India is welcoming, vibrant, and safe for most visitors who prepare with common-sense habits. This page gives you a clear, practical playbook—what to pack, how to eat well, getting medical help if needed, staying alert in crowds, and keeping your data and money secure. Follow these steps and you’ll spend less time worrying and more time enjoying the good stuff: food, festivals, forts, beaches, backwaters, mountains, and endless stories.
Drink sealed bottled water or use a purifier bottle. Skip tap water and ice unless you’re sure it’s purified.
Pick busy stalls with fast turnover. Hot and fresh is key. Start mild on Day 1–2 and let your stomach adapt.
Cap, sunglasses, SPF 30+, and light scarf. In cities with poor air days, consider a simple mask.
Use sanitizer before eating. Avoid touching your face in crowded transit and markets.
Cross-body bag with zips; keep a backup card separately. Photocopies and offline passport scan help.
Use airport pre-paid counters or known cab apps. Confirm fare before moving; share trip with a friend.
Choose well-reviewed, central stays. Ask reception about late-night routes and nearby pharmacies.
Dress modestly at religious sites, ask before photos, and be polite during bargaining—keeps situations calm.
Use mobile data or a VPN on public Wi-Fi. Don’t share one-time passwords (OTPs) with anyone.
Travel insurance + a simple med kit: rehydration salts, pain/fever relief, antiseptic, band-aids, tummy meds.
Good preparation reduces 90% of common hassles. If you take regular medication, carry enough for the whole trip in original packaging and a simple prescription note. Pack a basic first-aid kit with oral rehydration salts, motion sickness tablets for winding hill roads, fever/pain relief, and a small antiseptic cream. If you wear contacts, carry spare lenses and solution; dust can be a thing on dry days. Consider a purifier bottle if you’ll be hiking or staying in rural homestays—handy and eco-friendly compared to buying single-use plastic.
Food and water are where most new travelers get careless on Day 1. Ease in: choose cafés or popular local restaurants with strong reviews; try spicy street snacks later once your system adjusts. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, India is actually one of the easiest countries to eat well: thalis, dosas, idlis, daals, paneer dishes, chhole bhature, and an endless list of seasonal veg. For non-veg, go with fresh, busy places that cook to order; tandoori and grilled dishes are great starts.
In major cities you’ll find modern private clinics, pharmacies, and hospitals with English-speaking staff. Your hotel can recommend a nearby doctor and help arrange transport. Pharmacies are common; carry your prescription and ask for the branded or equivalent generic. If you need urgent care, use app cabs or ask your hotel for an ambulance number—response times vary by city traffic, so leaving early is wise.
India’s cities thrum with energy—great for food tours, markets, and photo walks. Crowds are generally friendly but busy. Keep your phone zipped away when crossing roads or moving through metro stations. Use official taxi apps or pre-paid counters at airports and railway stations. If someone approaches offering rides or tours, listen politely and confirm prices first—or simply decline with a smile and keep walking.
Indian cuisine shines when it’s cooked fresh and served hot. Follow the locals: lines are a good sign. For raw salads, prefer reputable restaurants; wash fruit yourself or choose peelable options like bananas and oranges. For drinks, order sealed bottles; check the cap ring. Chai and coffee are boiled, so they’re safe and delicious breaks between sights. If you do overdo the spice on day one (it happens!), rehydration salts and curd rice or khichdi are soothing resets.
Dress codes vary by city and region; comfortable, modest outfits (kurtas, loose trousers, long skirts, tees with light scarves) blend in and keep you cool. Ride-share apps allow sharing trip details; many metros have women-only coaches; and larger stations have dedicated waiting areas. If a situation feels uncomfortable, step into a shop or café; Indians are generally quick to help when asked. Trust your instincts and avoid isolated lanes late at night.
Summers in the plains can be hot; hydrate and take shade breaks. In the mountains, sunlight is strong but air can be cool—layers help. If you’re heading above 3,000 meters, acclimatize, move slow on Day 1, and listen to your body. On safaris, follow ranger instructions, keep distance, and don’t feed animals (even monkeys near temples!). Plastic waste is a problem globally—carry a reusable bottle and tote; India’s landscapes are too beautiful to leave trash.
Like any tourist hub, occasional touts exist. Most are harmless sales pitches. A simple “No, thank you” with a smile, no eye contact, and steady walking works well. Confirm prices for rides, souvenirs, and guides before starting. Avoid handing your phone to strangers to “install a local app”; ask your hotel for help instead. If a “policeman” asks to see your wallet, step into a busy shop or call your hotel—real checks are rare and polite.
Buy a local SIM at the airport kiosk with your passport copy, or use eSIM if your device supports it. Stick to mobile data for sensitive tasks like banking; if you must use café Wi-Fi, prefer a VPN. Disable tap-to-pay when not needed, and never share one-time passwords (OTP) or QR scans with unknown callers—common sense rules go a long way. Screenshot maps and bookings for offline access—handy during patchy coverage or battery dips.
If you lose a passport, contact your embassy/consulate and file a local report; your hotel can guide you. For lost cards, freeze them in your banking app and use your backup. Save a text note with two emergency contacts, your hotel’s number, and your policy details. In crowded areas, agree on a meeting point if your group gets separated. Most issues resolve quickly when you stay calm, write things down, and ask for official help.
Stick to sealed bottled water or a purifier bottle. Check the cap ring before drinking. Tea/coffee are boiled and generally fine. Avoid ice unless you know it’s from purified water.
Rest, hydrate with oral rehydration salts, and eat plain foods (bananas, curd rice, khichdi). If symptoms persist or include high fever/blood, see a clinic. Keep travel insurance info handy.
Choose busy stalls with high turnover, watch your dish cooked hot, and start mildly spiced. Avoid uncooked salads at street carts; try those at reputable restaurants instead.
Prefer lively, central neighborhoods; use app cabs; share trip details with a friend; and avoid poorly lit, isolated lanes. Ask your hotel for recommended routes and drivers.
Confirm prices before rides or tours, decline pushy offers politely, don’t hand over your phone to strangers, and use official ticket counters/apps. When unsure, ask hotel staff to verify.
Prefer mobile data. If you must use Wi-Fi, avoid banking, consider a VPN, and don’t share OTPs or scan unknown QRs. Turn off device visibility in crowded places.