Need to Know
For more information, see Survival Guide
Currency
Language
Visas
Money
Mobile Phones
Time
When to Go
High Season (Nov–Mar)
APleasant weather – warm days, coolish nights.
APeak tourists. Peak prices. Peak festivals.
ADecember and January bring chilly nights in the hills and further north.
ATemperatures climb steadily from February.
Shoulder (Apr & Aug–Oct)
AMonsoon showers persist through to September.
AThe eastern coast, Andamans and southern Kerala see heavy rain and sometimes cyclones from October to early December.
AFestivals abound.
Low Season (May–Jul)
AMay and June are scorching. Competitive hotel prices.
AFrom June, the monsoon sweeps south to north, bringing draining humidity.
ABeat the heat (but not the crowds) in the cooler hills.
Useful Websites
Incredible India (www.incredibleindia.org) Official India tourism site.
Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/india) Destination information, hotel bookings, traveller forum and more.
Templenet (www.templenet.com) Temple talk.
Rediff News (www.rediff.com/news) Portal for India-wide news.
The Alternative (www.thealternative.in) A green and socially conscious take on travel and Indian life.
Blogs and local media are also very handy resources.
Important Numbers
| Country code |  %91 |
| International access code | %00 |
| Emergency (police, fire and ambulance) | %112 |
| Toll-free tourist helpline | %1800 111363 |
Exchange Rates
| Australia | A$1 | ₹49 |
| Canada | C$1 | ₹52 |
| Euro zone | €1 | ₹80 |
| Japan | ¥100 | ₹63 |
| New Zealand | NZ$1 | ₹47 |
| UK | UK£1 | ₹89 |
| US | US$1 | ₹69 |
For current exchange rates, see www.xe.com.
Daily Costs
Budget: Less than ₹2500
AHostel dorm bed: ₹400–₹1000
AAll-you-can-eat thali (traditional plate meal): ₹80–₹300
ATransport: ₹200–₹600
Midrange: ₹2500–₹7500
ADouble hotel/homestay room: ₹1500–₹5000
AMeal in a midrange restaurant: ₹300–₹1000
AAdmission to sights and museums: ₹200–₹800
A2AC train travel: ₹700–₹2000
Top end: More than ₹7500
ABoutique/heritage hotel room: from ₹5500
ADinner with wine: ₹2000–₹4000
ARenting a car and driver: per day ₹2000–₹3000
AGuided tour or cooking class: ₹1200–₹3000
Opening Hours
Some outdoor-centric spots may close or alter their hours during the monsoon months (June to September).
Banks 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday, to 1pm Saturday
Bars noon to 11pm (as late as 1.30am in Mumbai)
Markets 7am to 8pm, but very variable
Restaurants 8am or 9am to 10pm or 11pm (but variable; some restaurants close between 3pm and 7pm, and others in metro cities may stay open until 1.30am)
Shops 10am or 11am to 8pm or 9pm (some close Sunday)
Arriving in South India
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai Prepaid taxis cost ₹670/810 (non-AC/AC) to Colaba and Fort; ₹400/480 to Bandra. Off-peak UberGo costs ₹250 to ₹560. Suburban trains to Fort (from ₹10) run from Andheri, a ₹50 to ₹70 autorickshaw from the airport.
Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru Metered AC taxis to central Bengaluru cost ₹750 to ₹1000; Uber/Ola rates are ₹550 to ₹650. Air-con buses run regularly to the city (₹170 to ₹260); Flybus travels to Mysuru, Tirupati and other destinations.
Cochin International Airport, Kochi Air-con buses run to/from Fort Cochin (₹88) via Ernakulam or Vyttila. Prepaid/app taxis cost ₹880/700 (Ernakulam), ₹1250/1000 (Fort Cochin).
Chennai International Airport Prepaid taxis to central Chennai cost ₹450 to ₹650; Ola and Uber around ₹300. Metro Rail (₹50 to ₹70) whisks you to Teynampet, Egmore, CMBT and Central Railway Station.
Getting Around
Air Larger cities have affordable flights to other Indian cities.
Bus Buses go everywhere, at similar speeds to trains. Some routes are served 24 hours but others just one or two a day.
Car and driver Convenient option for multistop trips or trips to out-of-the-way places.
Motorcycle Many travellers hire scooters or motorcycles to zip around.
Train Railways criss-cross the country, with frequent, inexpensive services on most routes.
For much more, see Getting Around