India
Last checked:
- Capital
- New Delhi
- Currency
- INR · Indian rupee
- Languages
- Hindi, English, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and many other official regional languages
- Plugs
- Type C, D, M · 230 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Taj Mahal · Agra
White marble mausoleum, best at sunrise; closed on Fridays.
- Jaipur forts and palaces · Jaipur
Amber Fort, City Palace and Hawa Mahal in the 'Pink City' of Rajasthan.
- Varanasi ghats · Varanasi
Ancient Hindu holy city on the Ganges with dawn boat rides and the evening aarti ceremony.
- Old and New Delhi · Delhi
Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar and the markets of Chandni Chowk.
- Kerala backwaters · Alleppey / Kumarakom
Canals and lagoons explored on overnight houseboats.
Getting around
Ride-hailing app
Uber
Works in most big cities for cars and autos; the UK government recommends app-based cabs over hailing taxis on the street, especially at night.
Ride-hailing app
Ola
Indian ride app for cars, autos and bikes, often similar or cheaper than Uber.
Ride-hailing app
Rapido / Namma Yatri
Rapido offers cheap bike taxis and autos in many cities; Namma Yatri is a driver-run auto app in Bengaluru and some other cities. Good for short hops.
Taxi
Auto-rickshaws and prepaid taxi booths
Agree the fare before getting in or insist on the meter where used. At airports and big stations use the official prepaid taxi or auto booth.
Public transport
City metros
Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai and others have clean, cheap metros. Buy QR tickets in the official apps, at counters or use a metro card. Delhi Metro has women-only coaches.
Trains
Indian Railways (IRCTC)
Huge, cheap network; book early in the IRCTC app or website, as trains fill weeks ahead. AC classes (1A, 2A, 3A, CC) are more comfortable. Foreign tourist quota tickets exist at some stations.
Buses
Long-distance buses (redBus)
State and private sleeper buses between cities, booked in the redBus app. For very long distances, low-cost flights (IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa) are often cheaper than expected.
Money and cash
Currency: INR · Indian rupee
UPI QR payments dominate, but most need an Indian bank account (some tourist UPI wallets exist at airports, varies). Carry cash in small notes (10-200 INR) for autos, street food, temples and tips; many small sellers cannot change 500 notes. Cards work in hotels, malls and upscale restaurants. Use ATMs inside bank branches; card skimming is reported.
Tipping
Tipping is common in India and appreciated, but amounts are modest. About 5-10% in sit-down restaurants, small tips for porters, drivers and guides. Some restaurants add a 'service charge' to the bill; under consumer protection rules and a 2025 Delhi High Court judgment it is voluntary and cannot be forced on you.
| Restaurants | 5-10% if there is no service charge. Not expected at street stalls or dhabas. If a service charge is on the bill and you are not happy, you can ask for it to be removed. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Small change or round up. |
| Taxis and ride apps | Not expected for metered taxis and autos; round up. For a full-day hired car and driver, 200-500 INR per day is common (varies). |
| Hotels | 50-100 INR per bag for porters; similar per day for housekeeping in mid-range and upscale hotels. |
| Tours and guides | Guides commonly get 300-1,000 INR for a half or full day depending on group size (varies). |
| Food delivery | Optional; 20-50 INR or in the Swiggy or Zomato app. |
Service charge: what’s true
Some restaurants and hotels add a service charge (often 5-10%) as a separate line on the bill. Guidelines from the Central Consumer Protection Authority (July 2022) say restaurants must not add service charge automatically or by default, must not collect it under another name, and must not refuse entry or service if you decline it; it cannot be added on top of GST in a way that hides it. On 28 March 2025 the Delhi High Court upheld these guidelines and said service charge is a voluntary payment that cannot be made mandatory. Restaurant associations have appealed; hearings continued in 2025 (varies). Consumers can complain on the National Consumer Helpline (1915).
Pressure tactics to watch for
Some restaurants still print a service charge and say it is compulsory or 'goes to staff'. Under the guidelines it is optional: you can ask politely for it to be removed and tip staff directly in cash if you wish. Touts, guides and temple 'helpers' may push for donations or tips; agree prices first and give only what you choose.
Useful phrases
- बिल लाइए। (bil laaiye) Please bring the bill.
- क्या सर्विस चार्ज शामिल है? (kya service charge shaamil hai?) Is a service charge included?
- कृपया सर्विस चार्ज हटा दीजिए। (kripya service charge hata dijiye) Please remove the service charge.
Etiquette
- Remove shoes before entering temples, mosques, gurudwaras and homes; some sites also ask you to remove leather items.
- Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, especially at religious sites; cover your head in gurudwaras and some mosques (scarves are often provided).
- Use your right hand for eating, giving and receiving; the left hand is considered unclean.
- 'Namaste' with palms together is a respectful greeting; handshakes between men and women may not be welcome, so let women offer first.
- Public displays of affection are frowned upon outside big-city areas.
- Bargaining is expected at markets and with autos, but stay friendly; fixed-price shops and malls do not bargain.
- Ask before photographing people, especially women, and never photograph cremations at Varanasi's ghats.
Scams and how to handle them
'Your hotel burned down' or 'is closed'
Where: Airports, Delhi railway station, taxis and autos
How it works: Drivers or touts claim your hotel is full, closed or burned down and take you to one that pays them commission.
How to avoid it: Call your hotel directly and insist on going there, or arrange a hotel pickup.
Fake 'official' tourist offices and ticket offices
Where: New Delhi railway station (Paharganj side), Connaught Place
How it works: Touts say the foreign tourist ticket office is closed or your ticket is invalid, then steer you to a 'government' travel agency that sells overpriced tours or fake tickets.
How to avoid it: The International Tourist Bureau is upstairs in the station; ignore anyone who stops you on the way. Book on IRCTC.
Gem export scam
Where: Jaipur, Agra, Goa
How it works: New 'friends' ask you to carry gems abroad to sell at a profit, and require a deposit or purchase on your card; the gems are worthless.
How to avoid it: Never get involved in buying gems for resale or carrying goods for strangers.
Commission shopping tours
Where: Agra, Jaipur, Delhi
How it works: Cheap auto or taxi tours stop at carpet, marble and jewellery shops that pay drivers commission and use hard-sell tactics.
How to avoid it: Agree in advance that there will be no shop stops; you can refuse to go in.
Fake guides and 'free' blessings
Where: Taj Mahal, Varanasi ghats, Pushkar, temples
How it works: Unofficial guides attach themselves or priests offer a blessing or flower, then demand a large payment or donation.
How to avoid it: Hire licensed guides at ticket offices and politely refuse unsolicited help.
Card skimming and online scams
Where: Standalone ATMs, shops, phone and email
How it works: Cards are skimmed; criminals impersonate banks, police or embassies to demand payment.
How to avoid it: Use bank-branch ATMs and keep your card in sight. Verify any official request through official numbers.
Drugged food or drinks
Where: Trains, buses and tourist areas
How it works: Friendly fellow travellers offer snacks or drinks laced with sedatives, then rob victims.
How to avoid it: Politely decline food and drinks from strangers.
Safety
- Pickpockets, ticket touts and scammers target tourists at stations, markets and big sights; keep phones and wallets secure.
- Phone and bag snatching from motorbikes happens in cities.
- Women travellers face a risk of harassment and sexual assault; avoid isolated places including beaches when alone, and use app cabs at night. Women's helpline: 1091 or 181.
- Do not hail taxis on the street alone at night; use Uber, Ola or prepaid booths.
- Drink and food spiking has been reported; methanol in bootleg alcohol is a risk.
- Drink bottled or filtered water, and be careful with ice and raw salads to avoid stomach illness.
- Air pollution is very high in North India in winter (roughly November to January); check AQI if you have breathing problems.
How widely English is spoken
Widely used in hotels, tourism, business and by educated urban people; English is an associate official language. Auto-rickshaw drivers and rural people may speak little English.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: India, safety and security
- Wikivoyage: India
- Google News search: Delhi High Court service charge rulings (The Hindu, LiveLaw, SCC Online, LawBeat, March to August 2025)
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.