“Few people have been more closely related in origin and throughout history than the people of India and the people of Iran”
– Jawahar Lal Nehru
The friendly relationship between Iran and India as two ancient neighboring civilizations has its root in their old common history. Although currently, they lie apart over a distance of kilometres, the ties that the two-country share is visible in similarities in various aspects of routine life such as culture and traditions, language, literature and poetry, art and architecture, music, cuisine, and even appearance. Today India and Persia enjoy intimate relations and cooperate in a different range of fields. As an example, a big community of Parsees live in India or Indian universities are a popular destination for Iranian students.
Although with thousand years old record of cooperation between our countries, a large number of Indians don’t have real information about current Iran. It can be the result of Iran’s relationship with the US and the international media that often present negative things about Iran, the news about the nuclear program, regional rivalries, or the economic problems due to sanctions. However, life in Iran isn’t what it’s mostly narrated to be…
Join us to gain more useful information about different aspects of traveling to Iran such as how to apply for an Iran visa with Indian passport? how to find a comfortable accommodation in Iran? and many more details which help you plan a memorable trip to the land of Persia:
Travelers mostly search online information to find the best accommodation for their trip, Indian travelers are not exempt from this worldwide rule. It is definitely the best way to assure booking a hotel that suits our specific needs such as the cleanness of the rooms, the price/value, the location of the hotel, the restaurant, and also the dietary requirements.
To be honest finding accommodation in Iran is a little bit different from other destinations. It is not very easy to find reliable online information about Iran hotels because online trusted sources such as Airbnb and booking.com do not serve here. There are reliable websites such as TripAdvisor, very helpful for finding suitable information and reviews about Iran’s accommodation, from luxury to economy and budget hotels, and from homestays to unique traditional hotels for authentic experiences. But these websites can’t help the travelers for the booking process; so, travelers need to seek online ways to contact hotels and guest houses in Iran which mostly do not offer online booking through a website because transferring money to Iran faces some difficulties due to the sanctions.
In this regard Local Travel Agencies could be so helpful, they can help travelers for gaining exact information, choosing the best possible option, comparing the price, and more importantly booking the accommodation online in advance which minimizes the stress of all family members for a trip to a country like Iran. A travel agent can explain different features of a hotel and allow you to pick up the best option that you are looking for, for example as an Indian business traveler, you will need a hotel located not far from your job, one with good cafe and a restaurant that serves tasty Indian foods which helps you save time in a populated city like Tehran; as an Indian religious traveler to Mashhad or Qom, you would prefer to stay in a hotel at a walking distance from the shrines such as Imam Reza holy Shrine and Fatima Masumeh Shrine; as an Indian tourist, you surely prefer a well-located hotel not far from the highlighted attractions, the city vibe and subway station which also serves various qualified foods or even a wonderful stay with local hosts in guesthouses or caravansaries to enjoy a matchless experience.
Based on our experience with Indian travelers and groups, at friendlyiran, we try to put all the suitable options on the table to help travelers choose their preferred accommodation with having accurate information. Most of friendlyiran Indian travelers preferred the level of 3-4-star hotels, these comfortable hotels are very affordable with the current rate of Iran’s currency.
If you prefer to check the different options in main cities first, here you can see a complete guide on Iran hotels in Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Yazd, Mashahd, and many more Iranian cities: https://friendlyiran.com/iran-hotel/
Applying Iran visa for Indian travelers is a trouble-free process that can take place right at airport or in advance before the entry to Iran. All Indian passport holders require Iran visa to enter main land Iran for all kinds of purposes like entry, transit, tourist, business intentions and etc.
You can apply for your Iran visa right here: https://friendlyiran.com/iran-visa-application-form/
There are three frequent Iran visa types that are popular by Indian visitors;
One of the most recommended visa for tourists who plan to spend a holiday in Iran and visit the highlights! All you need to do for Iran Tourist visa is to get the visa grant notice by Friendly Iran travel agency and then have your paper visa at Iran embassy or international airports.
Documents needed for Iran visa grant notice:
How much time does it take to get Iran travel permit for Indians?
It takes 7-10 working days to receive the visa grant notice and about 7 working days to have your visa stamped on passport or get Iran paper visa.
Iranian and Indians have a long history of business cooperation and trades which is still one of the main bonds between these two nations. Annually thousands of Indians take a business trip to Iran in order to build a new contract with Persian companies or follow up new business ideas with their business parties.
So, the business visa is also frequently requested by Indians. The documents needed to apply for Iran business visa are:
If you don’t have a host, we will follow up your business invitation letter from a relevant Iranian company.
This is a great opportunity to receive your Iran paper visa at airport if you have shortage of time. This way you need to get the visa grant notice (tracking code) in advance, you fly to Iran and then you can pay the visa stamp fee and receive paper Visa at all International airports in Iran.
How much does Iran visa cost for Indians?
Iran tourist visa price is 15 Euro for visa application, plus 60 Euro equal to 5100 Indian Rupee as visa stamp fee. (Urgent visa stamping fee at Iran embassy is 90 Euro equal to 7650 Indian Rupee.)
Iran business visa fee and entry visa fee is: 85 Euro for business application, plus 70 Euro equal to 5950 Rupee as the business visa stamp fee. (Urgent entry /business visa stamping fee at Iran embassy is 105 Euro equal to 8925 Indian Rupee.)
Iran embassy in India – Iran Embassy in Delhi contact number:
Call: +91 11 4247 7786
Website: Islamic Republic of Iran, New Delhi
Email: Iranemb.del@mfa.gov.ir
Address: 5, Barakhamba Rd, Vakil Lane, Mandi House, New Delhi, Delhi 110001, India.
Working hours: Saturday to Friday 8:30 to 13:30
Is your travel to Iran a threat to your future travel to America/ US? Not at all!
You can travel to Iran with No Track! It’s true!
You can have Iran paper visa which will leave no sign at your passport that you have been in Iran.
23 September 2018, Iran ministry of Foreign affairs announcement regarding paper visa, click to see the News.
What type of Iran Visa is required for UK-Indians? Canadian-Indians? American-Indians?
By the time of travelling to Iran, if you have Indian passport valid for at least 6 month, you can travel to Iran as an Indian passport holder.
Having other passports like UK, US or Canadian or flying to Iran from either of these countries shall be no problem.
The nationality of your passport matters. If your Indian passport has not the essential validity or you don’t have Indian passport, you will be considered by the nationality of your other passport.
Check out Iran Visa for US, UK and Canadian Passport Holders the Ultimate Guide.
There are different airlines operating flights from India to Iranian cities which are mostly to the capital, Tehran, but also to other main cities like Shiraz, Isfahan and Mashhad. Since the international websites like Expedia, Skyscanner, and Kayak do not offer direct flights to Iran, travelers mostly consider finding a good flight to Iran as a hard part of their trip. The following points that we are going to talk about will ease this process for travelers from different parts of India to Iran.
Let’s check out the International and also Iranian airlines together:
The most famous Iranian airlines that offer different options for flying directly from India to Iran are Iran Air and Mahan Air. Iranian flights have two important advantages, first, they fly directly from Delhi and Mumbai to Tehran, so you’ll save time and arrive here sooner than any other flight, and second, they are the most affordable options among all other airlines that operate flights to/from Iran. The options will be:
The international choices are a lot more, the known airlines such as Emirates, Air Arabia, and Qatar Airways operate flights from India to Iranian different cities. The most affordable airline after Iranian airlines is Air Arabia which has one stop in Sharjah.
So, no matter where you are in India Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, or Hyderabad, there is always a suitable way to fly to Iran.
Since Iran is a vast country, not as big as India of course, you may also need to book a domestic flight for your trip to Iran. Booking domestic flights in advance would be a big step to have a hassle-free trip. To do so you will need to contact a local travel agency to help you choose a suitable flight, transfer the money, and book it. At friendlyiran, we have tried to make this easier and prepare the online flight booking system for Iran visitors. I suggest to check this blog to gain all the required details and book the domestic flight which suits your Iran itinerary: https://friendlyiran.com/search/
Although Indian and Iranian tastes are different, Iranians always looking forward to getting a chance to taste Indian dishes, it’s the same also for Indians; it may come from the stories behind our food cultures! Obviously, each culture has its own cuisine but lots of similarities also exist among nations. For example, Persian cuisine has interacted with the culinary cultures of many neighboring areas, including Turkish, Levantine, Greek, and Central Asian cuisine, and through the several Muslim sultanates and also Mughal dynasty, features of Iranian cuisine were adopted into Indian and Pakistani cuisines.
As the second reason, there has been also a long tradition of trade between Iran and India as a spice-rich country, so, our cuisines have influenced each other for years, some of the great influences include meat and rice, stuffed items like dolma and samosa, biriyani, halva and sherbet, relishes, raitas with fruits and vegetables, Naan of different kinds, Gulab jamun, dates, and the use of nuts and saffron. Dishes like haleem and harissa were prepared when wheat was mixed with meat, which finally gave way to korma, dopyaaza, kalya, and different kinds of kebabs.
These similarities and also the variety of Persian cuisine and drinks like various kinds of tea have made Iran food a principal factor to trip to Iran as an Indian traveler. Indians can easily find one of the best qualities of Mutton, chicken & Naan in Iran.
In Iran like all over the world, along with a variety of traditional and modern Persian restaurants, there are a variety of delicate international restaurants such as Arabic, Turkish, Italian, Mexican, and Indian restaurants. Thus, Indian travelers can also try Indian foods in Iran which are surly a bit different from the Indian foods back home :) Since Tehran has a significant number of Indian people living in communities of Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, the number of Indian restaurants in Tehran is a lot. Chingari, Maharaja, Tandoor, Taj Mahal, and Meraj restaurant are among the best qualified Indian restaurants in the capital.
There are also lots of vegetarian and vegan foods and restaurants in Iran for travelers looking for specific types of foods without meat or any other ingredient. Since at friendlyiran, we have hosted many Indian travelers for years, we have got familiar with different interests and requests in this regard. To be able to prepare the best possible meal for our Indian groups, we’ve also hired experienced chefs to prepare foods without the required ingredients that our Indian guest would ask for, such as foods without onion, mushroom, egg or etc.
If you’ll be able to add Southern Iran to your itinerary, you get the chance to taste the most similar Persian cuisine to Indian foods. Southern cuisine has very strong flavors and spices; hot and spicy foods are always a unique remembrance of southern dishes. This route could be a good complementary itinerary for those who would love to experience the amazing similarities of these two culinary cultures: https://friendlyiran.com/iran-tours/9-day-iran-tour-a-walk-through-persian-gulf-cuisine-and-culture/
Nostalgia brings Iranian and Indian far close despite current distances. Iran has attracted Indian people since childhood when they read about the Persian Empire and great Emperors such as Cyrus and Darius. But when it comes to planning their Iran itinerary, there is no clue where to begin, because there are many untold stories about current Iran which Indian people are not aware of.
Professional Travelers are searching for holidays which could meet their particular travel demands and interests. Different segments from the millennials to the seniors; budget travelers to luxury seekers; family groups to solo travelers or continence-oriented ones to more adventure lovers are looking for customized and differentiated itineraries. To help you through this process we have planned different Iran Packages based on the most important elements such as the best Iran travel time, the preferred duration of an Iran trip for Indian travelers, and suitable travel services in our Indian clients’ eyes; So, you just need to check them out and choose the best option for your upcoming Iran trip.
We are here if you would prefer to make any change to each of these Iran itineraries to make your specific Iran Travel package.
Experiential Travels and fully Immersed Trips are growing amongst the Modern Indian Travelers and the regular tour packages won’t be able to meet their expectations. Indian experiential travelers preferred not to be completely controlled during their trip, and they would like to go beyond the usual visits to seek authentic experiences. They travel to a lesser-known path for visiting sites that can’t be found in regular guidebooks to experience local cultures such as culinary journeys and eating at a restaurant run by locals, staying at a local guesthouse instead of chain hotels, joining cultural expeditions and festivals, trying yoga or enjoying wildlife safaris. Mono destination holidays and the slow pace with a degree of flexibility make travelers enjoy the unique features of experiential travel.
These changes in the customized Iran itineraries for experiential and individual travelers bring more financing options and helping Indian travelers to allocate the budget and the pace of the trip, choosing remote destinations, or adventure sports, for a group, students and solo travelers especially women so that they can narrate an enthralling story to their friends and families.
The easy process of getting an Iran visa, the numerous destinations, the variety of experiences and activities, direct and low fare international flights, and the affordable packages have added Iran to Indian traveler’s bucket list.
More and more Indian Travelers have the quest to explore new destinations and experiences where they can explore Novel cultures, Rich history, Various food, Pure nature, and Friendly people more closely Within Budget.
Indian Travelers are increasingly choosing the idea of budget holidays and Middle-Class Tour Packages and are open to staying in hostels, traditional houses, or lodges and taking public transportation such as trains to save money and invest in covering more and more visits.
Destinations like Iran with visa-on-arrival facilities, low fare direct flight, and affordable accommodation are factors that make holidays more affordable and reasonable for Indian travelers.
There is a large market for travellers who still prefer pre-screened and handpicked experiences for traveling to a specific destination such as Iran. Senior Travelers are searching for holidays that could meet their particular travel demands and interests within an all-inclusive hassle-free travel package. The availability of multiple options helps Indian Travelers to choose the best option for traveling to a vast country with numerous destinations like Iran.
Pre-arrangement Tour Packages help seniors to able to choose among various options such as luxury, economy, or budget packages; enjoy different types of private and public transportation; pick up the preferred kind of accommodation and more importantly make a benefit from the post-booking services such as easy affordable cancellations or rescheduling.
How does it feel to arrive at a destination where warm fresh bread is waiting for us? :)
Applying for an Iran visa for Indian travelers is a trouble-free process that can take place right at the airport or in advance before the entry to Iran. Receiving rejections on Indian passports rarely happen, so I can say it is not going to be a problem for your matchless Persia journey!
For many years the cost of living in Iran was a little cheaper or similar to India but currently, because of the huge change in Rial in comparison to other currencies, the cost of visiting Iran has decreased one more time.
“The safest country I’ve ever been to”…This is how most of the travelers describe Iran’s safety after they come here and see the situation with their own eyes. The crime rate is very low and the people respect visitors very much.
Iran Embassy in Delhi:
Call: +91 11 4247 7786
Website: Islamic Republic of Iran, New Delhi
Email: Iranemb.del@mfa.gov.ir
Address: 5, Barakhamba Rd, Vakil Lane, Mandi House, New Delhi, Delhi 110001, India.
Working hours: Saturday to Friday 8:30 to 13:30
Iran Consulate in Mumbai:
Call: +91 22 6688 7070
Website: mumbai.mfa.ir
Email: mum.consulate@mfa.gov.ir
Address: 47 Swapna Lok, Nepeansea Road, August Kranti Rd, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400036, India
Working Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m.-13 p.m.
Visa Assistance in Bangalore:
Call: +91 96204 46636
Address: 1st Block,Rajajinagar,Near GD Naidu Hall, opp. to Jose allukkas jewlerry, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560086, India
Iran has become one of the destinations that solo travelers and backpackers are choosing to spend few weeks or even more because of three important reasons: It is cheap, it is easy to navigate and more importantly, people are nice! so if you have in mind to travel here as a solo traveler, pack your things immediately!
The only thing that solo female travelers need to have in mind is the dress code which is really easy for Indian women because of the similarities that exist even about the clothes we wear and don’t get surprised if people started talking to you in Farsi, it happened to me a lot in India so it may happen to you too here in Iran :)
Due to sanctions against Iran, you cannot use any type of non-Iranian credit card. Yet, you can have your Iranian debit card and avoid carrying cash all the time.
Read more about Iranian tourist cards, here.
There are similarities between Persian cuisine and Indian food which has been formed through history, for example, the use of Mugholi’s way for cooking foods and similar basic ingredients such as rice. But, Iranian foods are not as spicy as Indian foods and red chili powder is not as important as India. There are other flavors that make Persian foods special such as rose water, saffron, and pomegranate molasses.
