How to prepare for your trip to India
The language you will hear, the phrases to learn first, money, plugs, emergency numbers and a few local habits, and a way to plan the trip and keep your phrases offline.
Try it free for 14 days.
Photo credit
Photo of the Taj Mahal, Agra by sanin sn (opens in a new tab) on Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License (opens in a new tab).
What you will hear in India.
India has many languages. Hindi is the everyday language in Delhi and much of the north, and in Mumbai it is spoken beside Marathi and English. English is widely used in tourism, and Hindi phrases are welcomed.
The Hindi guide is written in English letters, so you can read and say phrases from the first lesson. It covers chai stalls, auto-rickshaws and bargaining politely.
Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi, Goa and Kerala are all in India. Hindi helps most in the north.
Phrases for your first day.
They come from the first lessons. In the app each has audio and a note on when to use it, and you can save it to your phrasebook.
Namaste, ji.
Hello. (polite)
Dhanyavaad, ji.
Thank you.
Maaf kijiye, ji.
Excuse me. / Sorry.
Yeh kitne ka hai?
How much is this?
Toilet kahaan hai?
Where is the toilet?
Mujhe do chai chahiye.
I'd like two chai.
India at a glance.
These are usually right but not always. For anything that matters, check the official advice before you go.
- Indian rupee (₹)
- +91
- On the left
- 230 V
- 112, 100, 101, 102, 108
Entry rules, health advice and safety change, so they are not on this page. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office keeps them up to date for UK travellers: UK government travel advice for India (opens in a new tab).
Habits worth knowing before you arrive.
Habits, not rules: places and people vary, so each note says where it applies.
The monsoon arrives from about June and brings heavy rain to much of India until around September. Travel by road and rail can be slow, so allow extra time.
Eating with the right hand is common, and many people wash their hands before and after a meal. Restaurants usually have a basin, and most will bring cutlery if you ask.
Languages change from state to state. Hindi is widely understood in the north, while in the south and east speech and signs are often in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali and others. English is common in cities.
Many temples and some homes ask you to take your shoes off at the door, and covering your shoulders and knees is expected at many religious sites.
Plan the trip to India in one place.
Put it on days
Add India to a trip, then put places on days with a time and a note. Directions open in your maps app.
Save the videos
Paste the TikTok, Instagram or YouTube link that gave you the idea and attach it to the stop it belongs to.
Take your phrases offline
Download the travel guide on Wi-Fi. The phrasebook, packs, notes and audio work with no signal.
Share the plan
Send a link to the people you are going with. They can read it without an account, and you can invite them to edit.
About a trip to India.
Is Hindi the language of all of India?
No. Many states have their own languages. Hindi is the everyday language across much of the north, and English is used widely in tourism.
Do I need to read Devanagari?
No. The guide writes everything in English letters.
Is it a full course?
No, it is a short travel guide with eight modules and three missions, built for a first trip.
Other trip guides
Be ready to speak when you land in India.
Create a free account, add the trip, and start with the phrases for your first hour.
Try it free for 14 days.