Travel tips for India

India travel tips

Whatever way you look at it, India is an amazing country. Covering a huge area and home to over a billion people, there is something for everyone to see and enjoy. If you are from a European or North American country, then the traditions, attitudes and hectic lifestyle may be a bit of a shock!

Large towns and cities are full of hustle and bustle, but the locals are used to it. For a visitor, it may just get to be too much, particularly if any kind of festival is taking place. Slow down, take your time and take the opportunity to charge your batteries and your phone’s batteries! Don’t forget your USB travel adapter!

Check our guide to the best USB adapter while traveling in India and don’t forget our useful dual voltage guide.

 Scams

One thing you definitely need to know of is the scams that can catch you out. Most relate to being overcharged for something, so keep your eyes open and don’t get talked into something that sounds too good to be true, because it probably is! One of the most common is the taxi driver taking you to his preferred hotel shops etc and not the one you want to go to. He earns a commission, but you will pay it on your bill! 

Wherever you travel pickpockets and touts can be a problem, so if you are a group, spread money and important documents between you. Make sure you have photocopies of important documents and try not to carry lots of cash. 

Delhi Belly

A term often used and a real risk when traveling in India. Storage and preparation of food, particularly meat, is not the best in many places, even hotels. Stick to the places that the locals go to and that are busy is the best advice. And if you can go vegetarian for your holiday, so much the better. Only drink bottled water and avoid anything that has been washed in tap water such as salads and fruit, and anything made with tap water, such as ice, and even ice-cream. 

Street food may look really tempting, and often it is fresh, tasty and safe. Just watch the stall for a while and check food is freshly cooked, not reheated, and that they clean utensils after use, etc. 

The other source of illness is from the toilets, that often will be pretty unhygienic and often don’t have toilet roll. Take toilet roll and anti-bacterial hand-wash wherever you go, plus of course, wash your hands often. 

Of course, some people have the proverbial cast-iron stomach and can eat anything, but no one wants to be ill on their holiday, and a few simple precautions can help.

Where to go?

If a beach holiday is your ideal, then head to the southwest of India and the state of Goa. In this former Portuguese colony, that only gained independence in 1961, you’ll not only find miles of beautiful beaches but also 17th-century history and tropical spice plantations. 

Travel to the north of India and you’ll be in a mountainous region perfect for hiking, skiing and any other outdoor sport you can think of! The Uttarakhand region borders Nepal, while the Kullu Valley is close to the disputed area of Kashmir, and both offer spectacular, stunning scenery. 

Of course, there are the classic sights to see such as Dehli, Agra and Jaipur that are known as the Golden Triangle. Delhi is the capital of India, with Humayun’s Tomb, the Qutub Minar tower, Lodhi Garden and so much more. Delhi also has fantastic bazaars for shopping just before you fly home. Agra is of course home to the Taj Mahal, one of the most iconic and photographed buildings in the world, along with Agra Fort. Jaipur is called the Pink City due to the color of the majority of its buildings. There are numerous sites to visit, including two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Jantar Manta and the Amer Fort, plus on the 6^th July 2019, Jaipur was itself included as a World Heritage Site. 

India is on many peoples bucket list, but make sure you take your USB travel adapter to keep your phone charged and not miss a single photo opportunity. It could be the trip of a lifetime, so make sure you keep those memories!