you are not obligated to pay anything beyond what was confirmed at booking. Note the reason, complete the ride if safe, and report it through the app.

App-based taxis
This is the default. Uber and Ola operate in all Indian cities. Book through the app, fare is shown upfront (do confirm with the driver before getting in), route is tracked, driver details are recorded. This is the clearest option for moving between neighborhoods, getting to and from railway stations, and navigating a new city. If a driver asks you to cancel and rebook outside the app, decline and end the ride.
→ Ride apps, autos, prepaid counters

Auto-rickshaws
Autos are the most widely available transport in India — present in every city, town, and market area. Meters are frequently not used. The standard practice is to negotiate the fare before entering. Tell or show the auto driver your destination — they can refuse, in which case move to the next one. Do not get in until a fare is agreed. A rough map: ₹30–50 per km is a reasonable baseline in most cities. Uber and Ola also offer auto bookings within their apps — fixed fare, no negotiation, tracked ride.

Metro
Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, and several other cities have metro. Where it exists, the metro is the most time-reliable way to move. Simply enter the station, buy a ticket at the counter, clear security, scan the ticket at the entry gate, walk towards platform and board the train. Use the same ticket again at the exit gate on destination. Each city page in India Manual notes whether metro covers traveler-relevant zones or not.
→ Metro systems in Indian cities

Cash, Cards, and UPI
Cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants, and tourist-facing businesses. But autos, street food, small shops, temple entry, market purchases, and most everyday transactions run on cash or QR-code payment system — UPI. ATMs are widely available — SBI, HDFC, ICICI, and Axis Bank. Keep a mix of denominations: ₹500 and ₹200 for mid-size purchases, ₹100 and ₹50 for autos and small transactions. Do not rely on digital payments alone.

UPI is practical for any trip longer than 10 days. It is available through prepaid wallets like Mony. Once set up, you can pay by scanning QR codes at any merchant that accepts UPI — which covers most shops, restaurants, and services. A top-up fee applies when loading the wallet. Useful as a supplement to cash, not a replacement for it.
→ Currency, exchange, ATMs, and UPI setup

Food in India
India's food is one of its defining travel experiences and good to eat when you choose high-footfall establishments. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is available everywhere except some towns. Water: drink bottled or filtered only. Street food from busy stalls is generally safe — low footfall and poorly maintained setups carry more risk than the food itself.
→ Food in India — safety, variety, and what to expect

Healthcare
India has a wide range of healthcare facilities. For most travelers, the relevant preparation is knowing where the nearest pharmacy is. Pharmacies are widely available, and many medications for minor illness such as stomach upset, fever, or headache can usually be obtained directly from a pharmacy without a prescription.
→ Healthcare in India for international travelers

India Manual is produced by Intodia. All content follows a continuous review cycle and is free from commercial influence, ads, or any affiliate arrangements.