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Reviews of India
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The best people to ask about a country you want to visit are people who have actually been there. The reviews below on various parts of India reflect the views of such people and as such should be very helpful.
Tips for stress free travel in India
Not a place to forget
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Tips for stress free travel in India
"Last summer I spent three amazing months travelling in India. I met some amazing people, saw some beautiful landscape and made some really close friends. I would recommend visiting India to anyone and here is my advice if you're planning a trip. Some of it is obvious and basic, some of it I wish I was told before I went. I've just realised how long this has turned into. Sorry! I hope it is of some use..:)
~~~ Before you go ~~~
PASSPORT & VISA: Obviously you need a passport. Pick up applications from most Post Offices. You will also need a Visa. To do this you can post off your passport with appropriate information. However, the easiest option is to go to an Indian Embassy in Birmingham or London and queue up to get it done there and then.
MONEY: You can not change pounds for rupees in this country due to the instability of the Indian currency. Organise travellers cheques. Take both dollars and pounds, most places accept both, but some don't and you'll need the money. Also it's good to keep an eye on the exchange rate. Sometimes you'll get more rupees for a dollar than a pound. If you're a student you'll get commission free travellers cheques at Natwest (if you have an account with them).
JABS: There are some pretty nasty things that you can catch from the flies and mossies. The injections are expensive but worthwhile. Some of the diseases will kill you and you might not always be close to a suitable hospital to get necessary treatment. Malaria tablets should also be taken. I did not, they made my tummy a bit funny, but it is a big risk to take. Some travellers, sensibly, take them religiously.
WHAT TO TAKE: It is not necessary to take everything that is suggested in travel books and on the internet. We are living in a globalised world. You can buy anything you need in the cities.
Clothes: Take sensible clothes. It is hot, don't take jeans, you wont wear them. Combats are great. Men and women can wear shorts, you might be stared at, but to be honest you will be stared at anyway. Sarongs are brill and you can buy them for about £1.50 anywhere in India. Take light t-shirts, shirts or vest tops - yes vest tops. Many people tell you not to. Vest tops are fine as long as your boobs aren't falling out. However, it is hot and you might like to cover up to avoid sunburn. Also, if you go into temples or religious places be respectful and cover up. Take sensible footwear. I got a pair of walking sandals from an outdoor store and they were fine for everything. They were easy to take on and off indoors and were comfy and cool for walking around in. Swimming costume is good, if you're going in the sea or showering in a dodgy hotel.
Personal Stuff: Wash kit with all it's normal contents, if you run out of anything you can buy it! A useful extra is soap that you don't need water for. You get small bottles of it and it cleans your hands without water. This could be useful if you haven't a decent water supply. Take condoms. If you run out there are durex quality condoms available from pharmacies. Insect repellent, it probably won't work and you'll get fed up of putting it on. The mossies will bite you if they want and there is noting you can do about it. First aid kit, normal stuff including an anti-histamine to stop the bites from itching too much! You can take a sleeping bag liner, some of the beds are not always clean. Again, it's not necessary.
Other: Walkman & tapes for long journeys; a fiction book, which you'll be able to swap with other travellers; camera, you'll be able to buy films and batteries cheaper once you're in India; a pack of cards.
~~~ Travel ~~~
HOW TO GET THERE: Fly. Look out for the best deals. Student travel agents are not always the cheapest option even with a special student card. The back pages of the newspapers and the internet are great sources for a bargin.
ONCE YOU'RE THERE: Make the most of being in such an amazing country, don't stick to the traditional tourist sites. You'll get ripped off and it will be busy and stressful. Ask other locals and travellers where they've been, they're a great source of info.
Internal Flights: Don't bother, by the time you've got to the airport, checked in and flown a train would be almost as quick. It's also the expensive option.
Train: This is a great source of travel. You can travel overnight and get bunks to sleep in. There are western and Indian style toilets, which are usually pretty clean, but can get smelly! There is food and water available on the trains and are pretty straight forward. Booking them however - is not! You need to go to a train station, find out when the reservations counter is open, get a reservation slip, fill it in take it back and then eventually pay your ticket. You will be stood in queues and get played around. Some people will try and do it for you. If they do they'll ask you for money afterwards and hassle you. There are guards around the station and they'll generally look after you.
Bus: It's a cheaper option than the train. There are two types, coach types and local busses. The coaches have reclining seats and are fairly comfortable. The local busses are basic busses and you are crammed onto the seats with anybody carrying anything..smelly fish, baskets of flowers etc. The roads in India are manic, right of way goes to the biggest car or loudest horn! The journeys are an experience and for upto about 8hrs local busses are fine. Busses stop at roadside cafes for toilet and refreshment.
Auto-Rickshaw: An auto-rickshaw is a small yellow and black milkfloat type vehicle. For shorter distances they are great. There is usually a meter and will fit two, maybe three people in the back seat. Someone may, depending on the driver, sit in the front. The roads are hectic. We had two crashes in a rickshaw!
~~~ Choosing a Place to Stay ~~~
You will get pushed into making decisions by people at train stations, taxi drivers and locals. They'll get commission from the hotel owners. If you've got loads of money I guess it doesn't matter, but to get the best hotels ask other travellers or check in your guidebook (I recommend Lonely Planet).
Types and Prices: You can stay in swanky, overpriced hotels which you will not realise you are staying in a poorer country. It will cost you between £10 and £50 a night. Alternatively you can stay in a hut (which may contain a light, a fan and a couple of mats) on the beach with as many people in as possible for 50 rupees (less than a pound). In Goa you can sleep in hammock (cost about a fiver to buy), just tie it up to the palm trees. In the middle you can rent a basic, clean, possibly en-suite twin room for about £2.50 an night. Don't bother with air conditioning. A fan is adequate and wont wake you up throughout the night making nasty noises.
~~~ Food and Drink ~~~
There is such a variety. Macdonalds to a local Indian restaurant. Try as many different places as possible. Everything is a different experience. Some places will expect tips, others wont. Some places will give you a fork, others will expect you to use your hands. Some will give you a full dinner service and wine glasses, some will give you an banana leaf and a metal cup. The most common local food is a thali which changes from place to place. Usually they contain a portion of rice, different types of curry, yoghurt and bread of some description. They go down really well and are very good value.
~~~ While You're There ~~~
E-MAIL: There's a growing amount of cyber points in India, it costs about a pound an hour. The computers are quite slow, but fine to check and send e-mails.
PHONE: You make a call and the time is recorded. You then pay the person at the counter. Phones are widely available and the prices are reasonable. The prices change from place to place so ask other travellers the best place to go.
POST: You'll need to spend a day if you want to send a parcel home. Letters are fine. The post office will provide stamps and send the letters. For a parcel it needs to be wrapped in white cotton and sewn up, tie string around it, sign a customs form and get it weighed, buy stamps, try and stick them on and send it. Book post is different. The parcels need to be sew up but the post master has to be able to see the ends of the books. Hints: Get the parcel sewn up at any tailors. To stick the stamps there is often a pot of gunk nearby. Sign two customs forms. Smile and don't get irritable - the post officers will make you wait longer!
HYGIENE:
Toilets: The toilets are holes in the ground which you pour a bucket of water down when you have finished. You can take toilet roll, but it is frowned upon because it blocks the toilets. A lot of hotels do have western style toilets. If you choose not to use toilet roll you may find a jug near the toilet. You pour water over your bottom and wipe away with your left hand (that's why you'll get looks of disgust if you eat with your left hand!).
Water: Buy bottled water, it's widely available and costs equivalent of 15p a litre. You could take water purifying tablets but it's unlikely you'll need them. Do check the seals on the bottles because sometimes the bottles are refilled!
Laundry: Hand washing is the only way, there are buckets provided everywhere and the clothes dry really quickly. You can buy small sachets of washing powder cheaply from general stores / stalls or pharmacies. Some hotels provide a laundry service.
ETTIQUETTE: Don't point cameras in people's faces. It's rude and offensive. Lots of people however will love their photos taken and will push to be in the picture. Do not take pictures in temples unless it is ok with the people there. ASK THEM. Take your shoes off when going into temples, homes and most shops. If you're unsure take your shoes off or copy what others are doing. Cover your head in Sikh places of worship and body in all others. Do not eat with your left hand...see toilet comment above!
SHOPPING: It is OK to haggle. It is expected and you can get some bargins! They will not sell it to you unless they can afford to. Some shop keepers will love the fact they have westerners and make you tea and tell you about their families. Talk to them and find out about Indian life. It's a great eye opener.
BEGGARS: You will find people begging everywhere in India. Some people will try begging because they know that you are rich (in comparison). Try not to give any money as more people will hassle you. You will see all sorts of mutated bodies and it's hard to ignore. Give money if you want, but be aware. If you are hassled there tend to be a lot of police or well dressed people around. They all tend to be pretty helpful.
DRUGS: On the whole you will not come in contact with drugs unless you want to. If you want to you can find practically anything you want. Ask other travellers where to get your drugs so that you're not set up. Be discrete. Most hotelliers don't mind you smoking (and might even join you!) but respect them. It's not good for business if you can smell it all down the corridor.
It's really easy to enjoy yourself. Do as much as you can but don't get stressed out. Speak to people, travellers and locals, you'll find out some amazing things! If you are sensible it is unlikely anything will go wrong. Three amazing places that I would strongly urge you to see are: Rishikesh in the Himalayas, Palolem in Goa and Kodaikanal in South Indian mountains. They are all so beautiful and you can get directions from any good guidebook. Just remember to have a great time!!
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