South Asia in 2026 is the region where your preconceptions get scrambled first and actually make sense later. Seven countries with wildly different characters - from Nepal's Himalayan foothills to Maldives' coral atolls, from India's chaotic maximalism to Sri Lanka's lush island pace - share a deeply practical traveler infrastructure that's only gotten better. Costs are still low if you know where to look, and the food alone is reason enough to spend months here.
Updated 2026
Overview and Things to Consider
South Asia isn't one destination - it's a collection of seven distinct travel cultures loosely held together by shared history, spice traditions, and the legacies of the British Raj. India dominates by sheer scale and complexity: nearly 1.5 billion people, 22 official languages, and a sensory intensity that either energizes you or overwhelms you in the first 48 hours. Nepal offers mountain escape and spiritual focus. Sri Lanka is the convenience play - compact, reliable, and genuinely easy to navigate despite monsoons. Bangladesh is genuinely undiscovered by mainstream tourism, which makes it compelling for travelers looking to avoid the backpacker circuits. Pakistan is opening up again after years of cautious warnings, and 2026 is seeing real momentum. Bhutan remains strictly regulated but worth the premium prices. The Maldives is the resort exception - technically South Asian geographically but feeling closer to luxury tourism than overland travel.
This is the right region for travelers who thrive on contradiction: extreme poverty and new wealth existing on the same street, ancient temples coexisting with tech hubs, brutal heat alongside mountain snow. It's not for travelers who need everything to be comfortable or consistent. It is, however, the best value region on earth if you're willing to move slowly, eat street food without anxiety, and accept that things work on their own timeline rather than published schedules.
2026 marks a shift in how South Asia travels. Domestic tourism has surged - Indians, Sri Lankans, and Pakistanis are traveling more within the region. Digital nomad infrastructure has sprouted in places like Varanasi, Colombo, and Kathmandu, meaning coworking spaces and reliable internet aren't fantasies anymore. Visa policies have loosened slightly. And, crucially, inflation has hit but so has labor cost growth, so your rupees, rupiahs, and taka still stretch further than anywhere else on earth.
Getting There and Around
Indira Gandhi International (DEL) in New Delhi is the main gateway, with connections from every major hub globally. Rajiv Gandhi International (HYD) in Hyderabad is increasingly used for cheaper onward connections. Bombay (BOM) is often cheaper from Western routes. Most travelers fly into Delhi or Bombay, then move regionally. Direct flights to Kathmandu (KTM), Colombo (CMB), and Lahore (LHE) exist but usually cost more than routing through Delhi first.
Within South Asia, trains are the soul of overland travel. India's rail system moves hundreds of millions of people daily and works - you can book online through Indian Railways or via third-party apps like Trainman, and overnight trains are still the best value accommodation-plus-transport you'll find. Sleeper class gets you a bunk and your dignity (mostly). Sri Lanka's railways are slower and more scenic than useful. Nepal has limited rail. Pakistan's rail network is expanding after years of underfunding. Bus networks exist everywhere - Greyhound-style megabuses in India with air-con and actual service, local buses where you'll see goats and three generations sharing your seat, it depends on the line. Local apps like Ixigo and Busbud handle Indian bookings. Ride-hailing exists through Uber and Ola - widely available in cities but a legitimately weird experience your first time when the driver is a cousin of your hotel owner and wants to plan your week.
Visa situations vary wildly. India offers a 60-day tourist visa for most nationalities, extendable once for another 30 days - apply online at indianvisaonline.gov.in and plan for delays. Nepal's 30-day visa-on-arrival is a breeze. Sri Lanka switched to online e-arrival in 2022, making entry nearly frictionless. Bangladesh is easier than its reputation: visa on arrival exists but applying in advance online is faster. Pakistan's security reputation is outdated - visas are available but technically require a sponsor letter, though organized tours handle this. Bhutan requires advance booking through a tour operator - you cannot visit independently. The Maldives offers 30-day visa-free for almost everyone. Within the region, overland borders exist between India-Nepal, India-Bangladesh, and India-Pakistan (the Wagah border near Amritsar is passable but bureaucratic). Most travelers stick to flying between countries rather than grinding through land borders.
Getting scammed: airport taxis are the biggest risk. Use Uber from the airport or negotiate pre-paid taxis at fixed rates inside arrivals. Once in cities, meters on taxis rarely work - settle on a price first or use Uber. Rickshaws are safe, charming, and cost almost nothing, though first-timers often overpay. Cash is still king outside major cities, though mobile payment apps like Google Pay are spreading rapidly. ATMs are everywhere. Carry a mix: cash, debit card, credit card. Indian SIM cards are easy to get - buy one at the airport with your passport and you'll have data cheaper than anywhere on earth.
What's Changed Since 2016
Infrastructure has upgraded faster than anyone expected. Major Indian cities now have metro systems - Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai all have working metros that are useful and dirt cheap. Sri Lanka's new expressways cut travel times dramatically. Internet is no longer a problem - you can get 4G for about $2 a month. Hotels and hostels now include reliable WiFi as baseline expectation rather than luxury. The backpacker trail has matured: places like Varanasi, Pushkar, and Jaipur have gentrified upward with craft coffee shops and yoga studios, making them less chaotic but also less authentically weird than five years ago.
Tourism has shifted geographically. Old reliable hotspots like Goa and the Taj Mahal remain busy, but travelers are increasingly venturing to second-tier cities: Udaipur instead of Jaipur, Hampi instead of standard south India tours, Jaisalmer instead of Delhi. This is partly because information spreads faster (Instagram and blogs have killed the 'secret' status of most places), and partly because improved domestic travel makes reaching lesser-known places easier. Nepal's tourism has recovered from the 2015 earthquake and is booming again - Kathmandu is remodeled and Pokhara's development has been aggressive.
Prices have inflated. Budget accommodation that cost $8/night now costs $15-20, especially in traveler zones. Food costs have risen but wages haven't equally, so locals are feeling more pressure. US dollar buying power is still strong but not the absurd advantage it was in 2015. Currency fluctuations matter more - the Indian rupee has been volatile. The bottom line: you can still travel cheaply, but you can't travel as cheaply as the 2010 blogs claim.
Attitudes toward travelers have changed too. In 2015, Western travelers were curiosities in many places. Now they're familiar presences - which means less staring, less hassle, but also less of that sense of being on an adventure. Pakistan's opening is the biggest shift: for years, security concerns kept Western travelers away entirely. In 2026, organized tours operate again and traveler infrastructure is returning. Bangladesh remains the most undiscovered country in the region - internet fame hasn't hit it like India or Sri Lanka.
Ideas to Consider for Your Visit
If you're in India for any length of time, spending at least a few days in a Himalayan foothills town like Dharamshala or Shimla makes sense - you get landscape variety and escape from the lowland intensity. Dharamshala (home to the Dalai Lama's exile government) has a different energy, with Tibetan culture integrated into the daily fabric. Spice markets in Kochi and Cochin smell like nothing you've encountered before. The Kerala backwaters are overhyped but the slower houseboats aren't the traveler traps people fear - take a boat south from Kottayam and you'll see fishing villages where agriculture and water rhythms matter more than tourism. Jaisalmer's golden fort deserves a few days of wandering rather than a single sunset visit. Varanasi is the place most travelers dread and come away transformed by - it's sensory overload that actually means something when you slow down. Visit in shoulder season and the Ganges ghats aren't actually claustrophobic.
Sri Lanka is compact enough to see meaningfully in two weeks, which makes it ideal for travelers with limited time. The Cultural Triangle (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya) represents ancient Buddhist civilization at scale. Ella is the new backpacker gathering point - hikers approach from two sides and the cooler elevation brings relief. Mirissa and Unawatuna are beach towns that feel less contrived than Goa. If you want wildlife, Yala National Park is wild and unfiltered compared to African safaris. The train ride from Kandy to Ella is considered one of the world's great rail journeys and it's cheap.
Nepal's trekking reputation is earned but mainstream trekks like Everest Base Camp are crowded now. The Annapurna Circuit takes longer but remains beautiful and less trafficked than EBC. Pokhara is useful as a base and Fewa Lake actually rewards a few days of lakeside sitting. Kathmandu's rebuilt Durbar Square shouldn't be skipped even though it's touristy. If you want to avoid crowds and see mountain villages, the Langtang Valley trek is 15 days of genuine trekking without the infrastructure circus of larger routes. Paragliding in Pokhara has become a serious activity - the views are real and the guides are professional.
Bangladesh's Sundarbans region is a unique ecosystem - the world's largest mangrove forest with Bengal tigers you might actually see. The logistics are more complex than India's major destinations, which is precisely why it remains undercrowded. Sylhet in the northeast has tea gardens and surprisingly good hiking. Dhaka itself is exhausting but worth a few days to understand contemporary South Asian urbanism. Cox's Bazar has the world's longest beach - a statement that's technically true but the beach itself is less scenic than Sri Lanka's options. Pakistan's Karakoram Highway is the draw - the Hunza Valley offers mountain culture with Baltit Fort as centerpiece, and the drive from Islamabad north is striking. Lahore is the cultural heart of Punjab, with Mughal architecture that predates Delhi's. The food scene in both Lahore and Islamabad has matured significantly in the last five years.
Bhutan requires more planning and expense than the region's other countries, but the Gross National Happiness philosophy translates into a destination where tourism is controlled. Hiking the Druk Path Trek is manageable and beautiful. The Tiger's Nest Monastery is famous for a reason. Thimphu and Paro feel peaceful compared to the regional chaos, though there's less spontaneous activity. The Maldives requires a separate mindset - it's resort tourism, not overland travel, with prices to match. Diving and snorkeling are legitimate (the coral is declining but still worth experiencing), and if island hopping between resorts appeals to you, it's genuine. Many travelers skip the Maldives in favor of spending that budget on longer time elsewhere. If you do go, island resorts are increasingly expensive; speedboat distance to inhabited islands and guesthouses provides slightly cheaper access to the same water.
Realities to Be Aware Of
Daily budget reality: you can spend $15-20 per day in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal if you're sleeping in basic rooms and eating street food. That's possible. Mid-range (decent hotel, restaurant meals, activities) runs $40-60. Comfortable travel (nice hotel, hired drivers, planned activities) runs $80-150. The spread is huge because you control most variables. Goa and major traveler zones will cost more. Smaller cities cost significantly less. Bangladesh and Pakistan are slightly cheaper across all categories.
Health realities: altitude affects people differently - Ladakh and Nepal's high treks can cause serious issues. Ascend slowly, hydrate massively, know the difference between normal altitude adjustment and high altitude pulmonary edema. Delhi Belly is real and usually mild if your digestion is remotely normal - eating street food is safer than trusting 'clean' hotel food because it's cooked fresh in front of you. Stick to hot food, avoid raw vegetables and ice. Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is smart, especially if trekking. Typhoid and Japanese encephalitis vaccinations matter if you're spending months here. Malaria is present in some regions (parts of southern India, Bangladesh's lowlands) - prophylaxis or mosquito avoidance in those areas matters. Dengue is spreading and there's no prophylaxis, just mosquito nets and repellent. Water safety is real - use a filter bottle or drink bottled water everywhere except major hotels claiming purified supplies. Heat is actually dangerous - dehydration comes before you feel it.
Safety specifics: India's reputation for harassment is outdated but not entirely inaccurate - women travelers report lower-level harassment (staring, unwanted attention) more than direct threats, but it varies hugely by location and how you move. Solo women travelers are common in the region and develop workarounds - some travel with temporary friends, others lean into cultural dress norms, many just navigate the same way they would anywhere. Major traveler areas are safe. Smaller towns are safer than you'd expect. Petty theft (phone snatching, bag slicing) happens in crowded places and trains. Keep valuables distributed and your day pack in front on crowded transit. Violent crime against travelers is extremely rare. Pakistan's security is not the problem its 2015 reputation suggests - security forces are visible, stable, and travelers are welcomed. Bangladesh is safe by global standards. Sri Lanka had a bombing cycle in 2019 but security has normalized. The Maldives has essentially no theft.
Cultural norms worth knowing: dress modestly, especially in religious sites and outside major cities. Shorts above the knee and sleeveless tops draw unnecessary attention. Eating with your right hand is the norm - left hand is reserved for bathroom hygiene. Tipping isn't mandatory but small tips (5-10%) in restaurants are appreciated. Haggling is expected in markets but not in restaurants or hotels. Touching feet (either pointing them at people or touching someone else's) is offensive. Cows are sacred in India - don't photograph them disrespectfully and definitely don't eat beef in Hindu-majority areas. Temple etiquette varies by site - generally remove shoes, cover shoulders and legs, and ask before photographing. LGBTQ+ travelers should know that while India's supreme court decriminalized homosexuality in 2018, conservative attitudes persist - public displays of affection between same-sex couples will draw negative attention. Nepal and Sri Lanka are more open. Pakistan remains conservative. Bangladesh is evolving but caution applies.
Common scams: gem stone 'deals' targeting travelers - if someone offers you a way to buy cheap rubies and sell them for profit at home, they're trafficking and you'll be arrested at customs. Avoid entirely. Tailors offering to mail custom clothes to your home - you'll never see them again. Forced rickshaw tours where drivers claim you're going to the wrong hotel and take you to jewelry or carpet shops they get commission from - establish your destination first. Hotel booking scams via email - book directly through hotel websites or trusted platforms. If you're in a tuk-tuk and the driver says your hotel is closed due to water/bugs/fire and tries to take you somewhere else, stay firm or exit and walk. These happen but aren't rampant.
If South Asia Is Part of a Longer Trip
South Asia works as a standalone region (most people spend 2-6 weeks here and feel satisfied) or as part of an Asia loop. The natural extensions are Southeast Asia to the east (most travelers go India - Nepal - Thailand or India - Sri Lanka - Thailand) or Central Asia to the north (China, Tajikistan). A common route: fly into Delhi, spend 3-4 weeks in India and Nepal, fly to Bangkok for Southeast Asia. Or: arrive Sri Lanka, spend 2-3 weeks there, fly to Colombo airport to connect to Southeast Asia. The Pakistan-Afghanistan border isn't practically crossable for travelers right now despite border opening. India-China border (Ladakh region) is administratively nightmare-level complicated. The logical South Asia regional loop is India - Nepal - Bangladesh - Sri Lanka but most travelers skip Bangladesh due to it being less known.
If flying from South Asia onward: Delhi and Bombay have the best flight connections globally. Colombo (Sri Lanka) connects well to Middle East and Southeast Asia. Bangkok is cheaper than flying from South Asia onward. Within-region flights (Delhi to Kathmandu, Colombo, Dhaka) cost $30-60 on budget carriers like IndiGo and SpiceJet, so flying between South Asian countries is often cheaper than buses. Flight time Delhi to Kathmandu is one hour. Delhi to Colombo is about 4 hours. Internal connections add up over time but can save days of ground transit.
Yearly Things to Consider
South Asia's climate is overwhelmingly driven by monsoon systems. The region experiences a summer monsoon (June-September) that brings heavy rain to the west coast and interior, a winter season (October-February) that's relatively dry and cool, and a shoulder season (March-May) that's hot and dry. The monsoon isn't continuous rain - it's afternoon deluges that still leave mornings for travel. Winter is the best time to visit most of South Asia, especially for trekking or mountainous areas. Summer heat can exceed 115°F in interior India. Altitude moderates temperature - Nepal and the Himalayas are cooler year-round, making them viable in shoulder season when lowland India is unbearable.
Sri Lanka's monsoons are geography-dependent - the west and south get rain May-July, the east and north get rain November-January. This means you can island-hop based on season: visit the south in summer when the north is wet, and flip in winter. The Maldives has a similar pattern: dry season November-April, monsoon May-October (though even the monsoon season is mostly warm and swimmable).
Climate by Month (Northern India/Nepal Focus - varies regionally)
Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainfall | Season | Notes
January | 72°F (22°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 0.2 in | High | Clear skies, cool, best trekking weather, flights book out
February | 77°F (25°C) | 54°F (12°C) | 0.2 in | High | Warmer than January, still excellent, Holi festival mid-month
March | 86°F (30°C) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 in | Shoulder | Heat building, dust storms possible, Holi season extends
April | 95°F (35°C) | 72°F (22°C) | 0.3 in | Shoulder | Very hot, some pre-monsoon thunderstorms, less crowded
May | 104°F (40°C) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.8 in | Shoulder | Peak heat, unbearable in lowlands, stay in mountains
June | 95°F (35°C) | 77°F (25°C) | 6.5 in | Low | Monsoon arrives, green begins, water levels rise, malaria risk increases
July | 88°F (31°C) | 72°F (22°C) | 9.2 in | Low | Heavy rain, landslides in hilly areas, roads sometimes impassable
August | 87°F (31°C) | 72°F (22°C) | 8.5 in | Low | Monsoon continues, Krishna Janmashtami festival early month
September | 86°F (30°C) | 70°F (21°C) | 5.5 in | Low | Monsoon ending, rivers still swollen, Ganesh Chaturthi festival
October | 84°F (29°C) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.2 in | Shoulder | Monsoon ends, sky clears, Diwali festival (late month), flowers bloom
November | 77°F (25°C) | 54°F (12°C) | 0.2 in | High | Perfect temperature, clear skies, peak season begins
December | 72°F (22°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 0.1 in | High | Peak season, most expensive, coolest month, Christmas tourism
Festival timing matters if you want cultural immersion or are avoiding crowds. Diwali (October-November, date changes yearly) is India's biggest festival - the region glows with lights and celebrations, hotels cost more, and some travelers consider it worth the premium. Holi (February-March, date changes) is the color festival - playful and chaotic. Holi can be exhausting if you're not prepared for the actual riot of color powder and water balloons. Eid (dates change yearly as Islamic calendar drifts) sees prayer concentrations in mosques and some businesses close. In heavily Muslim areas like Kashmir and parts of Bangladesh-Pakistan, Eid is a bigger deal than Diwali. Chinese New Year doesn't apply to South Asia's Buddhist areas but isn't ignored in Nepal.
Ideas for Itineraries
3 Days in South Asia
Three days barely scratches the surface, but you can hit one meaningful stop. Most travelers use this to visit Delhi and see the Taj Mahal as a day trip from Agra (Taj Mahal is 200km south, 3-4 hour train from Delhi, worth the rushed logistics). Alternatively, use it to island-hop in the Maldives where resorts are concentrated, or spend it in Kathmandu exploring temples and Durbar Square. The honest reality: three days is a long layover reframed as a trip. Budget for sleep recovery and decide if you want to move once or plant yourself. Moving daily burns time faster than you think.
5 Days in South Asia
This is the baseline useful length. Spend two days in Delhi (Red Fort, Chandni Chowk market, Old Delhi chaos), take the train overnight to Agra, spend one day Taj Mahal-focused including the evening light show and gardens, then train back or fly to another city. Or: land in Colombo, spend time in Kandy (two days for temples and cultural triangle groundwork), then beach time in Mirissa or Ella. Or: Kathmandu (two days temples and Bhaktapur), then day trip to Nagarkot for sunrise or Pokhara for lakes. The logic: concentrate on one region rather than trying to span the continent. At five days you can move once without losing all day to transit.
1 Week in South Asia
One week is the sweet spot for a single-country focus. India example: three days Delhi (old city, new city, Qutub Minar), overnight train to Agra (Taj Mahal, Agra Fort), train to Jaipur (City Palace, Hawa Mahal, local markets), return to Delhi. Adds up to a classic 'golden triangle' that covers Mughal history and Rajasthani culture. Sri Lanka example: Colombo base day one, train to Kandy (temples and central highlands) day two-three, Ella for hiking and train ride day four-five, beach in Mirissa or Unawatuna days six-seven. Nepal example: Kathmandu three days (temples, Durbar Square, surrounding valleys), Pokhara three days (lakeside relaxation, possibly a paragliding flight or day hike), fly back to Kathmandu for international flights. Pakistan example: Lahore (old walled city, food scene, Shalimar Gardens) three days, Islamabad two days, day trip to Rawalpindi. Bangladesh is harder to pack into one week - Dhaka (one day minimum to understand the city) plus Sylhet or Sundarbans (requiring multi-day travel). At one week you can move twice and still have meaningful time in each place.
2 Weeks or More in South Asia
Two weeks opens up real flexibility and the ability to move slowly. India: Delhi (3 days) - Agra (2 days) - Jaipur (2 days) - Pushkar (1-2 days for camel safari and market) - Udaipur (2-3 days for lake palaces and slower pace) - return to Delhi or fly south. Or: focus on the south and do Bangalore - Mysore - Ooty - Cochin - Kerala backwaters. Nepal gains a full trek option - Annapurna Circuit takes 12-15 days or you can combine three-day walks with valley time. Sri Lanka starts feeling lived-in rather than toured - you can add Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, and hike Adam's Peak without rushing. Pakistan: Lahore - Islamabad - Karakoram Highway drives begin to feel realistic. Bangladesh becomes feasible - add a Sundarbans tour to Dhaka-Sylhet itinerary. The Maldives at two weeks allows multiple island visits and learning a place. Digital nomads working on longer visas use this timeframe to base in one city (Chiang Mai equivalent: Kathmandu, Colombo, or Varanasi) and take side trips. Cities like Varanasi and Kathmandu now have coworking spaces (Sarvoday and similar) making one-month stays viable. Consider staying in a place for a full week or longer if you're working - the rhythm slows, you meet people, and spontaneity increases.
Countries in South Asia
South Asia Travel FAQ
Yes, Street food is often safer than restaurant food because it's cooked fresh in front of you, not sitting in a hotel kitchen. Stick to hot foods (dosas, samosas straight from oil, grilled items), avoid raw vegetables unless you trust the water source, and don't eat ice. Your digestive system will adjust within a few days. Most travelers' stomach issues come from milk products or dishes left sitting, not from street stalls. Use common sense: busy stalls with local customers turn over food faster, so lines indicate legitimacy.
Budget ranges are real. Ultra-budget (dorm beds, street food, free attractions): $15-20/day. Mid-range (private room, restaurant meals, paid activities): $40-60/day. Comfortable (nice hotel, hired drivers, planned experiences): $80-150/day. Traveler hotspots like Goa and Pushkar skew 20-30% higher. Smaller cities are 20-30% cheaper. Flights between countries and trekking guides add costs. If you're working remotely, staying in one place for a month is cheaper than moving constantly because accommodation costs drop for longer stays.
India: Apply in advance online (indianvisaonline.gov.in) for 60-day tourist visa, takes 5-10 days and costs $20-30. Nepal: 30-day visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, no advance booking needed. Sri Lanka: E-arrival online only (no on-arrival option since 2022), done in minutes for about $15. Bangladesh: Visa on arrival exists but applying online first is faster. Pakistan: Technically requires sponsorship but organized tours handle it; apply 2-3 weeks in advance. Bhutan: No independent tourism allowed, must book through approved tour operators. Most US/EU/Australian/Canadian citizens get visa-free or easy access. If you're serious about staying longer than 60 days in India, get your first visa in advance and plan an exit-return for the second visa.
Three weeks is enough to do one country well (all of India's highlights, or southern India, or all of Nepal, or the full Sri Lanka circuit). It's not enough to 'see' South Asia as a region - choose which country or region calls to you and go deep rather than shallow. India alone is so vast that three weeks is really two countries' worth of time compressed. Sri Lanka fits neatly into three weeks. Nepal can be done in two weeks with a trek. The travelers who regret their time frame are the ones who tried to hit six countries in three weeks - you spend all your time moving.
October to March is universally the best time - cool, clear skies, low humidity. November-February is peak season with prices to match. April-May is very hot but shoulder season prices are cheaper and it's less crowded. June-September is monsoon - rain is afternoon-heavy, leaving mornings for travel. It's visitable but riskier for landslides in hilly areas and malaria in lowlands. Avoid May if you can't handle 115°F+ heat. December 25 and New Year's week drive prices and crowd levels up significantly. Diwali (October-November) sees premium pricing. Holi (February-March) is chaotic but culturally rich if you're ready for actual color powder chaos, not Instagram versions.
Thousands of women travel South Asia solo annually. Violent crime against travelers is extremely rare. Low-level harassment (staring, unwanted attention) happens more than in Western countries, but managing it is possible through dress, movement, and attitude. Covering shoulders and knees reduces attention significantly. Some solo women stay in the same guesthouses for consistency and build community fast. Others move constantly and meet people on the road. Both strategies work. Trust your instincts about people and places, use the same street smarts you'd use anywhere, and remember that your vulnerability is partly perception - most people are helpful. Major cities are crowded and sometimes chaotic, but crowds mean safety in numbers.
Carry a mix: both cash and a debit card. ATMs are ubiquitous in cities and reliably work with international cards. Withdraw cash as you travel rather than carrying thousands. Keep some cash distributed (money belt plus pocket money) in case of pickpocketing. Credit cards work in traveler-facing restaurants and hotels but street food and local transport require cash. Use your bank's ATM or no-fee ATMs where possible to avoid fees (some charge 2-3% per withdrawal). Inform your bank you're traveling to avoid fraud blocks. Google Pay works in major Indian cities and is spreading - useful backup.
Standard recommendations: Typhoid (lasts 3 years), Japanese Encephalitis (if longer stay or rural areas), Hepatitis A and B (standard everywhere), yellow fever isn't required by South Asia but proof of vaccination is needed if you're arriving from countries with yellow fever. Malaria prophylaxis matters if visiting specific regions - parts of southern India, lowlands of Bangladesh, and some areas of Nepal. Dengue has no vaccine, only mosquito avoidance (nets, repellent). Bring a doctor's letter for any medications you're carrying. Pack your own basic medical kit: electrolyte salts, diarrhea meds, pain relief, antihistamine, anti-diarrhea meds. Travel insurance with medical evacuation is smart. See a travel doctor 4-6 weeks before departure for personalized recommendations.