Check entry requirements for your passport
Use India’s official visa website to check the route that applies to your nationality and purpose of travel. Requirements are not identical for every passport, and an OCI holder’s position differs from that of a tourist visa applicant. The official portal currently directs foreign nationals and OCI/eOCI cardholders to submit an eArrival Card. Check its current instructions close to departure; it does not replace a visa. Avoid anyone promising guaranteed or emergency approval through an unofficial payment link.
If you are applying for an e-Visa
The official e-Visa guidance specifies at least six months of passport validity at application and at least two blank pages. Check the eligible nationalities, permitted arrival points, visa validity and allowed stay for your particular visa type. Do not assume the approval date is the date your permitted stay starts. Keep the approval and passport details accessible offline and use the current government instructions as the final authority.
Arrange the first night before the airport transfer
Send your hotel the real flight arrival time and ask what happens if the room is not ready. An early-morning landing may require a previous-night booking or paid early check-in; get that confirmed in writing. Ask for the exact address, a reception contact and vehicle access instructions. Keep a copy you can open without mobile data. A map pin for a hotel chain is not enough—check the branch.
Make your airport pickup easy to recognise
Provide the flight number, arrival date, passenger count, luggage count and a contact method that works after landing. Agree the meeting point and waiting allowance in advance. Immigration and baggage collection can take longer than expected, so ask when paid waiting begins. Before getting in, compare the driver and vehicle details with your confirmed booking. A name board alone is not a reason to accept an unexpected change of driver.
Bring a payment backup
India’s currency is the rupee. The tourism ministry identifies airports, selected banks and authorised money changers as exchange options. Carry a modest cash backup and a card you have enabled for overseas use. Ask your bank about fees. Do not assume your foreign phone number and bank card will work with every local payment app, and don’t rely on one app for your first hotel or meal.
Sort mobile data without rushing
Check roaming or an eSIM option with your provider before departure. If buying a local connection, use an established outlet and ask what identification and activation steps apply. Keep your hotel address, booking contact and pickup instructions offline while you wait for service. Never share an OTP with someone claiming they need it to release a refund or confirm your ride.
Prepare medicines and insurance before travel
Check travel-health advice and insurance well before departure, including cover for planned activities. If you take prescribed medicines, discuss supplies, storage and travel documents with your clinician and check the applicable import requirements. Do not assume a hotel minibar provides reliable medical refrigeration. Ask the property about the exact facility before reserving, and keep an agreed backup plan.
Your first evening can be a quiet one
A simple meal, a shower and a good night’s sleep are a perfectly good arrival-day itinerary. Keep sightseeing optional, especially with children or older travellers. Confirm the next morning’s pickup with your driver, charge your phone and check that everyone has the hotel address. You will usually enjoy the next day more than if you start the trip exhausted.
Sources & current information
These are the tourism and visitor-information sources used for this guide. The dated information box identifies the practical details we could verify; a source link is not a live reservation or a guarantee of today’s availability. Recheck time-sensitive details before travelling.
Let’s start with a clear quote.
Enquiries currently open for Chennai and Bengaluru metros. Your trip can continue to other destinations, subject to route and vehicle confirmation. Every booking needs a written vehicle and price confirmation.
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