Last updated: October 26, 2026
What you need to know in one paragraph: For most India trips, a travel eSIM is the easiest way to get online. You install it at home and it works on Jio or Airtel when you land. You can also buy a local Airtel SIM at Delhi or Mumbai airport with your passport and visa, but it takes paperwork and time. Travel eSIMs don't work in Ladakh or Jammu and Kashmir, so plan on a local SIM there. Everyday apps work without a VPN, and the UPI One World wallet lets tourists pay with QR codes like locals.
Looking for plans and prices? See Best eSIM for India or the full provider comparison.
Before you fly
- Check your visa. Many nationalities can apply for India's e-Tourist Visa online. Check the rules for your passport well ahead of time.
- Install your eSIM at home, on Wi-Fi.
- Turn off data roaming on your main line, so your home SIM can't run up charges.
- Download the apps: Uber, Ola and Rapido for rides, IRCTC or a train app for bookings, Google Maps with offline maps, and Google Translate with offline Hindi plus the language of the region you're visiting.
- Book the big things ahead: Taj Mahal tickets and popular train routes in peak season (October to March).
eSIM or a local SIM?
A travel eSIM is set up at home, works when you land, and keeps your home number active for WhatsApp. It's the easy choice for most trips.
A local Airtel SIM is possible. Airtel counters at Delhi T3 and Mumbai T2 arrivals sell to foreigners. You'll need:
- your passport and Indian visa
- the address of your hotel or a local contact
Expect a queue and a wait before it's fully active. The connection only lasts as long as your visa allows. Jio is harder for foreigners to get, since its normal sign-up relies on India's Aadhaar ID.
Pick a local SIM if you're staying for months, or going to Ladakh or Kashmir.
Ladakh and Kashmir: eSIMs don't work
This is the one that catches people out.
For security reasons, foreign SIMs, international roaming and travel eSIMs generally don't connect in Jammu and Kashmir or Ladakh. Even prepaid SIMs from other Indian states stop working there. Only Indian postpaid SIMs, and prepaid SIMs bought locally, connect.
If Leh, Nubra, Pangong or Srinagar is on your trip:
- buy a local SIM at an operator office in Leh or Srinagar, with your passport and visa
- BSNL usually has the widest coverage in Ladakh, with Airtel and Jio strongest around Leh
- expect Wi-Fi in Leh cafés and guesthouses, but power cuts can interrupt it
- download offline maps for the whole route before you go
Your travel eSIM will work again as soon as you're back in other parts of India.
What works online
Works normally: Google, Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Uber and Ola.
Banned in India: a number of Chinese apps, including TikTok and WeChat.
Local shutdowns: India occasionally suspends mobile internet in a specific area during unrest, most often in Kashmir or parts of the northeast. It's rare on tourist routes.
Do you need a VPN? No.
Paying as a tourist
India runs on UPI, where you pay by scanning a QR code. Street stalls, rickshaws and small shops often prefer it.
- UPI One World is a prepaid UPI wallet for foreign visitors. You sign up with your passport and visa, load it with money, and pay at any UPI QR code. It's offered through authorised providers, including at some airports.
- Cards work at hotels, malls and bigger restaurants.
- Cash in rupees is still useful for small purchases and tips.
You'll need data for UPI, so have your eSIM working first.
Getting around
- Ride apps: Uber and Ola work in most big cities. Rapido is popular for autos and bike taxis. Compare prices, since they vary by city and time of day.
- Auto-rickshaws: agree the price before you set off, or use a ride app to see a fair fare.
- Trains: popular routes like Delhi to Agra and Delhi to Jaipur sell out in peak season. Book ahead and keep your ticket on your phone.
- Drivers call you: ride drivers often phone to find you. Keeping your home number active on WhatsApp helps.
The Taj Mahal
- Closed on Fridays.
- Book your ticket online on the official ASI website ahead of time, especially for sunrise in peak season.
- Save your ticket as a screenshot. The signal is fine, but the crowds at the gate can slow it down.
Coverage expectations
- Big cities: excellent 4G and 5G.
- Golden Triangle, Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala: strong 4G on the main routes.
- Kerala backwaters and desert safaris: patchy.
- Himachal and Spiti: good in towns, gaps on mountain roads, very limited in Spiti.
- Ladakh and Kashmir: travel eSIMs don't work.
How much data to buy
| Trip | Data |
|---|---|
| City break | 3GB |
| Golden Triangle, 7 to 10 days | 5GB |
| Two weeks | 10GB |
| A month | 20GB |
India is data-heavy, between maps, ride apps, translation and UPI payments, so buy a bit more than you think.
The five mistakes that leave people offline
- Counting on an eSIM in Ladakh or Kashmir. It won't connect there. Plan on a local SIM.
- Leaving the app downloads until you land. Uber, Ola, IRCTC and Translate are easier to set up at home.
- Buying too little data. Maps and translation all day add up quickly in India.
- Leaving data roaming on for your home SIM. It can quietly run up charges.
- Not booking trains and the Taj ahead in peak season. You need data to fix it on the spot, and slots sell out.
Frequently asked questions
Can tourists buy a SIM card in India?
Yes. Airtel counters at Delhi and Mumbai airports sell SIMs to foreigners with a passport, visa and local address. It takes some time to activate. Most short-trip visitors use an eSIM instead.
Do eSIMs work in Ladakh?
No. Travel eSIMs, foreign SIMs and international roaming don't work in Ladakh or Jammu and Kashmir. Buy a local SIM in Leh or Srinagar.
Can tourists use UPI in India?
Yes, through the UPI One World wallet, which foreign visitors can sign up for with their passport and visa.
Does WhatsApp work in India?
Yes, along with Google, Instagram and YouTube. Some Chinese apps, like TikTok, are banned.
Do I need a VPN in India?
No.
Is the Taj Mahal open every day?
No, it's closed on Fridays.
The bottom line
Install a travel eSIM at home for the easy start, sort out your apps before you fly, and plan on a local SIM if you're heading to Ladakh or Kashmir. Everything else in India runs smoothly once you're connected.
More on India: Best eSIM for India and India eSIMs compared.