India 101

  1. E-Visa:
    Apply for a tourist e-visa 30 days or less prior to your date of arrival. Ensure you have your flights booked to apply. Your passport must be valid for 6 months following your travel dates to gain visa entry. If you need a contact address in India, please reach out to Apurva.

  2. Water:

    Never consume tap water or ice in India (Your American microbiome cannot handle this!). Stick to bottled water at restaurants and on the road and if consuming water-based foods (like chutney or milkshakes) confirm with the establishment that they were prepared with filtered water. Our wedding events will all use filtered water for cold stuff.

  3. Vaccinations:
    Stay up to date on routine vaccines like flu. Many doctors also highly recommend typhoid—check with your physician to see what's right for you.

  4. Currency:

    3-4 weeks before your trip, set up Google Pay on your phone. Cash and GPay are the most common fare. Credit cards are generally only accepted in larger malls, hotels, or restaurants. Technically, rupees are not allowed to be brought into the country by foreigners. Our FAQ has a detailed summary on what to do about cash.

  5. What to wear:

    People dress fairly modestly in most parts of the country. For street style, we recommend pants, long skirts/dresses, tees, blouses, and of course traditional Indian wear paired with leather sandals or sneakers like converse/vans. Check out our outfit guide for a detailed overview.

  6. Accommodations:

    Airbnb’s are not commonly used in India and we recommend sticking to hotels. You will need your physical passport to check into hotels if you are not an Indian citizen. Do your due diligence as you would when booking any hotel by reading reviews, and asking your favorite AI if it’s in a good neighborhood.

  7. Transportation:

    Uber Rickshaw is a popular transport option, with payments made through the app. Additionally, WhatsApp is frequently used to communicate with travel agencies or to receive metro tickets. Expect to use a travel agency or Uber rickshaw/Uber within the cities you visit, unless otherwise recommended. Private cabs or flights are the best option between cities. Car rentals and most public transport are discouraged.

  8. Domestic Travel:
    If you plan to travel within India, we recommend using a travel agency and booking 2-3 months in advance. Check out Domestic Travel page for more info.

  9. Phone Plan:
    Arrange for an international data plan with your phone provider to make transportation and retail easier. The economy runs on WhatsApp! Some providers like T-Mobile offer free international data.

  10. Airport Transport:
    About a month before your trip, you’ll want this booked. We’ll help guests with this.

  11. Weather:
    Fall and winter (October to February) are ideal for most regions, with temperatures typically in the 50s to 80s°F. If you’re visiting the Himalayas, expect colder conditions and possible snow.

  12. Language:

    Most larger restaurants or stores can communicate with you in English, but smaller, local places or transport might not. In Maharashtra where the wedding and Mumbai airport is, most people speak Marathi. In other parts of India, the language is dependent on what state you are in.

  13. Flights:

    Book your flights 4-10 months in advance to secure the best options. Fall is a popular season in terms of weather, but the US/Europe have the most holidays in Winter, so you might beat the rush a little bit. Print out your booking confirmation and boarding pass - sometimes airports check this in India.