India is finally recovering from a couple of devastating months as the global center of the new coronavirus variant – the Delta variant. It brought the country’s health care system nearly to collapse.

Luckily, those times are over. The pandemic in India is now relatively under control. The CDC considers India a country with moderate COVID-19 transmission – orange. Yet, traveling to India for leisure is still banned.

The country closed its borders and halted most flights at the beginning of the pandemic. To date, only Indian nationals and people from certain countries on special visas can go.

Stats & current COVID-19 situation

Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, India has reported more than 33 million COVID-19 cases. At least 441,749 of them have resulted in death.

At the moment, there are around 400,000 active cases and more than 40,000 new infections daily.

Coronavirus hotpots in India

Vaccination progress in India

India’s vaccination program started off with frontline healthcare workers, followed by vulnerable groups. Since May 1, all those aged 18 and above are also eligible to get their shot. Whereas 12+ children will be most likely able to get vaccinated in October.

As of now, 50% of the country’s adult population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Times of India. But only around 139 million Indians have been vaccinated fully, which is about a tenth of the entire population.

The vaccination rate is uneven across the state. The most populated state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India has managed to give at least one dose to only 38% of its citizens. On the other hand, a less populated state like Himachal Pradesh has given at least one shot to nearly every adult.

Who can travel to India

As mentioned above, India is still closed for tourism. Only returning Indians and Bhutanese and Nepalese nationals can enter the state. Also, those from certain countries who have other than tourist visas can go.

The United States, United Kingdom, and Canada have the strictest requirements. Only diplomats and those listed on the government memorandum can enter.

All incoming passengers must present a self-declaration form on the website of Air Suvidha and a negative COVID-19 test result no older than 72 hours. They also have to quarantine for 14 days.

Moreover, those arriving from the U.K. or the Middle East must provide their 14-day travel history and undergo further testing on arrival.

Why visit India?

We will have to wait for a little while more to visit India. However, there is definitely plenty of things to be looking forward to. From diverse landscapes and rich history to worldwide-known food and colorful culture, India is a country that should not be missed on any travelers’ bucket list.

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