Local travel

Travel delays

Travel delays are common.

Expect delays around days of national significance, including:

Republic Day, 26 January

Independence Day, 15 August

Fog often affects northern India, particularly during December and January. Fog may cause:

delays to air and rail travel

dangerous road travel conditions

Travel restrictions

You may need permission from Indian authorities to visit designated tribal areas, particularly in the north-east.

Some state and union territory governments restrict foreigners from travelling around these areas.

There are heavy penalties for entering a protected or restricted area without permission.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has temporarily excluded the following areas from the Protected Area regime:

Manipur

Mizoram

Nagaland

If you plan to visit a protected or restricted area:

seek advice from an embassy or consulate of India or the Ministry of Home Affairs

apply at least 4 weeks in advance

Driving permit

You can drive without an Indian driver's licence for 3 months, if you have both:

an International Driving Permit

your current Australian driver's licence

Your licence must be valid for the type of vehicle you are driving.

You need an Indian driver's licence if you will be driving in India for more than 3 months.

You insurance may be void if you have an accident without the correct licence. You could be liable for the accident as an unlicensed driver.

Road travel

Travelling by road in India can be dangerous.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), you are 3 times more likely to be killed in a motor vehicle accident in India than in Australia.

Accidents are common.

Hazards include:

aggressive local drivers

poorly maintained vehicles

poor quality roads

congested roads

roads shared with pedestrians, carts, cattle and other livestock

vehicles travelling in the wrong direction, often without warning

Travelling by road at night is particularly dangerous due to:

insufficient or non-existent lighting

other vehicles driving with headlights off or on high beam

If you hit a pedestrian or cow, you're at risk of being attacked or becoming a victim of extortion, even if you weren't driving the vehicle.

If it's unsafe to remain at the scene of an accident, go to the nearest police station.

To stay safe when driving:

avoid driving at night

avoid driving in fog

if you hit a pedestrian or cow go straight to the nearest police station

More information:

Motorcycles

If you plan on riding a motorbike:

check that your travel insurance policy covers you

exercise caution

Always wear a helmet.

Taxis

Use a pre-paid taxi service when you arrive at the airport.

It's difficult to verify if street taxis are legitimate.

Use taxi services booked from hotels or taxi stands. Don't hail taxis on the street.

Don't use private unmarked cars as taxis.

Rideshare apps are widely used in major cities. You can use these apps with a local SIM card.

Public transport

Bus and train services can be dangerous due to:

overcrowding

poor maintenance

drivers who don't have adequate training

fires

If you travel by train, find out where the emergency exits are located.

More information:

Sea travel

There may not be safety equipment, such as life jackets, on:

tourist boats

ferries

other small commercial craft

Before you book, check the operators' credentials and safety equipment.

More information:

Air travel

DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check India's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.

Some domestic flights recommenced on 25 May. The schedule is limited and flights have been cancelled at short notice. Monitor local media and follow the advice of local authorities.

On 17 April 2019, Jet Airways announced the suspension of all domestic and international flights.

For information about refunds and alternative travel options, contact:

Jet Airways

your travel agent

your ticket provider, in the case of Qantas codeshare bookings

More information: