India

Visa requirements for India depend on which passport you hold. Check the Traveller visa tool to see whether your passport needs a visa and, if so, how long you can stay.

Avoid May–June (extreme heat, 40–50°C in north). Monsoon: June–September. Kerala backwaters: November–March

• Conservative throughout — women: cover shoulders and knees; loose, long clothing is practical in the heat
• Remove shoes when entering temples, mosques, shrines, and many homes
• Bring a scarf to cover your head at mosques and some temples
• Swimwear stays at the beach or hotel pool

• Namaste greeting (palms together, slight bow) — the safest greeting across all cultures
• The head wobble/bobble means yes, acknowledgment, or 'I understand' — not no
• Use the right hand for eating, giving, and receiving — the left is considered unclean
• Cows are sacred in Hinduism — never disrespect them; do not eat beef near Hindu religious sites
• Remove shoes at homes — always; at temples — check for signs

• Drug offences carry severe mandatory minimum sentences
• Photography of military installations, government buildings, and railway stations may be prohibited
• Homosexuality was decriminalised in 2018 (Section 377 struck down) but attitudes vary widely across regions
• Alcohol is banned in Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland, and Mizoram — check the state you're visiting
• Beef is banned in many states — check local rules