Health
Reference only, not medical advice. Use safe food/water habits: drink sealed or treated water, avoid ice of uncertain source, and choose food served hot. Mosquito-borne illnesses occur, including dengue, chikungunya, Zika and malaria; use repellent, covered clothing and screened/AC rooms. CDC notes malaria risk in many areas, but not in areas above 2,000 m in several Himalayan/highland states/UTs. For Ladakh, Sikkim, Himachal or other high-altitude trips, ascend gradually and plan rest days. Heat illness can be serious in hot seasons; hydrate, limit midday exertion and use sun protection. Avoid animal bites, especially dogs/monkeys, and seek urgent care after bites or scratches.
Vaccinations
Consult a doctor or travel clinic at least a month before travel. Be up to date on routine vaccines, including MMR, polio, tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, influenza, varicella, shingles when eligible, and COVID-19. CDC commonly recommends hepatitis A and typhoid for India; hepatitis B is recommended for many unvaccinated travelers. Japanese encephalitis, rabies, cholera, chikungunya vaccination, and malaria prevention may be considered depending on itinerary, season, length of stay and activities. Yellow fever vaccine is not recommended for India itself and is not required for direct travel from the United States, but India requires a yellow-fever certificate for travelers aged 9 months or older arriving from, or recently transiting risk countries under specified conditions.
eSIM / connectivity
eSIM is widely supported on compatible phones by major Indian carriers including Jio, Airtel and Vi. Jio and Airtel support online/app-based conversion to eSIM for existing or new local service, and Vi publishes eSIM activation steps. Travelers should expect Indian KYC/identity checks for local SIM/eSIM activation, so an official carrier store or airport telecom counter is often the practical route for a local prepaid data option. International travel eSIMs can be bought before arrival, but they are usually roaming products rather than local Indian carrier accounts.
Health/vaccine info is reference only, not medical advice — consult a doctor or travel clinic; defer to CDC/WHO and official sources (as of 2026-06-20).