I want to go to India. What do I need to know?

Show all answers

Jon

My wife and I went to India in 2001. We are both pretty laid-back travelers. I certainly don't know you, but I would say that if you are the kind of traveler who wants everything "just so", and can't deal with things moving slowly or running late, and will gripe if there is the smallest smudge on your fork, then maybe consider going somewhere else. But you don't sound like you're that way.

We liked the rural areas much better than the cities. I don't mean to knock Mumbai and Delhi...we just liked other places more.

Seeing the Taj Mahal is touristy, but it was very enjoyable. So maybe still consider it.

We liked the Lodhi Gardens in Delhi. Compare to Central Park in NYC.

Next time I go, I would really like to see Jodhpur and Jaipur.

Kerala is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. We didn't, but you can do a houseboat cruise on the rivers and canals there. There is a wildlife preserve there called Thekkady, and a mountain resort called Ooti.

My favorite Indian restaurant here in my hometown is called Udupi. I've heard that this is because there is a town in India by that name which is renowned for it's cuisine.

I'd also like to visit Trivandrum (the very southern tip) but I haven't. I've heard that if you go there you should check out the synagogue.

In general I have found that it's very, very helpful to learn languages, at least somewhat, before going somewhere. The first time I went to France, I spoke no French, and hated it. Before going back, I actually bothered to learn some French, and had a much better time. But, I would say India is kind of an exception to that, since there are so many English speakers. And since every state has its own language, if you intend to visit more than one state, it may be infeasible to learn the local languages. A few phrases certainly won't hurt, though.

If you don't look Indian, be prepared to be a) stared at, b) approached and asked if people can have their picture taken with you (with their own camera, so they can keep the picture), and c) charged more than people from India.

If you hire a car and driver, it will likely have "Tourist Vehicle" decalled on the side of it. This is of course an invitation for everyone along the roadside to try to sell you their wares when the car stops at an intersection. Maybe you'll like that, maybe you won't.

Oh, I've heard there is an island just East of Mumbai with caves, and cave paintings. Sounds interesting but we didn't have time.

Be careful about the water, my wife and I both got clostridium dificile. Not a fun little bacteria.

Lastly, if you can at all manage to get invited into someone's home, or to a wedding, or something intimate like that, it makes the trip SO much better.

Away from Y!A

Hi,

First of all i would like to tell you about the weather -
If you want ti visit India remember that months from Nov to February will have the ebst weather in most of the places in India.
If you are in the USA and plan to go in "your" summer, it is rainy season in India and not a good season to go there. ( India has monsoons and it rains a lot in the months of June,July,Aug and Sept.. this is the rainy season )

About the Languages - In most of the major cities people do speak English, even if they don't speak they do understand it. So if you stick to larger cities you should not have any language problem.

You will get good hotels in many places .. book into the hotel beforehand, take the hotel transportation or ask them to book your tours, do not rely on stangers! I hate to say this but if you don't know anything people will overcharge you .. and no wonder .. you would not mind paying $1 more for something and it is 50 Rupees for them :)
Do not go ANYWHERE alone!

If you have a month to spend I would suggest these places :

Mumbai - You will mostly land here after your international flight, spend a few days here and see the metro life in India.. there is a lot to see here too.

Kerala - Natural beauty in India.. tho many places in Kerala have a lot of tourists it is still really amazing to visit it.

Rajasthan - You will get to see awesome palaces forts etc.. Good hotels and guides will be there too.

Goa - Most famous tourist place in India.. its beautiful go there just before you go back home.

4-5 days in each of the places above will be enough.

Also visit any of the places in South India where you'll get to see beautiful Hindu temples.

Delhi - Capital of India ( a couple of days )

Agra ( close to Delhi ) 1 day - See the Taj Mahal

About the cost - Depednds on where you stay , the major difference is in the hotel rates , rest all the expenses will be much less compared to that.
Currency coversion - 1 USD = Approx 40 Indian Rupees
Check out hotel websites at various places to get an idea of the rates.

Have a nice and safe trip!

zainab H

HI..firstly i am not a pro about indian but i will help you out... i strongly recommand that you take a guide with you because people in indian tend to rip you off because they think that you dont know anything or the money so be carefull..

The Best way to do it and Things to Keep in Mind

Traveling to India is a by far the most interesting and contrasting time that you will experience in your lifetime. It is a huge country with dynamics not matched elsewhere.
It is imperative that before we venture out to this amazing country, we keep in mind a few things that will not only help us planning a trip to India but also ensure that one has a peaceful, fun, safe and enjoyable trip.

Here are a few things you need to keep in mind to Plan your Trip:
Time at Hand: To plan a trip to India, the first thing one need to decide on is the time you have on hand. Added to this is of course the pace at which you would like to travel. Combination of these two parameters is essential, as it will determine the places you can visit.
Time of the Year: What time of the year you are visiting India, can be highly important. Peak Seasons are Expensive; Off-Peak Seasons tend to be at least 35% to 50% cheaper. Weather can be another detrimental factor in making you decide when to go and where.
Interests: India offers alternatives for people with all kinds of interests. You can party on Goa beaches or get to mountains in North â€“India , relax on the Backwaters in Kerala, view the palaces of Maharajas of Rajasthan or the erotic temples of Khajuraho or the historical temples of South â€“India. For the first time traveler to India we definitely recommend a full-fledged cultural tour , covering multiple cities of prime tourist importance . Your options are abundant and your itinerary can be customized as per your requirement, all you need to do is just ask those who know it the best.
How to do it : So once the above parameters are decided the last thing to decide is how I will do it. Are you going to do this on your own or do you need help and seek assistance of a travel agent . Are you going alone or do you want to travel in groups. For group travel you can look at various agents in your area and inquire about their trips to India or use our site to get offers from various organizers of group travel. On the other hand, you can also decide to do a trip on your own by engaging a travel agent to arrange for all your travels in India. At IdiscoverIndia.com we provide you an opportunity to do just that. Just Request a Custom Package through our website and we will contact numerous reputed agents and find you the best deal. In general whether you do it on your own or through an agent , it is safe to travel anywhere or in this case India , as long as you take certain precautions and keep a few things in mind. At IdiscoverIndia.com our main aim is to bring you in contact with those reputed agents that will help you to organize your trip and provide you with a service that you are looking for.

Once you have decided on the above factors, a few tips mentioned below will always come handy for your trip. Consider these as specific Doâ€™s and Donâ€™t.

Health and Hygiene
Always drink bottled water, or mineral water, generically known as â€œBisleriâ€ in India. As a matter of fact carry your own bottle everywhere you go, even when visiting others.
Carry your Toilet Paper and Hand-wash sanitizer, everywhere.
Avoid eating too spicy for first couple of days if you are not used to.
Social Norms
Dress conservatively when visiting religious places. Do not wear anything skimpy or outrageously revealing if you are unsure about the environment that you are going to be in. The best rule of thumb is to ask when in doubt.
Do Not go skinny dipping anywhere unless until you are 1000% sure of your privacy.
Avoid arguments with people you do not know well.
Overall in general India is not as safe for women as any western country would be. So exercise restrain and do not venture out alone after sunset unless until accompanied by others. Of course there can be exceptions to this rule. Bombay and Goa could definitely be an exception. However use your discretion.
So get going and start planning! Have an enjoyable Holiday.

Alex B

hi
Zainab And ahalaka have explained you in detail regarding the stay in India , if you need more help you can visit www.seasonscruise.com , contact will help you

MANJUNATH S

Actually the people who guides help you to come india tourism. you can stay any longer better you come through some ashrams to stay here. Language is not a problem and also cost it is depending on you and your own management. English is more spoken language next to hindi in all the states people can talk english.

Just Tom

I can't answer about tourism or costs, but I do know that English is spoken in India --- especially in the larger cities.

alyssa w

all u really need 2 no is there language,culture, how they act,and a map around or sumpin!!!

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: