Multicultural, immensely beautiful, spiritual and fascinating, crazy, loud, chaotic – all these words pretty much sum up India.
Our India travel retreat recap blog post had so many of you reaching out and asking questions about India, that we decided to put together this quick guide on traveling in India – for beginners as well as seasoned pro-travelers.
India is not just a destination but truly an amazing experience. However, if you are traveling to India for the first time, it can be a bit overwhelming, somewhat daunting and a huge culture shock for most visitors. India is loud, India is colorful, India is extremely busy with many different people, cultures and activities happening all at the same time. So how does one prepare for this assault on all five of your senses?
As an Indian-born, Karthika Gupta, the founder of CulturallyOurs, has lived in India for more than half her life. Although now she live away, she travel extensively to and within India and here are some tips to help you make the most of your India journey. While this is catered to be a beginners guide to travel and life in India, even seasoned travelers can benefit from these tips and strategies!
Culture
A predominately Hindu nation, India has many different religions that live in close proximity to one another. It is not uncommon for a mosque, temple and a church to be within a one mile radius. Indians are relatively religious and take worship very serious so be respectful when visiting these places. India boasts some of the oldest temples, mosques and churches many of which are World UNESCO sites. In the same token, be aware that India has a relatively modest culture. Covering arms and legs is a simple step toward respecting this. They will gladly tell you to cover up, remove your shoes and bow your head when appropriate so you will learn very quickly. This is particularly important when entering a sacred space, like a temple. Also, if you see shoes outside a shop, it’s a sign to remove your own. In big cities you can wear whatever you want, but when visiting small towns, dress modestly. It is good to aim to blend in with the rest of the population. With well over a billion people calling the subcontinent home, India is the second-most populous country in the world. Many Indians grow up without the luxuries of privacy or personal space. So don’t be offended or surprised when people lean on you in the subway or stand too close when they speak to you. The overcrowding problem is especially prevalent on the streets. The big cities are notorious for traffic jams that can last for hours. In line with this, Indian sense of time is somewhat unique. It is not uncommon to arrive later than fashionably late for events. In fact it is almost expected.
Food
Food is one of the most fascinating things about Indian culture. With a country this large, every region has its own specialty cuisine and they are all equally amazing. India is largely vegetarian with lentils, rice and vegetable as a staple diet for most folks and easiest to get when traveling. Meat dishes are available but beef is harder to get since the cow is sacred in India and revered as God. Street food is one of the best kinds of food but a little hard on the stomach for most western travelers. If your constitution permits, try a little bit of all different cuisines. It is perfectly normal to ask resultants to reduce the spice level in a dish. Be smart about eating out – when in doubt, avoid it. Although as long as food is cooked, it should be fine. Be more careful with the water you drink. Avoid drinking tap water and stick to bottled/filtered water. If it makes you comfortable, carry water purifier tablets especially if you are traveling to remote areas.When in doubt, you can always choose fresh coconut water – refreshing and so good for your! Western staples like Coke, Pepsi and junk food like chips etc are readily avaliable. The bigger cities have chains like Subway, Mc Donalds etc so you will definitely not starve in India.
Safety
Western travelers often receive a lot of attention in India, usually friendly but sometimes in the form of staring. Keep in mind that you will be probably be asked to pose for photos with locals. Female travelers will inevitably be the target of lots of staring. Unfortunately, often times returning a man’s gaze could be misconstrued as flirting; instead, ignore them completely or wear sunglasses. It is perfectly acceptable to be rude if someone is being overtly friendly and you are not comfortable with all the attention. Practice common sense when it comes to traveling to unknown places, avoid traveling alone at night and always let someone know where you are. If you are traveling to India for the first time, ask around to see if someone knows someone who knows someone in India. With over 1 billon strong, we Indians are everywhere! Sometimes just having the peace of mind that you know a local, makes all the difference.
Travel
With so many options for flights, trains, local buses, taxis, auto rickshaws, getting in & around India is very smooth. India has one of the largest railway networks in the world. To experience the real beauty of India and save some money, a train is an optimal choice. When traveling by train, carry chains and locks to secure your luggage and make bookings in advance. Air conditioned buses also travel between cities every day. For short trips within cities, use pre-paid taxi services, or use the Uber or OLA apps. Another way of navigating within cities is to use auto and cycle-rickshaws. Keep in mind that traffic on Indian roads can be terrible, so give travel extra time. India runs on 220-volt electricity along with a three-prong plug, so pack necessary adaptors & converters.
Weather
In theory, India experiences diverse weather conditions. This huge country has four primary seasons: summer, winter, monsoon and post-monsoon. However in practicality there are three distinct seasons – hot i.e. dry and arid, monsoon i.e. wet and gloomy and really hot! Of course some of this is also impacted by when you travel. November through February are cool and mildly hot and April through October are hot, humid, wet and sweltering heat depending on where you go. Packing for a trip to India will largely be determined by where you are going and when as well as the activities you are planning to do. If you are traveling to India in the summer, light-weight clothes are perfect, but winter conditions vary a lot throughout the country. For example, winter in Delhi is very different from winter in Bangalore. It’s worth packing a light coat/jacket for evening and an umbrella/raincoat for monsoon travel. When in doubt, pack light. You can always buy cotton clothes, sandals and other accessories in India as needed.
5 KEY TAKEAWAYS
Slow down
By far the most common complaint first-time visitors have is tourist fatigue. There is so much to see and do and in most cases, not enough time. India is vast, colorful and addictive, but have realistic expectations about how much you can see. Really get to know a place before leaving – this might mean staying for about 4-5days in each area. Overnight and 24 hours visits are really not worthwhile. From the Himalayas in the north to the backwaters in the South to the coastal countryside in the East to the arid deserts in the West, India is an explorer’s paradise. Do not cram everything in a single trip.
Escape the crowds
Though perhaps a cliché, the only way to get a true sense of India is to visit smaller villages. The real benefit is that it will get you out of the vastly overpopulated cities. Once you are away from the chaos of urban cities, you will enjoy the real India. If traveling to off-the-beaten paths is not for you, no worries. You can still escape the crowds by walking around the city early in the morning. Of course all the touristy places may not be open yet but it is a great time to people watch and experience a slower pace.
Basic language skills
India is a culturally diverse country, and this includes the language. Even though the national language is Hindi, each region has its own dialect. English is commonly used and understood across India. But it doesn’t hurt to learn a few basic words in Hindi to help break the ice with the locals. Learn words like namaste (hello/goodbye), shukriya or dhanyawad (thank you), theek hai (alright or OK), haan/haanji (yes), nahi (no), madat (help), kripya (help/please), aaj (today), kal (tomorrow), chai (Tea), khaana (food), chalo (let’s go).
Make smart choices
Use your discretion while talking to people. Avoid walking or traveling by public transport at odd hours, as you would anywhere in the world. Don’t carry a large amount of cash around with you. Make a photocopy of your passport and carry that with you. Also, make note of emergency numbers are keep them handy. In India, the all-in-one emergency number is 112. The large wealth divide here means lots of beggars, particularly in urban and tourist areas. While it’s heartbreaking to see, by giving money you can contribute to the problem as many are kidnapped, abused & forced to beg.
Que sera, sera – Keep your cool
India can be nerve racking to say the least – even for people who live and work there. Strive to neverlose your cool in public, you will likely make matters worse for yourself rather than solving whatever challenge you are facing. While doing so isn’t always easy, but try to stay calm! With well over a billion people squeezed onto the subcontinent, you’ll have to get used to crowds of people. Hold your ground and be polite — but not too polite — or you may never get service.
We hope these simple yet effective travel tips to India help easy any anxiety you might be having in traveling to a country of over 1 Billion people!
If you would like to travel with us, or join one of our India travel retreats, be sure to sign up to be notified when the next retreats open up.
This is a perfect way to go to India under the guidance of a local who knows the place, language and the culture!
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