Chaotic, Inspiring, Intoxicating, Crazy, Wonderful, Incredible, Beautiful, Overwhelming, and Fantastic. India is all these things, and more. I always say – India changes you for better or worse ! India is everything and more all at once. It’s an explosion that involves all five senses be it the bright colorful clothes, the cows which are more important than you on the roads, the marigold flowers or the many smells of Indian cuisine.
India Travel Guide
How To Travel India Safely, Smartly – India Travel Tips For Beginners
India For First Timers – What To Expect When Travelling to India – Scams to Avoid – Where to Eat & Drink – Where to Go – How to Blend & Things to know before Going to India
How can you possibly prepare yourself for the ultimate travel adventure that is India? Start with our India Travel Guide below for how to travel India safely, smarty first time!
Contents
1. Length of India Travel
So how long should be your first trip to India? If you ask me – a lifetime, only if you got one to spare. Is if not; at least two weeks or a month would be ideal to make the most of the best places you visit.
What I always suggest to guests of my boutique Homestay – The Hideout Agra is to spend at least two nights to the each place you plan to visit because the longer you stay in the city, the more you are able to be comfortable with the locals and they are the ones who can give you the hot insider tips which you will not be able to find in any guide books written on the internet or purchase through the bookstore. This India travel guide is a small attempt to cover the most important aspects of your India travel.
The ugly truth is that the full India cannot be experienced in just two weeks or two months or possibly with two years. First time as I suggest is to stick to the North – the land of the deserts, palaces and mountains where you can have your first Indian experience which can be both challenging and pleasing.
Have a look on: 14 Best reasons Why You should visit India Now
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2. How to Stay Safe during India Travel
The most important advice I give is don’t even think of drinking tap water even if it is filtered because you just don’t want to test your stomach abilities. Avoid eating ice, drinking fresh fruit juices right from the street and salads. Street food is ok only if it is prepared hot and right in front of you. We have a saying in India which we normally advise to my guest – If you can boil it, peel it or cook it then you can eat it, else forget it! However, don’t be too strict about brushing your teeth with normal tap water. There’s absolutely no harm in it.
Also find out: The Secret to Solo Female Travel in India
3. Get Health Insurance
It doesn’t matter whether you are fit and healthy you should not travel to India without a comprehensive health insurance and make sure your vaccinations are all up-to-date and you are having a basic medical kit which includes probiotics plus some general antibiotics prescribed by your GP, some mild pain killers and hand sanitizers.
4. The Language
India is a land of more than 22 local languages but most of the people speak English at many places because it’s one of the language which is taught in schools in India so you won’t have many issues if you are having some basic English speaking skills. However you can learn a little local lingo in Hindi which will help you surely in your travels.
5. Best Time to Visit India
India is seasonal in part because of the monsoons and the heat storms which are not always easy to travel. The months specially around April to August are incredibly hot or wet depending on which part of India you are visiting and are best to be avoided. The Northern India including Delhi, Agra and Jaipur can get very cold in the winter so you need to bring warm clothing like jackets, boots and gloves if you are coming in December and January. The mountains close up in the peak of winter because the roads are impossible to drive on. Travelling to Himalayas in November to February is best avoided.
Check out my other post – Best Places to Visit in India by Month
6. What to Pack for India
For India, like anywhere else I always say – “Less is more!“. However here is my take on what all you should bring for India: Ultimate India Packing List of 100 Travel Essentials for Every Activity in India
7. How to Stay Safe on Roads in India
You can travel India alone and be safe although it is not always a cakewalk. It can be really tough and a huge part of travelling in India is actually being mentally prepared. So you need to open your mind to accept that things are going to go wrong sometimes and taxis or someone might scam you any day.
Another most important thing is be kind but not over friendly with the people you meet in your daily life while you are travelling in India. You might find it strange that in the culture it is not common for women to smile and chat with stranger but if you are too nice it will put off the wrong Idea as if you are trying to give signals for a possible tinder date in the evening to the opposite sex.
Also read: Practical Tips on Solo Female Travel in India
8. Travel Arrangements
Try to get hotel pickup and drop setup from your hotel or Homestay that you are staying from train stations or bus stops. Mostly hotels will give it for free or for a very fair cost. There is a high chance that you will get ripped off if you try to book a cab yourself to the hotel or while going to the train station. Best option nowadays is to use Uber or Ola (which is equivalent to the uber in India) and they are available in most of the cities at most of the times.
If you tell the driver your hotel name and they say it’s not there anymore, burndown or fully booked up there are actually trying to scam you to go to another hotel of their choice. They do so because they get commissions from other hotel and that is the biggest reason to lie to you.
Most important tip – don’t ever let the driver bring a friend or a relative while travelling with you.
Also Read: How to Beat Jet Lag while coming to India
9. How to Budget for India
Although, India is cheap but it is not free for everything. You could choose to spend 1000 rupees a day for everything or you could spend 10,000 rupees a day. So you need to really think about your budget planning for your trip to India.
Avoid going to cities in the peak season like landing up in December in January and Goa can actually burn to big hole in your pocket because prices are sooo high and it’s not really the enjoyable time you get with so many people in such a small area.
10. What to Eat in India
The number one thing travelers coming to India want to taste out are Indian curries but it’s very difficult to make out the differences between the red and the green and the many color of curries which are available. Truth is curries are gravy like dishes made in hundreds of varieties depending upon region.
Second choice is Palak Paneer which is actually the spinach and cottage cheese – not like the cottage cheese you have in America like the cubes of the cheese but it’s very tasty and its veggies favorite but be careful from where you eat it because during the rainy season this spinach is not always properly cleaned and it can give you Delhi belly or Jaipur belly etc.
I have made a comprehensive list of 52 Best Indian Dishes to try While You’re in India
On a side note it is good to let your stomach acclimatize for a few days before you launch into some spicy street food feast.
Many travelers become completely vegetarian while there in India and it’s definitely not a bad idea as a small piece of meat can do more harm than an under-cooked vegetable. Also India is mostly vegetarian so the country offers perhaps the world’s most fabulous choice of vegetarian cuisine. But you can surely find some of the best non-vegetarian cuisine here as well.
11. Where to Eat in India
While in the north part of India Butter Chicken is the favorite dish to taste and so is the Chicken Tikka. But these are actually North Indian Mughlai cuisine which are best cooked only in North India so if you are going to order it in South India or West of India you will not get the same taste for which they are famous of.
The south of India is famous for more healthy vegetarian curries with less cream and most of the food items are cooked here in coconut oil. Don’t forget to try the Masala Dosa while you are in South of India.
Seafood in India is best while on the coast weather in Goa, Kerala or on the eastern side of India in Kolkata. Don’t forget to try the fish curry rice or prawn curry rice as well as fried prawns. In Kolkata you can also try The Prawn Cocktail.
Also read: Top 10 Must Try Bengali Food while You’e in Kolkata
Don’t be afraid of eating Street foods. Egg puffs, Egg rolls, Chicken rolls and many others will make you drool. There are number of food walks in almost every city which you can join and have an ultimate taste. Check out our most popular Food Walking tour of Agra run by me: Agra Food Walk – Explore Agra by Mouth
If you’re looking for a typical American food or the Mexican food I am sorry to disappoint you as you won’t get the real. Everything is more Indianized, however if you really want something Western then you can go for a sizzler which will be meat and veggies on a hot plate.
If you want to have a bit of everything then you should go for a Thali. The plate is an assortment of curry, rice, bread, pickle, chickpea, mix vegetables, yoghurt, desert and similar stuff depending on the local region.
The most common and the most favorite drinks in India are Salt or Sweet Lime soda, Chai which is actually the milk tea and Lassi which is yougurt mixed with fruits. Lassi is the yummiest refreshing drink you can have and acts as probiotic too keeping you safe from Delhi Belly.
12. What all to See in India
I always say try not to have huge expectations on seeing and doing everything you want. Transportation between the cities and city attractions takes longer than you will guess and then you might have to cut some places of your itinerary. So try not to stress because less is more in India. Do keep in mind it is the experience that matters not just checking things off a list and the journey in India as a whole is a crazy experience.
Also Read: Top 20 Must see India Destinations That You Should See
Do Check: Dental Tourism Holidays in India – Dental Implants, Smile Makeover in Agra
13. Go Slow
Many people try to put too much in their itinerary is do in India and as a result they burnout. To get the best from your trip is to concentrate on a few places rather than trying to take off as many as possible. Trust me over this if you spend a few days in one spot you will be less stressed, you’ll get gain a deeper understanding of where you are, who do you meet and your exchanges with friendly locals will make some of the most memorable moments of your trip.
14. Stay Calm
In spite of the beauty that India offers, it is also in-famous for touts, scams, fake tour guides and many other hassles. There are some ways in which you can reduce the chances of being overcharged or ripped off but for sure you will have some encounters with scammers during your trip. So keep your head cool and remember that deals that sounds too good to be true usually are.
Specially be careful of taxi and rickshaw drivers who insist on taking you to specific hotels, shops or travel agencies as the cost of the commissions they will earn will be added to your bill.
The most important advice I give for any India first timer is to try to remain calm no matter what. It’s very easy to get frustrated but take a deep breath and move on. That is the way to enjoy your time here.
Do check out: How Not to get Scammed or Ripped-off in India
15. The Perfect Route – Where to Go in India
Before you decide on the itinerary please think about what interest you, what you like doing and how much time you have and then you can tailor your trip accordingly because India gives you a lot of options and you’ll never have the time to see it all on one trip.
Also Read: How to survive Your First Trip to India
For first timers, the best selling Indian tour is all-time classic Golden Triangle. If you are running short of time then this is a fantastic introduction to three of India’s top destinations Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
You should be starting in Delhi to see the sites such as Humayun’s tomb, Qutub minar before hitting Agra and watching the sunrise at Taj Mahal later followed by Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri. You can explore the pink city of Jaipur and the fort at Amber before returning to Delhi to fly back home. Also, you can combine
Read my brief guide on : How to do India’s Golden Triangle
Also read: The Complete Insiders Guide to visiting Taj Mahal with 25 Secret Tips
If you are spiritual by nature and temples fascinate you, it’s easy find them everywhere in India but especially in North and Central India there will be too much options to choose from. From Golden Temple in Amritsar to erotic temples of Khajuraho, Konark Sun Temple and milky white marble Jain temples of Rajasthan and Gujarat – you will have plenty of choices.
Temples of the South India are totally different in architecture as compared to the North but they are stunning examples Like Hampi, Madurai and cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora near Mumbai.
For beaches and waterways – you can enjoy some of the India’s finest beaches in down south. Whether it is in Mumbai or the many beaches of Goa you can take a pick from Arambol, Vagator and Palolem which are the top spots in Goa.
If you want to see what Goa was 50 years ago then you should head on to Varkala and Kovalam in Kerala which are the black sand beaches. In Kerala you can also hire houseboats in the calm backwaters.
Check my guide on 12 Best Non-Touristy Virgin Beaches in India
Wildlife Safari – Your best chance of spotting a tiger is in the many national parks of Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan like Ranthambore but there are many national reserves all over India where you can track many exotic wildlife as Lions, wild asses, Rhinos and wild Elephants. For the bird watchers, Bharatpur Rajasthan is famous for its migratory birds.
For the real spiritual sentiments Varanasi is the best possible option with its ancient funeral ghats where Hindus perform the last rites beside the sacred river Ganges. Pushkar in Rajasthan or Golden Temple in Amritsar are also such pilgrimage towns.
For yoga and meditation classes you can find it everywhere right from the Delhi to the ashrams of Rishikesh. And for the Buddha way of life the best option is Mcleodganj in Dharamshala which is also the home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile.
For the Love Birds – do check out Top 10 Most romantic Honeymoon Destinations in India
16. Do in India as Indians do – How to Blend in India
Most of the India is still conservative when it comes to the dressing standards. Tourist spots like mosque, temple or any other holy places require you to dress modestly by covering your head with a scarf and taking off shoes before entering. The more you blend with the locals in dressing sense, the more un-wanted attention you will avoid except when you’re in cosmopolitan places like Mumbai & Goa.
17. Explore Like a Local
It’s great to do touristy things – otherwise you’d have never explored the world-class museums or owned those gorgeous souvenirs that you picked up from different places. But it’s equally important to keep a couple of days aside to roam around like a local. You’ll get a chance to blend with the locals if you walk where they actually live and eat at cafes and restaurants frequented by them.
Go Beyond Taj Mahal: 10 Things to do in Agra After Visiting Taj Mahal
18. Get a SIM card for your unlocked phone
Being able to use your phone as you travel in India will make things so much easier. The many things you can do are like looking at the directions on Google maps, read reviews or even book and Uber taxi.
19. Religious Scams to Avoid
In many of the temples and mosques you may be pressured to make a donation or to buy a sacred offering. Most travelers feel pressured into doing this as they don’t want to be disrespectful of the local religion however there is no compulsion. If it looks like the price is very high it’s probably not a real spiritual offering but just way of getting some money out of your pockets.
20. Get Medical Help
I have seen some travelers even if they are ill they ignore the problems and hope they get better with time because they are too scared to go to a local pharmacy or a local doctor. However you will discover that not only the Indian pharmacies are cheap and friendly also often, you will be able to get antibiotics or any other pills you need without prescription.
21. The Indian Head Wiggle
Many times during your trip in India you will notice that locals have a certain way of wagging their head back and forth in response to a question. This nod is not the same as a nod up and down for YES or not from side to side for NO. I know it’s a gesture that doesn’t exist in the West so it can be a little confusing. The Indian head movement can have a lot of meanings depending on the context that is used in but most of the times when the person is trying to properly understand your query the head is used to show that he is trying to understand everything you say to him.
22. The Art of Bargaining
Haggling is a natural part of shopping in India but the important thing to remember is that it is not a battle but a friendly negotiation. No matter which part of India you are the vendor will probably quote price which is quite high and he is expecting you to give a counter offer that is lower so that you can go back and forth and reach a price that suits both of you. It’s good to start your price 50% lower that what is asked and slowly go up to the point when you are comfortable.
23. The Fake Ticket Offices
In big cities like Delhi and Mumbai you will find fake train ticket officials standing outside stations and tourist information offices. They might try to scam you by selling you fake train tickets that are useless when you actually start your journey. That is why it is a good idea to have a phone with the Indian sim card so that you can look up the company online in find out whether or not they are legitimate.
24. The Indian standard time
Don’t expect things to happen on time because in India the things happen on Indian Standard Time. It’s a part of the normal daily life and we always jokingly say to our guests – “In India everybody is in hurry always but nobody is on time.”
25. Just Do It
The truth is India travel will definitely be much more challenging than travelling in other countries. At times you may find yourself overwhelmed and exhausted, so be prepared for this. However the experience of visiting India is absolutely worth it. As I always say India changes you for better or worse.
Hope this India travel guide answers most of your questions and will make your travels in India smooth.
Bon Voyage! See You in Agra, India.