Apps to Simplify Your Journey
When I travel abroad, I always look for reliable apps to handle transport, bookings, payments, health, safety, etc. To make your travel in India just as seamless, I’ve put together a list of top apps/services, complete with website links in the header, to make your journey smoother. If I’ve missed anything, feel free to drop a comment!
Visa Application: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/
Navigation & Travel
- Google Maps: Your go-to guide for navigation, public transport routes, place reviews, offline maps, exploration, and discoveries — but watch out for rare distance errors, especially offline, and note there’s no bicycle route!
- Uber/Ola: Convenient ride-hailing apps for quick trips, offering fare estimates, ride tracking for safety, and flexible payment options (credit cards or cash). Available in most cities — just double-check to make sure!
- Zoomcar: Self-drive car rentals across India for road trip adventures.
- MakeMyTrip: Your go-to app for booking flights, trains, buses, hotels, and holiday packages.
- RedBus: Simplify your bus travel with easy booking, live tracking, and seat selection.
- Irctc Rail Connect: Check schedules, book tickets, and access PNR status all in one place. Ideal for exploring India by rail!
Communication
- Google Translate: Break language barriers effortlessly across many Indian languages. Translate text, speech, or images. While Hindi is the most widely spoken, each state offers regional languages. English is commonly understood, though less so in rural areas.
- Duolingo: Learn some basic Hindi or regional language and start chatting with the locals
- Whatsapp: to stay connected with your local friends — most widely used for instant chats and video calls.
Stays
- MakeMyTrip: Your go-to app for booking hotels, hostels, homestays, and holiday packages. Other apps are Booking.com, Agoda, Yatra, etc.
- Airbnb: Book unique stays with locals, from cozy apartments to treehouses!
Payments
- Cheq: digital wallet to pay anywhere in India, from street vendors to malls, using UPI on your phone. Just check the joining and convenience charges before you proceed. For international tourists, only merchant payments are allowed; transfers to personal accounts used by small vendors aren’t permitted.
- Paytm, PhonePe, GooglePay: The UPI payment will work only if you have an Indian bank account.
3. Credit cards are accepted widely in cities, mostly not in small shops.
Food & Home Deliveries
- Zomato/Swiggy: lets you order food for home delivery, explore local restaurants, and check reviews for the best dining experiences nearby.
2. Zepto/Blinkit/BigBasket: rapid delivery service for groceries and much more — brings essentials to your doorstep in as little as 10 minutes.
Entertainment
- BookMyShow: easily book and discover movies, events, plays, and shows. You can’t miss the magic of Indian masala movies — grab a friend for translation!
- Thrillophilia: Your go-to for booking unforgettable adventures and experiences across India!
- Netflix/Prime Video: streaming movies and series anytime, anywhere during your trip! Other local streaming platforms are JioCinema, Zee5, Disney+Hotstar, SonyLIV, etc.
Health and Safety
- My Safetipin: your safety companion, offering real-time alerts, safety scores of area, finding safe routes, and access to support helplines for peace of mind!
- Practo: your go-to for finding doctors, booking appointments, and online consultations. Google Maps could also help locate nearby hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.
- Dr Lal/Metropolis/Thyrocare: hassle-free diagnostic services with home collection options.
- 1mg, PharmEasy: go-to app for online medicine delivery, lab tests, and wellness products.
Emergency Helpline Numbers
- 112: a single emergency number to call for assistance in emergencies. Also an app 112 India.
- 100: Police
- 101: Fire Services
- 102: Ambulance Services
- 108: General Emergency (includes ambulance, fire, and police services)
I hope this list was helpful for your travels in India. If you’re looking for more information or have any questions, feel free to comment below — I’d be happy to help!
Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, Karnataka, India