India is a intoxicating country, wonderful, mysterious, beautifully overwhelming and fantastic. Its easy to become overwhelmed at the bustling of India, endless possibilities of things to do, places to see, food to try.
I. General
General tips for traveling India would be starting by picking the perfect route, figure out ahead of time with a little bit of research just where and what you will be wanting to see when you go. For example, India is a large country with many places and sights to see, And instead of stretching yourself thin, try focusing on the northern side of the country or the south. Find out what interests you the most and what you will be regretting missing out on then go from there. The key to a good trip is making a plan but a very lenient one so you don’t stress yourself with itineraries. The most popular tour in India is known as the golden triangle, otherwise known as India’s top destinations Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. You can do this tour in about a week if you don’t mind moving around, Start with Delhi and its wonderful bazar, and work your way through the other cities. Explore the Taj Mahal, Agra fort and Fatehpur sikri, Then to The pink city and fort of amber in Jaipur. A good trip is only as good as the people you go with, find good friends or if your comfortable go alone and discover more about yourself. Another thing to remember while travelling is to slow down, don’t try to cram too much into a weeks trip take time and appreciate the sites you do see.
II. Transportation
The most common form of transportation in the country is flying, despite the ever growing population causing longer wait times it still remains one of the most popular forms of transportation. Aside from flying Rail travel in India is extremely well connected that weaves over 60,000 kilometers which makes it possible to travel from one side of India to the other, in two nights and three days. Train travel provides an interesting alternative to air travel, and may take one a little while to get used to from the lack of privacy and hygiene to the confusing booking process and many different accommodations and classes that makes it hard or confusing to work out. Aside from the large intercity railways the larger cities in India do have suburban train networks- places such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. If flying and riding the train aren’t your cup of tea you can always pay a taxi driver to take you around the city ( don’t try and drive yourself, the traffic is hair raising and with no official road rules it take an experienced driver to navigate it.) They also have motorcycles for self hire if that’s something you are interested and busses in various states of repair.
III. Accommodation
Accommodation in India is diverse, With more people who live in India travelling the country on a day to day basis then tourists themselves ( be it for business, Pilgrimage, or holidays) there are various hotels and guesthouses that cater to their needs which makes it easy for one who wishes to visit India to find something they will be comfortable in and also within their budget.
Of Course there are different types of accommodation, and here you will get more bang for your buck, from hostels and cheap rooms for rent, to luxurious rich hotels. Whatever suits your needs, do a little research see if there’s an Airbnb to fit your needs (and try to align the hotel with the sights you wish to see) and you will have a stress free trip. Guaranteed.
IV. Food
This is probably my favorite part in any trip, Why? Because where I grew up food is bland, in a safe routine and I just enjoy trying something new as often as I can. The most popular street food or one of the most anyway is called Chole Bhature, it packs a mean caloric punch which will leave you feeling full the entire day of sightseeing. It is a deep fried flour based bread. Delicious and usually served with onions, Green chutney and pickle. You can eat if for breakfast lunch and dinner, prepare to be obsessed.
V. Safety
Just a few safety tips for visiting India, first, as a women if you are travelling on the Delhi metro you should use the coach or compartment reserved for women especially during rush hour. Not that the public transit is unsafe it’s just more comfortable and you can avoid men gawking at you and it will be way less crowded. Do your research and make sure you stay in a safe area, Don’t travel at night alone. Make sure you are aware of any cultural norms or anything that could offend locals. It’s always good practice to be friendly and polite at all times, But don’t trust strangers even young ones and learn to say no to those who aggressively try to sell you something or convince you to go somewhere where you don’t want to go.
VI. Climate
India is home to a variety of different climatic regions, From tropical in the south to temperate and alpine in the Himalayan north where the elevated regions receive winter snowfall. The weather in India is influenced greatly by the Thar Desert and the Himalayas.
VII. Power Plug & Voltage
Power Plug: Type C, D and M
Voltage: 230V, 50 Hz
Reference: https://www.iec.ch/world-plugs
VII. Language
The official languages in India are Hindi and English, so you won’t ever find yourself completely lost with no one who speaks the same language as you.
VIII. Currency
National Currency: Indian Rupee
Quick Conversion: USD1 = INR75 or
INR100 = USD1.3
IX. Visa and Other Requirements
Check the visa requirement before you purchase your flight tickets:
https://discover.passportindex.org/
Also, do not forget to check the COVID vaccination requirements.