7 Tips for First Time Travelers to India (Guest Post)

Traveling outside your home country can be nerve wracking, even for a seasoned traveler. But don’t let stress and fear keep you from seeing the world!

India is one country I have never visited, and I’ll admit that the thought of traveling to India is a bit intimidating. While I don’t foresee a trip to India in the near future, I’m always willing to learn about other cultures and lands and making this world seem a bit smaller. So when travel writer Sheesh Moondh reached out and offered to write a guest post for Traveling Tanya, I jumped at the opportunity to share insights on India with my followers.

Whether you are planning a trip to India or not, I think you can learn something about India from this article by a local, who shares both the good and the bad of this fascinating country. And I hope it inspires you to get out of your comfort zone and see the world!

Guest Post, by Sheesh Moondh

7 Tips for India First Timers

India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with a diverse culture and varied landscape, which makes it a very fascinating place to visit. A trip to India is not just a holiday, it is a lifetime experience.

India is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. You will discover something new about the world and yourself every day during your visit.

India has everything that you can wish to see – forts, temples, mountains, deserts, palaces, forests, food, world heritage sites, beaches, villages, cities, and islands along with a rich culture and wonderful history. There are hundreds of languages, festivals, food items and dresses which will give you the memory of a lifetime.

Indians are very friendly and helpful by nature, but it may be a challenging trip for you if you are coming here for the first time. So here are 7 tips that will help you in planning your trip and making it smoother.

Tip #1: Try to Pack Light

It is advised that you don’t carry lots of heavy stuff when you are travelling to India. If you are interested in shopping, then you must come to India with half of your suitcase or bag empty because you will find many interesting things like clothes, spices or home decor that you may want to buy.

The country’s climate is pretty warm most of the time, especially if you visit the Southern part of the country. You need to wear sunscreen and carry only the necessary items with you like phone, passport, camera, wallet and a bottle of water. You should also wear loose clothing that covers your legs and arms while visiting any religious site.

You should avoid carrying things like cigarettes, food, pens and cosmetics as they are not allowed in most of the tourist places. As the security is pretty tight in India, you will have to wait in a line to get your bag checked, and it can take quite some time.

Tip #2: Stay Safe and Don’t Get Sick

Most of the tourists who come from the West experience digestion problems after arriving here. After coming to India, try to stick to the ‘peel it, cook it or leave it’ rule when it comes to fresh fruits and vegetables.

While planning your trip, you should buy some vitamins which will boost your immunity like Grapefruit Seed Extract. Try not to drink tea or coffee at local shops because of hygiene issues to avoid a stomach upset. You should take your meals at hotels or restaurants to avoid getting diarrhea. In India, you should avoid drinking water directly from the tap, and carrying a hand sanitizer or soap is a good option.

If you really want to taste the street food, then eat only at places where you can find freshly cooked food. When you are towards the end of your trip, don’t eat recklessly as you don’t want to be sick during your flight back home.

Tip #3: Getting Around the Different Parts of India Can Be Difficult

India is quite overpopulated, and traveling on local trains can be a bit chaotic sometimes, especially during office hours. Remember to book tickets in advance if you want to travel across the country by train, and enjoy a romantic journey.

Traffic is also extreme, and to go from one place of the city to the other can take hours. The best way to travel across the country is by air, as many domestic flights are available at a cheap rate and can be easily booked. The airport security is pretty tight, and you must try to reach the airport a few hours before the flight timing. You can also rent a car if you want to travel by road and explore the countryside.

Tip #4: You May Never Enjoy Your Local Indian Restaurant Back Home Like Before

Each state of the country has its own cuisine. The method of cooking depends on which part of the country you are in at that time. For example, the food of Nagaland is completely different than that of Andhra Pradesh or West Bengal because people use different flavors of oil, spices and ingredients.

After you spend some time in India and enjoy the different cuisines, be assured that you will never be able to enjoy the Indian restaurant where you used to go for food back home!

Tip #5: India Can Be Very Luxurious Too

India is a wonderful country and offers a great luxury travel experience if you can afford it. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Agra and Kolkata have some of the best 5-star hotels like JW Marriott, Taj Lake Palace, Oberoi Mumbai, Oberoi Amarvilas and Oberoi Rajvilas. These hotels can cost around $300 to $500 a night and provide a really good service.

During your stay, you can also opt for a spa treatment. The food and setting that these hotels provide are unmatched to anywhere else in the world.

Tip #6: Taj Mahal is Not the Only Place to Visit in India

Taj Mahal is one of the eight wonders of the world and undoubtedly the most popular tourist destination in the country. But reaching Agra is quite difficult, and the place is extremely crowded. It’s tricky to purchase the tickets, and the hotels in the city are also comparatively expensive.

At the same time, India has so many other amazing places where you can go to. You can enjoy the beaches in Kerala, mountains in Sikkim, temples in South India, caves in Bhubaneshwar or the desert in Rajasthan. You can also go on a jungle safari in one of the numerous wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks in India.

The point is that if visiting the Taj Mahal is not your priority or at the top of your bucket list, then you can skip it on your first trip and use your time and money to explore the other parts of India. You can also spend a few days in a small town or the countryside to explore, understand and experience the real India.

Tip #7: Remember That You are in India, So Don’t Complain and Just Enjoy!

If you are from the West, then you may find the India noisy, chaotic, overpopulated and polluted, but remember that these all part of your experience. You should also know that the entire country is not like that. The North-East, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and the Himalayas are places which are serene, calm and clean, and these places present a completely different side of India.

Now that you know a bit more of what to expect in India, are you ready to pack your bags? Have you visited India and do you have some tips of your own for first timers? Comment below!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

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