So, you’re thinking of traveling to Incredible India? Then you have found this travel guide at the perfect time. India (AKA Bharat & Hindustan) is a land where people learn to derive order from chaos.

Go out on the street, from the blood boiling traffic to the cows that cause that blood boiling traffic, everything and everyone weaves their tapestry in their own colour and style.

In a nutshell, India is a Jackson Pollock painting that came to life, and in this blog, we will explore everything you need to know before travelling to India, the land of diversity.

Before we begin, this travel guide is specific for travelling in India only and does not include generic things that you will need to take care of before travelling anywhere.

For example, whether in India or Italy, you will need some preparation ahead, read up about the country on Wikipedia, stuff like that. So, without any further ado, let’s jump in!

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Condition Your Body For Extreme Weather

India is humid. Unless you’re coming from a rainforest or visiting a hill station here, India’s humidity can drive you crazy.

So, pack lightweight cotton clothes that can absorb and dry your sweat quickly. Keep at least 2 mineral water bottles with you at all times. If you’re sensitive to extreme heat, an umbrella will go a long way in keeping you sane.

Try Local Food, But Avoid Street Food

In our Bollywood movies, there is a movie trope about foreigners who come to India for the first time. They are shown eating the delicious street food and then spending the rest of the day in the toilet. Don’t let that happen to you. Indian food is mainly hot & spicy and induces indigestion even in the native veterans. So, give yourself time to get accustomed to the food here.

Unless you’ve got an iron stomach, I suggest you try out the local restaurants and cafes first. Once your stomach has acclimated itself to Indian cuisine, you can go ahead and try out our famous street stalls! The food will just blow your mind.

Expect the Unexpected

India is going through a change. The latest generation is inclined more towards western ideologies and living standards while the older generations are satisfied with their traditional way of life.

So, while traveling India, you might see god-revering people clad in traditional Indian clothing on one side, and on the other side, you may see the ‘Instagram Reels populace’ (you know what I mean, right?)

You may see crowded markets, dirty streets, and alleys filled with slums, but just on the opposite side, you may see behemoth buildings of glass & steel with suit-clad entrepreneurs sipping Starbucks coffee. So, keep your eyes, ears, and mind open because there is SO much to see in here!

When it comes to clothing, avoid being HOT.

What does that mean? It means dress casually, something that does not reveal your bosom or butt cleavage. It may not fly well if you are exploring temples, old cities and rural areas. If you’re a man, you can get by with anything but for the ladies, not so much (sorry, ladies). But in tourist destinations like Goa, Gokarna, Mumbai, etc. you can freely wear whatever you want. You will be appreciated.

Recommended Read – Backpacking Guide: Varanasi

Safety & Prudence Above All Else

Needless to say, be aware of your surroundings. We Indians are very friendly and will always lend you support with a smile. But there are always two sides to a coin, there are a lot of people who will appear to be friendly, supportive and will offer to help you out with anything but their intentions may not be pure. Rely on your instincts, especially if you’re travelling India solo.

Don’t share your accommodation details like precise location, room number, contact number with any over-friendly stranger, regardless of their gender;

Brush up on your bargaining skills since many unscrupulous shop keepers/rickshaw drivers will overcharge you (simply walking away from them is a neat trick to get them to lower their prices);

Always keep your hotel desk updated as to when you will return and if you’re travelling solo, you can ask them to call you if you’re late.

Good hotel owners will try to make your stay as pleasurable as possible so you can freely ask them to extend their courtesy (don’t forget to tip afterwards!);

If you’re allergic to peanuts, soy, milk and gluten and stuff, be careful because we Indians eat a lot of this stuff and if you’re not vigilant, you could land up in an emergency room.

Try to avoid travelling at night

Things to pack while travelling local India

India is a huge country, I mean HUGE. So, you may need to travel by road, rail, rickshaw, metro, bus, flight, ferry and what not. When you are roaming around, keep these things handy-

An itinerary so that you can spend your day with utmost efficiency;

Many cities and towns are embracing cashless payments apps like GPay/PayTM but still, keep lots of loose change and cash in small denominations with you;

A small medicine kit – a broad range antibiotic, anti-allergic, effervescence powder/tablets for indigestion, a paracetamol, a broad range painkiller, ORS powder, diarrhoea & constipation tablets, first aid kit and a crepe bandage.

A photocopy of your passport/valid ID

Something that you can use for self-defence (this is a generic advice for all those to like to travel);

COVID-travel restrictions 2022

Whether it is international travel or within the country, there are some guidelines that you will need to comply with and hence, advance preparation will be needed.

Double vaccination is a compulsion if you’re coming from another country;
If you’re coming from a high-risk country then you will be required to submit a self-declaration form or you might need to take an RT-PCR test;

Travel to & from high-risk Indian states have mandatory RT PCR testing so check with your airlines for the latest guidelines;

For country-wise information, check out Latest Information and Guidance For Travel To India

Planning to attend Gujarat’s Rann Utsav? Here’s the latest update on its COVID restrictions.

Conclusion:

If you have made it up to here in this travel guide, then you are privy to all the important information you will need for travelling India. The only thing you need to do now is to just come here and enjoy!

Enjoy the food, enjoy the scenery, enjoy the chaos, enjoy it all because there is no other place like incredible India and that’s the very reason you chose to come here.

It’s an experience of a lifetime. Happy travels!

Follow India Chalk on Instagram for more amazing travel content. You can share your travel story with us. Reach out to us on email at contact[at]ndiachalk[dot]com. This blog is curated by India Chalk and written by Aishwarya Dikshit.