🇮🇳 India travel: cost, safety & when to go

Forts and palaces, the Taj Mahal, Himalayas, beaches in Goa and tiger safaris.

💰 Local prices ≈ 21% of the US (Nov 2026)

🛡️ Level 2 · Increased caution — Safety · per US State Dept (Nov 2026)

🌤️ Best time to visit India

The best months to visit India are October, November, February and March, judged on weather and seasonality.

Things to do in India

🎒 Top things to do

• Taj Mahal & forts (Agra, Jaipur) — The Golden Triangle links the Taj Mahal in Agra with Delhi and the pink forts and palaces of Jaipur.
• Backwaters & beaches (Kerala, Goa) — South India offers Kerala's tranquil houseboat backwaters and Goa's beaches and nightlife.
• Temples & ghats (Varanasi) — Varanasi on the Ganges is Hinduism's holiest city — sunrise boat rides past the riverside ghats are unforgettable.
• Himalayan treks (Rishikesh) — The Himalayan foothills around Rishikesh are India's yoga and trekking hub on the upper Ganges.

🗓️ What's in season

• Golden Triangle & Rajasthan (cool, dry) (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar) — Nov-Feb is the cool, dry, comfortable window for North India and Rajasthan.
• Tiger safaris (best sightings) (Mar, Apr, May, Jun) — Spring (Mar-May) gives the best tiger sightings, as heat draws wildlife to the waterholes.
• Holi festival (Mar) — March's Holi is the joyous 'festival of colours,' celebrated nationwide with thrown powder and water.

Visa (US passport): eVisa — apply online before you go. Checked June 2026; verify before booking — rules change.

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