Staying hydrating while traveling India has never been easier. Over the years, the proliferation of bottled water in stores and roadside stalls has eased any worry or need to buy in mass quantities at one time. In the 7 years of being a tourist of India, I’ve gone from buying a case of water immediately after arriving, to just purchasing a few bottles at a time. You’re never very far from a stall selling water, even in some of the most remote places.

Do follow some general rules on water consumption while in India:

• Avoid tap water, even in hotels. Exception: Some 5 star hotels will place a notice regarding their water filtration system. In this case the property will specifically make note that the water is drinkable.
• Never ever drink water from roadside vendors selling well water. Regardless if it is pumped in front of you, that water is not at all safe for many reasons. Pesticides and other chemicals that are allowable and/or uncontrolled in India have been proven to have contaminated the ground water in many regions of the country.
• When visiting restaurants, cafes, and even hotel dining rooms, insist on bottled (mineral) water. Nearly all eating establishments have bottled water on hand. If they don’t, in pure Indian style they will send a staff member to pick up a bottle on the street without your knowledge. Servers at many locations may attempt to open the bottle and pour the first glass for the patrons. Kindly explain you will do this for yourself as it give an opportunity to inspect the bottle.
• Do not accept ice in any drinks no matter what establishment you are visiting. Years ago in Delhi I was dying for a mojito…and later that night it felt like I was physically going to die.
• Ensure the seal of the bottle is intact. Some vendors, in an effort to make more money, will recycle bottles by refilling them with tap water and replacing the cap. Also, see if there is anything floating in it before buying. Recently I purchased two bottles in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh without checking as I normally do. Back at the hotel I discovered one cap had been tampered with. Fortunately any issue of stomach problems was averted but unfortunately, I was out Rs 20.
• You may also come across water being sold in polythene bags. Don’t drink it at all. Even this water is not safe.
• If possible, look for Rohtang & Himalayan brand water. The taste difference is noticeably better and as in the US, they state where the water is sourced from meaning it’s genuine mineral water. Other brands such as Aquafina, Kinley, Bisleri and Kingfisher are nothing more than purified drinking water.
• Like many products in India, bottled water is individually priced by the vendor with a MRP (Maximum Retail Price). Most vendors will charge as marked on the bottle with a few asking for less. The highest I have seen and/or paid is Rs 20 per bottle for Rohtang brand.
• Hotels are legally allowed to charged more than MRP. Get your exercise by running to the nearest stall or market and save a significant amount of money by purchasing your water there.