Getting Indian Rupees for Your Trip

India presents a unique situation for travellers: the Indian Rupee (INR) is a restricted currency, meaning you cannot legally import or export Rupees. This means you must obtain all your Rupees after arriving in India and spend or exchange them before leaving.

The good news is that India has excellent banking infrastructure with ATMs everywhere, and card acceptance has improved dramatically. The country has also leapfrogged into digital payments with UPI (Unified Payments Interface), though this remains limited for foreign tourists.

Key insight for 2026: India operates on a dual system — modern cities increasingly accept cards and digital payments, while markets, street food, and rural areas remain firmly cash-based. Plan to use both throughout your trip.

The Indian Rupee comes in notes of ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100, ₹200, ₹500, and ₹2,000 (though ₹2,000 notes are being phased out). The ₹500 note (roughly £4.75) is the most useful for daily transactions. Coins include ₹1, ₹2, ₹5, and ₹10, though they're less commonly used.

Best Ways to Get Rupees

Since you cannot bring Rupees into India, here's the priority order for obtaining currency:

1. Withdraw from ATMs with a fee-free card (Best option) — ATMs are everywhere in India. Use a Wise or Revolut card to avoid foreign transaction fees. Withdraw from major banks like SBI, HDFC, ICICI for best reliability.
2. Exchange GBP or USD at the airport on arrival — Airport exchange bureaux offer reasonable rates and are convenient for getting your first Rupees. Exchange enough for your first day or two.
3. Exchange at authorised money changers — Look for RBI-authorised dealers in tourist areas. Thomas Cook and other major chains operate throughout India with competitive rates.
4. Exchange at banks — State Bank of India and other major banks exchange foreign currency with good rates but slower service and paperwork.

Avoid: Unofficial money changers (illegal and risky), exchanging at hotels (poor rates), and carrying large amounts of USD/GBP hoping for better rates (unnecessary and risky).

Using Cards in India

Card acceptance has improved dramatically in Indian cities, but varies significantly by location and business type.

Where Cards Work Well

• Hotels — All but the most budget accommodations accept cards
• Restaurants — Most sit-down restaurants in cities accept cards
• Shopping malls — All stores accept cards
• Supermarkets — Big Bazaar, Reliance Fresh, D-Mart all accept cards
• Tourist attractions — Entry tickets often payable by card
• Uber/Ola — Ride-hailing apps accept card payment
• Online bookings — Flights, trains, hotels all bookable with international cards

Where You'll Need Cash

• Street food — Essential for experiencing India's incredible food scene
• Markets and bazaars — Chandni Chowk, Crawford Market, local bazaars are cash-only
• Auto-rickshaws — Most don't accept cards; some use UPI
• Small shops — Local stores, pharmacies, convenience shops
• Rural areas — Villages and small towns are predominantly cash-based
• Tipping — Always in cash
• Religious sites — Donations, shoes storage fees

Card tip: Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. American Express has limited acceptance. Always have a backup card as some terminals may not work with certain foreign cards.

Withdrawing Cash from ATMs in India

ATMs are abundant throughout India, even in smaller towns. Here's how to use them effectively:

Best ATMs for Foreign Cards

• State Bank of India (SBI) — Largest network, most reliable for foreign cards
• HDFC Bank — Excellent reliability, English menus, high withdrawal limits
• ICICI Bank — Modern ATMs, good foreign card acceptance
• Axis Bank — Good reliability in cities
• Citibank — In major cities, excellent for foreign cards

ATM Tips

• Withdrawal limits — Most ATMs dispense ₹10,000-20,000 per transaction; some allow ₹25,000
• Daily limits — Your home bank may limit withdrawals to £200-400/day
• Decline DCC — Always choose Rupees, not your home currency, when prompted
• Keep receipts — Useful for tracking spending and potential disputes
• Airport ATMs — Available at all international airports; convenient for first withdrawal
• Security — Use ATMs inside banks or malls during business hours when possible
• Notify your bank — Let them know you're travelling to India to avoid blocks

ATM Fees

Indian banks typically charge ₹20-25 per withdrawal for foreign cards, plus your home bank may add 1-3%. Using fee-free cards like Wise or Revolut saves significantly over a trip.

UPI and Digital Payments

India's UPI system has revolutionised domestic payments, with QR codes everywhere. However, for tourists:

• Limited access — Most UPI apps require Indian bank accounts or phone numbers
• Some apps now accept foreign cards — Google Pay and PhonePe are testing international card linking (check current availability)
• Paytm — Has a wallet that may work for tourists, but functionality varies
• Best approach — Don't rely on UPI; use cards where accepted and cash elsewhere

This is an evolving area — check the latest options before your trip, as India is working to make UPI accessible to tourists.

Money Safety Tips for India

• Don't carry large amounts — Withdraw what you need for a few days; ATMs are everywhere
• Use money belts — In crowded areas like markets and trains
• Check your change — Especially ₹500 notes, which are occasionally counterfeited
• Avoid torn notes — Shops may refuse damaged currency; reject torn notes when given change
• Keep small denominations — ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100 notes are essential for tipping and small purchases
• Store valuables safely — Use hotel safes for backup cards and extra cash
• Be discreet — Don't flash large amounts of money in public
• Beware of scams — Unofficial money changers, "helpful" strangers offering to exchange money