Are credit cards widely accepted in India?
Credit cards are being accepted in an increasing number of cafes, shops, restaurants and accommodations in India, with Mastercard and Visa being the most common. That said, cash is still king, especially outside of cities like Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai.
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, has spent years pushing for India to become a cashless economy. In 2016, to combat tax evasion and illegal activities, Modi announced that India’s two most common bank notes would be worthless. The two notes accounted for 86 per cent of India’s cash and the following months saw absolute chaos, with locals having to spend hours lining outside banks to swap their notes over. Though that experiment is now considered a failure, Modi has continued to steer India towards a cashless economy.
It’s impossible to say whether India will become a cashless economy, particularly given the reliance the economy has on cash and the staggering number of Indians who do not have a bank account, but the push will see more and more places accepting credit cards as time goes on.
Our tours in India
14 Days
From
2722
Take in north India’s fabled cities and encounter the exotic wildlife of Ranthambhore...
8 Days
From
600
Take an action-packed eight-day tour through the essential sights and bites of India’s...
15 Days
From
987
Travel to India and visit the Rajasthan region. Tour from Delhi to Pushkar through...
10 Days
From
2015
Take a 10-day India Premium adventure with Intrepid through the country’s north,...
13 Days
From
2461
Join Intrepid on a Premium adventure to explore the beaches, bazaars and backwaters of...
Tailor-Made trips
Take two or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary
22 Days
From
4840
Join Intrepid on a Premium adventure to explore opulent places, holy Ganges, dense...
15 Days
From
1377
Travel to India and Nepal on a tour from Delhi to Kathmandu. Visit the Taj Mahal of...
11 Days
From
473
Get the most out of 11 days in India on this trip exploring the best of Delhi, Varanasi...
15 Days
From
1609
See the best of Rajasthan on this 15-day tour. Behold the delights of Agra, Jaipur,...
22 Days
From
720
See the essentials of India’s north on a 22-day trip through Delhi, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur,...
10 Days
From
1005
Take an action-packed family tour of India, following tiger trails, visiting Delhi and...
15 Days
From
1717
Relish the sights and flavours of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai and Goa on this...
13 Days
From
1310
Travel to India and visit Delhi, Shimla, Mandi, Dharamsala, Rishikesh and Amritsar on...
15 Days
From
1233
Explore the tropical and spiritual southern India. Ride the toy train in Ooty, relax in...
15 Days
From
908
Discover India in all its glory on this 15-day spice-filled adventure from Delhi...
16 Days
From
876
See the landscapes of South India on a 16-day adventure from Varkala to Goa via Kerala...
11 Days
From
484
Join us for a jaunt around north India, with rickshaws in Delhi, spirituality in...
13 Days
From
717
Explore India and Nepal with other folks aged 18-29 on this 13-day adventure including...
9 Days
From
1312
Visit ancient temples and colourful cities on this northern India adventure through...
15 Days
From
848
Get on the road from Kathmandu to Delhi on a trip from Nepal to India, through Pokhara,...
19 Days
From
2165
Spend 19 days touring India and Nepal, departing from Delhi and visiting Jaipur, Agra,...
16 Days
From
600
Get an authentic slice of the real Rajasthan on a trip that takes you to Delhi,...
13 Days
From
1855
Explore the backroads of India’s south on this 13-day tour. Travel from Chennai to...
37 Days
From
1594
Discover the colours and cultures of India on this trip visiting Delhi, Rajasthan's...
15 Days
From
1630
Travel to India and cycle the romantic Rajasthan region. Tour from Delhi to Pushkar and...
11 Days
From
895
Discover northern India on this tour through Delhi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Nimaj,...
29 Days
From
2168
This 29-day tour traverses India from south to north, winding from Kochi to Delhi and...
10 Days
From
1220
Your whole family will love this incredible sensory adventure into the diverse life of...
20 Days
From
1133
From the deserts of Rajasthan to the holiest river around, India will blow you away....
21 Days
From
3568
Get a cultural insight into India’s north and south, travelling through Delhi, Agra,...
12 Days
From
1045
Join an all-women group and female leader on an inspiring 12-day Women’s Expedition...
20 Days
From
1605
Spend time in Kathmandu and Pokhara and then see where Buddha did his thing. Get active...
19 Days
From
1810
Visit India and tour the famous Golden Triangle of Dehli, Agra, and Jaipur, delve into...
3 Days
From
265
Visit India and travel from Delhi to Agra. Travel to the Taj Mahal and Agra’s Red Fort,...
4 Days
From
245
Lift your spirits as you float on the Ganges at dawn in Varanasi, and explore the city...