The criteria in choosing the best iPhone apps for travelers to India was simple; The app had to provide a service to any tourist of India which they couldn’t find in a guide book OR The app took an existing internet based program, made it easier to use and without having to lug a laptop around India OR It was fun. Some of the travel apps for India do require the use of a cellular network while many are usable with either a WiFi signal, or without the need for any connectivity. In this case, once the app is loaded, all the app functions are usable anytime.
Top 10 Paid Apps for India Tourists
10. Lingolook INDIA
Featured in Travel+ leisure Magazine July 2009 as the best iPhone Apps for Travelers
Flashcards help travelers learn 500 of the most essential words and phrases using flashcards and 300 audio translations. The best part is no internet is required. Once the App is loaded, all the information is accessible on the go. Speak Hindi like a local with a tap of your finger. $3.99
9. The Curry and Indian Food Bible
Indian food is the general name for foods of the Indian subcontinent, characterized by the extensive use of various spices, herbs, and other vegetables, and sometimes fruits grown in India and also for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society.
The most important or frequently used spices in Indian cuisine are chilli pepper, black mustard seed (rai), cumin (jeera), turmeric (haldi), fenugreek (methi), asafoetida (hing), ginger (adrak), coriander (dhania), and garlic (lehsun).
The Curry and Indian Food Bible is an application containing information of over 200 different kinds of Curry and Indian cuisine. For every type of food included, the following information is available for reference:
◆ English pronunciation
◆ Name in Indian
◆ Description of the cuisine
◆ High quality photo$0.99
8. India Clock
A novel twist on the standard digital clock, India Clock turns your iPhone into a full screen digital clock by displaying the time using the Devanagari digits used in India. It’s a great way to learn the Hindi numerals. And let’s face it, it just looks cool. $.99
Chosen by Nat Geo as on the the Top 20 apps for traveling. Use the Full Stop India complete checklist for India (which fits perfectly into this app), create unlimited packing lists from the provided sample template or write your own. All lists are editable; add an item, take out an item…it’s so simple with this app. Organize the contents of your luggage with a running tally of total items packed, waiting to be packed, or, need to be purchased. Add item details like number, weight, value or any notes. At the end, tally a list of total weights and values. The best part? You can email your packing list to family, friends, heck, even yourself. $.99
Give the guide book a rest. Use this app to browse through the most popular tourist destinations in India. Enhance your India tour itinerary with general info about locations, information on how to get photos and descriptions for each location included. Search by place, city, or category. $.99
A sleek unit converter for iPhone using simple drag-and-drop mechanics. Travelers no longer have to fumble to convert kilometers into miles, Rupees into Dollars, or Celsius into Fahrenheit. Currency conversion works for numerous countries. Track recent conversion history or add common conversions to favorites for faster results. $.99
4. India Panchang Calendar 2011
The Panchang is an ancient, spiritual and scientific calendar system, based on the positions of the planets, the sun and moon. For every year, there are more than 340 important date of events and holy festivals in India. The calendar includes Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian and civil festivals within the year. Get a list of events, details of a particular day, or complete a word search for a list of all events related.
As a traveler, this information is key to knowing what to see, where to see it (event specific to a city) and when. Having this information will also help you better plan your movements in case of holiday closures or celebratory road blocks. $.99
3. NAVIGON MobileNavigator India
This app is expensive at nearly $20, however, users have an invaluable asset in the palm of their hands. If you’ve ever spent time on a typical Indian road, you know how frustrating it can be to navigate through crowded markets, narrow alleys and train crossings. MobileNavigator is a complete turn-by-turn, voice guided navigation software that works with your iPhone. Search for thousands of restaurants and other points of interest.
Downside: Continued use of GPS running in background is a battery killer. Be sure to read the instructions for optimum usage. $19.99
Any App that lets you check running train status, seat availability and PNR status for any train in India is a must have. That’s what you get with Indian Trains iPhone App. It works with cellular or WiFi signal. Use train numbers to check running status or seat availability for the next 90 days for any given train number, date, class and quota. Easy to read display and prompts run better than the online sites performing the same functions. $1.99
Get behind the wheel of India’s most iconic forms of transportation as you drive in the opposite direction to traffic. Dodge vehicles and animals as you race to race to reach the finish line in time. You’ll be glad to have this time killer as you wait for a late train or stand in queue to buy tickets. $.99
