India Travel Guide

UK passport holders require a visa for India and you must obtain this visa before you travel to India. The easiest way to do this is to apply online for the E visa – there is no need to involve a visa company or to go to the Indian Embassy in person. You can apply online a maximum of 21 days in advance of the date of arrival when applying for a 30-day visa. You can also apply for one year and five-year visas, 120 days in advance. The fee has been noticeably reduced since 2020, and the cost is now $25 USD for 30 days, $40 or $80 USD for a one year or five-year visa. This fee is non-refundable and payable online. A passport photo must be uploaded online. Processing time is up to four days. On receipt of the e-visa by email, print and carry this with the relevant passport when travelling to India.

Whilst there are no compulsory vaccinations for travelling to India, you must recognise there are risks associated with food and waterborne diseases. Also the more remote location you find yourself in the higher the risks. For any medical advice, we always recommend checking with your local GP or Travel Clinic about which medication may be required for your trip.

India is five and a half hours ahead of GMT.

India is a huge country and often travel distances are large. The best way to get around when you are combining different regions is taking a few internal flights. There is an extensive network of flights which are both frequent and inexpensive. Moreover, they are reliable and good. To experience the real India, take a train journey- no visit to India is complete without experiencing the bustle of an Indian railway station. We recommend express trains, which normally offer air-conditioned seats or first or second class sleeper cabins. All seats and berths are reserved for the ticket holder.

If travelling extensively through one region, such as Rajasthan for example, a car and driver will accompany you throughout. This is a great opportunity to get to know a local, and often become great friends.

One of the great fears about travelling to India is the quality of the food. Let’s put your mind to rest straight away and say the opposite: the food in India is delicious and indeed one of the highlights of a visit to India. Indian cuisine is heavily influenced by religion, cultural and ethnic groups – one of the joys of travel to India is the diversity of the cuisine. Also, it is important to note that not all the food is spicy. Many of the diseases are waterborne, so do not drink the tap water.

Drink filtered water as opposed to water out of plastic bottles – we do not condone the use of single-use plastic. In terms of alcohol, beer, wines and spirits are all available although the quality is sometimes not what you might be used to.