I thought this info might be useful, we go to India in the winter and do not take travellers cheques because the banks make such a fuss to change them and you can get stuck in the bank for yonks. In Goa we have not had a problem changing money, but this year in Poona the money exchange would only accept "clean" notes i.e. sterling notes without any hand writing on them, if you look at the money in your wallet, usually you will find that someone has scribbled on it as they have counted it etc, but in Poona they wouldnt accept this money and it became a pain, had we known in advance would have asked our bank for new notes.
We are going to goa in november so would you say its easier to just exchange sterling notes when we are there? no travellers cheques? what about credit cards? also what about atm machines to withdraw via debit card? Hadnt even thought about money over there til i read your question!!