India travel and visitor guide with hotels, airport, airline, passport and vacation information. India's amazing diversity offers you everything you could ever want in a holiday. From the moment that you set foot in India to be greeted by a graceful namaste, a gesture that denotes both welcome and respect, you are on the way to one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Bounded by the majestic Himalayan ranges in the north and edged by a spectacular coastline surrounded by three seas, India is a vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes,magnificent historical sites and royal cities, golden beaches, misty mountain retreats, colorful people, rich cultures and festivities.

India is served by Indira Ghandi Airport (Airport Code: DEL) in New Delhi, Netaji Subhas Chanra Bose International Airport (Airport Code: CCU) in Kolkata and others. Airlines serving India include American, Northwest, Delta, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and others. Visit our Airports & Airlines section for more information.

On the east coast, the rich forested islands of Andaman and Nichobar lie in the middle of the Bay of Bengal. An idyllic archipelago of gleaming white sandy beaches, a crystal-clear turquoise sea teeming with fish and picturesque coral reefs. Sunbathe is the mellow sun as you sip from a fresh coconut. Then swim out into the waves where dolphins and many-hued fish will give you company. The clear waters of the Andamans are ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving. The best beaches are at Wandour, Corbyn's Cove, Jolly Buoy and Ross Island. The Konkan coast in the west has the beaches of Goa and Diu. Go southwards to the white sands of Kovalam on the Malabar coast.

Passport, Visa & Embassy Information

Your passport should have a minimum validity of six months on the date of application with at least two blank pages. 

TOURIST VISA: Valid for 6 months to 10 years. Ten (10) year visa is available only to US citizens under a bilateral arrangement. Irrespective of the duration of validity of visa, on each visit maximum period of stay in India is limited to 6 months (180 days). Multiple entry visas are given. Applicants who are not citizens/ residents of the USA and hold a tourist or other short-term visa for USA should normally apply for Indian visas in the countries of their permanent residence. Visit our Immigration section for more information.

Foreign tourists in groups of four or more arriving by Air or Sea, sponsored by recognized Indian Travel Agencies and with a pre-drawn itinerary can be granted collective landing permit for a specified period of time (maximum for 30 days) on the written request of the Travel Agencies to the Immigration Officer giving full personal and passport details of the group members, itinerary and undertaking to conduct the group as per the itinerary, and an assurance that no individual would be allowed to drop out from the group at any place.

India maintains an embassy in the United States at 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-939-7000, fax 202-265-4351, email: indembwash@indiagov.org and consulates general in New York, Chicago, Houston, and San Francisco.

The U.S. Embassy in India is located on Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021 (tel. 91-11-2419-8000; fax: 91-11-24190017. Embassy and consulate working hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Visa application hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings also are available on the Consular Affairs Internet home page: http://travel.state.gov. Consular Affairs Tips for Travelers publication series, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip abroad, are on the Internet and hard copies can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, telephone: 202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250.

Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries.

U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in dangerous areas are encouraged to register their travel via the State Department’s travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov or at the Consular section of the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country by filling out a short form and sending in a copy of their passports. This may help family members contact you in case of an emergency.