India travel checklist: what to do before you go

The long-lead items are the ones that stop a trip: passport, visa, flights and the first nights of accommodation. Everything else can be fixed on the road.

Decide the shape of the trip before you spend money. One region done properly beats three regions done badly, and the parent guide's rule applies: Delhi plus Agra and Jaipur, or Kerala and Tamil Nadu, not both. That choice sets your arrival airport and your internal flights.

Check your passport now, then apply for the e-Visa on the official government portal — not through an agent site that charges a markup for the same form. Passport validity, blank-page and eligibility rules differ by nationality and change, so verify them on that portal and on your own government's travel advice page before you book anything non-refundable.

Book trains. Indian Railways opens reservations well ahead and the popular tourist routes — Delhi–Agra, Delhi–Varanasi, Jaipur–Jodhpur — fill up for the October to March window. Book as soon as your dates are fixed, and expect waitlists to be normal rather than a sign you did something wrong. Check the current booking window on IRCTC.

Health comes next. Book a travel clinic appointment four to six weeks out so any vaccine course has time to work. Your clinician decides which vaccines and whether malaria tablets are needed, based on your route and your medical history — bring your itinerary to the appointment.

Sort money and paperwork: a travel insurance policy that actually covers medical evacuation, a photocopy or cloud copy of your passport and visa, and a plan for your first day's cash. Cards work in cities and hotels, but small notes are what you need for autos, chai and temple donations.

Re-check the entry rules on your own government's travel advice page, because visa categories and fees change. Save the e-Visa approval, the flight confirmation and the first hotel address — immigration and drivers may ask for them (check what your route requires).

Tell your bank you are travelling, and carry a second card separately from the first. Pack a basic medical kit: oral rehydration salts, a thermometer, painkillers, rehydration and any prescription medicine in its original packaging with a copy of the prescription.

Check the weather for your actual route, not for India as a whole. October in Delhi is not October in Kerala, and the Himalayan north has its own season. If you are heading to Leh or Ladakh, that is a June to September trip and altitude needs a slow first two days.

Carry the essentials on you, not in checked luggage: passport, visa, a card, some rupees, medicine and a change of clothes. Long-haul flights to Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru land late or early, and bags occasionally arrive a day behind.

Have a plan for the airport. Prepaid taxi counters and app cabs are the low-friction options; ignore anyone inside the terminal offering a cheaper ride. If you land after midnight, a pre-booked hotel transfer removes the whole negotiation.

First-day rules that save a trip: drink sealed or filtered water, eat cooked food from busy places, take it slow on arrival day, and do not try to see everything on day one. Jet lag plus heat plus a new city is enough.

The core set is passport, visa, insurance and — for some visa categories — proof of onward or return travel (check the rule for your nationality). Keep a digital copy of each and one paper copy of the passport photo page, stored apart from the original.

The e-Visa is applied for online before travel on the official government portal. Rules, fees and eligible nationalities change, so verify on that portal and on your own government's advice page rather than on a blog. Carry the approval printout or an offline copy; some airports and hotels ask for it.

India runs on cash for small things and cards for big ones. Carry a modest float of rupee notes in small denominations — ₹10 to ₹500 — for autos, chai, tips and entry fees, and keep a larger note or two hidden for emergencies. ATMs are common in cities; use ones attached to a bank branch during the day.

Budget from the site's own cost pages rather than a guess, and expect the biggest variables to be internal flights and trains in peak season. Tipping is expected for drivers, guides and hotel staff, and 5–10% in restaurants without a service charge.

Get your routine vaccinations up to date and discuss hepatitis A, typhoid and malaria prevention with a travel clinic four to six weeks before departure. Yellow fever certification may be required if you are arriving from a country with transmission risk — check the rule for your route with a clinician and your government's advice page.

Pack oral rehydration salts and a thermometer; both weigh nothing and both matter. Tap water is not for drinking in most of India, so stick to sealed bottles or a trusted filter, and be careful with ice and raw salads in the first days. If you have a fever with blood in your stool, or a fever above 38.5 °C, see a doctor rather than self-treating.

Pack for heat, dust and conservative dress. Loose cotton layers, a scarf or shawl that doubles as sun and modesty cover for temples, broken-in walking shoes and a light rain shell for the monsoon edges. Plugs are types C, D and M at 230 V, so bring a universal adapter.

Leave room for what you buy. Textiles, spices and crafts are the usual souvenirs, and a foldable bag costs nothing on the way out. Keep valuables, medicine and documents in your hand luggage, and use a money belt or an inside pocket in crowded markets and stations.