India Travel Guide for Americans (2026-27)

India at a glance: quick facts for US travellers

The essentials fit in one table. Everything below is explained in its own section further down this page.

Do Americans need a visa for India?

Yes. Most US visitors use the e-Tourist Visa, applied for online at the official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa. You must apply at least 4 days before arrival, and no more than 120 days ahead.

There are three versions: 30 days, 1 year and 5 years. The 1-year and 5-year visas allow multiple entries, but no more than 180 days in India in one calendar year. The official fee schedule dated 8 September 2026 lists these US citizen fees: 30 days US$25 (US$10 from April to June), 1 year US$40, 5 years US$160. A 3% bank charge is added. Fees change, so check the official site before you pay.

Use only the government site; lookalike websites charge extra for the same visa.

• Upload a passport photo page scan and a recent photograph with a white background
• Print or save the approval (ETA) and carry it with you
• Fingerprints and a photo are taken at immigration on arrival
• Enter through one of the designated e-Visa airports, which include Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata

What passport validity and forms do you need?

Your US passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date and have at least two blank pages. Renew it first if it is close; the e-Visa is tied to the passport you apply with.

Since 1 October 2025, foreign visitors complete a digital e-Arrival Card instead of the paper landing form. Fill it in within 72 hours before arrival, on the Indian Visa Online website or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app.

How do you fly from the US to India?

Nonstop flights link the New York area with Delhi and Mumbai, and most other US cities connect with one stop. For summer 2026, Air India kept Delhi–New York JFK and ran Mumbai–Newark daily. It cut several other US routes because of fuel costs.

Schedules changed often in 2025 and 2026. Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines in April 2025. As a result, some Air India West Coast flights make a short fuel stop. Always check the airline's current timetable before you plan dates.

One-stop routings through Gulf, European or East Asian hubs are often cheaper and can break the journey. Expect well over 15 hours door to door from the East Coast, and longer from the West Coast.

What is the time difference between the US and India?

India is 9 hours 30 minutes ahead of New York in US summer and 10 hours 30 minutes ahead in US winter. India Standard Time is UTC+5:30 all year, so the gap changes only when US clocks change.

How do you handle jet lag?

Plan a gentle first day. We keep day one light after a long-haul arrival and save the first full sightseeing day for day two.

On the flight, switch your watch to India time and sleep when it is night in India. After landing, get morning daylight and avoid long afternoon naps. Most people feel normal within three or four days.

Money: cash, cards, ATMs and UPI

The currency is the Indian rupee, at roughly ₹96 to the US dollar in September 2026. Withdraw rupees from a bank ATM at the arrival airport; buying rupees in the US is rarely worth it.

Visa and Mastercard are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and most shops in cities. American Express is taken less widely. Carry cash for markets, small cafés, temple donations and tips, and tell your bank you are travelling.

India's instant payment system, UPI, is used almost everywhere, even by street vendors. Foreign visitors can use it through UPI One World, a prepaid wallet from authorised issuers. You complete KYC with your passport and visa, then load it with an international card. Availability has been patchy, so treat it as a useful extra rather than your main way to pay.

How much should you tip in India?

Tipping is customary but voluntary. On a private tour, tip the driver and each guide at the end of their time with you, in rupees. The ranges below are customary guidelines, not fixed rates.

Phones, eSIMs and wifi

A travel eSIM is the simplest option for most Americans. You buy a data plan before you leave, and it connects when you land. Check first that your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM.

A local SIM from Airtel or Vi is cheaper for long stays. It needs your passport, a photo and a local address, and activation can take hours. Hotel wifi is standard, though speeds vary in rural areas. Satellite phones are illegal in India.

What plugs and voltage does India use?

India uses 230V at 50Hz with plug types C, D and M. US plugs will not fit, so pack a universal adapter.

Most phone and laptop chargers accept 100–240V and need only an adapter. Check the label on hair dryers and straighteners, which often need a voltage converter.

Health: vaccines, food and water

See a travel clinic or your doctor 4 to 6 weeks before you go. The CDC recommends routine vaccines plus hepatitis A and typhoid for most travellers to India. Rabies, Japanese encephalitis and malaria prevention depend on your route and activities.

Mosquitoes spread dengue and malaria, especially in the monsoon from June to September, so pack repellent. Winter air pollution can be heavy in Delhi and the northern plains; bring any inhaler you use.

Travellers' diarrhoea is the most common problem. Drink sealed or filtered water, eat freshly cooked hot food and choose peeled fruit.

• CDC India page: wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveller/none/india
• Yellow fever proof is required only if you arrive from a yellow fever country
• Carry prescriptions in original packaging with a copy of the prescription

Is India safe for Americans?

Most visits pass without trouble, but take normal big-city precautions. The US State Department rates India Level 2, 'Exercise increased caution', with specific do-not-travel areas. Read the current advisory and enrol in STEP before you go.

The advisory also names a few do-not-travel areas, including Jammu and Kashmir outside Ladakh. Kashmir has its own section below, with how we plan trips there.

Common scams are low-level: touts claiming a monument is closed, inflated taxi fares and 'commission' shops. A private driver and pre-booked licensed guides remove most of these.

Women travellers should dress modestly, avoid walking alone after dark, and use pre-booked transport. Unwanted attention does happen, especially in crowded places. A firm, loud 'no' and moving towards other people usually ends it.

Is Kashmir safe to visit?

Kashmir’s tourist circuit of Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam is busy, welcoming and firmly back on the travel map. Official figures counted 4,23,886 visitors between January and early May 2026, including 7,579 from overseas, and hotels in the main resorts ran close to full.

Security is visible and strong around the lakes, gardens, resorts and highways, and the valley’s economy depends on visitors, who are treated as honoured guests. For travellers, day-to-day life here means shikara rides on Dal Lake, houseboat breakfasts, the Mughal gardens and the Gulmarg gondola.

We plan Kashmir trips every season. You travel in a private car with a driver who knows the valley, stay in established houseboats and hotels, and our coordinator checks conditions every day and adjusts the route if anything changes. If we ever think you should wait, we will tell you.

One thing US travellers should know: the State Department’s June 2025 advisory still lists Jammu and Kashmir outside Ladakh as a do-not-travel area, and some travel insurance policies follow that list. Check that your policy covers Kashmir before you book.

What should you wear, and how do you behave at temples?

Pack light, loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees. It is comfortable in the heat and respectful almost everywhere. Northern India from December to February needs a warm jacket for early mornings.

At temples, mosques and gurdwaras, remove your shoes and cover shoulders and knees. Gurdwaras and some mosques ask you to cover your head. A few temples admit Hindus only, such as the Jagannath Temple in Puri; your guide will tell you in advance.

• Use your right hand to give, receive and eat
• Ask before touching religious objects or entering inner shrines
• Public displays of affection draw attention outside big cities

What are the photography rules?

Photography is allowed at most monuments, but not everywhere. At the Taj Mahal, photos are banned inside the main mausoleum, and tripods and drones are prohibited.

Many temples forbid photos inside the shrine, and some museums charge a camera fee. Do not photograph airports, military sites or bridges. Always ask before photographing people, especially women and at religious ceremonies.

Is India accessible for travellers with limited mobility?

Partly. Pavements are uneven, many forts involve steep ramps and steps, and step-free access is limited outside modern hotels and airports.

It can still work well with planning. At the Taj Mahal, battery-operated vehicles run from the parking areas. We can pick hotels with ground-floor rooms, add rest days and arrange wheelchair assistance at airports. Tell us your needs when you enquire.

Do you need travel insurance for India?

Yes. Buy a policy that covers medical treatment, emergency evacuation and trip cancellation. Medicare usually does not cover health care outside the US, and many US health plans cover little abroad.

Check that your policy covers every activity and region on your itinerary, such as high-altitude Ladakh or wildlife safaris.

How much does a private tour of India cost?

A 10-day private tour starts from about US$1,850 per person with TripRoutesIndia. That includes a private car and driver, licensed local guides and your choice of Essential, Comfort or Premium hotels. Your quote confirms exactly what is included.

Luxury train journeys cost far more, from about US$6,000 per person for a week.

When is the best time to visit India?

October to March is the best time for most of India, with dry, warm days and cool nights. April to June is very hot on the plains. The monsoon runs roughly June to September, which is the right season for Ladakh and Spiti.

For month-by-month detail, see India in January, India in October or India in December, or our planner in India Travel Essentials.

How do you book a private tour with TripRoutesIndia?

Send us your dates, number of travellers, preferred hotel tier and interests, and we reply within 24 hours. Every tour is private, priced per person in US dollars, and adjusted until it suits you.

TripRoutes is a Mumbai company founded in 2016 and a member of IATO and MTOA. Reach us through the enquiry form, by email at info@triproutesindia.com or on WhatsApp at +91 74800 66666.