Health & Insurance

Four to six weeks before you fly, drop by a travel clinic: the doctor will look at your route, how long you're staying and your medical history, and suggest what you need. Hepatitis A and typhoid usually come up, routine shots get checked, and for longer trips, trips with children or travel into rural areas: hepatitis B, rabies and Japanese encephalitis. Whether you need malaria prophylaxis depends on the specific area, the season and the length of stay, not simply on the state; your doctor decides that.

A few simple habits save a trip: bottled or boiled water, hot freshly-cooked food, fruit you peel yourself; it's best to skip street ice. If it does catch up with you, the main thing is rehydration: ORS sachets from any pharmacy, mixed exactly as the instructions say, plus light food. If there's blood in your stool, a high fever, severe pain, dehydration, or it just isn't easing, see a doctor; antibiotics are taken when prescribed, not as a just-in-case measure.

The main urban risk is dengue, more active after the monsoon (roughly July–November). For most travellers, a dengue vaccine isn't a standard or readily available way to protect yourself; the core of prevention is not getting bitten. Repellent, long sleeves at dusk, a net or air-conditioning at night. A high fever and bad body aches in dengue season are a reason to see a doctor that same day: they'll order the right tests (which one depends on the day of illness) and, if needed, rule out malaria, typhoid and other infections. Until you're seen, bring a fever down with paracetamol only: no aspirin, ibuprofen or other NSAIDs until dengue has been ruled out.

From October to February (peaking in November) the air in Delhi and across the northern plains is very poor. If you have asthma, or you're travelling with small children, it's worth either planning your route around these months or keeping Delhi short; on high-pollution days, wear a respirator mask outdoors, run a purifier in your room, and go easy on strenuous activity in the open air.

Above roughly 2,400–3,000 m (Leh ~3,500, Gangotri ~3,100), go up gradually, take it easy for the first day or two with no exertion or alcohol, and drink more water. A headache with nausea, weakness or poor sleep can be altitude sickness: don't climb higher, rest and keep an eye on it. If you get unsteady, confused, short of breath at rest, or it gets worse, descend and seek help. Ask your doctor about prevention (medication included) ahead of time.

The northern plains are very hot from April to June. Do as the locals do: be active before 11 a.m. and after 5 p.m., take shade in the middle of the day, drink plenty of water. When you're sweating heavily, water and electrolytes help; keep ORS for actual dehydration and mix it as directed. Dark urine and weakness are a signal to stop and top up on fluids.

Pharmacies are on every corner, and the basics (paracetamol, ORS, bandages) cost next to nothing; medicines and pharmacy goods get delivered to your door through apps (Apollo 24|7, PharmEasy, Blinkit). For anything serious, go to the private chains (Apollo, Fortis, Max, Manipal): the standard is international and many have an international desk; check the procedure and how to pay with your insurance assistance line in advance, and keep every receipt. Dentistry and lab tests in India are affordable and good.

Check before you buy: 1) a high medical limit and medical evacuation; 2) activities: rafting and high-altitude trekking aren't in every policy, so add the rider; 3) two-wheelers: many insurers refuse to pay out if the rider didn't hold the licence local law requires (your home licence plus an International Driving Permit), and on a scooter in Goa this matters; 4) theft: you'll need a police report (FIR).