Can I drink tap water in India?
We do not recommend ever drinking tap water in India, as it's just not worth the risk (or the stomach cramps). India is notorious among travelers for sickness – waterborne diseases are common due to bacterial contamination in public water, including E. coli and typhoid. As a general rule, travelers should avoid drinks with ice and foods that haven’t been cooked or peeled. This means salad is off the menu for now! Some hotels, restaurants and establishments may have a water purifier installed, but you should always ask the staff if it's safe before guzzling down a glass of tap water.
When traveling in India, the general advice is to stick to bottled or canned mineral water instead. However, single-use plastic bottles contribute to a massive environmental problem, so we recommend bringing a reusable water bottle with purification technology, and/or some water purification tablets with you. Brands like Steripen sterilize water using UV, while bottles like those from Sawyer remove 99% of all bacteria using an in-built foam purifier. Your Intrepid leader, if you’re traveling on an India tour, can also help you find safe drinking water to refill your bottle throughout the day. Another delicious and hydrating solution is drinking from fresh young coconuts, which are abundant (and cheap!) throughout the country.
Find out more ways to avoid buying bottled water while traveling
Water safety tips
Here are the best practices to follow when it comes to drinking water in India:
- Avoid using tap water to brush your teeth
- Try not to open your mouth in the shower
- Avoid eating salads and uncooked fruits and vegetables – eat fruits that have to be peeled, like bananas
- Buy a special water bottle that can purify tap water
- Bring plenty of oral rehydration tablets or sachets in case you come down with diarrhea or stomach upset
- Drink fresh coconut water
Our tours in India
15 Days
From
1582
Travel to India and visit the Rajasthan region. Tour from Delhi to Pushkar through...
8 Days
From
876
Take an action-packed eight-day tour through the essential sights and bites of India’s...
11 Days
From
617
Get the most out of 11 days in India on this trip exploring the best of Delhi, Varanasi...
15 Days
From
2590
See the best of Rajasthan on this 15-day tour. Behold the delights of Agra, Jaipur,...
22 Days
From
1069
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
3158
Take in north India’s fabled cities and encounter the exotic wildlife of Ranthambhore...
10 Days
From
3302
Take a 10-day India Premium adventure with Intrepid through the country’s north,...
15 Days
From
1855
Explore the tropical and spiritual southern India. Ride the toy train in Ooty, relax in...
15 Days
From
1652
Travel to India and Nepal on a tour from Delhi to Kathmandu. Visit the Taj Mahal of...
10 Days
From
972
Take an action-packed family tour of India, following tiger trails, visiting Delhi and...
13 Days
From
1620
Travel to India and visit Delhi, Shimla, Mandi, Dharamsala, Rishikesh and Amritsar on...
13 Days
From
3519
Join Intrepid on a Premium adventure to explore the beaches, bazaars and backwaters of...
15 Days
From
1050
Discover India in all its glory on this 15-day spice-filled adventure from Delhi...
16 Days
From
1180
See the landscapes of South India on a 16-day adventure from Varkala to Goa via Kerala...
22 Days
From
7236
Join Intrepid on a Premium adventure to explore opulent places, holy Ganges, dense...
12 Days
From
1463
Join an all-women group and female leader on an inspiring women’s expedition through...
15 Days
From
2404
Relish the sights and flavours of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai and Goa on this...
13 Days
From
2040
Explore the backroads of India’s south on this 13-day tour. Travel from Chennai to...
13 Days
From
794
Explore India and Nepal on an adventure that hits Delhi, Jaipur, Tordi, Lumbini, Agra,...
37 Days
From
2500
Discover the colours and cultures of India on this trip visiting Delhi, Rajasthan's...
10 Days
From
1953
Adventure through North India, hitting all the highlights like Delhi, Varanasi, the...
19 Days
From
2741
Spend 19 days touring India and Nepal, departing from Delhi and visiting Jaipur, Agra,...
29 Days
From
3720
This 29-day tour traverses India from south to north, winding from Kochi to Delhi and...
14 Days
From
1465
Tour Northern India on this comfortable family holiday from Delhi to Agra, Ranthambhore...
16 Days
From
533
Get an authentic slice of the real Rajasthan on a trip that takes you to Delhi,...
15 Days
From
2048
Travel to India and cycle the romantic Rajasthan region. Tour from Delhi to Pushkar and...
19 Days
From
2485
Visit India and tour the famous Golden Triangle of Dehli, Agra, and Jaipur, delve into...
20 Days
From
1260
Take a journey through India and Nepal, exploring Kathmandu, Tordi, Jaipur, Agra,...
3 Days
From
378
Visit India and travel from Delhi to Agra. Travel to the Taj Mahal and Agra’s Red Fort,...
11 Days
From
651
Jaunt around north India, with rickshaws in Delhi, spirituality in Varanasi, yoga in...
15 Days
From
1185
Get on the road from Kathmandu to Delhi on a trip from Nepal to India, through Pokhara,...
11 Days
From
1013
Discover northern India on this tour through Delhi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Nimaj,...
22 Days
From
4880
Get a cultural insight into India’s north and south, travelling through Delhi, Agra,...
20 Days
From
2205
Spend time in Kathmandu and Pokhara and then see where Buddha did his thing. Get active...
16 Days
From
3230
Discover the beauty of India’s most remote area on an expedition that visits Sikkim,...
4 Days
From
335
Lift your spirits as you float on the Ganges at dawn in Varanasi, and explore the city...
18 Days
From
6360
Explore Northern India and Sri Lanka on this 18-day Premium adventure