No can do. You're officially not allowed to remove rupees from India as far as I know: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/N...

That article is from 2013. They changed the law in 2014 - you're allowed to carry up to Rs 25000 out of the country.

Same problem! I always hold some rupee notes so I have some cash on hand until I get to my hotel. My plan is to find a co-worker travelling there over the holidays and give them a good exchange rate to cash them in.

It'd not be unusual even for a resident to be out of the country for a few months. They now need to figure whether it makes more sense to let the cash lying turn worthless or make a trip to "exchange" it!

Find a large currency exchange in the US and trade them for USD?

If you can make a visit by Dec 31, you can get them exchanged at a bank or post office. You may need an account. Details of exchange are not clear.

You can also get them exchanged at RBI offices by March 31st, 2017 [1]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation...

You can exchange your old notes anytime after Dec 30, from a RB branch nearest to you. You just have to give a self declaration for it.

You should be able to exchange it at currency exchange places like travelex.

May be they will arrange something at an embassy.