India can be a wee bit unnerving for the first-time visitor. The lifestyle
and culture is totally different from the West. We've made a list of some
important dos and don'ts for hassle-free and enjoyable travel in India.
A proper VISA to enter and stay in India is a must. There are reported
cases when travelers are advised non-requirement of Indian VISA by their
travel agents. Practically every foreign national requires VISA to enter
India.
Travelers should get properly inoculated against Yellow Fever if coming
through infected regions .
It is advisable to cover yourself with travel insurance for thefts, loss
and med-claim.
Carry proper maps of the places proposed to visit in India, as signboards
are often absent. Try to reach a station during daytime if traveling on
your own. In any case avoid persistent touts and taxi-wallahs at airport/stations/bus
stand to help you find your hotel. Always use tourist assistance desk
for proper advice.
Women traveling alone in certain deserted places should avoid walking
at odd hours.
Don't ever enter a temple, tomb, dargah or Gurudwara with shoes on and/or
scantily dressed. One should cover his/her head with a cloth while in
a Gurudwara or Dargah. Parikrama or walking around the sanctum sanctorum
should always be in clockwise direction.
Do not wear black clothes while visiting a Jain temple. Leather articles
are forbidden to be carried in Hindu and Jain temples. Taking photograph
of the deity in a temple is normally not permitted.
Participating in a social occasion or visiting a home requires conservative
dress codes. Do not shake hands with ladies. Always pick up a thing and
eat with your right hand. Take only as much as you can eat, do not leave
anything uneaten over the dish.
Do not point your finger at any person. It is taken as a sign of annoyance.
While changing money, insist on getting encasement certificate.
Do not encourage beggars.
Do not checkout of the hotel in hurry. While checking out it has been
noticed in some hotels, the extras are unreasonably charged which the
guest hurriedly pays without cross-checking.
Do not leave your cash and valuables in your hotel rooms. Keep your cash
divided in different pockets.
Take care of proper disposal of your rubbish always whether you are exploring
desert, or Himalayas or beaches or anywhere else.
Be careful of cultural and social sensitivities of the regions. There
is no single rule for that, the best way is to observe and follow.
Take care of contamination of water and food problem. Always drink safe
mineral water and take well-cooked food.
Don't buy antiques more than 100 years old. Selling and buying "shahtoosh"
shawls is a crime. The same goes for ivory and wildlife.
Buy at genuine shops only. Bargaining is a popular practice in India and
necessary too. Don't ever believe in lucrative offers of antique dealers
in which they offer you to carry a parcel of
some other buyer back home with your own margin described. Entire transaction
should be legal and transparent so that you may claim later if dissatisfied.
Don't eat anything offered by fellow travelers on train or road travels.
It might have sleeping pills. Always travel reserved class in trains.
Always chain and lock your luggage under your berth in a train. Don't
keep anything valuable near the window. Always carry plenty of water,
fluids in trains. A lone woman traveler may request to be accommodated
near other women travelers.
Do not visit places which encourage orthodoxy, social injustice and inhuman
practices (like visiting a sati temple).
Don't photograph women without permission.
Don't accept offers of visiting anyone's home unless you are confident
of the person.
Use licensed guides for sightseeing.
Always use strong suitcases/baggage, as mishandling is common at airports/stations.
While traveling, don't act confused. Keep a posture of a person known to
the region.
Avoid eating buffet meals, even in expensive hotels. The food may become
contaminated due to over-exposure
