High riskAsia · Southern AsiaIndia Travel Health Guide
High risk
India carries a CDC Level 1 travel health notice. Malaria is present throughout India below 2,000m elevation, including major cities. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B.
Compiled by Voyax Health from CDC Travelers' Health: India. Editorial sections reviewed by Voyax Health pharmacists ·
Overall risk
High risk
Malaria
Present
Best time to visit
October to March for most of the country. April to June is dangerously hot on the plains, and the monsoon (June to September) brings flooding and a post-monsoon dengue surge.
Travel health in India
India rewards preparation more than almost any destination. Travelers' diarrhea affects most visitors at some point, typhoid is a real risk rather than a theoretical one, and hepatitis A is essential. Rabies is present in dogs, monkeys and cattle across the country and post-bite treatment can be hard to obtain, so pre-exposure vaccination is worth a serious conversation. Mosquito-borne diseases vary by region and season: dengue after the monsoon, malaria in many lowland areas, and Japanese encephalitis in rural rice-growing regions. Air pollution in the northern cities in winter is a health issue of its own.
Recommended vaccines
Routine Vaccines
Make sure all routine vaccines are current before travel, including MMR, flu shot, and tetanus.
COVID-19
Stay current with COVID-19 vaccinations before traveling.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all travelers to India. Infants 6-11 months should also be vaccinated.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for travelers under 60. Those 60 and older may also consider vaccination.
Measles
Measles cases are increasing globally. All travelers should be fully vaccinated with MMR vaccine, including early vaccination for infants 6-11 months.
Typhoid
Typhoid vaccination is recommended for most travelers to India, especially if visiting rural areas or staying with friends/relatives.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya vaccine may be considered for long-term stays of 6 months or more due to elevated risk in India.
Cholera
Cholera is present in India but rare in travelers. Vaccination may be considered for certain high-risk situations.
Japanese Encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended for long-term stays (1+ month), frequent travelers, or those doing outdoor activities in rural areas.
Rabies
Rabies is present in dogs and wildlife in India. Consider pre-exposure vaccination if you'll have animal contact or limited access to medical care.
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever vaccine is not recommended for India but is required if arriving from countries with yellow fever risk.
Disease risks
Malaria
Malaria is present throughout India below 2,000m elevation, including major cities. Take antimalarial medication as prescribed by your doctor.
Altitude Sickness
Ladakh (Leh ~3,500m), Himalayan regions (e.g., Manali-Leh highway >5,000m); fly-in risk; rest 48 hours on arrival.
Traveler's Diarrhea
All areas except high-altitude regions; high risk from street vendors and tap water.
Malaria risk
Malaria risk exists throughout this destination. Antimalarial medication is recommended.
Malaria is present throughout India below 2,000m elevation, including major cities. Take antimalarial medication as prescribed by your doctor.
Seasonal timing
When health risks peak through the year — plan around them.
Peak
July to November
Dengue and chikungunya
Post-monsoon peak in cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru. Daytime repellent is essential.
Peak
May to October (north), year-round (south)
Japanese encephalitis
Rural agricultural areas, especially Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam and parts of the south. Vaccination is for longer rural stays.
Peak
April to June
Extreme heat
Temperatures above 110 °F across the northern plains and Rajasthan. Heat stroke kills visitors every year; plan sightseeing for early morning and evening.
Peak
October to February
Air pollution
Delhi and the Gangetic plain reach hazardous levels. Travellers with asthma, COPD or heart disease should bring medication and consider an N95 mask.
Water & food safety
Water
Never drink tap water, including in good hotels. Use sealed bottled water, check the seal, and use it for brushing teeth. Avoid ice outside upmarket hotels and restaurants. Hot tea and coffee, and sealed drinks, are safe.
Food
Freshly cooked, hot vegetarian food is the safest choice and is excellent everywhere. Be cautious with street chaat that includes raw ingredients or chutneys, cut fruit, salads, and anything kept warm rather than cooked hot. Peel your own fruit. Many experienced travellers go vegetarian for the trip.
Medications
Pharmacies are abundant and most medications, including many antibiotics, are sold over the counter at low prices. Quality varies, so use established chains in cities. Carry your own controlled or essential medications in original packaging with prescriptions; India restricts some codeine and psychotropic products.
On the ground
Medical facilities
Private hospitals in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad (Apollo, Fortis, Max, Medanta) are world-class and used by medical tourists. Care in smaller towns is limited. For anything serious outside a metro, travel to a metro or evacuate.
Travel insurance
Essential. Choose a policy that covers evacuation and adventure activities if you plan trekking in the Himalaya, and check that it covers altitude.
Emergency numbers
Police
112
Medical / Ambulance
112
Fire
112
U.S. Embassy
+91-11-2419-8000
India travel health FAQ
Do I need the typhoid vaccine for India?▼
Yes, for nearly all travellers. India has among the highest typhoid rates in the world, and the disease is increasingly resistant to common antibiotics. Both the injectable and oral vaccines are options; the injection needs at least two weeks to take effect.
Should I take malaria pills for a trip to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur?▼
Malaria risk exists in most of India below 6,500 ft, including cities, but it is low in the Golden Triangle in the dry season. Many travellers on short city itineraries are advised bite prevention rather than pills, while those visiting rural areas, the northeast or travelling in and after the monsoon are advised prophylaxis. Your pharmacist weighs the itinerary and dates.
How do I avoid Delhi belly?▼
Eat freshly cooked hot food, drink only sealed water, skip raw salads and cut fruit, and wash hands before every meal. Even careful travellers get sick, so carry oral rehydration salts, loperamide for mild cases, and a standby antibiotic such as azithromycin for moderate or severe illness.
Is the rabies vaccine worth it for India?▼
For many travellers, yes. India accounts for about a third of the world's rabies deaths, dog and monkey bites are common at tourist sites, and rabies immune globulin can be unavailable outside major cities. Pre-exposure vaccination means a bite needs only two follow-up shots, which any clinic can give.
More country guides
AfghanistanModerate riskAfghanistan carries a CDC Level 2 travel health notice. Malaria risk exists in areas below 2,500 meters elevation from April to December. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B.
BangladeshModerate riskBangladesh carries a CDC Level 1 travel health notice. Malaria risk exists in specific areas of Bangladesh but not in Dhaka. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B.
BhutanModerate riskBhutan carries a CDC Level 1 travel health notice. Malaria risk exists in some parts of Bhutan. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B.
Plan your India trip
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Build my Trip KitSources: CDC Travelers' Health: India · WHO International Travel and Health. Last updated 2026-07-31. Health conditions and entry rules change — verify with the CDC, WHO and your destination’s authorities before travel. This page is informational and not a substitute for advice from a travel-medicine provider.