India Travel Tips

India might be a challenging country to visit. These suggestions will be helpful in exploring.

Visa

Almost everyone must acquire a visa before visiting India, however in recent years, the application procedure has been greatly simplified, and online applications are now permitted for shorter visits.

By following the instructions on the Government of India e-Visa website, obtaining an electronic visa is simple.

Immigration and Visa on Arrival

Immigration is fairly quick and easy. There are plenty of counters made available to the passengers with adequate signs. Expect a bit of rush in festival season but apart from that it’s an comfortable experience, as most major airports have now integrated Biometric Enabled Seamless Travel (BEST) experience based on Facial Recognition System (FRS).

For TVOA (Tourist Visa on arrival) look for signs as there are designated places for the same. For more information please visit the official TVOA website.

Travelling

Roads are extremely congested with vehicles, trucks, bikes, people, and animals, and it initially appears that there are no traffic regulations at all. For this reason, we advise hiring a local driver to take you around and negotiate the congested roads. This would be safe as well as convenient.

Travel Insurance

Everyone who travels must have travel health insurance. Each sort of protection, including personal accident, death, medical expenses, and emergency repatriation, must be covered by travel insurance at a minimum of US$200,000 in coverage. It should also include protection against cancellation, delay, personal liability, and loss of luggage and other belongings, which we strongly encourage. Occasionally, there is a chance that luggage will be taken or lost while in the airport.

Food and Drinks

In India, various religions have their own food restrictions. Muslims abstain from eating pork, Hindus abstain from beef, and some Buddhists and Hindus practice vegetarianism or veganism. On the bright side, these regulations make it incredibly simple to obtain vegan and vegetarian meals in India!

Stay with packaged or purified water. The same rule applies to salads, ice, and uncooked foods in general. Stick to fruit that you can peel or properly wash yourself while eating it, and be wary of freshly squeezed juices. Drink as much tea as you like; hot beverages are normally acceptable.

Temples and Holy Places

Always take off your shoes before entering a temple or other place of worship.

As a sign of respect, it is also advised that women dress modestly and cover their heads with scarves. As a result, having a scarf in your day bag is always useful.

Taking pictures during a funeral, during a religious service, or of people bathing (in pools or rivers) could be offensive.

Communication

The country code for calling is +91.

There is extensive mobile coverage, and SIM cards are inexpensively available when you arrive at the airport. Or get assistance from your guide / driver in purchasing one.

More hotels and Internet cafés across the nation, many of which now have Wi-Fi, are offering access to the Internet and email services.

Money Transfer

For travel to India, neither local currency nor traveler’s checks are needed. There are ATMs almost everywhere now, making it simple to withdraw cash or, in most circumstances, use debit or credit cards. This includes the airport. Cash withdrawals from ATMs are restricted to 10,000 INR each transaction (Your bank might charge you for these transactions). Visa and Bankcard are also widely accepted everywhere. Look for businesses in the market to exchange your money with in order to obtain better rates. This suggestion could help you save some money.

Travel Safety / Scammers

In general, tourists can travel safely in India. A visitor may be more vulnerable to scams and little thefts, as is to be expected everywhere, but using common sense and taking a few safety measures can help a lot. First and foremost, you should maintain heightened awareness in crowded areas.

Always keep in mind that tourist-friendly locations and routes are also welcoming to fraudsters and scammers. Although it’s uncommon, decline any unsolicited advice or assistance from complete strangers. Always trust your tour operator or driver and take suggestions as your safety is their responsibility.

Having said that, you shouldn’t be overly cautious when visiting India because the country’s crime rate is lower than that of many Western nations, and travelling in a relaxed manner is the best way to get to know it.

Avoid attempting to cover too much ground

One of the most crucial pieces of advice is to limit the number of destinations on your itinerary and devote more time to each one, as opposed to attempting to squeeze too much into one trip. Burnout and exhaustion will set in if you try to accomplish too much in too little time. Take your time and visit fewer places in greater detail instead; you’ll have a better trip. Additionally, you’ll have more chances to interact with locals and have engaging encounters.

General Advice

1. Always remember the Emergency numbers :

NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER	112
POLICE	100
FIRE	101
AMBULANCE	102
WOMEN HELPLINE	1091

2. You can easily buy tickets for monuments online by visiting official ASI website. It will be convenient and quick. Even if you wish to buy tickets offline, most of the monuments in India have separate counters for Foreigners so there will be no issue. However entry rates are different for foreigners as compared to locals and do check for students discount. Your driver and guide can also help you purchase entry tickets, so check with your tour operator in advance.

3. Money exchange counters can be found at all major airports however exchange rate might not be that good. So check with your tour operator as they can suggest you a better option. Beware of strangers or unauthorized shops.

4. Most of the foreigners get confused between a Driver and a Tour guide. In India these two are entirely different. While a driver only drives you from one point to another, the guide is the one who will be assisting you on your monument visit by visiting the monument along with you. He will explain the history and other details while the driver stays with the car.

5. It’s always nice to learn a few words in the local language as this can make a lot of difference. Like, Namaste (hello/goodbye), Shukriya or dhanyawad (thank you), theek hai (alright or OK), haan/haanji (yes), nahi (no), madat (help), khaana (food).