India Travel Guide

India certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted. For starters, it’s incredibly vast. As the seventh-largest country in the world, you can find everything from beaches and coastlines to sweeping plains, high-altitude deserts and towering mountain ranges.

Home to more than 1.4 billion people, it’s also incredibly populous with everything from intensely busy major metropolitan cities, right through to smaller rural and regional farms and villages.

So where do you begin when visiting as a tourist?

With so many options to choose from, it’s easy to become overwhelmed when planning your India itinerary. To make it a little easier, here are a few favourite attractions and experiences that will give you a good taste of what India has to offer.

• Visit the Taj Mahal in Agra – A visit to the iconic ivory-white marble mausoleum with its delicate marble inlay work and symmetrical design is a captivating experience that features highly on most tourists’ India bucket list. Stroll around the perfectly manicured gardens, explore the interior chambers or simply take in the awe-inspiring grandeur of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

• Discover Jaipur, the Pink City – Famed for its distinctive pink-hued buildings, historical significance, bustling markets and traditional Rajasthani hospitality, Jaipur serves up an immersive and enchanting experience for visitors. Whether you most want to savour authentic Rajasthani cuisine, witness traditional dance performances or experience what it’s like to ride majestically atop an elephant, you’ll be sure to appreciate the vibrant atmosphere and diverse range of activities on offer.

• Explore the spiritual capital of ​​Varanasi – Like the sound of experiencing one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world? Situated on the banks of the Ganges River, Varanasi is a spiritual hub where you can witness the Ganga Aarti, explore ancient temples and experience the unique blend of life, death and spirituality along the ghats.

• Relax beachside in Goa – Known for its pristine sandy shores, lively nightlife and colourful Portuguese-influenced architecture, Goa is a beach-lovers paradise. Baga Beach is a favourite among tourists and is an ideal place to try out some water sports, savour the local seafood delicacies or stroll through the nearby flea markets to discover a treasure trove of crafts, clothing and spices.

Climate

India is widely known for its very hot and humid climate, however, as the country spans a large geographical area with diverse topography, the climate can vary significantly depending on where and when you travel.

Generally speaking, you can usually expect to encounter the most pleasant conditions from October through to March, before the temperature and humidity gradually begin to rise in the lead-up to the monsoonal or rainy season from June to September.

Culture and language

More than 120 different languages are spoken throughout India. While there is no single national language in India, Hindi is the most widely spoken language. Approximately 10 per cent of the population in India speaks English.

India is predominantly Hindu (almost 80 per cent of the population), however, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism are also practised throughout India.

Some areas of India can be quite conservative and modesty (particularly for women) is taken very seriously. Most people choose to wear loose-fitting clothing that covers the arms and legs. You should also be prepared to remove your shoes and cover your head with a scarf when visiting religious sites.

Getting around

As you can imagine, being home to such a large population means the roads and transport can get extremely busy, which can make getting around a challenge at times. While transport in India can at times be crowded, a little uncomfortable and somewhat unreliable, it’s generally very affordable.

When transiting between cities, trains, buses and aeroplanes will usually be your main options. Taxis, ride-share cars, private drivers, metro train systems, auto-rickshaws and even cycle rickshaws are generally the best ways to get around town.

Accommodation

Most Western travellers tend to stay in upmarket Western-style hotels as they are usually air-conditioned and often provide extra services and amenities similar to what you may be used to, however, you can also find other accommodation options such as boutique hotels, heritage properties, state-ran hotels and guesthouses, as well as budget hotels and backpacker hostels.

Entry requirements

Australians need to apply for a visa before travelling to India. You can check your eligibility for an e-Visa through the Indian Visa Online website.

It’s best to visit the Australian government’s Smartraveller website before your trip for the latest information and updates about travelling to India.

Ready to jet off on your trip to India? Set yourself up to have the best possible time while you’re away with these helpful tips:

• Check your passport is valid with at least 6 months of validity left
• Ensure you meet the visitor entry requirements for India and have obtained the appropriate visa in advance of your date of trip
• Speak to your doctor to check if you’ll need any vaccinations before you travel. Many travellers choose to be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis A and B, polio and typhoid before visiting India
• It’s very important to avoid the tap water at all times while in India. Even something as simple as brushing your teeth or consuming salad or fruit that has been washed in contaminated water can make you very ill. You should stick to bottled or purified water to minimise the likelihood of getting sick
• Notify your financial institution of your plans to travel and arrange a travel currency card or another method of payment to cover expenses while you’re away. It’s also good to take some Indian rupee (INR) with you as some places will only accept cash payments
• Contact your phone provider to ensure your phone plan will cover you while you’re away or purchase a pre-paid international sim card
• Arrange your accommodation in advance for each location you plan to stay in
• Consider booking any trips, tours or activities you want to do in advance, particularly if you will be visiting during peak season when things can get very busy
• Provide details of your travel plans to a family member or close friend not travelling with you so you can be contacted in case of an emergency
• Save the details of how to access emergency consular assistance in case you need it
• Organise your travel insurance with PassportCard, ensuring you add extra cover if you’ll be having a go at some more adventurous activities like paragliding in Goa, a Segway tour in New Delhi or rock climbing in Sanjay Gandhi National Park.