I ' m a foreigner who has been living and working in the NCR for three months . Several observations Many Indian establishments don ' t accept credit cards . More don ' t accept foreign credit cards . Even if I ask beforehand , this generally becomes apparent only when my card is declined by the machine . It certainly makes everything more exciting when I don ' t know if I ' ll actually be able to pay . I ' ve already had to pay one restaurant bill with old notes after much negotiation . Most tourist attractions and tours are cash only . If people came to India to see historical landmarks , good luck . They now have to budget more time for standing in ATM lines than actual sightseeing . Big tourist attractions are a large percentage of the daily ATM and bank exchange limit . Taxis are cash only and Uber is inexplicably difficult for foreigners to use because of the language barrier and driver confusion over how Uber is intended to work . Cash is a lifeline , problem solver , and backup plan . I normally keep cash in my pocket in the U . S . even though my chances of really needing it are low . In a foreign country where I ' m unfamiliar with everything and utterly reliant on strangers for food , transportation , and shelter . not having it makes me feel vulnerable and anxious . Since the demonetization , I ' ve just had the normal drudgery of hotel , office , and commute between . So has it been a big deal for me personally ? No . But if I was here as a tourist , I ' d pack up and go somewhere I wouldn ' t have to deal with this nonsense .