Holidays inside India for Indian travellers, sold as one region at a time - Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim and the North East, Kerala, Goa, Rajasthan, the Andamans and the Char Dham - with flights, trains, permits and peak dates handled for you.
Our home desk — the one country we run ourselves, end to end.
Pick the cities you want and how many nights each one gets. We sequence it so you are not repacking every morning.
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Tell me when there is one →India is the easiest big holiday you will ever plan, and also the one with the most choice. Snow and houseboats in Kashmir, high passes and blue lakes in Ladakh, monasteries and Kanchenjunga views in Sikkim and Darjeeling, backwaters and tea gardens in Kerala, forts and palaces in Rajasthan, beaches in Goa and the Andamans, and India's great pilgrimage circuits. No visa, no forex, and the food you love. We help you pick the right region for your month and budget, book your flights or trains, handle permits and plan your days, so you spend your holiday enjoying it, not managing it.
India Domestic is Ai Escapes' holiday product for Indian residents travelling inside their own country. It is not one destination but a set of regions with completely different seasons and logistics: the Himalaya (Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Darjeeling), the North East (Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal, Nagaland), the deserts and palaces of Rajasthan, the Golden Triangle and Varanasi, the tropical south (Kerala, Coorg, Ooty, Tamil Nadu's temple towns), Goa, and the islands (the Andamans and Lakshadweep).
For an Indian traveller the pitch is simple: no visa, no forex, no language barrier for most of the trip, food they already eat, and a price that is often half of a comparable overseas holiday. The trade-offs are also real and we say them upfront: peak-season prices that rival Bali or Dubai, school-holiday crowds, hill roads that take longer than Google says, and permits in a few border states. We choose the right region for the month first, then build the trip.
| Entry | Not required - domestic travel for Indian citizens (ILP or state permits for some regions) |
| Best months | October-March (plains, coast, islands); April-June, September-October (hills); June-September (Ladakh) |
| Currency | Indian Rupee (INR) |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Main gateway | DEL |
| Typical trip | 5-7 nights |
| Good for | couples, honeymoon, families with young kids, families with older children, seniors, small groups, solo, first-timers |
The regions we sell carry very different histories, and they show up in the trip. The north Indian plains hold the Mughal legacy - Delhi, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri from the 16th and 17th centuries - layered over Delhi Sultanate monuments like the Qutub Minar (1190s-1220s). Rajasthan's forts and palaces (Amber, Mehrangarh, Chittorgarh, Jaisalmer) are Rajput, mostly 12th to 18th century, and many are still owned by the former royal families who run them as heritage hotels. Varanasi and the Char Dham circuit are among the oldest continuous pilgrimage routes in the world, while Kerala's spice and Kochi's Portuguese, Dutch and British layers come from 2,000 years of sea trade.
The Himalayan and North Eastern regions joined modern India through a later history that still shapes travel: Sikkim became a state in 1975, which is why parts of it need permits; Ladakh was carved out as a Union Territory in 2019; the Inner Line Permit system for Arunachal, Nagaland and Mizoram dates to the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873 and was extended to Manipur in 2019. The Andamans carry the story of the Cellular Jail (completed 1906) and the freedom struggle, which is why the Light and Sound show there is a must for most Indian families.
India spans roughly 3,200 km north to south and 2,900 km east to west, from the Karakoram in Ladakh to Kanyakumari and from the Rann of Kutch to Arunachal Pradesh. For holiday planning it breaks into five blocks: the Himalayan belt (cold, high and seasonal), the Indo-Gangetic plains (very hot in summer, foggy in winter), the Thar desert of western Rajasthan, the peninsula with the Western Ghats and the backwaters, and the island groups of the Andamans in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea.
Distances and journey times that matter: Delhi-Agra 230 km (3.5 h by expressway); Delhi-Jaipur 280 km (5 h); Delhi-Manali 540 km (12-14 h by road, most clients fly to Bhuntar or take the overnight Volvo); Delhi-Rishikesh 240 km (5-6 h); Srinagar-Leh 420 km over Zoji La (2 days, June-October only); Manali-Leh 430 km (2 days, June-September); Bagdogra-Gangtok 125 km (4-5 h); Guwahati-Shillong 100 km (3 h); Kochi-Munnar 130 km (4 h); Port Blair to Havelock 1.5-2.5 h by fast ferry. Flight times from Delhi: Srinagar 1.5 h, Leh 1.25 h, Goa 2.5 h, Kochi 3 h, Port Blair 3.5-4 h (usually via Kolkata or Chennai).
By region: October-March for plains, coast and islands; April-June and September-October for the hills
There is no single best month for India, and the most useful thing we do for a domestic client is match the region to the month. October to March is the season for Rajasthan, the Golden Triangle, Varanasi, Kerala, Goa, Tamil Nadu and the Andamans - pleasant days of 22-30 C, but also peak pricing from Diwali to mid-January. April to June is when the plains become unbearably hot and everyone heads to Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Darjeeling and Ooty; it is the best weather in the hills and the worst crowding, because of school holidays. June to September belongs to Ladakh and Spiti, which are dry while the monsoon soaks the rest of the country. The monsoon itself is a good-value window for Kerala (Ayurveda), Meghalaya, Goa and Rajasthan palace hotels, at 30-50% off, if the client accepts rain. September-October and March are the shoulder months that give the best value almost everywhere.
Winter (December-February): north Indian plains 5-22 C with dense fog in Delhi, Punjab and UP; Rajasthan 8-25 C; Kashmir -5 to 8 C with snow in Gulmarg and Pahalgam; Ladakh -20 to 2 C; Sikkim and Darjeeling 2-12 C; Kerala and Goa 22-32 C, dry; Andamans 23-30 C, calm seas.
Summer (March-June): Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan 32-46 C; Kashmir 12-28 C; Himachal and Uttarakhand hill stations 15-28 C; Ladakh 5-25 C from late May; Kerala and Goa 26-34 C and humid; Andamans calm until mid-May, then the monsoon arrives.
Monsoon (June-September): Kerala from 1 June and Goa from about 7 June, most of India by early July; very heavy rain in Konkan, Kerala, Meghalaya (Mawsynram and Cherrapunji are the wettest places on earth) and the Himalayan foothills; Ladakh and Spiti stay dry and 10-28 C.
Post-monsoon (October-November): clear skies and 18-32 C across most of India, best mountain views in Sikkim and Darjeeling, cold nights in Ladakh and Kashmir; the North East monsoon brings rain to Tamil Nadu and south Andhra in October-December.
A shikara ride at sunset, a night on a houseboat and the terraced Mughal gardens of Nishat and Shalimar are what every Kashmir holiday is built around. Tulip Garden is open for about four weeks from late March to April - the single most popular reason to go in spring. Allow a full day for Srinagar sightseeing.
The 134 km-long lake at 4,250 m, a third in India, famous from the film 3 Idiots. Best seen in the afternoon when the colours change. It is a 5-6 hour drive from Leh over Chang La (5,360 m); overnight camps at Spangmik are cold and basic. Never sell it before two acclimatisation nights in Leh.
Book online on the ASI site, go at sunrise and budget 2-3 hours. Closed on Fridays. Indian entry is INR 50 plus INR 200 for the main mausoleum. Pair it with Agra Fort and Mehtab Bagh at sunset. Most clients see it on a day trip from Delhi by Vande Bharat or Gatimaan.
A night on a private houseboat cruising the Vembanad lake and canals is the Kerala highlight. Cruising stops by 17:30 by government rules, so the boat moors for the night. Choose premium or luxury boats with AC all night; budget boats switch AC on only at night and can be basic.
A glacial lake at 3,753 m and the India-China border pass at 4,310 m, reached from Gangtok with permits. Nathula is open Wednesday to Sunday only and can close for weather. The road is steep and slow; allow a full day. Not suitable for infants or clients with heart or lung problems.
Regularly ranked among Asia's best beaches, with white sand and forest right to the waterline. Swim only in the flagged zone - currents and crocodile warnings apply at some Andaman beaches. Best at sunset. Combine with snorkelling at Elephant Beach.
The evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat and a dawn boat ride past Manikarnika and the old ghats are the heart of Varanasi. Book a boat for the aarti rather than standing on the ghat. Add the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor darshan (sugam darshan tickets online) and Sarnath.
The City Palace, a boat on Lake Pichola to Jag Mandir at sunset and dinner at a lakeside rooftop (Ambrai, Upre) make Udaipur the favourite Rajasthan honeymoon stop. Allow 2-3 nights and add Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur as a day trip.
A remote valley on the Kishanganga river about 4-5 hours from Srinagar over the Razdan Pass, with log-wood villages and the Habba Khatoon peak. Opened to tourists in recent years, with basic homestays and a JKTDC hut. Only May-October; check road opening and any advisory. Sell to repeat Kashmir clients.
Rice terraces and pine hills of the Apatani tribe, and the Ziro music festival in late September. Reached from Guwahati or Itanagar with an e-ILP. Homestays only, simple food, cold nights. One of the best cultural trips in the North East.
Grand mansions of the Chettiar merchant community around Karaikudi, with the Chettinad cuisine that most Indians only know from menus. Stay at a heritage mansion like The Bangala or Visalam for two nights and combine with Madurai and Rameswaram.
One of the world's largest river islands on the Brahmaputra, with Vaishnavite satras (monasteries), mask-making and mishing villages. Reached by ferry from Jorhat (Nimati Ghat). Combine with Kaziranga. Simple bamboo cottages only.
The base for almost every Kashmir trip: lake-facing hotels on Boulevard Road and deluxe houseboats on Dal and Nigeen lakes, with shikara ghats, the Mughal gardens (Nishat, Shalimar, Chashme Shahi) and the old city within 20-30 minutes. Nigeen is quieter and cleaner than the main Dal houseboat rows.
Walking distance to Leh market, the palace and Shanti Stupa, with good cafes and guesthouses. The right place for the two compulsory acclimatisation nights before Nubra and Pangong; avoid properties far out on the Manali road or Choglamsar for first-timers.
Gangtok's pedestrian mall with cafes, shops and restaurants; hotels within 1 km avoid steep climbs and taxi hassles. Permits for Tsomgo, Nathula and North Sikkim are arranged from here and the union taxis start here.
The busy half of Goa: beaches, shacks, clubs, water sports and Saturday night markets. Candolim is calmer and good for families, Calangute-Baga is crowded and loud, Anjuna and Vagator suit younger groups. Book the Mopa airport side for these.
The island most Andaman clients come for: Radhanagar (Beach No. 7) for swimming and sunset, Elephant Beach for snorkelling, and the dive shops along Beach No. 3 and 5. Resorts range from simple cottages to Taj Exotica and Barefoot. No ATMs you can rely on - carry cash.
Kolkata's pandals are the draw; Mysuru Dasara and Kullu Dussehra are the other big ones. Flights to Kolkata and hill stations from West Bengal spike; Darjeeling, Sikkim and the Andamans fill with Bengali families in the holiday week.
The biggest domestic travel week of the year: flights, trains and hotels in Goa, Rajasthan, Kerala, Kashmir and the Andamans are priced at peak and sell out 6-8 weeks ahead. Varanasi's Dev Deepawali, 15 days after Diwali, is a separate spectacular with ghat hotels at 3-4x rates.
Held at Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima, showcasing all Naga tribes. Hotels in Kohima are limited and sell out months in advance; homestays and camps are the realistic option. ILP compulsory.
The most expensive week in Goa: hotel rates 2-3x, minimum-night rules of 3-5 nights, gala dinner supplements, and airfares to GOI and GOX at their peak. Book by September.
Mathura, Vrindavan and Barsana (Lathmar Holi) are packed; Pushkar and Varanasi are the other hotspots. Women travellers should join organised hotel celebrations rather than street crowds. Many shops and monuments close on Holi morning.
The multi-course Kashmiri feast. Veg clients can have Nadru Yakhni (lotus stem in yoghurt) and Dum Aloo Kashmiri.
The banana-leaf vegetarian feast of 20+ dishes, served at Onam and at restaurants on Sundays.
Rajasthan's signatures - baked wheat balls with dal and sweet churma, and the fiery red mutton curry.
The everyday Goan meal and the famous sour-spicy pork dish; ask for Goan vegetarian xacuti for veg clients.
Himalayan noodle soup and dumplings in Ladakh, Sikkim and Darjeeling; ask for veg stock.
Street staples in Varanasi and Bihar; the Varanasi kachori-sabzi breakfast is also worth trying.
Vegetarian: easiest country in the world - every region has pure-veg restaurants, and Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pushkar, Vrindavan, Ayodhya, Katra and parts of Varanasi are vegetarian by law or custom. Jain food: widely available in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Mumbai and pilgrimage towns; tell hotels 'Jain food, no onion, garlic or root vegetables' at booking. In Kashmir the wazwan and most restaurant food is meat-heavy, but every hotel serves Punjabi veg food and Srinagar has Krishna Vaishno Dhaba. Ladakh, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Meghalaya and Nagaland lean meat and pork-heavy, and momos and thukpa may use meat stock - ask 'veg stock only'. Kerala and Goa cook heavily in coconut and seafood; fish curry is the default, but Udupi and Sarvana Bhavan-style veg places are easy to find. Halal: standard in Kashmir, Hyderabad, Lucknow and most north Indian restaurants; ask in Goa, Kerala and the North East. Tell every hotel dietary needs in writing at booking.
Dhabas and local joints: INR 150-400 per head for a thali or two dishes. Mid-range restaurants: INR 500-1,200 per head (for example, Gulati in Delhi, Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar in Jaipur, Ahdoos in Srinagar, Kashmir Mughal Darbar, Kayees Biryani in Fort Kochi, Ritz Classic in Panjim). Fine dining: INR 2,500-6,000 per head (Indian Accent and Bukhara in Delhi, Suvarna Mahal at the Rambagh Palace, Ambrai in Udaipur). Hotel buffets INR 1,500-3,500 in 5-stars. Houseboats and Kerala resorts serve set Kerala meals. Meal times: breakfast 7:30-10:00, lunch 13:00-15:00, dinner 20:00-22:30; hill-station and Ladakh kitchens close by 21:30, and Gujarat, Rajasthan and Jain-friendly places open earlier.
Drink bottled or RO-filtered water only; most hotels provide it, and many hill states discourage plastic bottles, so carry a steel bottle and refill. Avoid ice and cut fruit from street stalls in peak summer. Street food is the highlight of Delhi, Lucknow, Amritsar, Kolkata and Mumbai - choose busy stalls with fresh frying. Kashmir and Ladakh food at altitude: eat light the first day. Heat: in April-June in the plains, keep outdoor sightseeing to before 11:00 and after 17:00, carry ORS. Carry a basic medical kit (antacid, ORS, paracetamol, anti-diarrhoeal), and for Ladakh speak to a doctor about acetazolamide in advance.
Not compulsory, but expected in tourism. Restaurants: many add a 'service charge' - by the Central Consumer Protection Authority guidelines (upheld by the Delhi High Court in 2025) it is voluntary and can be removed; if none is added, leave 5-10%. Drivers: INR 300-500 per day at the end of the trip. Guides: INR 500-1,000 per half day. Houseboat and hotel staff: INR 200-500 per stay in a common box. Porters and ponywallahs on pilgrimage routes: fixed rates set by the local administration, plus a small tip. Cash or UPI both work.
Clients fly domestic from their home city to the regional gateway. Main gateways: Srinagar SXR, Leh IXL, Bagdogra IXB, Guwahati GAU, Kochi COK, Thiruvananthapuram TRV, Goa (Dabolim GOI and Mopa GOX), Port Blair IXZ, Dehradun DED, Jaipur JAI, Udaipur UDR, Varanasi VNS, Amritsar ATQ, Bhuntar KUU for Manali (small aircraft, cancels often), Dharamshala/Gaggal DHM. Carriers: IndiGo (largest network), Air India and Air India Express, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Alliance Air and Fly91 on regional routes.
Domestic check-in closes 45-60 minutes before departure at most airports (60 minutes at Srinagar, Leh and Port Blair where security is stricter). Digi Yatra works at most metro airports and saves 20-40 minutes in the morning rush. Baggage: 15 kg checked plus 7 kg cabin on most economy fares; many IndiGo and Akasa 'Saver/Lite' fares are hand-baggage-only, so check the fare type for families.
Airport transfers are included in every package we sell. Typical one-way private transfer costs: Srinagar airport to Boulevard/Dal Lake INR 800-1,200; Leh airport to hotel INR 400-600 (union taxi); Bagdogra to Gangtok INR 4,000-5,500 by reserved SUV or INR 400-600 per seat in a shared jeep from Siliguri; Bagdogra to Darjeeling INR 3,000-4,000; Kochi airport to Fort Kochi INR 1,500-1,800, to Munnar INR 4,000-5,000; Goa Mopa to Calangute or Baga INR 1,500-2,200 (Goa Taxi App/pre-paid counters), Dabolim to Colva/Cavelossim INR 1,000-1,500; Port Blair airport to Aberdeen Bazaar INR 300-500; Dehradun airport to Rishikesh INR 1,200-1,800.
Delhi and Mumbai airports have metro links (Delhi Airport Express Line to New Delhi in about 20 minutes, INR 60) and app cabs from designated pickup zones.
Uber, Ola and Rapido (bike taxis and autos) work in all metros and most big cities, and in Jaipur, Goa (restricted - Goa Taxi App is the official one and app cabs are contested by local taxi unions), Kochi, Chandigarh, Dehradun and Varanasi. Typical fares: 5 km in a metro INR 120-300, airport runs in Delhi or Mumbai INR 450-900. In hill regions, Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim and the Andamans there is effectively no app coverage - local taxi unions control the trade and outside vehicles cannot pick up. Namma Yatri (Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi) and InDrive are useful for autos.
A driver in India is a driver, not a guide: he will know the road, eateries and parking, but will not explain monuments. We book government-approved guides separately at Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Hampi, Khajuraho and Varanasi. Rates per day in the plains: Dzire/Etios INR 2,800-3,800 (usually 250-300 km per day included), Innova Crysta INR 4,000-6,000, plus toll, parking, state entry taxes and a driver night allowance of INR 300-500. In hill states, sightseeing is priced per route by the taxi union (for example, Srinagar-Gulmarg day trip, Leh-Nubra-Pangong-Leh). Tips of INR 300-500 per day for the driver at the end of the trip are normal.
Rented scooters and bikes are common in Goa (INR 400-700 a day for an Activa), Ladakh (Royal Enfield INR 1,500-2,200 a day), Manali, Rishikesh and the Andamans. A valid Indian licence covering two-wheelers is legally required and helmets are compulsory for rider and pillion. In Ladakh, rented bikes from Manali or outside are not allowed to ride inside Leh region for sightseeing without union permission; rent in Leh. We do not book self-ride bikes for first-time high-altitude riders or for any client without their own licence, and we warn that most travel insurance excludes two-wheeler accidents.
Walkable areas: Old Delhi (with a guide), Lutyens' Delhi and Hauz Khas; Jaipur's walled city bazaars; Udaipur's lakeside lanes; Jaisalmer fort; Fort Kochi; Varanasi ghats (the best way to see them is on foot and by boat); Rishikesh (Laxman Jhula-Ram Jhula); Gangtok's MG Marg; Shillong's Police Bazaar; Mussoorie and Shimla Malls; Leh market and Changspa. A normal sightseeing day involves 6,000-12,000 steps; forts in Rajasthan are steep, and Kedarnath is a 16-18 km trek each way from Gaurikund. Pavements in most cities are broken or blocked, so shoes matter.
Google Maps works everywhere with a signal but underestimates mountain drive times by 30-50%. Download offline maps for Ladakh, Spiti, North Sikkim and the Andamans. Signage is in English and Hindi or the state language. Book trains on IRCTC Rail Connect (advance reservation opens 60 days before travel, Tatkal one day before at 10:00 for AC and 11:00 for non-AC, Aadhaar authentication needed for Tatkal); check live running status on Where Is My Train or NTES. Metros use QR tickets on the Delhi Metro, Mumbai One or city apps. Prepaid SIMs issued outside Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh do not work there - carry a postpaid number.
Nepal and Bhutan are the only international add-ons we sell by land for Indian clients, because neither needs a visa for Indians. Nepal via Sunauli (from Gorakhpur), Raxaul-Birgunj or Kakarbhitta (from Siliguri) - carry a passport or Voter ID; Aadhaar is not accepted as travel ID for Nepal. Bhutan via Jaigaon-Phuentsholing from Bagdogra (3.5-4 h), with a Bhutan permit and the Sustainable Development Fee (INR 1,200 per person per night for Indians - confirm the current rate).
Within India, the land routes we actually sell are: Srinagar-Sonamarg-Kargil-Leh (Zoji La, June-October), Manali-Leh (June-September), Siliguri-Gangtok, Guwahati-Shillong-Cherrapunji, Guwahati-Kaziranga, Jammu-Katra-Srinagar (rail or road) and Mumbai-Goa by Konkan Railway.
Indian Rupee (INR) everywhere; no exchange needed. For Nepal, INR notes of 100 and below are widely accepted and INR 500 notes are accepted in limited amounts; for Bhutan, INR is accepted at par with the Ngultrum (INR 500 notes are fine, INR 2,000 notes have been withdrawn from circulation in India since 2023). ATMs are everywhere in cities; in Ladakh's Nubra and Pangong, North Sikkim, Spiti, Havelock and Neil and the Char Dham route ATMs are few and often empty - carry cash for those legs.
UPI (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, BHIM) is accepted almost everywhere, from Delhi street vendors to Srinagar shikaras and Leh taxis. Credit and debit cards are accepted at hotels, malls and restaurants; RuPay and Visa/Mastercard are all fine. Cash is still needed in remote areas where mobile data is weak (Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri, North Sikkim, the Andaman islands beyond Port Blair, Char Dham villages, Meghalaya villages) and for tipping. Carry INR 5,000-10,000 in cash per couple for those legs. Beware UPI QR swaps in crowded markets - confirm the payee name before paying.
Clients are travelling in their own country, but regional customs still differ. Remove shoes in temples, gurudwaras (cover your head), mosques and many homes. Photography is banned inside many temples (Kedarnath, Badrinath, Padmanabhaswamy, Jagannath Puri) and some temples like Guruvayur and Padmanabhaswamy restrict entry to Hindus. In Ladakh, Sikkim and Buddhist areas, walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels. In the North East and Kashmir, avoid political conversations and avoid photographing army installations, bridges or checkposts. Respect local communities: many tourists in Kashmir, Ladakh and the North East behave as if locals are 'less Indian' - brief groups to avoid remarks about appearance, food or politics, which cause real conflict.
Temples: shoulders and knees covered; some south Indian temples require dhoti for men and saree or salwar for women (Padmanabhaswamy, Guruvayur). Gurudwaras: head covered. Mosques: long clothing. Hill regions: heavy woollens, thermals, gloves and a cap for Kashmir, Ladakh and Sikkim even in May-June evenings; down jackets in winter. Goa and the Andamans: beachwear on beaches only - not in markets or churches. Kashmir and the North East: modest casual clothing is advised in towns.
Bargain in street markets (Janpath, Sarojini, Johari Bazaar, Leh's Tibetan market, Anjuna flea market, Laad Bazaar), with shikara and pony wallahs where there is no fixed rate card, and with auto-rickshaws without meters. Start at 50-60% of the first ask and settle around 70-80%. Do not bargain in government emporiums, fixed-price shops, GI-certified stores, restaurants or with union taxis (fixed rate lists exist in Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Leh and Gangtok - ask the driver to show it). Common mistake: haggling hard with small craftsmen over INR 50 while paying guide-commission prices in big emporiums.
| Julley (Ladakhi) | hello, thank you, goodbye - all in one |
| Khamma ghani (Rajasthani) | respectful hello |
| Salaam alaikum / Shukriya (Kashmir) | hello / thank you |
| Adaab | polite greeting in Lucknow and Hyderabad |
| Namaskaram (Malayalam, Kerala) | hello |
| Nanni (Malayalam) | thank you |
| Vanakkam (Tamil) | hello |
| Nandri (Tamil) | thank you |
| Khublei (Khasi, Meghalaya) | hello and thank you |
| Kuzuzampo? (Mizo) | how are you? |
| Dev borem korum (Konkani, Goa) | thank you (literally 'God bless you') |
| Tashi delek (Sikkimese / Tibetan) | hello, good luck |
Not required - domestic travel for Indian citizens (ILP or state permits for some regions)
No passport is needed for Indian citizens travelling within India. Carry original government photo ID for every traveller: Aadhaar, passport, Voter ID, driving licence or PAN card for flights, trains and hotel check-in. Children need Aadhaar or a birth certificate. Hotels must record ID for every guest, and many hotels in Kashmir, Ladakh, the North East and the Andamans refuse check-in without original ID. For Nepal add-ons, Aadhaar is not valid travel ID - carry a passport or Voter ID. Foreign-national family members (OCI/foreign passport) need the separate inbound rules and some permits (PAP/RAP) - flag them to the consultant.
No customs within India, but there are state rules that catch clients out. Alcohol: Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland, Mizoram (partial) and Lakshadweep (except Bangaram resort) are dry states; carrying alcohol across state borders beyond small limits can be seized. Plastic bans: Sikkim, Himachal, Ladakh and the Andamans enforce bans on single-use plastic and fine offenders; carry a steel bottle. Drones: DGCA rules apply (Digital Sky), and drones are banned near airports, military areas and in most of Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim and border areas. Airline rules: no power banks in checked baggage, no coconuts on some airlines. Protected wildlife products (shahtoosh, ivory, coral from the Andamans) are illegal to buy or carry.
Not mandatory for domestic travel, and most Indian clients skip it - we still recommend it for Ladakh, Sikkim, the Char Dham and adventure activities, where evacuation and cancellation costs are real. Domestic travel policies from Tata AIG, ICICI Lombard, HDFC ERGO and Bajaj Allianz cost INR 200-800 per person per trip. Airline travel-assistance add-ons at booking are thin cover. Check the policy covers high altitude (above 3,000 m), adventure sports and trip cancellation for landslide or weather closure. Char Dham pilgrims above 50 are advised by Uttarakhand to carry a health certificate.
No visa for Indian citizens. What replaces it are state and area permits, which we must flag at the quote stage:
Inner Line Permit (ILP): Arunachal Pradesh (e-ILP on arunachalilp.com, around INR 100-400 depending on type and duration), Nagaland (ilp.nagaland.gov.in, including Dimapur since 2019), Mizoram (ILP at Lengpui airport or online, around INR 120) and Manipur (manipurilponline.gov.in). Processed online in 1-3 days; carry printouts. Check the current Manipur security advisory before selling it.
Sikkim: no permit for Gangtok, Pelling or Ravangla for Indians, but Tsomgo Lake, Nathula (open Wednesday-Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday) and North Sikkim (Lachung, Lachen, Yumthang, Zero Point, Gurudongmar) need protected-area permits applied through a registered Sikkim tour operator with ID photos, usually 1 day ahead. Nathula needs the permit to be applied for in advance and has daily quotas.
Ladakh: no ILP for Indians since 2021 for Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri and Turtuk, but environment and wildlife fees are charged (online on the LAHDC portal or at the Leh DC office). Areas close to the LAC may still require permits - confirm.
Lakshadweep: entry permit from the Lakshadweep Administration via the e-permit portal, with police clearance certificate for each traveller; hotel booking or sponsor required.
Char Dham (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath): free mandatory online registration on registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app; QR slip checked at the entry points.
Amarnath Yatra: compulsory registration and a compulsory health certificate from an authorised doctor, via the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.
Foreign-passport and OCI family members need a Protected Area Permit or Restricted Area Permit for several of these areas - handle them on the India Inbound record.
Consultant: reconfirm permit fees, opening days and portal addresses with the state site before quoting; they change every season.
Visa rules change. Our desk confirms the current requirements for your passport before you book.
230V, 50Hz, Type C, D and M sockets - Indian plugs fit everywhere. Power cuts are common in hill regions and islands; hotels in Ladakh camps, North Sikkim and Neil Island may run generators only in the evenings. Carry a power bank (in hand baggage only).
Jio, Airtel and Vi 4G/5G cover most of the country. Weak or absent in: Nubra, Pangong and Tso Moriri (BSNL and Jio only in patches), North Sikkim (Lachung has limited signal), Spiti, parts of Meghalaya and the Andaman islands beyond Port Blair (Havelock has slow 4G, Neil is patchy). Prepaid SIMs from outside Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh do not work there - only postpaid connections roam; advise clients to carry a postpaid number or buy a local prepaid SIM with ID. Hotel Wi-Fi is fine in cities, slow in hills.
Shops 10:00-21:00 in cities, many markets closed one day a week (for example Delhi's Sarojini Nagar on Monday, Chandni Chowk on Sunday, Jaipur's Johari Bazaar partly on Sunday). Banks 10:00-16:00 Monday-Friday and the first, third and fifth Saturdays. ASI monuments sunrise to sunset; the Taj Mahal is closed on Friday. Many museums are closed on Monday. Temples usually close in the early afternoon (for example 13:00-16:00). Restaurants in hill stations and Ladakh close by 21:30-22:00. Nathula is closed on Monday and Tuesday; Rohtang Pass permits are not issued for Tuesday.
Leh is at 3,500 m and Pangong, Nubra passes and Gurudongmar go higher. Rest for 24-48 hours in Leh, drink water, avoid alcohol and smoking and walk slowly. Headache, nausea and breathlessness are warning signs; descend and see a doctor at SNM Hospital Leh if symptoms worsen.
Landslides, snow and road closures are common, especially July-September and December-March. Never travel on mountain roads after dark, keep a buffer day before flights home, and follow local police and army instructions.
Kashmir, Manipur and a few border areas have periodic security advisories. Check the latest government and state guidance before booking and again before travel, register with hotel reception and carry ID at all times. We will re-plan if an advisory changes.
Pickpocketing is common at crowded temples (Vaishno Devi, Kashi Vishwanath, Tirupati), markets and railway stations. Use official prepaid taxi counters, verify UPI payee names, and ignore touts offering 'VIP darshan' or 'special permits' - use only official temple and government portals.
Carry a refillable bottle - Sikkim, Ladakh and Himachal have single-use plastic bans and Ladakh has refill stations in Leh. Take your garbage back from Pangong, Tso Moriri, Gurudongmar and Nubra - there is no waste disposal at camps. Choose homestays in Ladakh, Spiti, Meghalaya and Sikkim where possible. On Dal Lake, choose houseboats with proper sewage systems. Do not light campfires in forest areas of Himachal and Uttarakhand, where forest fires are a serious summer risk.
Ask before photographing people, especially women in Rajasthan, the North East and Ladakh. Buy directly from weavers and artisans (Kashmiri shawls, Kutch embroidery, Naga textiles) rather than through commission shops. In villages and homestays, dress modestly and respect meal times and quiet hours. Do not give money or sweets to children on tourist routes. Do not play loud music at camps, in Rishikesh, Varanasi ghats or hill villages. Respect the local community and avoid comments about appearance or politics in the North East and Kashmir.
In national parks (Ranthambore, Jim Corbett, Kaziranga, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Periyar), follow the naturalist's instructions, stay in the jeep and never pressurise drivers to go off route. Do not feed monkeys, langurs or other wildlife. In the Andamans, never touch or stand on coral, never buy shells or coral and use reef-safe sunscreen. Do not buy yak-bone or animal-part souvenirs in Ladakh or wildlife products anywhere. Avoid elephant rides and captive elephant experiences.
Indian citizens need no visa anywhere in India, only original photo ID such as Aadhaar, passport, Voter ID or driving licence. A few areas need permits: an Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur, protected-area permits for Tsomgo Lake, Nathula and North Sikkim, an entry permit for Lakshadweep and a free online registration for the Char Dham Yatra. Ladakh needs no permit for Indians but charges an environment fee. We arrange or guide you through all of these once you book.
It depends on the region. Goa and short hill-station breaks work in 3-4 nights. Kashmir, Kerala and Sikkim are best in 5-6 nights, and Ladakh needs at least 6 nights because the first two days are for acclimatisation. Rajasthan and Sikkim-Darjeeling together are 7-9 nights, and the Char Dham Yatra by road is 10-12 nights. We usually recommend picking one region and doing it properly rather than trying to combine two far-apart regions in one week.
Match the region to the month. October to March is ideal for Rajasthan, Agra, Varanasi, Kerala, Goa and the Andamans. April to June is the season for Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Darjeeling, when the plains are too hot. June to September is the best time for Ladakh and Spiti. The monsoon months are good value for Kerala, Goa and Meghalaya if you enjoy rain. Diwali, Christmas-New Year and school holidays are the most expensive times everywhere.
We can include flights or trains from your home city, or quote land-only if you prefer to book your own. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad have direct flights to most holiday gateways such as Srinagar, Bagdogra, Kochi, Goa and Port Blair; Leh is best from Delhi. Smaller cities connect through Delhi or Mumbai. For some routes, like Delhi-Agra, Delhi-Haridwar, Kolkata-New Jalpaiguri and Mumbai-Goa, a good train is often better than a flight.
As a guide, land packages on twin sharing in good 3-4 star hotels, including GST, start around INR 12,000-25,000 for Goa, INR 18,000-30,000 for Kashmir, INR 16,000-28,000 for Kerala, INR 22,000-35,000 for Ladakh and INR 25,000-40,000 for the Andamans. Flights are extra and can double in peak seasons. Luxury hotels, private houseboats and helicopter pilgrimage packages cost more. We always quote an all-in price with GST so there are no surprises.
Yes, almost everywhere. Every region has pure-veg restaurants and hotels will make Jain food if you tell them at booking. Rishikesh, Haridwar, Katra, Pushkar and many pilgrimage towns are fully vegetarian. In Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim, the North East, Goa and Kerala local cuisine is more meat and seafood heavy, but vegetarian Indian food is always available in hotels and good restaurants. Tell us your dietary needs and we pass them to every hotel.
Millions of Indian tourists visit these regions every year and the tourist areas are generally safe, but some areas have periodic security advisories and the mountains bring altitude and road risks. We check the latest government guidance before booking and again before travel, use trusted local drivers and hotels, keep buffer days for weather, and will re-plan the trip if the situation changes. Ladakh needs proper acclimatisation, which we build into every itinerary.
Yes. We plan Char Dham and Do Dham (Kedarnath and Badrinath) by road from Haridwar or Dehradun, Vaishno Devi from Katra, Varanasi and Ayodhya, Amarnath and South Indian temple circuits. We handle Char Dham registration guidance, hotels close to the temples, cars, and helicopter bookings where possible. Helicopter seats for Kedarnath and Vaishno Devi are released on official portals and sell out in minutes, so we cannot guarantee them, but we always build a trek, pony or palanquin backup.
Message our travel desk and describe the trip — a real person picks it up, usually within the hour on Indian working days.
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