DO AND DON'TS

DO’S IN INDIA
Do take care of your documentation. Take a note of all the important phone numbers of places you might plan to visit. Important phone numbers like ambulance, local police station, embassy’s number etc should always be with you.

India is a conservative country especially in the countryside. Do dress modestly if you are female. Indian dresses are colorful and cover the whole body but very awkward for the first timer. So stick to western clothing but avoid skimpy dresses.

Do study up on the places you wish to visit – it will not only bring knowledge but also an appetizer for future travel. To know the intricate details of the place, do talk to strangers in airport, hotels, stations, and streets. Unlike normal notion Indians are less threatening.

Do prepare yourself at the earliest. Indian traffic and roads are hapless.If you desire to make any changes in your itinerary or to domestic tickets in India, do consult your travel agent for the best advice.

Do greet people with big smile. Handshake with ladies especially in rural areas should be avoided.

If possible do cover yourself with travel insurance and medi – claim.

While traveling in the train, do take care of your luggage even at the first class compartment.

Street smartness is indispensable on Indian streets. Crook can easily pick the scapegoat. So do not act puzzled and terrified.

Money exchange should always be done from trusted financial institutions like Banks of India or exchange your money via your travel partner or hotel.

Do immunize yourself against various diseases like typhoid, malaria, hepatitis and tetanus that are prevalent in India.If you are on medication, please do remember to have adequate supply of both prescriptions and medicines. Carry a doctor’s certificate to avoid possible problems with customs procedures and also with local doctors.

Accumulate of locale information on India and destinations that you are scheduling to visit are a perfect idea. It will help you to learn the code and customs of that place.

Staying in India is not a big problem. There are a number of 4-star and 5-star hotels in India, measuring up to the international standards. They will provide you the comfort and luxury comparable to any other in the world.

Foreigners are required to pay all their dues regarding the hotel bills in foreign currency only, in the form of cash, traveler’s checks or credit cards. Even concessional tickets like Youth fares, Discover India Fares and Air Fares are to be paid for in foreign exchange only.

In case of taxis and auto-rickshaws, try to hire them from the pre-paid booths, if possible. Otherwise, insist on going by the meter and check the readings regularly to ensure that the fare is correct. In case there are no meters or the meters are dysfunctional, set a fare in advance to avoid being fleeced later on.

Make travel arrangements well in advance, especially if you are traveling in the peak season (between Octobers to March).

English is spoken at almost tourist destination in India these days. However, if you want, you may hire Government-trained and approved guides who also speak German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian or Russian.

It is advisable for you to carry your own medicines. Almost all medicines in India are locally manufactured and you may not find the same brand names. However, you may easily set substitute products here. But take the advice of reputed druggists or doctors for the purpose.

The electric current in India is 220/ 250 volts and 50 cycles. It is AC practically everywhere. Carry converters if you have some electric equipment with you.

DONT’S IN INDIA
Don’t display overt affection in public places with the member of opposite sexes.

Do not carry much cash with you. In every nook of a town you’ll find ATMs.

Street smartness is indispensable on Indian streets. Crook can easily pick the scapegoat. So do not act puzzled and terrified.

Never ever purchase air/ rail/ bus tickets through strangers or unauthorized travel agents/ tour operators, also known as touts. They are not at all reliable. Buy tickets from the authorized centers only.

It is advisable not to hire any type of transportation from unlicensed operators.

Indian people are quite hospitable and friendly. Do not feel offended if they stare at you. It is just curiosity on their part. Most of the people will also go out of the way to help tourists and properly guide them.

Make sure to remove your footwear when visiting a place of worship or mausoleum. Some temples in India will not even allow you to carry leather articles inside. You can deposit them in the temple cloakroom and collect it on your way out.

It is not entirely unsafe to travel in India. You just have to take some precautions like avoiding isolated places, not going out after it’s too late, etc.

Don’t feel offended if Indians ask you some personal questions like how much do you earn, are you married, do you have kids, etc. They are just a little curious and mean no offence. It is just their way of getting friendly.

Do not try to explore Indian roads by your own. Mazy streets are often very puzzling. Indian hotels and tour agents have excellent arrangement of cars or you can easily book a private car or hire a taxi, which are available.