Best time
When to visit each region
India is a subcontinent — no single 'best time'. Match your region to the season.
| Region | Ideal months | Why | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan · Golden Triangle | Oct – Mar | Cool, dry, festival season | May – Jun (45 °C+) |
| Kerala · Backwaters | Sep – Mar | Post-monsoon greenery, calm sea | Jul – Aug (heavy rain) |
| Himachal · Uttarakhand hills | Mar – Jun · Sep – Nov | Snow-melt, wildflowers, clear skies | Jul – Aug (landslides) |
| Ladakh | Jun – Sep | Passes open, +25 °C days | Nov – Apr (closed) |
| Goa · Beaches | Nov – Feb | Perfect 28 °C, low humidity | Jun – Sep (monsoon) |
| Northeast · 7 sister states | Oct – Apr | Dry, tribal festival season | May – Sep (heavy rain) |
| South India · Tamil Nadu | Nov – Mar | Cool, temple-friendly | Apr – Jun (hot) |
| Andaman Islands | Dec – Apr | Diving visibility, calm sea | May – Sep (cyclones) |
Budgets
What a trip really costs
Backpacker · ₹1,500/day
Dorm beds, thali meals, local buses, 1 attraction/day.
- • Dorm ₹400-600
- • Meals ₹200-400
- • Buses ₹100
- • Entry ₹50-200
Mid-range · ₹5,000/day
AC hotel, sit-down restaurants, private cabs, guided walks.
- • 3★ hotel ₹2,500
- • Meals ₹800
- • Cabs ₹1,200
- • Guides ₹500
Luxury · ₹15,000+/day
Heritage palace, tasting menus, private cars, boutique guides.
- • 5★/heritage ₹8,000+
- • Meals ₹2,500
- • Chauffeur ₹3,500
- • Curator ₹1,000+
Ready-made routes
Popular itineraries
Golden Triangle · 6 days
Delhi → Agra → Jaipur — the classic first-time India trip.
DelhiAgraJaipur
Kerala Backwaters · 8 days
Kochi → Munnar → Alleppey houseboat → Kovalam.
KochiMunnarAlleppey
Rajasthan Palaces · 10 days
Jaipur → Jodhpur → Udaipur → Jaisalmer desert.
JaipurJodhpurUdaipur
Himalayan Retreat · 7 days
Dharamshala → McLeod Ganj → Manali → Rohtang.
HimachalBuddhist
Ayurveda Retreat · 14 days
Panchakarma cleanse in a Kerala wellness resort.
WellnessKerala
Wildlife Trail · 9 days
Ranthambore → Bandhavgarh → Kanha tiger reserves.
SafariTigers
Before you go
Essential checks
Visa
Most nationalities need an e-Visa. Apply 4 days–30 days before travel at indianvisaonline.gov.in.
Vaccinations
Recommended: Typhoid, Hep A/B, Tetanus. Yellow Fever cert if arriving from an affected country.
Travel insurance
Get comprehensive cover including medical evacuation. Adventure sports need an add-on.
Local SIM
Jio & Airtel offer tourist SIMs at airports — need passport + photo. 84 days validity.
Money
Cards work in cities; carry ₹5,000-10,000 cash for rural areas. ATMs everywhere.
Adapters
India uses Type C, D, M plugs. Bring a universal adapter with grounding.