Travel tips for India tour

Travel tips for India tour by Sandeep

1 – Eat at nice restaurants and you can buy buffet lunch at four star and five star hotels. 

In $ 15(starting price) each you can dine at four star and five star hotels buffets.

Restaurants who serve Indians, they make spicy food according to the taste of Indians which is just opposite of tourist food taste from west.

2- Street food is famous in India but definitely it is completely no for American tourists.

3- Today’s India is much changed and has better hygiene and sanitization. But still see your doctor once before coming to India.

4- Vegetarian diet – Indian cuisine is so rich in vegetables that this mouth watering taste you will never forget.

5- Now nothing comes in less than $ 2 until and unless you belong to below poverty line. Especially when it comes to food then better price better food quality, this line works a lot.

6- Bottled water like Kinley, bisleri, Himalaya should be use while traveling in India.

7- Drink three liters of water everyday.

Tea in mud pot

8 – Drinking tea at road side is fun. In rs 10 India tea seller will serve you cardamom and ginger tea in a mud pot. Amazing taste you must try.

9 – Avoid baggers and children asking for money, pen, and pencil. This is a punishable law. But rules are not implemented in India effectively. So it’s your responsibility too to keep the culture of India safe. Do not give them money. Do not buy small stuff from children and hawkers at Indian monuments. To make easy money by tourist they do not go to school even.

10- Every city has one two government emporiums which offer unique handicrafts of that city. Avoid shopping from road side shops or open market because they are not answerable to anyone so they might rip you.

11- - Semi precious stones have no value. But precious stones like ruby, emerald are best buy in India.

12 - Ask the price before hiring a auto or riksha.

13- Indian ATM’s do not provide more than Rs ten thousand in one time. So try multiple ATM’s. You can also visit foreign exchange where you can withdraw any amount by cash advance machine.  

14 – Before leaving any counter please calculate your money. Do not shy using calculator or mobile to see the conversion. Indians understand that you are not used too to this Indian currency. So take your time.

15- Always pay the amount in the end of the service. So you can ensure that service has been delivered properly.

16- Bringing offering to the temple is not mandatory. Go with respect that is all expected. Remove your shoes outside the temple. Even at Indian church devotees remove their shoes outside.

17 – At famous Indian temples you will never find a place for meditation because they are always crowded. Try to find unpopular temples for meditation. Ask your tour guide to find one.

18- India being developing nation is not fond of credit cards and debit cards. Credit and debit cards can be used only at famous shops, hotels, restaurants. So carry cash for hiring auto, riksha and for lunch and for tipping.

For one day expense in India arrange such currency -

Rs 100 – ten notes

Rs 50   -  ten notes

Rs 10   -  fifty notes

Rs 500 –  four notes

Rs 1000 – four notes

19 – Foreign exchange bureau in India offer better rates than airport and hotels. Hotels and airport offers very bad deal to tourist in India.

20- Do not take yes for an answer. Always ask what have you understood? Anyone who does not understand English he will also answer in yes.

21- India has the largest English speaking workforce in the world. But they all preferred to work at corporate. During your Indian monument sightseeing you will interact with people from lower middle class who does not speak fluent English. But they will understand clearly what you want. 

22- Indian traffic is like ping pong game. Anybody can come from any side. In small cities they do not follow lane system and light. But they do walk on and drive on left side of the road.

23- Train is the cheapest mode of transport but always travel in second tier AC or first class AC which is expensive but comfortable.

Flights are the fastest and luxurious mode of transport.

Easiest mode of transport is car.

24 - Most of the roads in India are bouncy. But expressway and national highway for major tourist places are good. One example is Golden triangle tour, this circuit has very good network of expressway.

25- India has very good range of four and five star hotels in the world.

26 – Tipping is tradition in India. But life expenses have risen highly in India. So start your tipping slab from Rs fifty (50) which is less than $ 1. Tipping will motivate them to give excellent service. In India, salaries are low.

Tipping - 10% of your bill at Indian restaurants.

27 – Bargaining is the worst practice you can follow in India. Do not follow this practice. If you want to buy anything go to fixed price shops. To buy handicrafts there are government handicraft stores.

28-    Illustrative stuff list for India tour –

Passport purse,

Power connecter,

Charcoal tablets,

Electrolytes,

Sunscreen,

Sun hat