Should I book trains months in advance?

Yes. Popular sleeper train routes sell out weeks in advance. If your travel dates are fixed, book these via the IRCTC portal the moment they open.

Is it safe to book accommodation on arrival?

Yes, in most backpacker hubs. However, always arrive in a new city before sunset to make finding a place easier and safer.

What is the best way to pay for bookings?

Use a travel-friendly debit card with no foreign transaction fees. Always choose to pay in local currency (INR) when prompted by card machines.

Booking a Three-Month Backpacking Trip Through India on a Budget

Book your arrival flight and first three nights of accommodation in advance, but leave the rest flexible to take advantage of local pricing. Use a combination of flight aggregators for long-hauls and local booking apps or walk-ins for daily stays to save 30-40% compared to Western booking platforms.

Book the 'Open Jaw' flight. Search for an 'open-jaw' ticket—flying into one city (e.g., Delhi) and out of another (e.g., Mumbai or Bengaluru)—rather than a round trip. Use Google Flights to track prices 3-4 months out, as India-bound flights are cheapest when booked at least 90 days in advance.
Secure your first 72 hours. Don't book all your hostels ahead of time. Book only the first three nights in your arrival city. This gives you a safe landing spot while you adjust to the climate and pace, allowing you to meet other travelers who will recommend better, cheaper local guesthouses.
Use local apps for domestic travel. Download the Ixigo or MakeMyTrip apps for domestic flights and trains. For trains, booking through the official IRCTC website or the 'ConfirmTkt' app is mandatory. Avoid third-party international travel sites for internal Indian travel, as they carry significant markups.
Adopt the 'walk-in' strategy. Once you move past your first city, use booking platforms like Hostelworld or Booking.com only to identify areas with high concentrations of budget guesthouses. Once in that neighborhood, walk in and ask for a room; you will almost always pay 15-20% less than the online rate.

Should I book trains months in advance?: Yes. Popular sleeper train routes sell out weeks in advance. If your travel dates are fixed, book these via the IRCTC portal the moment they open.
Is it safe to book accommodation on arrival?: Yes, in most backpacker hubs. However, always arrive in a new city before sunset to make finding a place easier and safer.
What is the best way to pay for bookings?: Use a travel-friendly debit card with no foreign transaction fees. Always choose to pay in local currency (INR) when prompted by card machines.