Travel guide
India holidays: a travel guide for UK visitors
Mughal tombs, Rajput forts, tiger reserves and the palm-lined backwaters of Kerala: a practical guide to a first trip to India, with the best time to visit month by month.
Why visit India
India is less one country than many, and a first visit only ever sees a corner of it. Most tours from Britain begin with the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, three cities a few hours apart that hold the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, the Amber Fort and several centuries of Mughal and Rajput history. Ranthambore, where tigers live among the ruins of a hill fort, sits between them. Kerala, in the far south, is a different trip altogether: slow boats on the backwaters, tea estates in the hills, a gentler pace and a greener landscape. It is a busy, loud and generous country, and a guided tour takes care of the parts that are hard to arrange alone: the trains, the drivers, the tickets and the distances.
Best time to visit India
For most of India, and for the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan above all, the best time to visit is October to March: dry, clear, and warm by day without being hot. November and February are the most comfortable months on the plains. December and January are cooler, and morning fog in Delhi and Agra can delay trains and hide the Taj Mahal until it lifts. From April the heat builds quickly, passing forty degrees across the north by May. The monsoon arrives in Kerala in early June and covers most of the country until September. Kerala is at its best from December to February. Tiger reserves such as Ranthambore close their main zones for the monsoon, from July to September, and the hot weeks before it, from March to May, are when tigers are most often seen at the waterholes.
India month by month
- JanuaryGood
- Cool and dry across the north, with Delhi mornings occasionally lost to fog; the main touring season is in full swing.
- FebruaryGood
- Still cool and dry, and the last reliably comfortable month before the plains begin to warm.
- MarchGood
- Warming quickly in the north; Kerala and the south stay pleasant a little longer.
- AprilQuiet
- Heat builds hard across the plains, often past forty degrees by month end; better suited to the hills.
- MayAvoid
- The hottest month across most of the country, and a hard one to tour outside the mountains.
- JuneAvoid
- The monsoon reaches Kerala first, then spreads north; heat and humidity both peak before the rain properly breaks.
- JulyAvoid
- Monsoon rain across most of the country, heaviest on the Kerala coast and the Western Ghats.
- AugustAvoid
- Still deep in the monsoon for most of India, though Ladakh, in its rain shadow, has its best weather of the year.
- SeptemberQuiet
- The monsoon retreats slowly, and humidity lingers even as the rain begins to ease.
- OctoberBest
- Clear skies and green landscapes follow the monsoon; one of the best months to travel.
- NovemberBest
- Warm days, cool evenings and low humidity make this the most reliable month on the plains.
- DecemberGood
- Cool and dry in the north, with foggy mornings possible in Delhi later in the month; Kerala stays warm and sunny.
Top things to do in India
- 1
Travel the Golden Triangle
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur make the classic first journey: the lanes of Old Delhi, the Amber Fort and City Palace in Jaipur, and the Taj Mahal, which most tours visit at sunrise before the heat and the crowds. The Taj is closed on Fridays, which a well-planned itinerary works around.
- 2
Look for tigers in Ranthambore
Safaris run early in the morning and in the late afternoon, in one of two kinds of vehicle: a six-seat open jeep or a twenty-seat open bus. Which one you are in changes the experience, so it is worth asking before you book. Nobody can promise a tiger; more drives mean better odds.
- 3
Drift through the Kerala backwaters
A network of lagoons, rivers and canals runs behind the coast of Kerala, travelled by converted rice barges. A night on a houseboat, with the tea hills of Munnar inland, shows a slower India than the north.
The cheapest India holidays right now
Lowest lead-in prices first, from live availability. Open one for its dates, and book directly with its operator.
India travel questions
- When is the best time to visit India?
- October to March for most of the country, including Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Rajasthan. November and February are the most comfortable months. April to June is very hot, and the monsoon runs from June to September. Kerala is best from December to February.
- Do UK citizens need a visa for India?
- Yes. UK tourists need a visa, and most apply online for an e-Visa before they travel, using the Indian government’s own website. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from arrival, with two blank pages. Rules change, so check the UK government’s travel advice before you book.
- Is India too much for a first-time visitor?
- It is busier, louder and more crowded than anywhere in Europe, and the first day or two can feel overwhelming. A guided tour removes most of the difficulty: transport, tickets, hotels and a guide who knows each place are arranged for you. Most first-time visitors find it settles quickly.
- Should I choose the Golden Triangle or Kerala for a first trip?
- The Golden Triangle is the classic choice: the Taj Mahal, the great forts and the cities, in about a week. Kerala is quieter and greener, with backwaters, beaches and tea hills in place of monuments. If you want the famous sights, go north; if you want an easier pace, go south.
- How likely am I to see a tiger?
- No reserve can promise one. Your chances rise with the number of safari drives in the itinerary, and in the hot, dry weeks from March to May, when animals gather at water. Ranthambore’s main zones close for the monsoon, from July to September.
- What vaccinations do I need for India?
- See your GP or a travel clinic at least six weeks before you go. They will check your routine vaccinations and advise on any others, and on malaria, which depends on the regions and the season. The NHS and TravelHealthPro publish the current advice for India.
- How do I avoid getting ill from food and water?
- Drink bottled or filtered water, check the seal, and avoid ice. Eat food that is freshly cooked and served hot, and peel fruit yourself. Be wary of salads and anything left standing. Carry hand gel and use it before you eat.
- What should I wear in India?
- Light, loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees suits both the climate and local custom. You will take your shoes off at temples and mosques, and cover your head at Sikh gurdwaras. Winter mornings in the north are cold enough for a jumper.
- How much luggage can I take on flights and trains within India?
- Domestic flights in India usually allow less checked luggage than your flight from the UK, often 15kg. If your tour includes an internal flight or a train, pack to the lower limit and ask your operator what applies.
- What currency does India use, and should I take cash?
- India uses the Indian Rupee (INR). Visitors may not bring rupees into the country, so you withdraw or exchange them on arrival. Cash machines are common in cities, and hotels take cards, but small shops, markets and tips need cash.
- Is tipping expected in India?
- Yes, tipping is customary for guides, drivers, hotel porters and in restaurants. Many tours suggest an amount or collect a shared tip for the group, so ask your operator what is usual before you travel.
- How long is the flight from the UK to India?
- A direct flight from London to Delhi takes about nine hours, and to Mumbai a little longer. India is five and a half hours ahead of the UK in winter and four and a half in summer.
- Is India safe for tourists?
- Millions of people visit India safely each year. Take normal care with valuables in crowded places, use transport arranged by your hotel or tour, and read the UK government’s travel advice for the regions on your itinerary before you go.
- Do I need a travel adaptor for India?
- Yes. India uses round-pin Type C, D and M sockets at 230V. The voltage matches the UK, so you need only an adaptor, not a converter.