India is an absolutely stunning destination to visit, but it can be overwhelming and at the same time. It will probably take you a short while to adjust to the frantic pace of everything. With this in mind, we’ve put together some essential travel tips for when you go to India that should help you make the most of your trip in this majestic country.
Don’t Try Too Much
The first thing you need to do is don’t try too much. Sometimes just walking around can make you feel as though your senses are under attack, so you need to take the time to avoid covering too much in one trip. Instead, take the time to explore fewer destinations but go into them in much more depth. This will stop you from suffering from burnout and fatigue. If you do this you will also find that you end up having a way more enjoyable trip and that you can connect with new people who provide you with interesting opportunities.
Prepare for a Culture Shock
Another thing you need to do is try and prepare for a culture shock. When you arrive in India for the first time it’s almost guaranteed that you will experience some kind of culture shock. Take the time to prepare for it and try not to fight it. Instead, try and accept the fact that things won’t be the same as they are back home and that you won’t have access to the same things you are used to. If you can do this then you will soon find that you can get the result you want overall.
Bring Tablets
One of the first things you need to do is bring some tablets with you. You need to remember that it doesn’t matter how careful you are, your body probably isn’t capable of dealing with such a new range of foods. You will also find that there is bacteria in a lot of different foods, and in the water that’s different to what you’re used to. If you want to do something about this then taking some diarrhea medication with you is always a good thing to do. You don’t want to wait until you get ill here. You should have some tablets with you at all times. A good medication is Loperamide as it slows down the movement of your gut, so it will ease your symptoms.
Go Beyond the City
Even though big cities such as Mumbai and Delhi are exciting, it’s worth venturing outside of the city so you can visit some of the smaller cities. When you do this, you will soon find that the pace of life is slower and that you can take in way more too. The air is cleaner and it will give you a very good insight into how life is there. If you want to visit some of the other areas in India then you may want to try India Tours, as this is a great way for you to see everything there is to see without having to worry about missing out on things.
Cover Yourself
You do need to be respectful of the culture and you also need to dress conservatively. Although the temperatures in India do fluctuate, you need to make sure that you remember that it is a conservative destination. You will draw some very unwanted attention to yourself if you dress in a way that is revealing. If you know that you are attending a religious place such as a temple then it is disrespectful for you to dress in this way too. If you want to help yourself then make sure that you always have some long pants as well. You may want to bring along something to cover your shoulders as well as a shawl or sarong. If you can do this then you will soon find that you get the result you need.
Take off your Shoes
You also need to make sure that you take off your shoes every time you enter a temple. Many temples will ask you to remove the footwear you are wearing so you can respect the culture. If you are worried about your shoes getting stolen, then you may want to try and keep them in your backpack. You can also give the attendant a couple of rupees so you can keep an eye on them.
Ensure Easy Access to Funds
Travelling abroad often comes with the need to handle financial transactions across borders. Whether you are helping a family member or friend or just ensuring that you have access to funds while you are abroad, sending money to India can be made simple with online services. Many secure, reliable platforms now enable you to transfer money quickly, ensuring that you always have access to cash when needed. For example, you may need to transfer money for various purposes in India, such as paying for services, buying souvenirs or even supporting a charitable cause you encounter while there. Make sure you use a trustworthy method to transfer money to India to ensure a smooth transaction and then avoid unnecessary fees.
Get a SIM card
Being able to use your device whenever you want as you travel will make your life way easier. You can look up different directions and you can also look up Google Maps too. If you can, take the time to check out travel websites and look up scams too. It can be difficult for you to find a local SIM card when you are in the country so make sure that you have one ready. When you arrive, you also need to make sure that you have a SIM card with plenty of data on it, so you can make sure that your phone is always fully functional.
Watch out for Scams
As mentioned above, you need to make sure that you watch out for scams. Sometimes you may find that someone puts a red dot on your forehead, and then puts a string around your wrist. When they do this, they may then ask you for money. Many visitors feel somewhat pressured into giving in to things like this as they do not want to disrespect any of the local religions. If you want to help yourself here then one thing you can do is just say no. If it sounds like the price is too high for the locals then it’s probably not a spiritual offering. Most of the time things like this don’t happen in that way, so you can almost always assume that it is a scam.
Learn how to Haggle
Haggling is a huge part of Indian culture. If you want to make the most out of your trip then you need to try and recognise the fact that it will feel a bit strange at first. With that being said, you need to remember that it is not a battle, but instead, a friendly negotiation. A vendor may quote you a high price because they are fully expecting you to offer something lower. In instances like this, you have to make sure you do because if you don’t then you may find that you end up struggling and that you are paying way more than you need for a product. This can make the cost add up when in reality, they don’t want you to even charge you that much. If you don’t haggle then they will assume that you can afford it, and let you pay.
So as you can see, you can make the most out of your trip to India, if you simply know what steps you need to take.
