Don’t try to cram too much in to your trip:

Travelling in India can be an assault on the senses – usually in good ways – and therefore it’s important to soak in the texture of each place before you move on to another destination. Though it’s tempting to fit in a lot of places within a short span of time, it can be quite overwhelming to travel this way. Tip: On a long vacation, try not to have too many consecutive travel days in your itinerary and spend at least 1-2 nights in one given city.  

 

Don’t leave it till the last minute:

During the peak travel periods (September till Mar/Apr for most of India, and summer for the hills) hotels fill up, flights can get expensive if booked within the last week, and train availability is difficult – it’s prudent to make reservations and arrangements a few months in advance and not leave everything to the last few weeks.

 

Don’t come to India without a Visa (for non-Indians):

Many foreign Nationals forget that a Visa is necessary for travel to India and you will not be allowed in the country without one! The last thing you want is to be refused boarding or entry for not getting your Visa on time.

 

Don’t take things personally:

While traveling in India you will come across the unpredictable and the chaotic, the unbelievable and the unhygienic. Sometimes there will be traffic Jams, delays or roadblocks for no conceivable reason. Basically if sometimes things don’t go your way, you have to roll with the punches, otherwise it can really get to you. For most travellers, India is a magical, fascinating place to travel, you just can’t get frustrated with the unexpected or the uncertain – it’s a great life lesson.

 

Do not miss out on the chance to do something Authentic:

Travel guidebooks and pre-packaged itinerary aside, India has a lot to offer in terms of the spontaneous, the magical and the bizarre. Try something off the beaten path, not everything worth seeing is only on Trip Advisor or Lonely Planet.

 

 

India travel - Tips related to Safety and health:

 

Drink bottled water only. Unlike other countries, the Tap water in India is not potable.

 

Avoid salads or freshly cut fruit at places that may have questionable hygiene/water (Street food, small restaurants).

 

Avoid Pork in India - Chicken is relatively safer.  Beef is not widely available in India (except for a few places like Kerala) and can generally be avoided.

 

Avoid Street food if you have a sensitive stomach. You'd usually be better off eating at 4-5 star restaurants and gradually can move lower to street food etc if you feel comfortable. 

 

For women: Do not wear revealing clothing in public places.  While you may be more comfortable at your hotels or in any private or residential setting, it would be advisable not to show too much skin in public places like markets or monuments, especially in the North – t-shirts, jeans, pants, khakis, knee length shorts are fine. Places like Goa however are more liberal in terms of clothing.  Dress conservatively at places of worship and do not wear your shoes inside.

 

For women: Do not be too friendly with men, touts or guides who approach you in public places or trains. After being in India for a while, you will usually begin to get a sense of who not to talk to. It would usually be fine however to strike up conversations with women or families.