A smartphone makes traveling in India much easier than it used to be. The right apps help you find your way, book a ride at a fixed price, buy train tickets, find a good lunch and talk your way through a market, all from your pocket.
Two tips before you start downloading. First, get a local SIM card when you arrive: many Indian apps send a code to an Indian mobile number when you sign up, and your coordinator can help you set one up. Second, some apps accept international cards and some don’t, so keep some cash as a backup.
1. Google Maps
The single most useful app in India. Google Maps works well in Delhi and Jaipur for walking and driving directions, shows Metro routes, and lets you check that your driver is heading the right way. Download your city’s map before you fly so it still works when your signal drops.
2. Uber
Uber works across Delhi, Jaipur and most big Indian cities, and it’s often the easiest ride app for visitors to start with. You can book a car or an auto-rickshaw, see the fare before you confirm and share your trip with a friend, and you can usually pay in cash. In Jaipur, where projects are 20 to 30 minutes from where volunteers stay, our team helps you set up ride apps such as Uber.
3. Ola
Ola is India’s home-grown alternative to Uber, with cars and autos in cities across the country. Fares can differ between the two, so it’s worth comparing before you book.
4. Rapido
Rapido started out with bike taxis and now books autos and cabs too. It’s a useful third app to compare with Uber and Ola, especially at busy times when one of them has no drivers nearby.
5. The official Delhi Metro app
Delhi Metro’s own app plans your route across the network, shows journey times and interchanges, and sells QR tickets you can scan at the gates, so you can skip the ticket line at busy stations. Read our guide to getting around Delhi for more.
6. IRCTC
IRCTC is the official booking service of Indian Railways. Its app and website show timetables and seat availability and sell tickets for every class, from fast day trains to overnight sleepers. Popular routes can sell out weeks ahead, so book early. Setting up an account as a visitor takes a little effort, and your coordinator can help with your first booking.
7. ixigo
ixigo compares trains, buses and flights in one place, and it’s especially handy for trains: it shows live running status and platform numbers, and estimates how likely a waitlisted ticket is to be confirmed. MakeMyTrip, another big Indian travel app, covers similar ground and adds hotels.
8. Zomato and Swiggy
India’s two big food delivery apps are also a handy guide to what’s good nearby: browse menus, photos and ratings to find a decent thali near your project or a cafe for Sunday brunch. If you’re wondering what to order, start with our list of dishes to try in India.
9. Google Translate
English is widely spoken in Indian cities, but not by everyone. Google Translate handles Hindi and many other Indian languages, and its camera mode reads signs and menus for you. Download Hindi for offline use before you travel. If you would like to speak a little yourself, our Hindi and culture week in Delhi teaches it from scratch.
10. WhatsApp
Most people in India use WhatsApp, from your fellow volunteers to guesthouses, drivers and shops, many of which take bookings and send updates on it. Over Wi-Fi, it’s also the easiest way to call and message family at home.
One more for fun: BookMyShow sells tickets for cinemas, concerts and events, and a Bollywood film in a packed Indian cinema is an experience in itself.
Know a great app we’ve missed? Tell us at info@volunteeringindia.com. And when you’re ready to plan your weekends, take a look at our weekend trips.