Hotel rooms above a cutoff price have additional government tax levied on them. Your bill may reflect a 10 percent service charge added.
Although tipping isn't the norm in Asia , a little gratuity is sometimes expected in India. Tips in India are generally referred to as baksheesh. A tip of 10 percent is generous, while other services have loosely fixed amounts. For instance, you can tip hotel porters 20 rupees per bag carried to your room. The service charge added in restaurants may go to pay the salary of the staff or just into the owner's pocket. Unfortunately, there's no way to be sure. If you want to ensure that your hard-working waiter is rewarded, you'll need to leave them a small tip in addition to what is already added to the bill.
Handling check-in is not as arduous as completing the Indian visa online application , but it's still very bureaucratic. Checking into hotels and guesthouses often requires a good 15 minutes of paperwork due to government regulations. Copies will be run, signatures are required, and paperwork gets stamped and stapled. Have it available so you don't have to lift a shirt and dig through your money belt at reception!
India has an interesting time configuration: The country's only timezone, India Standard Time, is 5. That means the whole Indian subcontinent is 9.
Tap water is generally unsafe to drink in India. Some local residents, particularly nearer the Himalayas, will argue otherwise. Even if the piped water is deemed safe by the government, the aged plumbing of each guesthouse or hotel must also be taken into account. Don't risk parasites and heavy metals: stick to drinking bottled water. Check the seals on bottled water before paying. An old scam in India consists of refilling old bottles with unsafe tap water and resealing them.
The bottles that simply came open in transit are safe but get passed on to tourists because locals won't accept them. Many cafes and tourist places will refill drinking bottles for a small fee. Doing so is a great way to avoid contributing to the epic problem of plastic rubbish in Asia. Declining plastic straws or bringing your own reusable straw is a good idea, too. Ghee is a clarified butter made from cow's milk; it turns up nearly everywhere in India.
Ghee is used in food, sweets, medicine, blessings, and even lanterns. It's valuable stuff! Although ghee is high in saturated fat, it is considered healthier than hydrogenated oils or regular butter. Unless rejected by particular vegan religious sects, ghee is used in dishes and breads throughout India.
If you are vegan or suffer from dairy allergies, you may want to learn how to ask for food without ghee. Note: asking for your meal to be prepared without ghee doesn't always mean that it will be! But there is some good news: ghee is low in the protein that triggers allergic reactions for dairy sensitive people. It also contains only trace amounts of lactose, so lactose intolerant travelers are often fine as well. Check out the essential items to pack for India.
Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. In that case I bust out my LifeStraw filter which removes all bacteria, amoebas and other pollutants in the water. In India you need to expect the unexpected. This travel insurance plan gives me the peace of mind to go forth on the adventure while knowing I have support if I get into an emergency or have all my belongings stolen! This unfortunately happened to a close friend.
He had no insurance and so had to replace his belongings out of pocket. View their plans at WorldNomads. I was compelled to write this ebook to help people learn how to survive, thrive and have a more enjoyable trip to India. For hotels in India:.
I recommend Agoda for finding the best deals with the largest selection of hotels across India. You can also cross reference the hotels you find with reviews on TripAdvisor to see what other travelers are saying.
Visit Agoda. Visit IntrepidTravel. Visit SkyScanner. For men a few loose, cotton or linen button downs or collared shirts are good. They have wonderful, loose natural cottons. Also, for those staying in cheap hotels, we got a lot of use out of our Sea to Summit cotton liner. India is still a very conservative country. Despite the heat and perpetual sweating, make sure to always carry a shawl to cover your shoulders, wear knee length or longer pants along with tops long enough to cover your bottom.
Tight fitting clothing will solicit unwanted attention and is considered disrespectful at sacred sites and temples. I cannot emphasize this enough. Talk to your friends who have been there, consult tour guides or groups, read Lonely Planet and research your destinations on the Internet beforehand.
You will notice there are not many local women out after the early evening. My India tour company, Goddess Travels, specializes in tours designed for women and couples. I often wear a simple band around my finger just to keep unwanted questions and interest at bay.
According to the census it is now over 1. It is the 31st most densely populated nation with people per square mile. Sanskrit is the most ancient known language and is the mother of all the European languages. Luckily for us, English is spoken almost everywhere making it the largest English speaking country in the world. The number of distinctly different languages highlights the fact that India is extremely culturally diverse and in many ways like a collection of countries rather than one country.
Below is pie chart based off the census showing the spread of popular religions in India. Even though Christianity is only 2. Approximately 30, people visit Venkateshwar The Vishnu Temple in Tirupati everyday and there are 12, temple staff. One of the best ways to get around India apart from flying is on their trains. They were setup originally by the British in The Indian Railways employs about 1. And, 18 million people per day travel on these trains. In this case it is nice to send a gift to India to your host when you get home.
Upon every street corner is some statue or place of worship. The history and power of the land is so strong and sometimes over powering and it is the mecca for mass yoga and meditation.
Sometimes the quality of the service may not be ideal but the effort is almost always there. While driving the streets you will find the most eye opening resourcefulness. From people carrying a bed frame or sheet of glass on the back of a motorcycle to a truck so over laden with goods that the driver can barely see out the front window.
This no doubt stems from the poverty and need to survive. In fact, India has never invaded another country in at least years. Although India itself has been invaded countless times by other countries.
Crime rate is lower than in the U. S and if you avoid big cities you will feel very safe. It of course depends on your taste but the unbelievable diversity of flavors and textures, colors and presentation of the food can be a divine experience. Almost all road rules including red lights will be ignored.
The streets are bustling with people, livestock and every kind of vehicle you can think of all tooting their horns.
This can be quite a contrast from the quiet streets of the West. Furthermore, you may find it hard to locate your seat belt making it rather unsafe.
Unfortunately this division seems to cause discrimination between the castes and can get confusing without knowing the ins and outs. Be it a dog, cat, chicken meant for consumption , an ox drawing a cart , animal abuse in India can be shocking and seems to be everywhere. The one animal that is largely exempt from this abuse is the cow because it holds particular importance in the Hindu religion.
Although, you often see cows eating trash which is different kind of abuse. The main thing is to have your wits about yourself and be compassionate but I advice you do not ever give money to beggars.
You will find it can be overwhelming at times but the main thing is to ignore it. It is yet to be understood that littering is a bad thing and so the streets act as open trash cans. The trash then piles up and the solution is normally to set it mostly plastic on fire. This is why I always bring a dust mask to help me breathe! D Viharini , author of guidebook: Enjoying India.
India will blow your mind. Every time I go to India which is now 7 times, my life improves for the better and my mind gets broadened from the experience. India is quite possibly the oldest civilization in the world.
Many of the famous monuments are ancient yet so beautiful. You can just feel the history in the land. I have had by far some of the best food ever while traveling in India. The exquisite flavors and care with preparation are to die for. It is from the many illustrious saints of that this knowledge comes from and is still very lively in many parts of the sub-continent.
There is an incredible mosaic of cultural differences that exist in peaceful unity in India. The diversity of food, dress, customs, language and landscapes are limitless. India is jam packed with sights and experiences that exist nowhere else. It seems like there is a major festival almost every month in India.
Here are some of the most popular ones:. India is an incredible place to be pampered, relax and just chill-out. The ancient Indian healthcare system known as Ayurveda offers amazing treatments including massage and other rejuvenation techniques. India naturally has amazing shopping opportunities not just because of the great prices but also because of the unique items that are available.
There is good reason why the Dutch East India Trading Company made so many trips to India and this holds true to this day. Last but not least, going to India will help boost their economy of which tourism is a major part.
Since there are so many people in India living below the poverty line it feels good to be able to help even if in a small way. I believe my tips will give you all you need. And, my free ebook is a handy way to bring all these tips with you on your trip.
Even though it was written in , he captures the essence of India perfectly! All the best,. We are committed to creating a healthy planet and regularly donate to important projects supporting sustainability. To learn about all the affiliate programs we are a participant in, please visit our disclosure page. Please Note: This website uses cookies. To learn more visit our privacy page. After 10 years of work, we have just released Travel India Safely. Table of Contents.
For hotels in India: I recommend Agoda for finding the best deals with the largest selection of hotels across India. India is Enormous! Before traveling to India, I wish I had a better sense of the enormity that is India — both geographically and culturally. There are something like plus official languagues, but over 1, mother tongues.
Then, there are a number of religions with a prescense in India. Unfortunately, India was just a thing on a map before I went to study abroad in college for a film project — my first trip overseas. Research your destination.
Just make sure you have done a bit of research of where you are going in advance and book your accommodation for the first night. Do not be like me and show up in Mumbai after a long train journey without any idea of what the city is like or where you are going to sleep!
The food is amazing. Customer service can be a bit over the top. At a hotel in Jaisalmer my husband and I seemed to be the only guests.
It was a bit uncomfortable having them all watch us as we ate but I guess they were just eager to please. India is a huge country with a climate that is more diverse and changeable than you might think. Unless you enjoy extreme heat! Agra, Delhi, and the rest of Rajasthan is comfortable during this time, and Goa has perfect beach-bumming conditions.
But we arrived in Himachal Pradesh further north to below freezing temperatures, flurries of snow and impassable trekking trails. And we were NOT prepared. Confidence is key. Before I travelled to India, I had so many apprehensions and anxieties. I had never done a solo trip to a far-flung destination for six months. It was something completely new for me. But mostly, I wish I had known that I had the street smarts, resilience, resourcefulness and confidence to be able to handle it.
Most of my doubts were about me, and my ability to handle the challenges that travel alone in India might present. In the end, my first trip was a magic carpet ride. First name. Now I want to show you how to make travel your lifestyle too. Want to know more We were a western family of four in India — travelling as a family is not necessarily cheap — therefore we must be wealthy.
A number of people in the tourist industry, and this in not everyone, but there were many, looked at us as if we were a walking money tree, ripe for the picking.
If I could have been a little more prepared for that, I think I would have been able to let a lot of stuff go. Most people are very friendly, and you will have many great conversations about life in general.
But just like everywhere else in the world, there are a few jerks. If you can ignore the jerks, India is one of the coolest countries on the planet. Each time I come I get more used to the country and it gets easier! Thanks for sharing and hope you get to return to India soon!
These tips are spot on! India is so different from most of the western world, things just work differently. You leave with the best travel stories! Nothing like sitting in a restaurant and having everyone plus waiting staff watching you eat… Haha. I think once you understand more and adapt to the culture traveling in India gets easier.
Wow…this is an incredible post full of loads of shared insight. Thanks for sharing and putting together Anna. Whenever asking for directions in India, ask 3 people. So when in doubt, if you ask 3 people if trying to get to anywhere. Hopefully at least 2 out of 3 answers you get are the same, otherwise start over!
I love those shared tips. India is one of my top destinations. Hi Bilyana. Thanks for your comment and glad you liked the post. India is always an incredible experience and always different and surprising. I love your blog very interesting. I am going to New Delhi in September I am very scare ,but excited at the same time.
I want to enjoy culture and the religion ,but I want to have my comfort too. I usually travel alone so I like to stay in hostels where I can meet others. Good one, I am Indian but have been to few country , will like to add few tips for India travel below: 1. Never accept any help or offer from stranger if they approach you but if you need help you should be the one asking people in that case you filter out people who want to take advantage of you as tourists.
Remember one-third negotiation policy when you go to market , so if someone says price of something is bucks actual price will be around bucks you can say a bit high like or bucks if they do not agree walk away and most of time when you start walking away they will agree and will just add few lines like just for you he has reduced the price. This is applicable most of time except for big food chains like pizza hut and big outlets, shops and hotels.
Pre-book hotels, prefer Uber or Ola taxi and know where you are going. Never have street food unless someone you knows knows that they are okay and always get your own water. Most important not all food is spicy in fact percent food is only spicy so you can easily pick non spicy ones if not ask the waiter and he can help you. This year I visited mumbai , after exploring some nearby cities I found some destination which was also not mentioned in tourist leaflets. I think it was sort of holy places like haridwar.
It was shegaon something,the people were so nice. Indeed your article is amazing.
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