India

Almost certainly yes — India has no broad visa-free access, but citizens of most nationalities worldwide can apply for an e-Visa online rather than visiting an embassy. Apply through the official government e-Visa portal at least four working days before arrival (a week is safer), and confirm your arrival airport or seaport is on the e-Visa-eligible entry-point list, since most land borders still require a traditional visa.

November through February suits most of the country — cooler, drier, and comfortable for the Golden Triangle, Rajasthan, Kerala and Goa. Summer (April-June) turns brutally hot across the plains and deserts, and the southwest monsoon (June-September) brings heavy rain to most regions — though it's actually the best window for high-altitude Ladakh and Spiti, which sit in a rain shadow and are snowbound the rest of the year.

No — stick to sealed bottled water or a reliable purification method throughout the trip, and be cautious with ice in drinks unless you're confident of its source. Street food can be excellent and is worth trying, but favor busy stalls with high turnover, where ingredients don't sit around.

Millions of travelers, including many solo women, visit India safely every year, but standard precautions matter more here than in much of Europe: avoid isolated areas after dark, use reputable transport (pre-booked taxis or ride-hailing apps rather than hailing on the street), dress modestly outside beach resorts, and stay especially alert in crowded transport hubs and festival crowds.

Very well — India has one of the world's largest and oldest vegetarian culinary traditions, not a workaround diet. Gujarat and Rajasthan are almost entirely vegetarian by regional custom, South Indian breakfasts (dosa, idli) are naturally vegan, and every thali restaurant in the country expects vegetarian diners as the default rather than the exception.

Hire a driver, or use taxis and ride-hailing apps in cities — self-driving is not recommended for visitors. Traffic moves on the left but follows its own dense, improvisational logic that takes locals years to read, and a hired driver for multi-city routes (common and affordable in Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle) is both safer and far less stressful than navigating it yourself.