Before you fly

Your trip checklist

• Visa A tourist visa or an e-Visa, depending on how long you're staying. There's a quick picker further down.

  Details

  • Tourist visa: through the S.M. Ashrot agency, 5 Dravinov St, Tel Aviv, 03-5250332
  • e-Visa: on the Indian government's official website, or through S.M. Ashrot
  • You can't apply in person at the embassy
• Passport and visa copies A printed copy in your bag and a digital one in your inbox. Keep the passport itself on you at all times.

  Details

  • You'll need your passport at hotels, to get a SIM card, and more
  • Visa lost or stolen? Go to the FRRO office in R.K. Puram, Mon–Fri ⁦9:30⁠–⁠15:00⁩, and get there early
  • Bring a letter from the embassy, a police report, a passport photo, the C form from your hotel, copies and the fee
  • Visa extensions at the FRRO: usually two weeks at most
• Travel insurance We compare Harel, Phoenix and PassportCard further down the page.

  Details

  • All three let you extend your policy while abroad
  • Going trekking? Check the extreme sports add-on
  • Worried about canceling your flight? Some policies even cover "cancel for any reason"
• Cash in US dollars Change it in India as you need it. Only change a little at the airport, where the rate is bad.

  Details

  • Cards work at hotels, restaurants and big stores, but small shops usually want cash
  • ATMs usually give up to 10,000 ₹ per withdrawal. SBI and Bank of India charge no extra fee
  • Money from Israel: use Western Union. It's sent from a post office there, and you pick it up on Main Bazaar with your passport
• Medicine and vaccines See your family doctor before you fly.

  Details

  • Pills: move them out of the boxes into a hard case, since blister packs tear in a backpack
  • Clalit, the Israeli health fund, keeps a list of recommended travel medicines on its website
  • The Chabad House has a medicine drawer, so you don't need to carry everything
• Don't drink the tap water Not anywhere in India, not even at a luxury hotel. Bottled water is cheap and sold everywhere.

  Details

  • Brush your teeth with bottled water too
  • Rinse fruit and vegetables with bottled water
• Pack light You can buy almost anything in India, usually for less. Just don't skip the things that really matter.

  Details

  • A small camping gas canister (230 g) costs about 550 ₹ in the shops near the Chabad House
  • Domestic flights in India sometimes won't take gas canisters
  • Satellite device? You can pack it, but you can't use it in India
• A suitcase for the Chabad House We bring you a suitcase of kosher food at the airport in Israel. You check it in, and your taxi in Delhi is on us.

  Details

  • On Air India an extra bag costs about $20, and we cover the difference
  • Ethiopian Airlines includes two checked bags
  • You're welcome to check what's inside when you receive it
  • Set it up with us on WhatsApp: ⁦+91 98118 76770⁩