Let me start by saying that India is a beautiful country rich in culture. This country is unlike many I have traveled to and has challenged me in so many ways. I was always told that India is for the more experienced travelers and now looking back at my trip I can see why people say this. India is such an adventure and how you traverse it will determine how your experience will be. Knowing in advance what you will be experiencing will help ease culture shock. The tips that I’ve listed below aren’t to scare anyone but to educate you for a pleasant adventure. I think everyone should experience this country at least once in their life.
Indian E-Visa
You must have a visa before flying to India. Apply for your e-visa at least 5 days in advance just in case it takes longer to get your visa approved. You can obtain the e-visa at the official Indian e-visa website. If you think that you will be staying in India for more than one month then I recommend getting an e-visa that will last you longer than a month. Tourist e-visas aren’t eligible for an extension which would require you to leave the country before your visa expiration date and re-entering. If you decide to do a visa run to another country, be aware that you must re-apply for another Indian e-visa.
Airport Taxi
When we arrived in India, taxi drivers were bombarding us with questions about where we were going. This experience can be overwhelming, especially after a long flight. If you exit the airport, you will find taxi stands that will allow you to pre-pay for your taxi, eliminating the worry of being scammed. The airport taxi stand will give you a ticket and guide you to your appointed taxi driver. Have cash available as they only accept cash payments and tips.
Traveling India As A Woman
I’m a very well-traveled solo traveler. I hate hearing about being careful due to being a woman. Yes, I agree there are men out there who prey on women, but I never let that stop me live my life. As I traveled India, I started to notice the further north I traveled, the more I felt unsafe. Not to mention I was traveling with my 6’3 fiancé. I became more aware that there were more men on the streets than I saw women. I experienced a handful of men who would give seductive stares. Let me add that I was dressed very modestly trying to be aware of how local women dressed. I understand that I look like a foreigner, but there were times when men’s gazes would linger in unwarranted places. At times, my partner stepped in asking men to transfix their eyes elsewhere. This didn’t happen everywhere, but it happened often the further north we went.
Do NOT Drink the Tap Water
For the love of God, please don’t drink the tap water! If you’re visiting India, it is very important to not drink or ingest the water in India. This also goes for brushing your teeth. There are bacteria in the water that will even make local Indians sick. Ice is also something to stay clear of unless you know it was made from fresh water. Ice in India can be used from tap water and once melted it can contaminate your drink. So be mindful of smoothies and any drinks with blended ice. You can also ask establishments if they use bottled or fresh water to make ice cubes. Use caution with fruits and veggies as they can also be contaminated from being rinsed with tap water.
Be Careful of What You Eat
When in India try all the new foods! Don’t just order your basic butter chicken. Explore the new flavors and spices. Please be aware that it can be common to get food poisoning in India if you’re not cautious.
When I traveled to India, food poisoning was my biggest fear of mine. There’s nothing worse than sightseeing and having the sudden urge that you’re going to shit your pants. Always use caution about where you’re eating. Look at the reviews and the number of people who are eating there. I recommend if you’re eating street food only consume fresh hot foods that haven’t been sitting and are too hot for bacteria to survive. Hygiene can be a major issue when it pertains to local street vendors.
When eating ALWAYS wash your hands! Bring hand sanitizer just in case you don’t have access to soap and water. If you’re dining in, do not drink from the mouth of the cup. If possible, ask for bottled or canned beverages with a straw.
I recommend bringing stomach medications in case of an upset stomach. As I traveled around Southeast Asia and India, activated charcoal helped ward off any stomach bugs. If your stomach is sensitive to spicy foods, I recommend bringing antiacids. India’s food can be quite spicy.
India Scams
As a person who has traveled to many countries and experienced many scams, I thought I was prepared to identify scams when coming to India. Boy was I wrong. The scams in India are so elaborate and sometimes involve multiple people. From tuk-tuks, hotels, shop owners, restaurants, and kids there is always someone looking to scam you. Hearing “my friend” first before selling us their pitch or following us until we had to speak louder for them to get the message. It’s not uncommon to be followed by sellers. We chose to ignore people who didn’t respect our space. It’s almost inevitable to get scammed in India but take extra precaution of who you’re giving your money to. Unfortunately, this spoiled our trust with many locals who wanted to come and speak with us.
Beggars
This was very hard for me when visiting India. You will notice many beggars approaching you and/or your car window. Beggars range from children, women, men, and handicapped people. It tugs at your heartstrings seeing them in such conditions. Before traveling to India, I was told not to support beggars due to underlying scams and the “beggars mafia” that use kids. Instead, if you’re seeking to help those in need, donate to an organization that specifically helps Indian people who are living in poverty.
Bring Cash
Many places accept cards in India but if you’re looking to buy items from markets, I recommend using cash. Some of our hostels only accepted cash which had us hunting for the nearest working ATM.
Be warned that some ATMs in India don’t work and will not deposit your money but still charge you for the cash withdrawal. I recommend looking for ATMs that are attached to banks or that you’ve seen successfully being used.
Pollution and Litter
India is ranked among one of the top polluted countries in the world. In major cities in India, pollution is visible to the naked eye. Walking down the streets of many popular cities in India, you will witness piles of trash, waste from animals or humans, families living on the streets, and dust lingering in the air. At times we were met with the smell of sewage that filled our noses at almost every street we turned on. It was hard taking in the beauty and looking over and seeing trash floating everywhere. It was the biggest culture shock I’ve experienced.
India has started taking the initiative to use plastic-free items in some stores along with other biodegradable items. Signs in parks are present telling visitors to use trash receptacles. There are even street workers who sweep and clean the roads and sidewalks. Although India is known for its rugged cities, the country is taking the right steps in trying to steer the population to do better with littering.
Shopping
There are many places to shop in India depending on the location you’re in. As a plus-size woman, I found many stores accommodating to my size. I shopped in markets and malls. Markets sell a range of items that you couldn’t find in the malls. From beautiful handmade shoes to jewelry and more. Don’t be afraid to bargain at markets. Since you’re a foreigner, many sellers will try to sell you items three times the price of what you’re buying. Instead of wondering if you spent too much, bargain! Bargaining in India can be a fun experience opening you up to speaking with locals.
Malls offer Western stores that we were familiar with back home among some Indian brands that had beautiful styles. Most malls in India also have movie theaters that are on the top floor. When we were finished shopping, we caught a movie that offered English subtitles with a bucket of delicious popcorn. If you’re looking to kill some time and stay indoors, I recommend a trip to the mall.
Transportation
Transportation is diverse when traveling to India. India is a large country that might require different modes of transportation such as planes, trains, buses, taxis, motorbikes, or tuk-tuks. When planning your itinerary to India make sure you know where in India you’ll be going so you can plan your transportation routes. For example, southern India and northern India are far from each other and might require flying for a more comfortable journey.
Flying within India is an option for those needing to travel far or those who don’t have time. India has multiple airlines that offer affordable domestic travel. We were able to get tickets the same day leaving from Hyderabad to Jaipur for less than $100 a ticket.
Taxis are a great option for inner-city travel that doesn’t require long-distance driving. If you’re worried about getting scammed by taxi drivers, I recommend using Uber. Uber gives you a preset price leaving the worry of inflated costs. You can also order tuk-tuks on Uber for a meager price.
Trains are also a great way to get from one city to another. Trains in India range from inexpensive lower-class seating to classy first-class seating. Recently, there have been new railways built that offer a comfortable first-class experience. You can book your train tickets on the IRCTC website.
Buses and Sleeper buses are also a great way to travel if you’re looking to bounce from city to city. My partner and I took a sleeper bus from Bangalore to Hyderabad and were pleasantly surprised with the comfort and cleanliness of the bus. Not all buses are like this so be sure to read reviews before booking. We booked our buses through 12goasia and had no issues. India bus stops can be confusing as far as where to get picked up from. I recommend asking your hotel or a local where the location is. We had a few issues finding the bus stops due to the bus stops being on the side of a highway.
Private drivers are also a common thing that you can find in India. Many driving companies offer private drivers to take you to your desired destinations. We were fortunate to hire 3 private drivers on our 1-month trip to India. We were picked up and dropped off at the exact address provided. This can be more expensive, but we found that it was worth it on days when we were low on energy and didn’t want to navigate a new city. We used 12goasia to book our driver but there are other websites available to book a driver through if you want more options.
Transportation in India can be hit or miss so try to be flexible with your times when traveling.
Don’t Leave Your Belongings Out
This goes for hotel items, public items, and/or in your pockets. Some people pickpocket and steal on the streets of India and you must be very careful with your belongings. We witnessed a woman who almost got her purse stolen from a bench and was taking a photo of the Taj Mahal. I recommend a fanny pack that can be discreetly under your clothes or on the front of your body. For the items that you’re keeping in your hotel room, I recommend using a safe or having a lock on your luggage.
When taking photos be careful of thieves on foot that run past and take your phone. This can happen whether you’re in a vehicle or walking. Always pay attention to your surroundings and keep your valuables secure.
Visiting The Taj Mahal
There’s nothing like seeing one of the 7 Wonders of The World. The Taj Mahal was the highlight of my India adventures but there were things I wish I knew before going.
Before visiting the Taj Mahal, you will need to purchase a ticket online. You can’t buy tickets at the gate so come prepared with your digital ticket. You will need to purchase your ticket at the Taj Mahal government website tajmahal.gov.in. The price of the ticket was 1050 INR which is around $12.60.
Depending on the time you arrive, that can determine if you can avoid the large crowds. The website stated that the gates open at 6 am but we weren’t let in until 6:20 am. I advise getting to the gate at 5:30 am if you’re looking to beat the crowds.
Do not bring large bags or purses. I recommend only bringing essential items and leaving everything else in the hotel. The Taj Mahal doesn’t allow large bags and might require you to use a locker to hold excess personal items.
The main gate that most people use to enter the Taj Mahal is the East gate. Taxis will not drop you off at the front of the East gate, but they can drop you off at the closest roadblock. You will then be required to walk the rest of the way. We were fortunate to have a hotel that was less than a mile away and walked to and from the Taj Mahal. It was safe walking to the Taj Mahal in the morning due to other foreigners and locals walking in the same direction. Many taxi drivers will offer to drive you to the entrance but be advised that this is a scam.
Take your photos first while the lines are short. There will be lines in the courtyard of people waiting to get that perfect shot of the Taj Mahal. It took no time before the lines became so long.
Beware of the naughty monkeys who roam the grounds surrounding the Taj Mahal. When you’re in Agra you will see monkeys on the streets with no fear of the passing humans. This is the same as when you visit the Taj Mahal. Monkeys are unpredictable and I advise not to feed or go near them. They like to steal items so keep your items secure!
If you’re looking to learn more about the Taj Mahal, then you can hire a tour guide when you enter the grounds of the Taj Mahal. Guides will be available who will ask you before entering if you would like their services.
