No matter how much you read or research about India before you travel, your first adventure to the most populous and colorful country in the world will always be a punch in the gut. Unless you travel in a “bubble” created by a travel agency, it is inevitable that you will be surrounded by chaos, filth, poverty, noise, pollution, persecution and harassment. Does this make the country a bad destination to travel to? No, it requires proper preparation and reading tips about India before you decide to embark. Just as almost 100% of travelers get sick there, almost 100% of them are touched by the beauty, spirituality and joy of the Indian people.
But I have already traveled to poor capitals in Europe & Latin America, am I not prepared for what I am going to see? Absolutely not. Some issues are similar, such as safety precautions and scams, especially against women, but in others the gap is much smaller. In Latin America, you can eat street food without any major problems, but in India, you can end up in the hospital – and we are not talking metaphorically.
In Europe & Latin America, you can wear whatever clothes you want and, at most, you will get a dirty look from an old-school Catholic. In India, tight or short clothing can attract rude comments or very serious offenses if you visit a sacred site. Speaking of sacred, remember to respect the cows, which are venerated there. And bring shoes that you can throw away later, because where there are a lot of cows, there are tons of cow poop…
You can walk around any city in Europe & Latin America and, even if you identify yourself as a tourist, enjoy your trip in peace. In India, you won’t be able to walk ten steps without being approached by beggars, vendors, drivers, guides and petty crooks who will not only be extremely insistent but will even chase and surround you. This sounds really bad at first glance, but just respect the local customs, keep your eyes open and follow a few Indian tips and you shouldn’t have any major problems. And you will include a unique country on your travel resume.
Tips for India – Be Careful with Cash and Cards
This is a maxim to follow when traveling anywhere in the world, but especially in poor countries like India. Don’t give your credit or debit card to anyone to make payments, and don’t leave it visible on store counters or restaurant tables. Carry cash in inside pockets or fanny packs that are inside your clothes.
Research the prices of things before you travel or ask at the hotel reception before you go out for a walk, so you can get an idea if you are being scammed or not. Bargain a lot when shopping and always check your change before leaving the store, restaurant or ticket office. Even official places, like the entrance to the Taj Mahal, like to squeeze a little money from tourists when they are distracted.
Tips for India – Be Prepared for Lots of Photos
As a people with unique features in the world and very striking characteristics, Indians are fascinated by skin tones, eyes and hair that are different from their own. This has generated a habit that may seem very strange at first: asking to take photos of you and with you. Of course, it is not possible to guarantee that there are never ulterior motives in the gesture, but you will find that it is very funny for them, especially for groups of young people and women.
Some even follow you for several minutes until they have the courage to ask to take the picture, hehe. Sometimes they call the whole family and even put the baby on their lap. The secret is not to stress yourself out and join in the fun by asking to take pictures with them too. If you think it might be something different, politely decline the request and continue on your way. And never give your camera to strangers!
Tips for India – Dress Appropriately
Indian people are very conservative, both due to centuries of Arab rule and the country’s religion, Hinduism. Even on extremely hot days, you’ll rarely see Indians wearing shorts, for example. The vast majority of women wear traditional costumes or long dresses. Those who adhere to Western dress tend to wear long pants and t-shirts. That means no super tight, short, low-cut, or even off-the-shoulder outfits.
There’s no law that says you can’t wear whatever you want when you’re in India, but keep in mind that it may seem disrespectful to local customs, especially if you’re visiting temples or other religious sites. For these places and also for walking on the street, choose pieces that cover your legs and shoulders. Inside tourist attractions, you can take off your coat or scarf and feel more comfortable.
If you are a woman and traveling alone – or with a group of women only – you must be very careful. India is a country where women are still considered inferior and where many cases of rape are recorded, even among tourists. The more you are covered, the less you will attract obscene glances, whispers in your ear or greater dangers.
Tips for India – Avoid Approaches on the Street
Being a tourist and trying to walk the streets of India alone is practically an odyssey of patience. Identified from miles away only by their clothes and physical type, travelers are generally unable to take more than 10 steps without being approached by someone with the recurring phrase “where are you from?” (where are you from?, in English). This is the signal to try to start a conversation with you and lure you to your store, travel agency, restaurant, taxi, tuk tuk, rickshaw, etc.
Others want to convince you to buy a product, pay for a guided tour, ask for money or even try to carry out small scams. Of course, there are always those who chat out of pure curiosity and who can be easily dismissed, but they are rare. Most are extremely insistent and many will go so far as to chase you, pull you by the arm or even surround you. If trying to politely get rid of them doesn’t work, say no firmly and leave quickly.
Tips for India – Look for a hotel with good references
Price cannot be the main criterion when choosing a place to stay in India. Avoid hostels, even if you are a budget traveler, and leave shared rooms out of the question. It is difficult not to give in to temptation, as there are many ridiculously cheap accommodation options in the country. But your priority should be to look for establishments that combine safety and hygiene with a reasonable cost-benefit ratio.
The best way to do this is to do a lot of research on hotel booking sites that display reviews from other travelers about the places. This way, you will know if it is really clean – at least as far as it is possible for India –, safe for travelers, if it is located in a good area and if it offers honest services to tourists. Of course, if you can host on large international networks, you do not have to worry about it. Those who need to travel on a budget should be especially careful (check out our suggestions for where to stay in India).
Tips for India – Little attention to hygiene
Almost every traveler has heard of the famous “salty belly”, better known in these parts as “Indian piriri”. Although the tone is joking, contracting a food-borne infection in India can become a very serious matter. There are cases in which the body suffers such a severe shock that hospitalization is necessary, because the disease simply does not heal on its own. And even those who go alone leave their bodies dehydrated and weak for days, taking away all the pleasure of the trip.
To (try) to avoid this from happening, look for a place to stay with good standards of cleanliness, burn your shoes every time you come back from the street, wash your hands with hydroalcoholic gel whenever you deem it necessary and do not use tap water for anything. , Not even brushing your teeth. On the street, do not eat or drink anything that is not industrialized or poorly sealed. Eat only at your hotel or in restaurants recommended by your hotel or your guide/tour agency. And be careful where you put your feet, because many people spit on the ground – or do worse…
Tips for India – Respect local customs
In addition to the clothing issue, which we have already discussed, it is important to observe and respect other local customs to avoid making mistakes during your trip. Try to visit temples and other sacred places accompanied by a guide or companion who knows the rules of the place. At the Laxmi Narayan Mandir in New Delhi, for example, it is forbidden to enter with shoes or to take photos. And you will probably have to pay a bribe to the security guards to get your camera back at the end of your visit.
At Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the Sikh temple in the Indian capital, cameras are allowed, but you have to be barefoot and wear a yellow bandana on your head. Also, couples do not hold hands, hug or even kiss in public in India, so don’t do that! Except in super touristy places, like the Taj Mahal. Men from the same family, yes, hold hands, hug and show a lot of affection in public, so avoid curious or strange looks.
And remember not to play with cows, because they are so sacred in India that even if one stops in the middle of the busiest avenue in New Delhi, no one will try to kidnap it to walk in front of their car. This is also the reason why you won’t find beef to eat in the country. So it is also good to take shoes that you can throw away later, because where there are many cows, there are tons of cow poop…
Tips for India – Don’t travel during the rainy season
India is one of the countries affected by the monsoon, the typical rainy season in Southeast Asia, from June to September. Although they spread little by little and with different intensities depending on the different regions of the country, the rainfall usually affects the entire Indian territory in July, with the northeast usually being the most affected place. And we don’t talk about a little rain for nothing. Monsoons are responsible for 80% of all the water that India receives from the sky each year.
In 2015, floods and landslides caused by heavy rains left more than 180 dead and a million homeless. Several rivers have burst their banks and caused flooding, as well as blocking roads and bridges. Not a pretty setting for tourism, is it? If you want to see the blue sky shining over the Taj Mahal, you know when not to travel to India: between June and September.
Tips for India – Always Carry Change
Every Indian expects you, as a tourist, to pay tips for the services provided. The taxi or tuk tuk driver, the hotel receptionist, the luggage porter, the waiter, the tour guide, the boat rower, the elephant owner, the guy who took a picture for you, who gave you information etc etc etc. Some establishments prohibit this practice for employees, but it is not always respected. So always carry change and do not be shy if you hear that it is not enough. It never is.
