Last reviewed: 2025-01-07 · Reading time: 5 minutes
How do you dial India from United Kingdom?
- Country code
+91- Mobile numbers
-
Example:
+91 98765 4321010 digits starting with 6, 7, 8, or 9. Numbers starting with 6 are newer allocations (mostly Jio).
- Landline numbers
-
Example:
+91 11 2345 6789Area code + local number. Delhi is 11, Mumbai is 22, Kolkata is 33, Chennai is 44, Bangalore is 80.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Including the leading 0 that Indians dial locally—dial +91 11, not +91 011
- Not knowing if it's mobile or landline—rates often differ
- Calling during Indian afternoon rest time (2-5 PM IST)
When is the best time to call India?
Timezone: IST (UTC+5:30)—note the 30-minute offset
Evening calls
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM IST (1:30 PM - 6:30 PM UK time your time)
Your afternoon catches their evening. Families are home after work. Good for personal calls.
Business hours
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM IST (4:30 AM - 12:30 PM UK time your time)
Early UK morning catches Indian business hours. 9 AM UK = 2:30 PM India—good overlap window.
What should you know about calling India?
India has excellent mobile coverage in cities and towns. Major carriers
are Jio (largest), Airtel, and Vi (Vodafone Idea). Landlines are rare
now—most Indians use mobile exclusively. Mobile rates are typically
higher than landline.
Call quality to Indian cities is excellent. Rural areas may occasionally
have hiccups. If a call doesn't connect, wait 30 seconds and try again.
VoIP connections are clear and reliable.
Cultural tips
Avoid calling between 2-5 PM IST—older relatives often rest during
afternoon hours. Sunday mornings work well for family calls. If someone
doesn't answer, they may call back shortly—missed calls are commonly
used as "call me" signals in India.
Holidays to know
Expect difficulty reaching people during Diwali (October/November, 5 days),
Holi (March, 2 days), and regional festivals. During wedding season
(November-February), families may be travelling or busy. Republic Day
(Jan 26) and Independence Day (Aug 15) are national holidays.
Alternatives to phone calls
WhatsApp is extremely popular in India—many prefer WhatsApp voice or
video calls over regular phone calls. If your contact has WhatsApp,
you'll likely get better connection quality and it's free for both
parties over WiFi.
Frequently asked questions
What's the time difference between the UK and India?
India is 4.5 or 5.5 hours ahead of the UK:
- UK winter (GMT): India is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead
- UK summer (BST): India is 4 hours 30 minutes ahead
India doesn't observe daylight saving, so only UK time changes.
Note the unusual 30-minute offset—India uses UTC+5:30.
What are the area codes for major Indian cities?
Metro cities (2-digit codes):
Delhi: 11 · Mumbai: 22 · Kolkata: 33 · Chennai: 44 · Bangalore: 80 · Hyderabad: 40
Major cities (3-digit codes):
Ahmedabad: 79 · Pune: 20 · Jaipur: 141 · Lucknow: 522 · Chandigarh: 172 · Kochi: 484 · Goa: 832 · Amritsar: 183 · Surat: 261 · Indore: 731 · Vadodara: 265 · Coimbatore: 422 · Thiruvananthapuram: 471 · Gurgaon: 124 · Noida: 120
How do I tell if an Indian number is mobile or landline?
Mobile: exactly 10 digits starting with 6, 7, 8, or 9.
Landline: area code (2-4 digits) + local number.
If it starts with 6-9 and is 10 digits total, it's mobile.
Mobiles are far more common—most Indians don't have landlines anymore.
Why do mobile calls to India cost more?
India's telecom regulator sets different termination rates for mobile
and landline networks. Mobile fees are higher. This isn't markup—it's
how Indian telecom infrastructure is priced. Ask your contact which
type of number they're giving you.
Can I call India using 00 instead of +?
Yes. From UK landlines, dial 00 91 then the number. From mobiles,
+ is easier and works everywhere. Both connect the same way:
00 91 98765 43210 = +91 98765 43210.
Current rates
$0.07-$0.08/min
Rates vary by mobile vs landline. Billed per minute, rounded up.
View all rates →