India , the birthplace of yoga and meditation, seems to be the number one destination for people traveling to Asia . India offers sandy beaches, pristine rainforests, 5000 year old Dravidian temples with their intricate stone carvings and sumptuous food in a variety of delectable cuisines ranging from creamy curries and baked breads of the north and hot, spicy, fiery dishes of the south.
India is a peninsula in the southern part of Asia and it is surrounded by the Himalayan mountain ranges in the north and the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean to the east, west and south. Politically, India is the largest democracy in the world. The countries that border India are Pakistan , China and Myanmar .
Almost all of the major airlines in the world have flights to the four major cities in India : Delhi , Mumbai ( Bombay ), Chennai ( Madras ) and Bangalore . There are several companies offering month long or week long tours that take visitors through the Golden Triangle ( Delhi , Agra and Jaipur), the bustling cities in the north, the exquisite temples of the south and into the houseboats anchored in the breathtaking backwaters of Kerala.
Internally, taxis are the best modes of transportation. Ask for the price beforehand or insist that they use the meter. Local buses and trains also run often and the only problem may be spotting the one you need as most of the information is written in the local language which could be one of 22 official languages. Also, some of the popular routes may be very crowded. However, most Indians in the cities have a good grasp of English.
The world famous Taj Mahal in the city of Agra known for its beautiful architecture and romantic atmosphere can be reached via Delhi , the capital of India . Jaipur, also called the pink city is the capital of the state of Rajasthan. This city entertains tourists with its ornate palaces and exquisite jewelry, elephant rides and gemstone shops where shopaholics can get rubies, emeralds and sapphires at bargain prices. Mumbai, the ancient port of India with its gateway of India monument, Elephanta caves, Crawford market and Chor Bazaar is another favorite. Goa , a coastal city known for its sun, sand, food and drinks is also a haven for nude beachgoers.
For those visitors who wish to see examples of Indo-Aryan architecture, the Khajuraho temples with its erotic sculptures depicting scenes similar to those in the Kamasutra, the manual of love written around 2000 years ago. Going south, you can see the coastal paradise of Kerala, where lush coconut palms sway over houseboats lazing on breathtaking backwaters and the lure of Ayurveda and other ancient health remedies beckon the visitor to relax and rejuvenate away from all worries. The cuisine in each area is also very different and must be sampled. India was the country that taught the rest of the world the benefits of using spices in cooking. Most of the dishes have a combination of turmeric, cloves, cardamom, chillies, tamarind, black pepper, etc. Stay away from the roadside food stalls unless you have a strong constitution.
The weather in the Indian subcontinent depends on the Monsoon. On an average, there are two seasons, wet and dry. The monsoon season starts early in June and lasts until September. The best time to go to India is from September to early March. The weather in the northern parts of India is cooler and sometimes dips to the low temperatures and a sweater or jacket may be necessary in the winter months. The south remains warm throughout the year and can reach sizzling hot temperatures in summer months.
Take all precautions to drink clean water and eat only hot food. Do not display your money or expensive jewelry in public. Watch out for pickpockets and petty thieves. You may need to leave your shoes outside some of the monuments. Get used to crowds! Photography may be prohibited at monuments, temples, etc. People in India are very religious and some of the traditions have been around for millenniums. Respect the culture and their beliefs even though yours may be very different.
Delhi
Goa
It has to offers places having rainfall maxima to dry deserts, snowy hills to scorching lands, markets selling all major international brands to cramped medieval-styled markets.
Its more than a billion people strong cultural cocktail is highly ‘spirited'.
Its not just sheet quantity of people but the quality of experience one can find here is mind boggling too. The number of languages, religions, festivals, gods, sub-cultures, food-habits, etc. that are practiced are not even known completely to a typical national. East, West, North and South states differ in lifestyles, languages, cultures as much as different countries differ! It all brews such a cocktail, on which a person once drunk, never loses her high, all through the life!
Add to all this a very rich bio-diversity, scientific advances from invention of zero to being a space and nuclear power now, a very rich mythology and the religious experience it has to offer, and one starts realizing that the possibilities are endless. Forget about exploring it all as a tourist, even people who live here all their lives are not able to live all the different life-experiences it has to offer.
And besides the amazingly beautiful things there are people—more than a billion of them! Sheer abundance of people and traditions and lack of resources at times, bogs you down. It makes living a challenging thing. Simplest of the things appear daunting to accomplish. Neither can it be described in words, nor are these write-ups an attempt towards the same. Such real-life experiences can only be lived and experienced in-person. Without these hassles it would lose its trademark uniqueness.
Welcome to India —the land of riches!
Delhi
Being the administrative capital of India , Delhi is one of the few biggest metro-cities of India . What makes Delhi the foremost place of visit is the dual purpose it serves. It is not just geographically located at the center of all the tourist destinations in North India but also very well connected with all significant foreign cities and these tourist destinations. Secondly, taken together the populace and culture of Delhi is representative of India 's culture. Together with neighbouring places, Delhi provides a glimpse of what India has to offer—breathtaking natural beauty, sheer population, mingled with a rich heritage.
The tourist attractions of Delhi city itself are:
Red Fort: reminder of Mughal glory, this massive sandstone fort extends 2km. Today the fort is host to India 's Prime Ministerial address to the nation every Independence Day (15 th August).
Diwan-e-aam: It was the hall of commons, where the emperor held meetings with his subjects. Diwan-e-khaas was the Hall of Private Audiences. Both are set in marble, precious stone and rare artwork.
Jama Masjid is the largest and the finest mosque in India . Its made in white marble and red sandstone.
Moti Masjid (Mosque of Pearls), Rang Mahal ( Palace of Colours ), Mumtaaz Mahal (named after Queen Mumtaaz), etc. are reminders of Mughal period's grandeur.
Rajpath hosts spectacular parade every Republic Day (26 th January) show-casing India 's cultural grandeur and military might.
India Gate, is a stone arch, is a tribute of India to about 90,000 soldiers who died fighting World War I.
At Crafts Museum one can buy arts and crafts souvenirs directly from artists, thereby, getting the originals at far cheaper rates than those charged by branded showrooms and middlemans. The gallery here exhibits approximately 20,000 works of arts and crafts from all over India .
National Museum holds memories of Jawahar Lal Nehru, first Prime Minister of independent India (here is a grand Nehru Planetarium too—very attractive and educational, especially for children), and gives insights into Indian independence struggle.
Rashtrapati Bhawan (President's official residence), Mughal Gardens (130 hectares of gardens), Secretariat building (housing government's ministeries), Sansad Bhawan (Parliament House), Purana Qila (old fort, now hosting an archaeology museum), Gandhi Smriti (a memorial, where The Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was assassinated; it also hosts a museum), Supreme Court of India Museum (it showcases evolution of Indian judicial system and preserves original manuscripts of landmark cases), National Gallery of Modern Art (it holds a grand collection of Indian paintings) etc. are all an integral part of India's history and society, making them worth your visit.
Qutb Minar, Lodhi Gardens , Raj Ghat, India Gate, Humayun's Tomb, etc. are cool natural retreats, besides the solace of air-conditioned rooms of exquisite hotel rooms, superb cinema halls and coffee shops of big international brands. The options, artificial as well as natural are so immense, that you'll be always short of time to visit them.
More information can be availed from India Tourism Dehi (www.incredibleindia.org)
There is a whole lot more to tourism besides the places of obvious importance, prominent amongst which are discussed in Delhi section. Here the focus is on activity based getaways—getaways from hectic city life, and into the lap of Mother Nature. Care has been taken to take not drift too far from the capital city of New Delhi , as typically these getaways can be covered in 1-3 days, including traveling.
Wildlife Activities
For the nature lovers, India is nothing less than a paradise. India is globally renowned for not just rare species or migratory birds but for the sheer variety it has to offer, thanks to the variable climatic conditions across the country. India has an impressive 93 national parks, 486 wildlife sanctuaries, and 14 biosphere reserves. It is very strongly recommended that a tourist covers at least 2-3 sanctuaries or parks. Amongst the multitude of options offered inside these parks are jeep/bus tours, elephant rides, bicycling alone, boat trips, guided safaris, etc.
By no means can all the parks and sanctuaries can even be listed here, but a few of them, nearby the capital city of New Delhi are, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Valley of Flowers, and Rajaji National Park (in the state of Uttaranchal), Great Himalayan National Park and Pin Valley National Park (Himachal Pradesh), Sariska Reserve and Ranthambhore National Park (Rajasthan), Little Rann Sanctuary (Gujurat), Pench Tiger Reserve, Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park and Panna National Park (all in the central state of Madhya Pradesh).
Exhaustive information is available in the book, Indian National Parks and Sanctuaries by Anand Khati.
In the Lap of Nature
Lakes, rivers, hill stations, fishing spots, splendid waterfalls, and bird-watching sites are just a few mentions of what is on offer for the laid-back nature lover.
Prominent lakes in the north are Nakki lake, Lake Pichola , and Sambhar Salt lake (in the state of Rajasthan), Tikkar lake (Haryana), Rani Tal and Renuka lake (Himachal Pradesh), Bhimtal, Sattal, and Nainital (Uttaranchal),
Having Himalayas spreading across half the northern states and other inland mountain ranges dotting the whole country from north to south, there is no dearth of hill stations. In fact every state has more hill stations than one can cover. It is recommended that at least, one day is reserved for a popular hill station. A representative list of the popular destinations is presented for reference is, Almora, Arki, Kullu-Manali, Kasauli, Shimla, Lansdowne, Dehra Dun, Mount Abu, Massoorie, Nainital, Ranikhet, Sattal, etc. Note that these are all in the north Indian states only; a few hundred kilometers from the capital city of New Delhi .
Some spots like Nainital, Panchmarhi, and Ranikhet provide good golfing opportunities. Corbett National Park , Kalsi river, Bhalu dam in Ranikhet, etc. are well developed fishing spots.
Tiger Falls (at Chakrata), Raneh Falls (at Panna), Bee Falls and Duchess Falls (at Panchmari), Kaladhungi (in Corbett National Park), and Satdhara and Panchpullah (both at Lansdowne) are a few waterfalls along with sites of splendid natural beauty where one can relax from the hustle-bustle of city and for the exhaustion of adventure sports and traveling.
Information on all such tourist sites is available with every travel agent and government tourism agencies.
There is a whole lot more to tourism besides the places of obvious importance, prominent amongst which are discussed in Delhi section. Here the focus is on activity based getaways—getaways from hectic city life, and into the lap of Mother Nature. Care has been taken to take not drift too far from the capital city of New Delhi , as typically these getaways can be covered in 1-3 days, including traveling.
In the Lap of Nature
Lakes, rivers, hill stations, fishing spots, splendid waterfalls, and bird-watching sites are just a few mentions of what is on offer for the laid-back nature lover.
Prominent lakes in the north are Nakki lake, Lake Pichola , and Sambhar Salt lake (in the state of Rajasthan), Tikkar lake (Haryana), Rani Tal and Renuka lake (Himachal Pradesh), Bhimtal, Sattal, and Nainital (Uttaranchal),
Having Himalayas spreading across half the northern states and other inland mountain ranges dotting the whole country from north to south, there is no dearth of hill stations. In fact every state has more hill stations than one can cover. It is recommended that at least, one day is reserved for a popular hill station. A representative list of the popular destinations is presented for reference is, Almora, Arki, Kullu-Manali, Kasauli, Shimla, Lansdowne, Dehra Dun, Mount Abu, Massoorie, Nainital, Ranikhet, Sattal, etc. Note that these are all in the north Indian states only; a few hundred kilometers from the capital city of New Delhi .
Some spots like Nainital, Panchmarhi, and Ranikhet provide good golfing opportunities. Corbett National Park , Kalsi river, Bhalu dam in Ranikhet, etc. are well developed fishing spots.
Tiger Falls (at Chakrata), Raneh Falls (at Panna), Bee Falls and Duchess Falls (at Panchmari), Kaladhungi (in Corbett National Park), and Satdhara and Panchpullah (both at Lansdowne) are a few waterfalls along with sites of splendid natural beauty where one can relax from the hustle-bustle of city and for the exhaustion of adventure sports and traveling.
There are a couple of bird-watcher's paradises, which attract a mind-boggling number of migratory birds in addition to some rare species, which makes these sites a place of interest for scientists too. Noteworthy are Corbett National Park , Kalsi, Morni, Nainital, Rajaji National Park , Binsar, and Naukuchiatal.
Information on all such tourist sites is available with every travel agent and government tourism agencies.
There is a whole lot more to tourism besides the places of obvious importance, prominent amongst which are discussed in Delhi section. Here the focus is on activity based getaways—getaways from hectic city life, and into the lap of Mother Nature. Care has been taken to take not drift too far from the capital city of New Delhi , as typically these getaways can be covered in 1-3 days, including traveling.
Adventure Activities
For the more adventuresome, India has a wide variety of adventure sports to offer. The number and types of activities listed here are only indicative and not exhaustive. Less popular options of para-sailing (at Kalsi), para-gliding (at Manali), archery (at Kalsi), rappelling and mountain-biking (both at Sattal) are also available, besides the popular ones listed here.
Trekking
Foothills of the Himalayas (besides other lesser known inland mountain ranges) offer breath-taking treks. While the options are unending but it is advisable to stick to the better known treks, where it is difficult to get lost, and where help of fellow trekkers and guides can be sought. Also trekking culture as a whole, especially amenities like trekking lodges, support from locals, well-defined routes, rescue facilities, accommodation and food, etc. are hard to find even on some common trekking routes. The best bet is finding a local trekking agency, which organize group treks to popular destinations. Destinations like Pin Valley, Hamta Pass trek, Chamba Valley, and Great Himalayan National Park (all in the state of Himachal Pradesh,), Char Dham pilgrim routes, Har ki Dun, Nanda Devi Sanctuary, and Kauri Pass (all in Uttranchal state), Ladhak, Nun Kun Massif, Stok Kangri, and Zanskar region (in state of Jammu & Kashmir), etc. are worth mentioning. The list is by no means complete, but only indicative.
More information can be availed from government's tourism agencies for local tourism, private tour & travel agents, local advertisements, etc.
Skiing and Snowboarding
For all practical reasons, both these activities have been non-existent, till only a few years ago. But skiing has picked up very fast as an adventure activity. Facilities at prominent skiing locations are well-developed and are among the cheapest ones. Gulmarg in Jammu & Kashmir, Auli in Uttaranchal, Solang Nullah and Narkanda in Himachal Pradesh are some of the well known skiing destinations.
More information can be availed from government's tourism agencies for local tourism, private tour & travel agents, local advertisements, etc.
Rafting and Kayaking
Himalayan rivers flowing down to plains provide excellent rafting sites across north India . There are other inland rivers across India which are good spots too, but rafting activities are not very well organized. That doesn't mean one cannot enjoy, its just that the facilities are limited to some places and every rafting-option under the sun is not available in India .
But that should not be disheartening as the available opportunities are more than one can explore in a short tour. Rafting operators provide all grades of rafting across north India , in states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Zanskar river region deserves a special mention here for being a very well known and very active rafting site. Also note that neighboring Nepal offers more exciting opportunities.
More information can be availed from www.indiarafting.com , and from local tour operators who organize rafting sessions during rafting season (typically the second half of every year).
Mountaineering
Besides the light trekking and lighter hikes, for enthusiasts India provides renowned opportunities for mountaineering. This activity is very well organized unlike some of the less popular adventure sports. Be it training or actual climbing, with or without permits, paid and guided costly options or cheap do-it-yourself cheap opportunities, India has something for everyone. The only catch is that mountaineering at most of the places requires official permission from Indian Mountaineering Federation (IMF), located in New Delhi . Plus though there are royalties to be paid for official permission, but they are small percentage of the total travel cost and won't burn anyone's pockets. Note that it is strongly advisable to go via either IMF, or travel agents appointed by them as some regions are dangerous for do-it-yourself mountaineering, whereas, some sites near Chinese border are restricted.
Some trekking locations (relatively difficult and at high altitudes than those mentioned in trekking section) are Spiti, Ladhak, Zanskar, and in the state of Sikkim ( Sikkim is an east Indian state, at the other end of the Himalayas ). For paid and/or guided expeditions one may contact a multitude of institutions, like, Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (wwww.exploredarjeeling.com), Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Tenzing Norgay Climbing Club (for professional courses), etc.
Food!
That is it—food! Nothing more, nothing less.
India without food is unimaginable. You'll find food-indulgence at its best in India . Collectively, India have more dishes to offer than possibly any other culture in the world. The list of even the culinary specialties is too large to cover here, leave alone mentioning all the casual food types on offer.
The wide array of not just the specialties and tastes, but everything from colours to flavors to the food-culture is mind-boggling. With too many regionally diversified cuisines, cooking cultures and eating habits it is impossible to define what constitutes the ‘Taste of India'. But on a whole one can say that, as there are very distinct spices and cooking styles for a wide variety of regional and festive dishes. One will find spices galore—strong and sweet, India is home to some of the world's finest and favorite spices. Turmeric, cardamom, dry coriander seeds, fenugreek, tamarind, and saffron are just to name a few mouth-watering ones.
Staple grains like wheat and rice come in a few dozen varieties and get made into a couple of hundred dishes. Even the vegetables of daily diet are cooked with many efforts. Typically, Indian women spend hours in kitchen everyday into making regular food, as well as, occasional specialties. Vegetables for daily meals come as either dry or in a sauce (in wet form), and are either roasted, curried, partially cooked, deep fried, stuffed, baked, mashed, or in a fritter. Lately, Indian food has grown beyond the bounds of being just vegetarian, including mostly meat, fish, and seafoods. Because of religious taboos Muslims forbid consumption of pork and Hindus forbid beef. At popular places and restaurants, decent varieties of non-vegetarian foods are on the menu.
An account of food would remain incomplete by all means without a special mention of marmalades, pickles, chutneys, and relishes. It could be a casually made mix of day-to-day spices and salads, or an exquisite preparation of selective ingredients and spices. But invariably, these are all spicy to add that tingling sensation for the taste-buds. These are exclusively vegetarian, typically involving a mix of vegetables, onions, herbs, spices, and/or fruits. A word of caution though, that some of these could be amongst hottest, tongue-burning things a person can ever come across. Going a little slow with these initially and later on not binging on them, are both highly advisable things to do while indulging.
Sweets are another of those delicacies without which no Indian function, festival, or dessert is ever complete. Made from a wide variety of assortments, typically milk products and wheat/rice flours, some of the regional specialties are a must have.
Since it is impossible to get into details of each and every region and its dishes, it is strongly advised that one must seek out average restaurants, help of local people, and waiters in hotels to get an idea of the regional specialties the place has to offer.
Cautions while Shopping
While taking out cash out of bank/ATM someone might ‘inform' you that you dropped a currency note and when you bend down to look for it (or pick a note deliberately dropped by the crock) the person might flick your cash or valuables in a second. Never ask price or try to bargain, or for that matter not even look around for stuff in markets for stolen goods (yes there are street-side shops which sell stolen goods at vaguely high/low price).
Don't buy things (for example, crafts, gems, exotic clothes, etc.) for reselling in your own home country—you are surely being duped of your hard-earned money. Don't get greedy hearing schemes of profit, albeit asking for your initial investment. You'll get stuff of your choice elsewhere too (in other cities, at other shops, with other dealers, for there is no dearth of them all in India ). Anyone's problems like custom clearances, family hardships, personal debts, lost paperwork, etc. are their headaches, not problems to be even considered by you, leave alone helping with them.
An important advice which will save you a good amount of money is about haggling for it! Bargaining is the way of shopping across India . Nowadays many supermarkets, showrooms of branded goods, etc. have come up, which are essentially fixed price shops. But at local shops or road-side shops you must bargain and show disinterest in the product saying it is just too costly, no matter what price is quoted initially. The prices are always inflated for tourists especially foreigners. The hike could be anywhere from 20% to 100% of the original price!
Cautions while Accessing Internet
Internet shops (popularly called cyber café, though the café part is almost always missing in reality!) can be found in every nook and corner of the country. Most of these are broadband except in small time places. ‘Peak' hours of bandwidth usage are from morning till noon and then post-office hours till approximate dinner time. Avoid using bandwidth intensive tasks (uploading photographs, webcams, voice chats, downloading, etc.) during this time. Also, since power cuts are frequent and untimely, it is prudent to save all your online work locally on the harddisk too.
But the most important caution to be exercised while using internet is to avoid using online banking facilities and using credit card details. Do not use small time cyber shops unless it is an emergency. They can potentially use key-logging softwares to capture your sensitive information (passwords, credit card details, etc.) Coffee shops in upmarket areas and some supermarts and decent hotels provide wireless access to their customers. If you are in India for long, you might want to purchase a ‘data-card', for wireless internet access while roaming. It works well, at least in the cities, if not in remote areas.
Cautions from Middlemen
Commissioning via middleman, agents, brokers, fixers, etc. is such a widespread and sometimes necessary practice that it isn't really a scam. Though its commonplace to avail the facility of a brokerage service to get work done, but since you still have to pay more hence when middlemen come into picture without your knowledge, it becomes nothing less than looting. The businessmen have to pay to whoever brought them the customer (that's you), and they jack up the price above the service's or product's worth. It isn't completely unethical on their part to pay fixers for bringing in extra business. Some do it for easy money, and others do it as, thanks for the cut-throat competition, there is always someone else who will pay the fixer more. What is unethical is that sometimes the price gets hiked up by as much as 50-100%. The catch in the whole process is that you'll never know what deal went under the table. Right under your nose, they'll even decide what percentage will get paid as brokerage, by means of sign language, and you wouldn't know!
It helps to know your destination (especially shops and hotels) by inquiring around, and know the approximate route, landmarks and fare to that place. This will show that you aren't new in the town or are not totally unfamiliar; hence anyone will think twice before taking you for a ride. Do make inquiries on your own (from locals or fellow travellers) but never tell taxi drivers or shopkeepers that you are coming for the first time, or are in need of help (unless you desperately are!), or that you have a weak point like no reservation or getting late or a disability. A taxi driver may ask you which route to take to your destination, to gauge your familiarity with the city. Some unethical taxi driver (which is a large percentage of taxi drivers, thanks for extreme poverty) might either charge you a flat rate (not all taxis have meters!) which is quite high or if you are paying by the meter, might take you round in circles to get extra money. In tourist cities, most taxi drivers will take you to a cheap hotel, from where he can get a commission for dropping you off, if you ask him to be taken to ‘some' hotel. Also don't get fooled by excuses like the destination/shop you asked for has been closed, or you'll get a better deal elsewhere known to your driver or escort.
You might want to get down to a nearby landmark before your destination and walk. Even if you go to, say some hotel, on your own, some taxi drivers will lie that they brought you and then the person behind the counter will charge you extra to pay commission to the driver. And you obviously won't get to know it since they'll fix their own deal in sign language without you getting the air of it.
Scams and Thefts
In a country of more than a billion people, when a huge percentage of the population lives below or just above the poverty line, with bare minimum to survive upon, then it is not difficult to imagine the crime rates. There are very many cases of thefts and looting everyday across the country. Not that many foreigners are targeted but, at least, at popular tourist destinations they are probable targets simply because of the fact that they are considered unaware of the ways of the country, inquisitive and friendlier towards Indians. But the catch is no one would loot you directly. All the ‘looting' comes coated in sweet talk! Rule of thumb is that, any person or any deal that sounds too good to be true are actually just so—don't get sweet-talked or cajoled into accepting any offers. Remember you are obliged for nothing and to nobody. Some specific tips and typical kind of cases to be remembered are enumerated in this section.
Cautions for Women Travellers
No matter how modernized the country is but a large percentage of (semi-urban and rural) population is still conservative. Especially when it comes to women Indians are not very conciliating. Openness on part of women and liberal costumes are looked down upon. And then there is a small percentage of Hindu fundamentalist who think of Westerners as the source of moral corruption and take unto themselves to ‘purify' the system! And some men just think of foreigners as promiscuous, which adds an altogether different perspective in their dealings with women travellers! Crux of the matter is that women travellers who do not seem to ‘fit in' might get sexually harassed (both, physical and verbal). The most common forms are the less severe ones eve-teasing, lewd remarks, staring gazes, groping in crowded places, etc. Cases of physical abuse or even rape have been fortunately lesser.
Fitting in is the key to having a peaceful stay in India , not just for women but for everyone in general, including the native people. While being paranoid is it is not at all called for, but being cautious and conscious is something you cannot do without. The dos and don'ts are covered point-wise below:
- Drop your notion of what is offensive and what is casual when it comes to behaviour, choice of words, costumes, etc.
- Always observe the locals intently to get a hint of what is acceptable and what is not—be it dresses you wear, greetings you make, stares you give, or your behaviour in general. You never know who might judge you how.
- If possible always travel with a male partner. Solo woman/women travellers are likely targets. But then again accompanying some Indian male (friend, fellow traveller, etc.) is not looked upon favourably.
- Get used to being stared at all the time! Some (like tour operators, shopkeepers, taxi drivers) will ‘examine' for business, some are plain curious, whereas, most just ogle.
- You cannot afford to be confronting people normally. Almost always avoid bothering men or crowded places if it makes you uncomfortable. It's a fact that in India women cannot have equal freedom and opportunities with men.
- If in doubt, don't ask locals. No one will tell you on your face what is wrong or what is right. Rather use your observation and instincts. If possible ask at hotel reception about how safe the places of your interest are. In every city there always are some localities which are not so safe for women. Avoid them. If necessary, then rely only on decent looking couples or families or sober looking female travellers for advice. Making some such temporary friends during travel or stay in hotel and resorting to them for such information is a good idea.
- Always dress conservatively, even if in a pool or by the beach or its summer time. You'll find Indian women wearing dark coloured T-shirts even on beaches or in a swimming pool. There is a reason why there are, say no nude beaches in India ! Conservative dressing and appearing sober in public (for example, not indulging in public display of affection or not drinking in public) will obviate most of your troubles automatically. Another thing worth trying are Indian costumes ( salwar-kameez or sari ), and not just from the point of view of safety, but also from the point of view of a unique experience. Always avoid shorts, mini-skirts, sleeveless tops, clothes with plunging necklines and in general clothes which show off much skin or fit tightly. Long skirts are ok but don't wear a tight or a small top. It'd be perceived as going out half-dressed because of the way sari is worn (with a tight blouse and plain skirt-like petticoat, underneath sari). If in doubt take a hint from local women. Then again a thing might be fine for local women to wear, just because they are Indians, whereas, a non-Indian wearing something similar would be looked down upon.
- With strangers always keep your conversation sober and to the minimum. Men tend to take unnecessary hints just because some women are friendly. At casual parties or conventions you'll even notice local women sitting together and separate from men. In Mumbai, there are a few women-only ‘Local' trains (for city-wide commuting).
You'll for sure find it intimidating and frustrating initially, but remember Indian women get along very fine all the time and lakhs of foreign travellers enjoy their stay a lot. So don't be put off, rather adapt and indulge.
Noise Pollution
Constant din of never-ending traffic, blaring loudspeakers, marriage, religious, funeral, etc. processions, publicly celebrated personal events and festivals, noisy machinery, etc. will drive anyone crazy. And if you are a quiet-loving person it can be sometimes nightmarish. Though there officially are rules about volume levels in public places and their timings, but these are almost never adhered to. A light sleeper will surely have his/her share of woes in major cities of India . Avoiding it 100% is, well, next to impossible, unless you lock yourself in a secluded spot! But you can surely minimize the intrusion.
Check the time of Diwali festival (it falls on some date in either October, or November). Diwali is the biggest and most auspicious festivals of Hindus. During Diwali there is a week long din of fireworks/fire-crackers. If you can like it, there's nothing like indulging in the most widely celebrated Hindu festival. Otherwise there is rarely a place where you can save your ears, except behind earplugs. Or for that matter, thanks to the above mentioned constant harsh noises, earplugs are a must have whether you are sleeping or travelling.
In general, it is advisable to look for hotels which aren't right on the main highways or busy city roads. Similarly, rooms on the far side from the streets will be quieter. Always inspect your room before taking it. Check if the windows can be properly closed or not. This is also helpful, in preventing rain water from seeping in, in regions which receive heavy rains. Tightly closing windows and doors keep the mosquitos out at night! Last but not the least, it'll ensure your privacy too.
Cautions with Children
Indians are very accepting of children. In fact, in mythology many gods have been shown to avenge evil after being born to humans. But with a crunch for basic amenities themselves, you'll rarely find any specific facilities exclusively for children. Or for that matter specially designed facilities for people with disabilities or for children are rarely found. Be aware that children will have some hard time in India . It could be accommodation, it could be excess of pollution, heat and noise, it could be the crowd itself, it could be (spicy!) food—the list is endless.
A general word of advice is to be always on your guard while travelling and eating out. Take utmost care of hygiene as food at small time places in India can be outright contaminated or might have been prepared under unhygienic conditions. Also Indian kids grow up eating spicy foods, so it is difficult to find exclusive menus for children in hotels.
Be wary of animals which have become so common in Indian neighbourhoods that first time travellers would be surprised to find people going about their work casually in the presence of dogs, cows, ox, monkeys, pigs, etc. Children being inquisitive need extra care everywhere in India . Always carry extra food and drinks for your children. Know the weather beforehand and protect children from heatwaves, which are very common in North India during summers (April-June).
Cautions while using Credit Cards
Be prudent in using credit cards for shopping. Imprint slips with credit card details can be and have been duplicated and further transactions made without owner's knowledge. Always get done with your transactions on the counter itself, where the card and the card-reading instrument are both in front of you. A good option is to do cash payments. But then again do not carry too much cash as pickpockets and crocks especially target tourists (Indians and foreigners, alike). Network of ATM machines is very good, except in some remote areas, so cash is always handy.
Visa and Mastercards are accepted at ATMs and in shops in every town and city. Making inquiries from your bank about usage of credit cards in India , or for that matter in any foreign country is advisable before embarking on any trip abroad.
Also travellers cheque are accepted across India , most popular being those from Thomas Cook and Amex. Try carrying cash and cheques in US dollars only, as American dollars are universally accepted for change. Some small-town banks might not possibly
Cautions while Travelling
Talking of travelling woes, another mode of theft (actually a right away looting) is drugging travellers with strong sedatives. Always some friendly-looking person will strike a conversation and get comfortable with you. You'll be offered a contaminated foods or drink which will send you to sleep, and your new found friend will part away with anything on you—not just luggage but even jewellery, wrist watch, wallet, waist pouch, etc. At railway stations or bus terminal (they are called as bus stands), you might just be looking other way for a second and realize the next second that your bag you put at your feet has suddenly gone missing.
But then again, do not strictly abstain from making friends while on the move. In fact do strike casual conversations with fellow travellers, as they can be of mighty help in helping you understand the working of things better. You can ask for advice, know the weather conditions, get valuable tourist information about which places to visit when and how, know the approximate prices of various products and services, etc.
Always carry a small padlock with you. A chain would be of mighty help in securing your luggage in trains and busses. Don't shy away from asking for assurance of safety and no matter how reassuring a place or person feels like, the onus of securing goods lie on you. Even the railway coaches are designed keeping this in mind. They have iron hooks below seat where passengers can not only keep their luggage but also chain it and lock it. Notes are written in almost all public buses and trains that passengers must care for their own luggage and are solely responsible for any thefts.
|
