India Travel Guide

India Travel Guide

Over the years India has become one of the most favorite tourist hot spot around the world because of its diverse and rich culture that attracts a great deal of tourists from every corner of the world and offer an un parallel experience to its visitors. India offers everything a tourist looks for in a travel destination, from majestic Himalayan mountains to serene beaches, from modern cities with a fast pace life to also leaving a space for some history that is a few thousands of years old, it has everything. To travel India one need a valid passport and visa. Where for some countries Indian government does provide a visa upon arrival service, there are also some countries that need a valid ETC to enter or exit Indian boundaries.

  Visa on arrival for U.S citizens- Indian government does not provide visa on arrival for U.S citizens whereas visa on arrival is available for countries like, Finland, Laos, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, new Zealand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Japan, Luxemburg.

Currency, cash, and card- recently Indian government started a new flagship program to promote more cashless transactions among its citizens and make India more digitally empowered by making it a cashless, faceless and paperless society. Banks and ATMs are widely available in India. While traveling to India tourists may want to carry debit cards and credit cards with them as carrying a lot of cash can be troublesome sometimes. Try to look for travel cards that don’t charge a lot of currency conversion fee.

Dos and don’ts-  India is regarded as a culturally diverse country, so everywhere you go you’ll find different traditions being followed or different ways of living but don’t get intimidated by it as you’ll not see anything like this anywhere in the world. The culture and traditions is what makes India and Indians unique. Every country has some inside rules or ways of getting by, and so does India, while travelling one has to keep these thing in mind.

Don’t wear shoes in temples- India is a very spiritually driven country, the citizens take a lot of pride in their religion hence taking off shoes before entering any religious place is a must and is considered as an act of showing respect to the deity.

Checking prices before checking into the hotels-  prices may vary according to the hotel or some may even try to charge you more because of your foreign appearance, so check the prices thoroughly.

Ask for currency conversion certificate- in case you are in a situation where you need to convert your money, it is advised to ask for currency conversion certificate to prevent any kind of fraud.

Language, communication and internet- there are more than 121 languages and 19500 dialects spoken currently in India, so it’s difficult to learn any one language before coming to India. Since every state has its own regional language, the communication becomes a problem among the citizens too but the country has found a common ground for this problem and has chosenHindi and English as the linguafranca, so you’ll find a lot of natives speaking in fluent English.

Getting around- getting around in India is very easy, all states are very well connected and all kinds of transport facilities are available in every state. Interstate commute facilities are available for tourists via flights, buses, taxis and other shared transport.

Shopping- India offers a wide variety of clothing, handlooms, antiques etc. the rich culture of India has  a lot to offer to its tourists from its famous handloom fabrics to its hand crafted pottery, woodwork and handicrafts. A lot of tourists come to India and take these as souvenirs. Indian handlooms are widely recognized and purchased and also imported to various countries. Every state in India is famous for its own regional history that can be seen in their art works and handicrafts, like Rajasthan is famous for its handicrafts that looks stunning and royal at the same time,East India is famous for its bamboo handicrafts, and if you go down south, they are famous fortheir kanchipuram silk sarees and gold jewelry.

Dining-  India offers the best dining experience, due to the diverse and heterogeneous heritage and culture, India has a variety of food to offer. India reflects an 8000 years old history through its multiple cuisines and diversity inflavors that you will not get anywhere in the world except for India. From Kashmir to kanyakumari, the cuisines are unmatched and have a unique flavor. The worlds most renowned chefs from around the world have come to India to learn about its food and spices. Someone who is visiting India for the first time, it is only apt to say that India is a food heaven for the lovers of food. From staple Indian dal, rice and chapatti to varied regional cuisines, the food varies according to the geographical locations. 

Clothing and etiquette- India is a land of colors and it shows in the clothing attire of its citizens, Indians prefer colorful clothes and it shows in the clothing attire of its citizens, Indians prefer colorful clothes and take pride in flaunting their heritage through them. With every state you will get to see a different side of India through its regional attire.