10 Things You Must Know Before Traveling to India

Planning to visit India? Do not think twice as the unity in diversity, the beauty of the palaces, the taste of Indian cuisine will definitely take your heart away. It is one of those countries that can get under the skin of the traveler in many ways, but the loud sound, foul smell, and traffic jam on its roads can be annoying for anyone. However, the cultural diversity and the welcoming nature of its people can be enthralling.

In order to make your India traveling experience as good as it can be, it is suggested to keep the below mentioned 10 things in mind:

1. Do research

India is full of colors and culture and to not to miss any of its attractions, it is wise to research as much as possible. A shallow research on cities to visit India will give the basic results like Agra, Delhi, and Jaipur, but India has so much to see. So researching more and more for the places to travel in India can be beneficial for you. However, it is suggested to visit the places according to the weather as most of the parts of India see all the four seasons.

2. Eat wisely

Even though there will be so many options for you to eat starting from roadside vendors to 5-star hotels in India, but be mindful before eating anything. Searching on Google about things to eat in India, you may get the names of some roadside vendors, but be wise while eating.

3. Stay in a Reputed Hotel

This point is especially for those who are traveling to India for the first time. If you are traveling with a group wherein there is pre-booking of your hotels, then you need not worry much. However, if you are traveling all alone or with your family and have not taken any tour package, then opt for a hotel that is reputed. There is no doubt that people of India are welcoming, but hotels could be dangerous too. So, it is advised to stay in a branded hotel.

4. Do Not Depend on the Plastic Money

Although India is progressing and debit/credit cards are widely used, but the major currency that works here is hard cash especially in the rural parts of India. Since this country is paradise for roadside shoppers, so if you are the one, carrying hard cash is essential for you as most of these vendors do not accept debit/credit cards. And yes, do not forget to bring the Sri Lankan cinnamon sticks from India for your kitchen!       

5. Get Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is not only useful for keeping you safe and secure in unwanted situations like sudden illness or accident in a foreign land, it can be for protecting an insured against scenarios like money crunch while traveling, travel documents loss, etc. There are various insurance companies that offer travel insurance in India, and Oriental Insurance is one that you can consider.  

6. Bring Your Own Camera

As already mentioned, India is full of colors, so it is a paradise for those who love photography. There is a lot to see and shoot in India. Therefore, do not forget to bring your personal camera.

7. Explore the Outskirts of the Indian Cities

Considering population, India stands at the first few positions. However, you may find a denser population in the major cities of India, instead of their outskirts. Moreover, the outside parts of these cities, which you may call as urban, are more beautiful and worth seeing. Therefore, in place of spending your entire vacations in exploring the big cities of India, take some time to explore the outskirts and urban places of this country.

8. Stay Alert of Your Surroundings

This is not for India only but for anywhere you are traveling to. Being alert saves you from so many issues while you are outside your home. In countries like India, the cases of pick-pocketing and theft are common. Therefore, it is suggested to carry a small bag with needed cash and wrap that bag around your shoulder. Do not keep cell phones, money, and keys in any reachable pocket. Moreover, it is suggested to avoid carrying your travel related documents and passport while visiting a place nearer to your hotel. However, if you have to carry these, keep them in some safe place.

9. Get the Visa

Even the citizens of U.S. have to have Indian Visa to visit this country. So, get the visa before traveling to India.

10. Get All Necessary Articles

It is a thumb-rule for traveling, and for India, it is also essential. There are a few things that you may be using regularly in your country but is not available in India. So, keep all your essentials with you. Moreover, dressing also matters in this country such as if in your travel plan you have included religious places, then it is suggested to get Indian attire. However, if you do not find India dresses in your country, do not worry as you will get plenty of them in India even on the roadside.

Final Words

The rich culture, beautiful places, and loving people make India one of the worth visiting places, but keeping the above-mentioned points can make your journey even smoother. So, what are you waiting for, start packing your bags for India now!!!