Seoul to Mumbai (ICN–BOM) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

South Korean passport holders need a visa to enter India. The eVisa at indianvisaonline.gov.in is the easiest option: a 30-day eTourist visa costs $25, a 1-year multiple-entry costs $40, and a 5-year multiple-entry costs $80. Processing takes 3 to 5 working days. The eVisa allows entry at 28 designated airports including Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Bangalore (BLR), and Chennai (MAA). Apply at least 4 days before travel.

Passport must be valid for at least 6 months with two blank pages. Upload a passport scan, a photo (51mm x 51mm, white background), and provide your Indian hotel address. The eVisa approval is emailed as a PDF. Print two copies: one for the airline at check-in and one for immigration. Traditional sticker visas through the Indian Embassy in Seoul cost about the same and take 5 to 7 working days.

Direct flights from Seoul Incheon to Delhi run about 7 hours 30 minutes on Korean Air, Air India, and IndiGo. Seoul to Mumbai runs about 8 hours on Korean Air. India uses the Indian rupee (INR), trading at roughly 16 KRW per INR 1. ATMs are widespread, but many cap withdrawals at INR 10,000 per transaction. No mandatory vaccinations for Korean arrivals. Yellow fever vaccination is required if arriving from an endemic country. Uber and Ola work in all major Indian cities and are far easier than bargaining with auto-rickshaws. Indian SIM cards (Jio or Airtel) cost INR 200 to INR 500 for 28-day data plans at the airport.

AREX (Airport Railroad Express) runs two services from Seoul Station: the Direct Train (43 min, ₩11,000, reserved seats) and the All-Stop train (66 min, ₩4,550, unreserved). Both trains serve T1 first, then T2; confirm which terminal your airline uses before boarding.Limousine buses depart from major Seoul neighborhoods and hotels (₩16,000–18,000, 60–90 min depending on traffic). KAL and LIMOUSINE services are reliable. Taxis from central Seoul cost ₩65,000–80,000 and take 60–90 minutes. Deluxe (black) taxis are pricier but English-speaking drivers are more common.

Ola and Uber are the practical options from BOM. Book from inside the terminal and follow signs to the designated pickup zone. To South Mumbai (Nariman Point/Churchgate), expect ₹400–700 and 45–90 minutes depending on traffic. To Bandra or Juhu, ₹200–350 in 20–40 minutes.Pre-paid taxis from the terminal cost slightly less but use older vehicles. Mumbai Local trains are accessible via auto-rickshaw to Andheri station (10 min, ₹80–100) then Western Line to Churchgate (50 min, ₹25); inexpensive but impractical with large luggage. Terminal 2 (international) and Terminal 1 (domestic) are adjacent but separate buildings.

Tropical monsoon climate. The Southwest Monsoon (June–September) brings some of the heaviest urban rainfall in the world. Mumbai regularly receives 2,000–3,000mm per season. Flooding of approach roads and reduced visibility cause frequent delays and diversions during July and August. The July 26, 2005 floods are the benchmark for worst-case disruption.

Dry season (November–May) is reliable with warm temperatures (22–35°C) and clear skies. May sees pre-monsoon heat and humidity (32–38°C). Cyclones in the Arabian Sea can affect the region in May–June and October–November. November through February is the most stable period.