Best Facts About India Worth Knowing
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Best Facts About India Worth Knowing
I get asked the same questions every time a friend plans their first India trip. How big is the country, when does it actually rain, what currency works in shops, do trains have food, can I use my card, what plug type fits the wall. So I pulled together the facts I wish someone had handed me before my first long trip from Hyderabad to Delhi in 2018. Knowing the numbers ahead of time saves money, time, and frustration at the airport counter or the railway platform.
1. Geography: The Size That Surprises Everyone
India covers 3.29 million square kilometres of land, the 7th largest country by area in the world (the 4th largest by claimed land area including disputed regions). From Kanyakumari at the southern tip to the Ladakh border up north is roughly 3,214 kilometres. And east to west, from Arunachal Pradesh to the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, about 2,933 kilometres. A direct flight from Chennai to Srinagar takes 4 hours 10 minutes.
The coastline runs 7,517 kilometres along the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. The Himalayan range walls off the northern frontier with peaks above 7,000 metres. The Western Ghats parallel the Arabian Sea coast for about 1,600 kilometres, and the Eastern Ghats follow the Bay of Bengal. Six recognised climate zones spread across this landmass - snow, beach, jungle, and desert in one country.
For a planning starter that respects this scale, see my 5 best places guide for first-time travelers.
2. Climate: When the Monsoon Actually Hits
The southwest monsoon arrives in Kerala around June 1, sweeps north through July, and covers the whole country by mid-July. But it withdraws between September and October. The exception is Tamil Nadu, which gets its main rain from the northeast monsoon between October and December. Chennai is dry in July and wet in November.
Winter, December through February, is the prime tourism window. Daytime temperatures sit between 18 and 28 degrees Celsius across most of the country, the air is clear, and outdoor sightseeing is comfortable. Summer, April to June, is brutal. Delhi and Rajasthan regularly cross 45 degrees in May. But i would not plan Agra or Jaipur in those months unless you're okay sightseeing only between 6 and 9 AM.
For a selected February itinerary, my one-week February trip hits the dry, mild belt.
3. Population and Cities
As of 2026, India is the most populous nation on Earth with about 1.42 billion residents, having overtaken China in 2023. Around 35 percent live in urban areas. Delhi NCR has roughly 33 million people, Mumbai 22 million, Kolkata 15 million, Bangalore 14 million, Chennai 12 million, Hyderabad 11 million. Traffic in any tier-1 city is heavy 8 to 11 AM and 5 to 9 PM. A 12-kilometre cab ride that should take 25 minutes can take 70. Block extra time between airports and hotels.
4. Languages: 22 Official, English Carries You Through
The Indian Constitution recognises 22 official languages in the Eighth Schedule. Hindi, in Devanagari script, is the most widely spoken and one of the two official languages of the central government. The other is English, the default for higher courts, central administration, business, and tourism.
For a traveler, English is enough. Every hotel, airline counter, train station signboard, major restaurant menu, and most metro cab drivers handle English. Outside the cities, things shift. Plus in rural Tamil Nadu, Tamil dominates. In rural Bengal, Bengali or Hindi. In Kerala, Malayalam, but English is widely understood. I keep Google Translate offline packs for Hindi, Tamil, and Kannada on my phone.
5. Money: Rupees, ATMs, and the UPI Revolution
The Indian rupee (INR) is the currency. As of April 2026, 1 USD trades around 84 INR, 1 EUR around 92 INR, 1 GBP around 107 INR. ATMs are everywhere in cities and towns. Most accept Visa and Mastercard with a withdrawal limit of 10,000 to 25,000 INR per transaction and a foreign card fee of about 200 INR per pull.
The bigger story is UPI, the Unified Payments Interface. UPI runs almost every transaction here. Street vendors, auto-rickshaw drivers, grocery shops, fuel stations, and temple offering boxes accept UPI through QR codes. Foreign tourists can register on UPI One World through booths at major airports and load up to 100,000 INR per month on a prepaid wallet linked to a passport and visa. RuPay is the domestic card network, and Visa, Mastercard, and AmEx work at almost every mid-range and upmarket establishment.
For low-budget travelers, my low-budget places guide has the per-day cost breakdown.
6. Visa: e-Visa is Your Easiest Path
India offers the e-Visa to citizens of 165+ countries through indianvisaonline.gov.in. Categories: tourist (30 days, 1 year, 5 years), business, medical, conference. Tourist e-Visa fees range from USD 25 for the 30-day version to USD 80 for the 1- and 5-year versions. And processing completes in 72 to 96 hours. Print the approval and present it at immigration along with your passport, which must have 6 months validity and 2 blank pages. The 1- and 5-year versions are multiple entry, with each stay capped at 90 days for most nationalities and 180 days for citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.
7. Time Zone: One Clock for the Whole Country
India runs on a single time zone, Indian Standard Time, UTC+5:30. And no daylight saving. Sunrise in Mumbai at 6:15 AM means sunrise in Kolkata around 5:00 AM (local sun, same clock). The half-hour offset is one of the few in the world and trips up calendar invites all the time, so double-check that your calendar app has IST and not the closest neighbouring zone.
8. Transport: The 4th Largest Rail Network on Earth
Indian Railways operates a network of about 68,000 route kilometres, the 4th largest national rail system in the world. It runs around 13,000 passenger trains daily, ferrying close to 24 million passengers a day. Book through irctc.co.in or the IRCTC Rail Connect app; foreign tourists register using a passport.
Class options matter. Sleeper class (SL) is the cheapest at 350 to 500 INR for an overnight 600-km trip, but it's fan-cooled. 3rd AC (3A) is the sweet spot at 1,200 to 1,600 INR for the same route, with bedding included. 2nd AC (2A) at 2,000 to 2,800 INR has more privacy with curtains. 1st AC (1A) goes 4,000+ but is rare. The Vande Bharat Express, the semi-high-speed flagship, runs Mumbai to Delhi in around 12 hours at 3,500 INR for chair car, including a hot meal and bottled water. Plus bedding (sheet, pillow, blanket, towel) comes free in all AC classes. E-catering through Zoop and IRCTC eCatering delivers hot meals to your seat at the next station.
For a stretch where the train shines, see my 7-day Kerala itinerary which uses the Konkan Railway for the scenic legs.
9. Religion: A Demographic Snapshot
Census numbers put the religious split roughly at: Hinduism 79.8 percent, Islam 14.2 percent, Christianity 2.3 percent, Sikhism 1.7 percent, Buddhism 0.7 percent, Jainism 0.4 percent, with the rest covering tribal religions, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and others. India is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism.
For visitors this matters at temples, mosques, gurudwaras, and churches. Cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes, leave leather outside Jain temples, cover your head at gurudwaras and most mosques. The Golden Temple in Amritsar allows photos from the perimeter; the sanctum is off-limits. Most Hindu temples allow exterior photos but ban inner-sanctum shots.
10. Festivals and Public Holidays
The festival calendar shapes hotel rates, train availability, and crowd levels. Key dates:
- Republic Day, January 26
- Holi, March, the colour festival
- Eid-ul-Fitr, varies (April or May 2026)
- Independence Day, August 15
- Diwali, October or November, 5 days, the biggest festival
- Christmas, December 25
- Regional: Onam (Kerala, August or September), Pongal (Tamil Nadu, January), Durga Puja (West Bengal, October), Ganesh Chaturthi (Maharashtra, August or September)
Train tickets sell out 60 to 120 days ahead during Diwali week. Hotel rates in Goa, Kerala, and Rajasthan double or triple between December 20 and January 5. Holi week and Onam are great cultural windows but plan transport early.
11. Food: A Map That Changes Every 200 Kilometres
India has one of the largest vegetarian populations in the world. Roughly 30 to 40 percent are vegetarian by survey. Almost every restaurant has a separate vegetarian menu; many are pure vegetarian. Halal options are common in Muslim-majority neighbourhoods. Regional cuisine shifts dramatically:
- North (Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, UP): wheat roti, butter chicken, dal makhani, paneer, tandoori cooking. Average thali 200 to 400 INR.
- West (Rajasthan, Gujarat): dal-baati-churma, gatte ki sabzi, dhokla, undhiyu. Gujarati thali 250 to 500 INR.
- South (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra): rice-based, dosa, idli, sambar, chettinad, appam, fish curry. South Indian thali 100 to 300 INR.
- East (West Bengal, Odisha): rice and fish, mustard oil, mishti doi, rasgulla. Bengali fish thali 300 to 600 INR.
- Northeast: bamboo shoot, fermented fish, sticky rice, pork. Less spicy, distinct flavours.
Street food is cheap and excellent but stick to busy stalls with high turnover. Pani puri 30 to 80 INR a plate, samosas 15 to 30 INR each, masala dosa 80 to 150 INR. I drink only sealed bottled water (Bisleri, Aquafina, Kinley, Himalayan), 20 to 30 INR for a 1-litre bottle.
12. Tipping, Bargaining, and Daily Costs
Tipping is appreciated but not systematic. Restaurant tip 10 percent if no service charge is added. Hotel housekeeping 50 to 100 INR per night. Bell boy 50 to 100 INR per bag. Tour guide 200 to 500 INR for a half day. App cabs (Ola, Uber) need no tip; prepaid airport taxis or full-day hires, 100 to 300 INR.
Bargaining is expected at markets, with auto-rickshaw drivers (where meters aren't used), at handicraft shops, and with pre-paid taxi touts. Start at 40 to 50 percent of the asked price and settle around 60 to 70 percent. Malls, supermarkets, and restaurants are fixed-price. Government emporiums and Khadi stores are also fixed-price and reliable for souvenirs.
Quick Reference Table: Numbers Worth Memorising
| Fact | Number | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Land area | 3.29 million km2 | Country is the size of Western Europe combined |
| Coastline | 7,517 km | Beach options on three sides |
| Population (2026) | 1.42 billion | Crowded cities, plan transfers carefully |
| Official languages | 22 + Hindi + English | English works for travel |
| Currency | INR, 1 USD = ~84 INR | Use UPI, ATMs, or cards |
| Time zone | IST UTC+5:30 | Single zone, no DST |
| Power | 230V, 50Hz, Type C/D/M plug | Bring a universal adapter |
| Rail network | 68,000 km | 4th largest in the world |
| Tap water | Not safe | Always sealed bottled, 20-30 INR |
| e-Visa fee | USD 25-80 | Apply 4-7 days before flight |
| Diwali (2026) | November 8 | Hotels and trains book out 90 days early |
| Best tourism window | Dec to Feb | 18-28 C across most of the country |
| SIM card | 220 INR/month for 1GB/day | Jio or Airtel at airport, passport needed |
| Climate zones | 6 | Snow, desert, beach, jungle in one country |
13. Mobile Connectivity, Power, and Water
Get a SIM at the airport on arrival. And both Jio and Airtel have counters at every major international terminal. Bring passport, visa, and two passport-size photos. Activation takes 30 minutes to 4 hours. Tourist plans run around 220 INR for 28 days with 1 GB per day and unlimited calls. Longer 84-day plans go around 700 INR. Jio runs 5G in 200+ cities; Airtel 5G in 150+ cities. Metro 5G speeds average 70 to 200 Mbps.
India runs on 230 volts, 50 Hz. Plug standards are Type C (Europlug), Type D (three round pins in a triangle), and Type M (the larger three round-pin variant). Most hotels have universal sockets accepting C, D, M, A, and G. Bring a universal travel adapter. Voltage matches continental Europe and the UK. North American 110V appliances need a step-down converter unless dual-voltage (most laptops, phone chargers, and shavers are).
Tap water isn't safe anywhere in India, including 5-star hotels. Always sealed bottled water, 20 to 30 INR per litre. Skip ice outside premium hotels. Plus vaccinations: hepatitis A, typhoid, and tetanus are standard. Hepatitis B for longer stays. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the Andaman Islands, parts of Odisha, the Northeast, and rural areas during and after monsoon.
14. Safety, Solo Travel, and Domestic Flights
India is broadly safe for tourists who use common sense, but solo female travelers need extra care. Avoid empty streets after dark, use Ola or Uber instead of street autos at night, keep someone informed of your day plan, choose accommodation in well-reviewed neighbourhoods. Kerala, Sikkim, Goa (off-season), Pondicherry, and Himachal hill towns are widely considered the easiest starting points.
For a fuller breakdown, see my solo travel safety guide. Pair it with the cheapest places guide for longer trips.
Domestic aviation has matured fast. IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet cover almost every route. But a Delhi-Mumbai one-way booked 4 weeks out runs 4,500 to 6,500 INR. Same-day bookings can hit 12,000+. Reach 90 minutes before domestic departure, 3 hours for international.
15. Useful Apps to Install Before You Land
- Ola and Uber: cab booking, both work with foreign credit cards.
- IRCTC Rail Connect: official train booking.
- MakeMyTrip or Booking.com: flight and hotel.
- Zomato and Swiggy: food delivery, available in 600+ cities.
- Google Pay or PhonePe: UPI wallets if you set them up.
- Google Translate: offline language packs.
- Maps.me or offline Google Maps: backup when 4G drops.
16. Regional Windows and the Kerala Question
When to visit shifts by region. But kerala peaks October to March: October ends the monsoon and the green is at its most lush, November and December bring dry coastal air, January is cool, February is comfortable, March is the start of the heat. My Kerala best month guide has month-by-month detail.
Rajasthan and the desert belt: October to March only; plains hit 45+ in summer. Himachal and Uttarakhand: April to June and September to October for hill towns; Ladakh opens June through September only because the passes close in winter. Northeast (Sikkim, Meghalaya, Assam): October to April for clear skies.
17. Cash vs Card vs UPI, Cultural Notes, and Emergency Numbers
UPI for sub-1,000 INR: street food, auto-rickshaws, small shops, tea stalls. Card for restaurants, hotels, malls, fuel stations. Cash for tips, temple donations, rural areas, taxi drivers without UPI, and bargained markets. And i carry 3,000 to 5,000 INR in mixed denominations and pull from ATMs every 4 to 5 days.
Eating with the right hand is the norm; the left hand is considered impure for food. Cutlery is standard in any urban restaurant. Removing shoes before entering homes and most temples is mandatory. But the head wobble can mean yes, agreement, listening, or sometimes no, depending on context. Dress modestly at religious sites and in smaller towns.
Emergency numbers: 112 is the single emergency number since 2019. 100 police, 101 fire, 102 ambulance, 108 state emergency response, 1363 tourist helpline in 12 languages, 24/7. Save 112 and 1363 before leaving the airport.
GST is built into the printed MRP on every packaged product. Restaurant bills add 5 percent GST (non-AC) or 18 percent (luxury hotels). Hotel rooms add 12 percent below 7,500 INR per night and 18 percent above. Official tourism portal: incredibleindia.org. Rail booking: irctc.co.in. Indian Railways: indianrailways.gov.in. For neutral cross-reference, Wikivoyage's India page and Wikipedia's India article are good starting points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the best time of year for a first-time India trip?
December to February gives the most comfortable weather across most of the country. Daytime is 18 to 28 degrees Celsius, monsoon has cleared, and clear skies are the norm. Avoid May to September for north and central India because of summer heat and monsoon, but Kerala and Goa shoulder seasons (September, March) are surprisingly good.
Q2: Is the e-Visa enough or do I need to visit an embassy?
For tourism stays of up to 90 days, the e-Visa from indianvisaonline.gov.in is enough for citizens of 165+ countries. You only need an embassy visa for longer stays, employment, study, journalism, or research. Apply 4 to 7 days before travel; it usually approves in 72 to 96 hours.
Q3: How much money should I budget per day?
Backpacker: 1,500 to 2,500 INR per day (USD 18 to 30). Mid-range: 4,000 to 7,000 INR (USD 48 to 85) covering 3-star hotel, restaurant meals, AC trains. Comfort: 12,000 to 20,000 INR (USD 145 to 240) for 4- and 5-star stays, private cab, fine dining.
Q4: Can I drink the water at hotels?
No. Even at 5-star hotels, drink only sealed bottled water. Tap water and ice from outside premium hotel restaurants is risky. A 1-litre bottle costs 20 to 30 INR.
Q5: Will my phone work, and how do I get a local SIM?
Most international phones work on 4G and 5G. Buy a Jio or Airtel SIM at the airport with passport, visa, and two photos. Plans start at 220 INR for 28 days with 1 GB per day. eSIM through Airalo from USD 4 per GB if you skip the counter.
Q6: Are trains a good way to travel?
Yes, especially for 400 to 1,500 km routes. Book through irctc.co.in or IRCTC Rail Connect with a passport. Choose 3rd AC or 2nd AC for comfort; both include bedding. Vande Bharat Express is the new flagship service for major routes.
Q7: Do I need to tip, and how much?
Restaurants 10 percent if no service charge. Hotel housekeeping 50 to 100 INR per night. Bell boy 50 to 100 INR per bag. Tour guide 200 to 500 INR for a half day. Ola/Uber drivers, no tip.
Q8: Is India safe for solo women travelers?
Yes with normal caution. Avoid empty streets after dark, use Ola or Uber rather than street autos at night, choose well-reviewed accommodation. Kerala, Sikkim, Goa (off-season), Pondicherry, and Himachal hill towns are the easiest entry points.
Final Word
These facts are the operating manual I wish I had on my first long trip. Print the table, save 112 and 1363, install the apps, get the e-Visa, and pick the right month. Matching the right region to the right season is the single biggest decision you make. Plan smart, drink sealed water, and keep cash for the auto-rickshaw who doesn't have UPI.
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