Travel India Like A Professional Tips -Travel India
Ahhh India! So colorful, dynamic, culturally diverse, spiritual, and mysterious… Traveling to India is a lifelong dream for many and the first-time experience is no doubt unforgettable. But, the same reasons that make India so fascinating can make it daunting and overwhelming if you’re not prepared. So we’re here to give you our best travel tips for Travel India that will make your trip smooth and as fun as possible.
1. Visa Requirements
To enter India you need to hold a valid passport, an Indian visa and a return ticket. Some of the requirements people often forget about is that your passport needs to be valid for 6 months after your India trip, and you have at least 2 empty pages in your passport. These are strictly enforced so don’t forget to check your passport.
For most nationalities, you can apply for an “Electronic Travel India Authorization (ETA)” online, if you are planning to stay in India for less than 30 days. Check the official site of the Indian government for instructions on how to apply here.
2. Is India safe for travelers?
This is one of the questions we get asked the most – is India safe for travelers?
Travel India is different than most other places you’ve been to. It can be uncomfortable, it can be shocking, it can be exhausting and draining. The first thing to note is that all of India is not the same. It is a huge country and each region and even each city can be vastly different from the one right next to it. You can have a very different experience in a small town vs. a big city.
We were a little more cautious about India compared to other places we have traveled to. But we can say with confidence overall India is a relatively safe place for tourists. The vast majority of tourists here never have a problem. But bad things can happen anywhere in the world. And like with any other country in the region, you have to be careful.
So when people ask us if India is safe or not, our answer is – just know how to Travel India and you’ll be safe.
3.Traveling alone a woman in India.
No doubt traveling in India as a woman can be uncomfortable with Travel India. You will get stared at, especially in areas where there are not a lot of tourists. People on the street might try to get your attention or talk to you, or even walk with you for a while. If you are traveling by yourself this can be unnerving.
But statistically speaking, India is not any more or less safe for women than other countries in the region. From my personal experience as a woman, I felt much more uneasy in Middle Eastern countries like Egypt and Turkey than in India.
The vast majority of people you will encounter in India are welcoming and friendly. So if you follow a few basic rules, you will be fine:
- Know the culture. Men and women in India relate differently to each other than we do in Western cultures. You can’t expect to interact with men here the same way you would in your own country. A kind gesture or a smile can be interpreted as an invitation. Personal space and boundaries in India are not the same as they are in the West.
- Call out for help. This has never happened to us, but if you feel you are in any sort of danger, don’t be afraid to seek help by making some noise. Public shaming plays a big role in Indian culture and chances are, there are lot more good people around you than bad. You will quickly be surrounded by good samaritans who will shame whoever bothered you.
In our experience with Indians, the vast majority of people here are extremely honorable righteous people, good to their core. They will rush to help you out even if you didn’t ask for it, and will go out of their way doing so. But as with any society, there are some truly bad apples as well. It’s important to remember this and not become overly paranoid or you will not enjoy your trip and spend your time with Travel India looking over your shoulder.
4. Don’t Try To Cover Too Much Territory
India is actually so big, traveling between cities can take hours and is exhausting. Just traveling between Jaipur and Jodhpur, two cities in Rajasthan, took us more than 7 hours in a car. The trip was grueling with Travel India. It might sound tempting to plan to visit 3 different states in 3 weeks but in reality, you will hate yourself for doing this later.
Instead, pick an area in India you find most relevant to your interests, and just travel there. Take it easy, get to know the culture, explore the cities with no rush. There is so much to take in, learn and explore even just in one city market, that you would not want to be in a rush to leave for the next place.
5. Air Pollution in India
Due to the huge number of cars, motor bikes, and tuk tuks as well as weak environmental regulations, the air pollution is a huge problem in India right now. It gets worse in certain seasons when farmers burn their crops to clear lands. The problem is more serious in bigger cities like Mumbai and Delhi, but we mostly stayed in Jaipur and Jodhpur and still felt the effects.
Since we only traveled in India for about 3 weeks, we didn’t think the air quality would affect us that much, but boy were we wrong. The first couple weeks we didn’t feel much, but after that we both developed an aggressive cough. That progressed to flu-like symptoms, sore throat, feeling weak and tired, and of course, coughing all the time.
We highly recommend you keep an eye on the air pollution levels when you Travel India and be sure to wear a face mask.
6. Beware Of Scams during travel
We were fortunate not to encounter any scams during our travel in India but they do happen. It’s good to be aware so you don’t get fooled.
A common travel scam is for your taxi driver to pretend they haven’t heard of your hotel. They could also say the hotel has closed or that it’s not in a safe area. Then they would take you to another hotel, where they would receive a commission for your booking or scam you with the price. Make sure you know your hotel’s address and have a way of contacting them.
Another way to get scammed is fake train ticket offices or sham “Government Transportation” offices. They would try to sell you fake train tickets. Or they’d claim all trains and busses are sold out so they can sell you fake transport passes at exorbitant prices. Be extra vigilant of such claims and make sure you have a local SIM card with the internet. Double-check companies online before you purchase tickets with Travel India.
7. Learn How To Bargain
It might seem odd and intimidating for you as a foreigner at first but haggling is part of the culture in India. Don’t try to haggle at restaurants or proper stores, but street markets are a fair game. Remember, it’s not an argument but a friendly negotiation. Do it with a smile 🙂
As a tourist, the first price you hear will almost always be higher than it should be. Give a lower counter-offer and then go back and forth with the seller until you reach an agreement. If you don’t like the price and decide to start walking away, chances are the vendor will not want to lose your business. They will usually cut the price a lot at that point.
But at the end of the day, remember street sellers don’t have a lot, so don’t try to bargain down too much. Accept that as a tourist you’ll always pay a little more and that’s ok.
8. Carry Hand Sanitizer and Toilet Paper
Public toilets can be a bit of a struggle in Travel India. Remember that this is a country of 1.5 billion people and a very poor sewer system throughout. Public restrooms can be a little hard to come by. And even when you find them, they most likely don’t have any toilet paper or soap.
9. Work On Your Attitude
We really believe your attitude and the energy you emit can play a big role in your travel experience – in Travel India or anywhere else in the world. You are more likely to be attacked if you look vulnerable. If you are really scared of traveling in India, alone or not, it’s probably not a good idea to go. If you are afraid, you may find yourself having scary experiences. Or if you come with an entitled attitude, you might have unpleasant interactions with the locals. That’s just how life seems to work from our experience. Not always, of course, but a big portion of the time.
While we were traveling in Jodhpur, we had a conversation with a local in the town. We mentioned to him that we had only pleasant and positive interactions with the locals so far so we didn’t feel unsafe in India at all. He said to us – “You have good karma, that’s why! Good karma attracts good people.”
We are not saying good karma will protect you in every situation, of course. But if you do your research, follow a few common sense rules and come with an open heart, you will never forget your trip to India.
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