Plan Your
Trip
Need to Know
When to Go
High Season Dec–Mar
oPleasant weather – warm days, cool nights. Peak tourists. Peak prices.
oDecember and January bring chilly nights in the north.
Shoulder Season Jul–Nov
oPasses to Ladakh and the high Himalaya open from July to September.
oMonsoon rain showers persist through to September.
Low Season Apr–Jun
oApril is hot; May and June are scorching. Competitive hotel prices.
oFrom June, the monsoon sweeps from south to north, bringing draining humidity.
oBeat the heat (but not the crowds) in the cool hills.
Daily Costs
Budget: Less than ₹3000
oDorm bed: ₹400–600
oDouble room in a budget hotel: ₹400–700
oAll-you-can-eat thalis (plate meals): ₹120–300
oBus & train tickets: ₹300–500
Midrange: ₹3000–9000
oDouble hotel room: ₹1500–5000
oMeals in midrange restaurants: ₹600–1500
oAdmission to historic sights and museums: ₹500–1000
oLocal taxis/autorickshaws: ₹500–2000
Top End: More than ₹9000
oDeluxe hotel room: ₹5000–22,000
oMeals at superior restaurants: ₹2000–5000
oFirst-class train travel: ₹1000–8000
oRenting a car and driver: ₹1800 upwards per day
Useful Websites
oLonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/india) Destination information, the Thorn Tree Travel Forum and more.
oIncredible India (www.incredibleindia.org) Official India tourism site.
oTemplenet (www.templenet.com) Temple talk.
oRediff News (www.rediff.com/news) Portal for India-wide news.
oWorld Newspapers (www.world-newspapers.com) Links to India’s English-language publications.
Arriving in India
Indira Gandhi International Airport Prepaid taxis cost from ₹450 to the centre, while radio cars are around ₹100 to ₹200 more; express buses every 20 minutes (₹100); airport express metro trains (₹60/100 Sunday/Monday to Saturday) link up with the metro system. If you're transferring from terminal 1 to 3 allow at least three hours.
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Prepaid taxis cost ₹680/820 (non-AC/AC) to Colaba and Fort and ₹400/480 to Bandra. For the train (but not during 6am to 11am rush hour), take an autorickshaw (₹18/km) to Andheri train station and then the Churchgate or CST train (₹10, 45 minutes). From Colaba, an UberGo is around ₹385 off-peak.
Kempegowda International Airport Metered AC taxis to the centre cost ₹750 to ₹1000, including the airport toll of ₹120. Air-conditioned Vayu Vajra buses run regularly to/from the airport to the city; fares start at ₹180.
Cochin International Airport (Kerala) AC Volvo buses run between the airport and Fort Cochin (₹80, one hour, 22 daily) via Ernakulam. Taxis to/from Ernakulam cost around ₹850, and to/from Fort Cochin around ₹1200.
Getting Around
Transport in India is frequent and inexpensive, though not always fast. Consider domestic flights or sleeper trains as an alternative to long, uncomfortable bus rides.
Air Flights to most major centres and state capitals; cheap flights with budget airlines.
Train Frequent services to most destinations; inexpensive tickets available, even on sleeper trains.
Bus Buses go everywhere; some destinations are served 24 hours but longer routes may have just one or two buses a day.
