Changing Money in India
 

Reading Sartoric's trip report from last year in India, I became concerned about the ability to get Indian Rupees on the road. We will be in India shortly (Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur). Can Fodorites suggest the best methods to get Rupees when we need them? Will there be a convenient ATM at the Delhi airport when we arrive?

There are plenty of ATMs at Delhi airport and a number of currency exchange outlets, Plus ATMs are readily available along the main streets of all towns, We never had any problem finding one exactly as and when we wanted it in Northern India and Rajasthan.

I believe that there were some particular issues for a period last year due to a sudden national change over of the type of notes [to prevent fraud] used and a consequential shortage which caused some challenges for tourists and locals alike. Assuming this is now resolved there will be no problem for you.

Loncali is exactly right--a year ago PM Modi had just announced the crackdown on "black money" and there were issues/problems especially in the small villages, of having enough cash in general for both the local people and tourists, including sufficient cash at ATMs.

ATMs are omnipresent in the places you'll be, and certainly at the airport. Sartoric's Trip Report was for South India including villages in Tamil Nadu--notareas you will be. I was last in India in February a year ago and even there the vast majority of currency problems had already been resolved.
You will be fine.

I was in South India in September, 2017, and there was no problem finding ATM's. The currency problem has long since been resolved. None of the ATM's I visited printed receipts, they seemed perpetually out of paper, so you may want to have a way of noting down all your transactions.

Any recent updates?
 

The earlier info on this thread is helpful but I’m wondering if there are any updates? When entering Kathmandu from Delhi, can we use Indian rupees for exchange or is USD better? Does it matter? Also, we’re considerimg trying to get rupees in the US before we go. Is that worth the trouble or will we be ok with ATM’s? Our bank charges $5/transaction + 3% of the amount. 😬

If you are going to Nepal you need Nepalese currency, which you can get at the airport.

Burta, to answer your question about rupees: you'll be fine with ATMs in India. ( I've never had a problem, even shortly after the Modi directive about cash, winter of 2016-17.)
So, I personally would not go to the trouble of getting rupees in the USA.

You asked about getting Nepalese currency once you arrive in Kathmandu from India. Is it better to exchange into (buy) ocal currency from Indian rupees or USD to the Nepalese rupee?

A friend returned last yr from Nepal and used her US debit card without problem at Kathmandu ATMs--but not out of the city. Also, here is a link that might help:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntr...-cash-in-nepal

When do you leave? Have a great trip!