Currency, Credit Cards and Changing Money in India

If you're planning a holiday in India, this is what you need to know about currency, cash and credit cards.

Cash

India’s currency is the 'Rupee', abbreviated as ‘Rs’. Coins are available in various denominations of 1, 2, 5 & 10 Rupees. Notes come in denominations of 1, 2, 5 (these are rarely in circulation these days) and 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 & 1000 Rupees. Visitors can exchange money at international airports where 24-hour exchange facilities are available, through banks and approved moneychangers, or at the big city hotels. In larger cities and towns ATMs are readily available, allowing you to withdraw money using your credit card.

Banks are usually open from 1000 hrs to 1700 hrs on weekdays and 1000hrs to 1400 hrs on Saturdays. Please remember that not all banks will exchange foreign currency or travellers cheques particularly in small towns.

Credit cards in India

Credit cards such as Mastercard, Visa & American Express are accepted at major hotels, shops and restaurants, however please note use of a credit card may come with a fee to cover charges. If you travel regularly it will pay to apply for one of the specialist credit cards for travellers that offer excellent rates of exchange and charge zero “load” fees when purchasing items. For up to date information on the best specialist credit cards for travellers we suggest visiting one of the price comparison websites.

Find out more about our tours of India. To discuss your travel needs, you can complete an enquiry form or call our Asia experts on 020 7720 9285.