Go with a plan.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about India
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go with a plan.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Laced food
Strangers or groups may offer food laced with sedatives. Decline any food offers from groups of men or couples, even if they eat some themselves.
Religious donation pressure
Priests or guides may pressure tourists into paying thousands of rupees for religious ceremonies. If you feel uncomfortable, simply walk away.
Travel agency swindles
Some agencies change travel plans or charge extra fees and commissions. Secure train tickets through the official Indian Railways website or at official Tourist Information Centres.
Fake tourist distress
Individuals may approach you claiming to be tourists who ran out of money or missed their transport to solicit funds. A polite but firm refusal is the best counter-move.
Gemstone fraud
Scammers invite you for tea to build trust before pressuring you to buy fake gemstones for resale. Do not accept tea from strangers and avoid invitations to secluded areas.
Smuggling solicitation
Smugglers may approach foreigners outside hotels to entice them to assist in smuggling items. Never accept these offers as smuggling is a serious offense.
Taxi and auto-rickshaw rigging
Drivers may take longer routes, tamper with meters, or perform sleight-of-hand currency swaps. Use app-based services like Ola or Uber to avoid these issues.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Smuggling
Smuggling items is a serious offense in India. Never accept requests from strangers to assist in moving goods.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Chikungunya, Cholera, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, Malaria, Measles, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
Visitors to India must obtain a visa unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries. Nationals of certain countries may obtain a visa on arrival or an e-Visa online, while others must obtain a visa from an Indian diplomatic mission.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in India. There is a heightened risk of terrorism in some Indian regions. Read our advice on regional risks in India for more information. Terrorist and insurgent groups operating in India include: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Indian-administered Kashmir Naxalite (Maoist or Left Wing Extremism) groups active in some of the India’s eastern, southern and central states Khalistani extremists operating mainly in Punjab Daesh, Al Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent ( AQIS ) and other groups may also be planning attacks Terrorist attacks have targeted Indian government interests and civilians, including tourists and foreign nationals. Security has been strengthened, including at major hotels and transport hubs. However, terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals, such as: restaurants, hotels, bars, shopping centres and markets stations and airports places of worship and tourist attractions festivals, sports venues and beaches Take particular care during periods of national or religious significance, such as: Republic Day (26 January) Independence Day (15 August) Diwali (usually in October or November) Eid (date changes each year) Stay aware of your surroundings and keep up to date with local media reports. It is advisable to always carry identity documents and follow the advice of local authorities.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
Dress code
Respect local dress and customs, particularly when visiting religious sites and rural areas.
Source: UK FCDO →LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual relationships are legal in India. However same-sex marriage is illegal. Indian society is conservative. This includes attitudes to LGBT+ people, which can be less accepting than in the UK. There is a risk of harassment and discrimination, especially outside of big cities. Showing affection in public may attract unwanted and negative attention. See more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •You should check with your embassy or ask for local advice before heading to Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh or North-Eastern India.
- •As a rule, India is quite safe for foreigners, apart from instances of petty crime and theft, as long as certain basic precautions and common sense are observed.
- •Many first-time overseas visitors experience culture shock while visiting India.
- •Emergency services: For any emergency dial ', the national emergency helpline number in India.
- •In addition, the Ministry of Tourism has a 24-hour helpline for tourists in need. You can call the helpline number at ' or just '.
- •Police: General policing in India is split into 28 state and 8 union territory police forces.
Staying healthy
- •Going to India, you have to adapt to a different climate and food.
- •Healthcare: For medical emergency, dial the general helpline at ', or the medical helpline at ' or '. You can also go (or be taken to) the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
- •The level of medical care in India varies widely. Public hospitals are free for Indian residents, but they tend to be unsanitary, overcrowded, understaffed and underequipped.
- •Private hospitals, on the other hand, are usually of an excellent standard and among the best in the world, making India a popular destination for medical tourism.
- •For smaller ailments, private medical practices are common throughout the country and are readily more accessible than hospitals.
- •Alternative medical systems like Ayurveda, homoeopathy, naturopathy and Unani are popular in India in addition to modern medicine, which is often called "allopathy" in common parlance.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
- France Slaps 8PM Curfews On Cities As Interior Minister Admits Police Lost Control ; Macron Flees To The Gulf2026-10-19
- Army major martyred , four terrorists killed in Balochistan operations : ISPR2026-10-19
- Anti - establishment forces : BJP MP Rekha Sharma draws parallels between unrest in Europe and protests in India2026-10-19
- Security forces kill eight India - backed terrorists in Balochistan IBOs : ISPR2026-10-18
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers agree that India requires a concrete plan and high endurance, particularly in North and Central regions where harassment and physical safety concerns are prevalent. Solo female travel in the Golden Triangle is strongly discouraged; organized tours or private transport are recommended to mitigate risks of unwanted physical contact and constant hassling. While South India, the Northeast, and mountain regions like Himachal Pradesh are considered safer with better infrastructure, travelers must remain vigilant, avoid lonely areas, and avoid nighttime travel. Street-smart strategies include ignoring touts entirely, using female-only public transport compartments, and maintaining an energy-bubble approach to avoid engagement with aggressive solicitors or crowds.
“Personally, as someone born and raised in India, I would simply never recommend solo travel in this area for woman. I would also not recommend traveling in groups of 2-3 here.
— r/travel
“I was physically assaulted (minor—butt pinching, boobs elbowed, purposefully rubbed against, a child flew a pointy paper airplane into my eye from a meter away on purpose, etc) about a half dozen times.
— r/travel
“The best thing to do is go about the day with not a bother. Don't engage, don't look, don't smile, don't shout, don't react. If you want something, you want something. Don't let others influence you into making a decision you may later regret. Be a 'Mr Bean' in the situation.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / D / M · 230V
Driving side
left
Emergency
police: 112 / ambulance: 112 / fire: 112
Tipping
In India there has traditionally been little or no tipping, and today tipping is unusual outside of fancier restaurants where up to 10% is appropriate. The fancier restaurants may also levy a service charge of up to 15% apart from government taxes. Some restaurants have also started placing jars at the cashier for people to drop in some change if they feel so, but this is a rather rare phenomenon.
SIM / Data
It is very cheap, especially with the proliferation of low-cost operator Reliance Jio, which has forced the mainstream operators such as Airtel and Vodafone Idea to follow suit. Prices for packages including mobile internet are mentioned above. 5G networks in India now cover 85% of the population. 4G (LTE and VoLTE) networks cover 95% of the population of India (covered nearly everywhere). 3G is a
Cash vs. Card
In many cities and towns, credit cards are accepted at larger hotels, retail chain stores and other restaurants and stores. Small businesses and family-run stores almost never accept credit cards, so it is useful to keep a moderate amount of cash on hand.
Zoom in
20 India cities on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (9 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-11-07
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-11-07
- ca-gac — observed 2026-11-07
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-11-07
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-11-07
- cdc-health — observed 2026-11-07
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-11-07
- reddit — observed 2026-11-07
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-11-07