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.

Return to India FAQs

Our tours in India

15 Days From 1778

Travel to India and visit the Rajasthan region. Tour from Delhi to Pushkar through...

8 Days From 1042

Take an action-packed eight-day tour through the essential sights and bites of India’s...

11 Days From 740

Get the most out of 11 days in India on this trip exploring the best of Delhi, Varanasi...

15 Days From 3090

See the best of Rajasthan on this 15-day tour. Behold the delights of Agra, Jaipur,...

22 Days From 1273

See the essentials of India’s north on a 22-day trip through Delhi, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur,...

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

14 Days From 3769

Take in north India’s fabled cities and encounter the exotic wildlife of Ranthambhore...

10 Days From 3938

Take a 10-day India Premium adventure with Intrepid through the country’s north,...

15 Days From 2205

Explore the tropical and spiritual southern India. Ride the toy train in Ooty, relax in...

15 Days From 1900

Travel to India and Nepal on a tour from Delhi to Kathmandu. Visit the Taj Mahal of...

10 Days From 1155

Take an action-packed family tour of India, following tiger trails, visiting Delhi and...

13 Days From 1929

Travel to India and visit Delhi, Shimla, Mandi, Dharamsala, Rishikesh and Amritsar on...

13 Days From 4460

Join Intrepid on a Premium adventure to explore the beaches, bazaars and backwaters of...

15 Days From 1250

Discover India in all its glory on this 15-day spice-filled adventure from Delhi...

16 Days From 1320

See the landscapes of South India on a 16-day adventure from Varkala to Goa via Kerala...

22 Days From 8622

Join Intrepid on a Premium adventure to explore opulent places, holy Ganges, dense...

12 Days From 1602

Join an all-women group and female leader on an inspiring women’s expedition through...

15 Days From 2624

Relish the sights and flavours of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai and Goa on this...

13 Days From 2304

Explore the backroads of India’s south on this 13-day tour. Travel from Chennai to...

13 Days From 950

Explore India and Nepal on an adventure that hits Delhi, Jaipur, Tordi, Lumbini, Agra,...

37 Days From 2886

Discover the colours and cultures of India on this trip visiting Delhi, Rajasthan's...

10 Days From 2151

Adventure through North India, hitting all the highlights like Delhi, Varanasi, the...

19 Days From 3264

Spend 19 days touring India and Nepal, departing from Delhi and visiting Jaipur, Agra,...

29 Days From 4430

This 29-day tour traverses India from south to north, winding from Kochi to Delhi and...

14 Days From 1750

Tour Northern India on this comfortable family holiday from Delhi to Agra, Ranthambhore...

16 Days From 630

Get an authentic slice of the real Rajasthan on a trip that takes you to Delhi,...

15 Days From 2437

Travel to India and cycle the romantic Rajasthan region. Tour from Delhi to Pushkar and...

19 Days From 2960

Visit India and tour the famous Golden Triangle of Dehli, Agra, and Jaipur, delve into...

20 Days From 1500

Take a journey through India and Nepal, exploring Kathmandu, Tordi, Jaipur, Agra,...

3 Days From 425

Visit India and travel from Delhi to Agra. Travel to the Taj Mahal and Agra’s Red Fort,...

11 Days From 775

Jaunt around north India, with rickshaws in Delhi, spirituality in Varanasi, yoga in...

15 Days From 1298

Get on the road from Kathmandu to Delhi on a trip from Nepal to India, through Pokhara,...

11 Days From 1495

Discover northern India on this tour through Delhi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Nimaj,...

22 Days From 5815

Get a cultural insight into India’s north and south, travelling through Delhi, Agra,...

20 Days From 2585

Spend time in Kathmandu and Pokhara and then see where Buddha did his thing. Get active...

16 Days From 3845

Discover the beauty of India’s most remote area on an expedition that visits Sikkim,...

4 Days From 378

Lift your spirits as you float on the Ganges at dawn in Varanasi, and explore the city...

18 Days From 7580

Explore Northern India and Sri Lanka on this 18-day Premium adventure