Photo: Taj Mahal · Yann; edited by Jim Carter · CC BY-SA 4.0
First-Timer Guide 🇮🇳India: What to Know Before You Go
Destination Intel / India
A typical first trip here runs about $425 to $575 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. This is an estimate from PINYA hand-reviewed prices, not a live price. Prices last reviewed July 2026. Real cost moves with your dates and exchange rates. Get a tailored number in the Budget Calculator, or have The Crown price your exact trip.
Culture, Food and Etiquette
- Vast regional diversity, North Indian (rich curries, naan) vs. South Indian (dosas, idli)
- Biryani in Hyderabad, street chaat in Mumbai, thali meals everywhere
- Vegetarianism is widespread, some of the world's best vegetarian food
- Masala chai, spiced tea with milk; the national drink, served everywhere
- Indian sweets (mithai): gulab jamun, jalebi, ladoo, extraordinarily diverse
- Holi (March), festival of colors; the most joyful celebration in the world
- Diwali, festival of lights with fireworks, sweets, and lamp decorations
- Pushkar Camel Fair (November), extraordinary traditional livestock market
- Classical dance forms (Bharatanatyam, Kathak) and music traditions
- India has over 2,000 ethnic groups and hundreds of regional festivals
Hindi and English are official; 22 scheduled languages and hundreds of dialects exist. English is widely used in business, education, and tourism in most cities.
India is enormously diverse, cultural practices vary dramatically by region.
- Remove shoes before entering temples, mosques, and many homes
- Dress conservatively, especially women in rural areas and religious sites
- Use right hand for eating and passing food
- Bargaining is expected in markets; agree on taxi prices before entering
- Delhi: Mughal monuments including the Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb, chaotic and exhilarating street food in Chandni Chowk, and New Delhi's colonial grandeur
- Rajasthan: Pink City Jaipur's forts and palaces, romantic lake city Udaipur, camel safaris in the Thar Desert, and some of India's most opulent heritage hotels
- Kerala: Serene backwater houseboat journeys, abundant spice plantations, Ayurvedic rejuvenation retreats, and pristine beaches at Varkala and Kovalam
- Goa: Laid-back beach villages with Portuguese colonial architecture and churches, vibrant beach nightlife, and a distinct Indo-Portuguese fusion culture
- Tamil Nadu & South India: Towering Dravidian gopuram temple towers, the birthplace of dosa and idli cuisine, and a cultural tradition distinct from the North
- Himalayan North: Trekking in Himachal Pradesh, the Dalai Lama's home in Dharamsala (McLeod Ganj), and the remote high-altitude desert of Ladakh
Best Time to Visit
India spans many climates; the cool dry season is the comfortable time to visit across most of the country, the hot season precedes the summer monsoon, and timing depends on the region.
- Peak: November to February
- Shoulder: October, March
- Off season: April to September, the hot and monsoon months
Source: mausam.imd.gov.in
Getting Around
- Domestic flights cover the long distances between regions.
- An extensive rail network links most cities and towns.
- App-based cabs and auto-rickshaws serve the cities, where traffic is heavy.
Source: travel.state.gov
What moves the cost: The cool-season peak and festival weeks raise prices in the tourist hubs, though India is an affordable destination overall.
Common Questions
Do US citizens need a visa to visit India?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Is India safe for first-time travelers?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Latest for India
Updates for India will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.