Nanda Devi

Wander narrow streets and explore India’s incredible architecture: forts, temples and palaces

Watch the sun rise over the ‘teardrop on the cheek of time’, the Taj Mahal

Trek among snowcapped peaks, glaciers and wildflowers in the Indian Himalaya

Visit the awe-inspiring carved rock caves of Ajanta and Ellora

Watch the faithful pray and cleanse their sins in the Ganges, in the holy city of Varanasi

Explore the flamboyant architecture and striking beauty and of the coloured cities of Rajasthan

Soak up the lakeside atmosphere of India’s most romantic city, Udaipur

Enjoy Goa’s beaches, fusion cuisine and crumbling colonial architecture

Take a houseboat trip down the palm-fringed backwaters of beautiful Kerala

Head to Hyderabad for Mughal cuisine, historic architecture and bustling bazaars

Experience Indian culture firsthand at one of the country’s colourful festivals

Shop for colourful textiles, leatherwork and handicrafts in India’s bustling markets

Try a cooking class or simply sample dishes from one of the world’s great cuisines

India is +5 and a half hours ahead of UTC/GMT

Hindi (41%); Bengali (8.1%); Telugu (7.2%); Marathi (7%); Tamil (5.9%); Urdu (5%); Gujarati (4.5%); Kannada (3.7%); Malayalam (3.2%); Oriya (3.2%); Punjabi (2.8%); Assamese (1.3%); Maithili (1.2%); Other (5.9%), including Kashmiri, Sindhi and Sanskrit

As befitting a nation of such ethnic diversity, India is home to huge linguistic diversity. Most Indians are multilingual and many people speak a great number of different languages

Hindi is India’s most widely spoken and official language, and the primary language of 41% of the population. Along with Hindi are another 22 different official/recognised languages, plus hundreds of other major and minor languages and regional variations/dialects

English is an “associate official language” and India’s most common lingua franca, and is widely spoken in business, law, politics, education and tourism. Hindustani is India’s second most common lingua franca, but is considered technically to be a variation/combination of Hindi/Urdu languages, rather than an official language itself

Indian Rupee

We recommend that you bring US dollars (in cash) as it is readily accepted over other currencies in India

Credit cards and ATM are available in most large cities and hotels, however it is not recommended to rely on these solely. Always keep a watch when your card is being processed and please note that you will be surcharged for the use of your card.

Electricity in India is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin type is C. (2 round prong).

Visas are required to enter India and visitors from some countries including Australia and New Zealand can obtain an online visa, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) prior to arrival.

For stays of less than 30 days, travellers can apply for an ETA online (US$60) at the official website https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html, no less than five days and no more than 30 days before the date of travel.

At present other nationalities including the UK and Canada and those clients regardless of nationality visiting Sikkim and other restricted areas must have an Indian visa stamp in their passport prior to arrival in India.