India Travel Guide for UK Travellers (2026-27)

India at a glance: quick facts for UK travellers

The essentials fit in one table. Each topic has its own section further down this page.

Do UK citizens need a visa for India?

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

Fees are charged in US dollars and your card converts them. The official fee schedule dated 8 September 2026 lists these amounts for UK nationals, plus a 3% bank charge:

For most holidays the 1-year visa is the sensible choice: it costs little more than the 30-day visa and covers a return trip within the year. Use only the government site; lookalike websites charge extra for the same visa.

• Upload a scan of your passport photo page and a recent photo with a white background
• Save or print the approval (ETA) and carry it with you
• Fingerprints and a photo are taken at immigration on arrival
• Enter through a designated e-Visa airport, which include Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata
• If you hold an OCI card, you do not need a visa at all
• People of Pakistani origin are not eligible for the e-Visa and apply through the High Commission of India in London instead; check eligibility before you book

What passport validity and forms do you need?

Your 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, because 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 UK to India?

London Heathrow has nonstop flights to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Air India, and British Airways also flies to Chennai and Hyderabad. Air India flies from Birmingham to Delhi and Amritsar, and from Gatwick to Amritsar and Ahmedabad.

From Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol and other regional airports, the usual route is one stop through Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, or through a European hub. These are often cheaper and the connections are short.

Nonstop flights take about nine to ten hours. Schedules changed often in 2025 and 2026, and Pakistan's airspace closure to Indian airlines lengthens some routings, so check the airline's current timetable before you fix dates.

Many of our UK guests book their own flights, often with Avios or Virgin Points. Send us the flight times once you have them and we build the land arrangements around them.

What is the time difference, and how bad is the jet lag?

India Standard Time is UTC+5:30 all year with no daylight saving, so the gap changes only when UK clocks change.

Jet lag is far milder than on a trip to Asia's far east or the Americas. Many flights from London leave in the evening and land in India the next morning. We keep the first day light and start sightseeing properly on day two.

The time difference also makes planning easy: our Mumbai office hours of 9 am to 7 pm IST cover UK mornings and early afternoons.

Money: pounds, cards, cash and UPI

The currency is the Indian rupee, at about ₹128 to the pound in early October 2026. Withdraw rupees from a bank ATM at the arrival airport; changing money in the UK rarely gets a good rate.

A UK debit or credit card with no foreign transaction fees saves a lot over a two-week trip. When a card machine or ATM offers to charge you in pounds, choose rupees; the conversion offered at the till is almost always worse.

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

India's instant payment system, UPI, is used almost everywhere. Foreign visitors can use it through UPI One World, a prepaid wallet you set up with your passport and visa and load with an international card. Availability has been patchy, so treat it as a useful extra.

How much should you tip in India?

Tipping is customary in India and expected for drivers and guides, more so than at home in the UK. Tip in rupees at the end of each person's time with you. These are customary guidelines, not fixed rates.

Phones, roaming and eSIMs

Check your UK network's roaming terms before you go. India is outside the European roaming zones most UK plans include, and daily roaming charges add up quickly.

A travel eSIM bought before you leave is the simplest option, provided your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM. A local Airtel or Vi SIM is cheaper for long stays but needs your passport, a photo and a local address. Hotel wifi is standard. Satellite phones are illegal in India.

What plugs and voltage does India use?

India uses 230V at 50Hz, the same voltage as the UK, with plug types C, D and M. UK three-pin plugs will not fit, so pack a universal adapter. You do not need a voltage converter for UK appliances.

Health: vaccines, food and water

See your GP practice nurse or a travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before you go. TravelHealthPro, from the UK's National Travel Health Network and Centre, lists hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid for most travellers to India. Others, such as rabies, hepatitis B, cholera and Japanese encephalitis, depend on your route and activities.

Malaria risk varies by region and season; ask about tablets for your itinerary. Dengue is common during and after the monsoon, so pack repellent. Winter air pollution can be heavy in Delhi and the northern plains.

Drink sealed or filtered water and eat freshly cooked hot food. Your GHIC or EHIC is not valid in India, so travel insurance is essential.

• TravelHealthPro India page: travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries/india
• Yellow fever proof is required only if you arrive from a yellow fever country
• Carry prescription medicines in original packaging with a copy of the prescription

Is India safe for British travellers?

Most visits pass without trouble. The FCDO's India advice (updated 7 October 2026) covers three areas only. It advises against all travel within 10 km of the India–Pakistan border, and against all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, including Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and the Jammu–Srinagar highway. Travel by air to and from Jammu and within Jammu city is excepted. It advises against all but essential travel to Manipur.

The rest of India, including Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and the Golden Triangle, is not covered by that advice. Read the current FCDO page before you book and again before you fly.

Day-to-day problems are low-level: touts claiming a monument is closed, inflated taxi fares and commission-driven 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 crowds; a firm, loud no and moving towards other people usually ends it.

Kashmir, Ladakh and your travel insurance

Most UK travel insurance policies do not cover you in places where the FCDO advises against all travel. That currently includes the whole Kashmir valley, so for UK guests we do not plan trips to Srinagar, Gulmarg or Pahalgam while the advice stands.

Ladakh is a separate Union Territory and is not covered by that advice. You fly from Delhi straight to Leh, so you never pass through Kashmir. For mountain scenery, monasteries and high-altitude lakes we suggest Ladakh, Spiti or Himachal Pradesh instead.

FCDO advice can change at any time. If it changes after you book, call your insurer and us straight away and we will adjust the route.

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 layer for early mornings and evenings.

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; your guide will tell you in advance.

• Use your right hand to give, receive and eat
• Ask before photographing people, especially at religious ceremonies
• At the Taj Mahal, photos are banned inside the main mausoleum, and tripods and drones are not allowed

Is India accessible for travellers with limited mobility?

Partly. Pavements are uneven, many forts involve ramps and steps, and step-free access is limited outside modern hotels and airports. It can still work well with planning: we choose hotels with ground-floor rooms, add rest days and book wheelchair assistance at airports. Tell us your needs when you enquire.

Do you need travel insurance for India?

Yes. Buy it when you pay your deposit, not later, so cancellation cover starts straight away. Make sure it covers medical treatment, emergency repatriation and cancellation, declare any medical conditions, and check that it covers every activity on your itinerary, such as wildlife safaris or high altitude in Ladakh.

Is your money protected when you book with us?

Package holidays sold by UK companies usually carry ATOL or ABTA protection. TripRoutesIndia is an Indian company: a TripRoutes brand, founded in Mumbai in 2016 and a member of IATO and MTOA. Our land arrangements are not ATOL protected, and since we do not sell your international flights, ATOL would not apply to them either.

Here is how we keep booking straightforward:

• Designing and changing your itinerary is free, and nothing is booked until you say so
• Your booking is confirmed in writing once the advance payment is received, with the balance due before travel as set out on your invoice
• Cancellation charges depend on the hotels and services booked, and we give them to you in writing before you pay
• Our guests rate us 4.8 on Google, and you can speak to your planner by video call before you commit

If you pay any part of your trip on a UK credit card, purchases between £100 and £30,000 may also be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Check with your card provider.

How much does a private tour of India cost in pounds?

A 10-day private tour starts from about US$1,850 per person, around £1,400 at early October 2026 exchange rates. That includes a private car and driver, licensed local guides and your choice of Essential, Comfort or Premium hotels. International flights are extra. Your quote confirms exactly what is included.

Pound figures are approximate and move with the exchange rate. We quote in US dollars and can show a sterling estimate on your quote.

When should UK travellers go?

The UK winter is India's best season. From October to March most of the country is dry and warm, with cool mornings in the north.

For month-by-month detail, see India in February, India in December or our planner.

How do you book a private tour with TripRoutesIndia?

Send us your dates, number of travellers, preferred hotel tier and interests, and a specialist replies within 24 hours. If you prefer to talk, we set up a video call at a time that suits you; UK mornings are our afternoons.

Reach us through the enquiry form, by email at info@triproutesindia.com or on WhatsApp at +91 74800 66666.