Can you drink the tap water?
Tap water in India: how to dodge Delhi belly
Don't drink the tap water anywhere in India. Use sealed bottled water or a purifier bottle. Many restaurants and hotels have RO (reverse osmosis) filtered water, which is safe.
- Tap water safe
- Safe in cities
- Drink bottled
Street food is one of India's great pleasures. Pick stalls with a queue of locals, where food is cooked fresh in front of you, and skip anything raw or sitting out.
Where it differs
- Hotels and restaurants with RO filtersSafe in cities
Filtered water is safe. Ask if unsure.
- Trains and stationsDrink bottled
Buy sealed 'Rail Neer' or branded bottles.
- Rural areasDrink bottled
Carry a purifier bottle or tablets.
What to drink in India
- Sealed bottled water from known brands. Check the cap clicks when you open it.
- RO-filtered water in hotels and restaurants. Most decent places have a purifier.
- Hot chai and coffee, made with boiled water.
- A purifier bottle for trekking, trains and rural trips. It saves money and plastic.
- Fresh lime soda and lassi in busy places are usually fine, but ask for no ice if unsure.
Eating well without getting ill
Delhi belly is common but not inevitable. Busy restaurants and street stalls with a queue of locals turn their food over quickly, which keeps it fresh. Eat hot, freshly cooked dishes, and go easy on raw salads, cut fruit and chutneys that have been sitting out. Pack oral rehydration salts in case your stomach objects anyway.
Before you go
- Crush empty bottles so they can't be refilled and resold.
- Typhoid and hepatitis A vaccines are recommended for most travellers.
Official advice: FCDO health advice for India
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