Be inspired by India

The best way to plan a trip to India is not to make too many plans. If you try to cover too much ground with tight itineraries there will inevitably be obstacles and hold-ups. India has its own sweet pace and sometimes nothing makes sense. Once you’re there, the trick is not to get frustrated, but to take a deep breath and go with the flow.

Being prepared, however, is different. Do your research; buy a good guidebook, chat to your Travel Specialist (remember, our India gurus are always on hand to help) and immerse yourself in the history of the different regions, religions and culture. From its sacred reverence of cows to a nationwide passion for cricket, India has many fascinating customs and traditions.

Good to know…

Thanks to India’s varied climate and terrain it is home to some of Asia’s most distinctive and exotic animals, such as tigers and elephants. Unfortunately, these creatures are often seen as lucrative tourist entertainment.

Please don’t support irresponsible wildlife tourist attractions; avoid riding, hugging or taking selfies with wild animals. If you’re looking for a genuine tiger experience, Rickshaw Travel offers a handful of national park safaris where you can get the chance to see tigers in the wild, where they belong.

Rickshaw Tip

Ah, the essentials. You can buy most things you need in India at a bargain price so it’s worth trying to travel light, packing a comfortable backpack to travel around easily.

Mosquito repellent

Mosquitoes in India can be fierce little blighters, so make sure you take along insect repellent containing DEET, as well as coils to ward off any pesky evening visitors.

Wet wipes and antibacterial hand wash

Just trust us on this one!

Sarong

Talk about a multi-purpose item. As well as being used as clothing, a sarong can also serve as a blanket, towel or even a makeshift curtain for privacy when you travel. There’s nothing sarong with that!

Padlock and chain

Always handy to secure baggage when you’re travelling by train.

Mobile phone

Indian SIM cards can be bought on arrival, we recommend going to a mobile phone shop. Make sure you take a copy of your passport and visa, as well as some passport photos as they often ask for this to set up the account. It can take up to 24-48 hours to become activated, however, it’s worthwhile as this will give you access to 3G/4G to download travel apps, etc. SIM cards can be topped up in phone shops all over the country.

Rehydration kit

Unfortunately the dreaded ‘Delhi Belly’ is no myth. In fact, diarrhoea is fairly common when travelling in India. Our advice? Pack some Imodium Instants and re-hydration sachets to ease upset stomachs and dehydration.

Travel guidebook

Guidebooks are always handy when you arrive at a new destination and most will include a few useful language tips and phrases to scrub up on so you can impress the locals. We recommend Lonely Planet and Footprint as particularly good ones.

Rickshaw tip

Visa and passport

The easiest way to apply for your India visa is through the e-Tourist visa (e-TV) process available to British citizens in the UK. You can apply online up to four days before your arrival and must enter the country within 30 days of its issue. The durations and costs vary for the visas depending on how long you wish to travel for. Don’t forget to double-check that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your return date to the UK. For more information, view our India visas and passports page.

Note: It’s a good idea to carry separate photocopies of your passport, travel visas, airline tickets and travel documents.

Vaccinations

All tourists visiting India should get vaccinated for Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid. There’s also the risk of Malaria but health warnings in India change often so we suggest checking www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk for the latest updates and having a chat with your GP for further advice. Oh, and don’t forget to secure travel insurance before you go.

Money

The Indian currency is the rupee and although you won’t be able to pre-purchase it in the UK, there are plenty of ATMs in India and most accept international bank cards. You can also exchange GB sterling travellers’ cheques and US dollars at banks and authorised moneychangers on arrival at the airport.

Rickshaw Tip: Be ready to feel like a real celebrity – some locals will quite likely want to take a picture with you

Health

It’s perfectly normal for travellers heading to India to get slightly ill during their stay; even Indians returning from abroad take time to readjust to the food, climate, bugs and sanitation conditions. Our advice is to keep an eye on the food you eat and how it’s been prepared. If you slather on the mosquito repellent and make sure you have the correct vaccinations, you should get away with just a touch of Delhi Belly. Our top tips for health in India:

1. Clean your hands – Always carry an antibacterial hand wash with you and make sure you apply it regularly.
2. Drink the right water & stay hydrated – Aim to drink 2 litres of bottled water a day. If you have a headache or feel light-headed and nauseous, you may have heat exhaustion, so it’s worth carrying Dioralyte rehydration sachets with you to mix with water as a good remedy.
3. Tap water is a no-go in India. Be sure to avoid salad that is rinsed in tap water and unfiltered ice cubes. Bottled water is your friend, but make sure it’s properly sealed first and look for the brands Kinley and Aquafina. Where bottled water is not available, the safest thing to do is drink the ubiquitous Coca Cola and Pepsi.
4. Careful where you swim – Taking a dip in fresh water isn’t recommended and doing so runs the risk of picking up a nasty infection, such as schisto which can cause many problems. It’s not worth it.

The food in India is dhal-iscious (ahem) and is probably going to be a massive highlight of your holiday. Just allow yourself time to adjust when you arrive in the country and always go for freshly prepared snacks. Remember, queues are a good thing; a busy stall means food is prepared and eaten fast so less likely to have gone off. Avoid meat on the street and be wary of juice stalls and pre-sliced fruit that may be doused in dubious water.

Some of our favourite dishes:

• Panipuri – hollow puffed balls filled with potato mixture and served with sweet and tangy pani (water)
• Bhelpuri – a savoury snack made of puffed rice, vegetables and a tangy tamarind sauce
• Stuffed paratha – layered flatbread stuffed with potatoes/vegetables/coconut shred/paneer
• Bhaji – spicy Indian snack dish, like a fritter, most popular are onion, cauliflower, paneer, but the varieties are endless
• Samosa (fried pastry with veg or meat filling – typically used spiced potatoes, lentils, lamb mince or combinations)

 

For dessert, try one of the many lassies (local milk-shake, which can also be served savoury), rabri (sweet milk-based dessert – super-rich in flavour so you may want to share!) or jalebi with ice-cream (deep-fried sweet pretzels which every street vendor will entice you with).

During your stay in India, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and use your common sense, especially in overcrowded places and when using public transport. Use pre-booked taxis when travelling at night and behave as if you know exactly where you’re going.

Women travelling alone

It’s unlikely that you will experience any serious violations as a female traveller in India, but there is a chance that you may encounter some unwanted attention. Be aware that in busy areas men may approach you and, though it is rarely threatening, it might make you feel uncomfortable. Don’t be afraid to say a firm ‘no’ and move yourself on to a different spot, and always ask for help if you feel in any way threatened.

India has a very traditional society

Particularly in rural areas, the way of life can be quite different to what you’re used to. Always try to observe local customs, be respectful of dress codes and limit public displays of affection.

Theft and scams

One of the best pieces of advice we can give you when travelling in India is that it’s OK to say ‘no’. A firm and clear response to any kind of haggling or harassment is usually enough to put people off. Persistent touts and fraudsters can target places of interest, so, as with travelling in any highly populated areas, it’s best to stay alert and be sure you are clear on your surroundings. Keep an eye out for fake guides who might give you incorrect information. We advise that you only take advice from officials and know your itinerary clearly. Most of our holidays come with a private guide and driver so you can always ask them if you are unsure. Hotel lock boxes are a good idea to keep travel documents safe.

Animals

It might be tempting if you’re an animal lover, but you should always avoid contact with stray animals as street dogs and monkeys can bite or scratch and there is a risk of rabies.

In the extremely unlikely event that you get bitten by a snake, you should immediately seek medical care. If you can, try to note the markings of the snake so it can be identified and the correct antidote given.