Is India budget-friendly?
India can be inexpensive, but the cheapest version is not always the best version. Trains, drivers, decent hotels, flights and food caution all change the real cost of travelling well.
Answer
India rewards travellers who understand where money buys relief. You can travel cheaply, especially if you have time, flexibility and tolerance for rougher edges. But a good first trip may justify spending on safe arrivals, sensible hotels, private drivers for awkward routes, domestic flights for huge distances and meals that feel clean and calm. The point is not to make India expensive; it is to avoid false economies that cost health, time or confidence. Budget for margin as well as monuments.