Exercise caution — there are real risks that travellers should plan around. Political freedoms are limited and travellers should be mindful of local sensitivities.
Regional breakdown
India is huge, and the risk picture shifts sharply from one state to the next. Most travellers head to places like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Agra and Goa. These cities and the wider 'Golden Triangle' route see heavy tourist traffic and have no region-specific warning from either the UK or US governments. The picture changes at the edges. The official advisory guidance warns against all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border, and the Wagah-Attari crossing is closed. Jammu and Kashmir is also off-limits under UK guidance, except for air travel to Jammu city and movement inside the city itself. Ladakh and Leh sit outside this restriction and remain open to visitors. Manipur in the northeast carries an 'all but essential travel' warning from official advisory guidance after ethnic clashes that began in 2023 and flared again through 2025. The official advisory guidance goes further and lists Manipur at Level 4. It also flags Level 3 across other northeastern states including Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura. Rural parts of eastern Maharashtra through to western West Bengal are marked Level 4 by the US due to Maoist (Naxalite) activity.
Recent advisory changes
The official advisory guidance last updated its India advice on 19 March 2026. The headline restrictions have held steady: no travel within 10km of the Pakistan border. No travel to Jammu and Kashmir outside Jammu city, and no non-essential travel to Manipur. The official advisory guidance also notes that wider Middle East tensions can disrupt flights and airspace, which affects routes into and out of Indian hubs. The official advisory guidance keeps India at Level 2, 'Exercise Increased Caution', in its advisory reissued on 16 June 2025. The reasons given are crime and terrorism across the country, with a specific line that rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Inside that Level 2 framing. The official advisory guidance carves out Level 4 'Do Not Travel' zones for Jammu and Kashmir (except eastern Ladakh and Leh). The India-Pakistan border area, Maoist-affected parts of central and eastern India, and Manipur. Six northeastern states sit at Level 3 'Reconsider Travel'. No ordered departure is in place for US government staff right now.
What travellers should know
Travel insurance is the first practical point. UK policies often become invalid if you enter an area official advisory guidance warns against. So check the wording before booking trips near the Pakistan border, into Kashmir Valley, or into Manipur. Buy cover that matches your actual itinerary, including any trekking, motorbike hire or domestic flights to remote states. Road travel carries real risk across the country. Traffic is heavy, rules are loosely followed, and night driving on highways is discouraged by both governments. Prefer pre-booked cars, registered taxis or app-based rides over flagging vehicles on the street. Women travellers, in particular. Are advised by official advisories to take extra care with transport at night and to avoid travelling alone in isolated areas. Terrorism is cited as a country-wide concern, with tourist sites, transport hubs and markets named as possible targets. Keep an eye on local news, register with your embassy if you plan a long stay. And keep copies of your passport and visa separate from the originals. Monsoon flooding, heatwaves and air pollution in northern cities can also affect plans. So check conditions close to your travel dates and build flexibility into your route.