India is not a country you often find on tourists’ travel destinations maps. And yet, it is a place filled with extraordinary things to see. It might not be easy to visit, but the memories you make and the things you see there will stay with you forever.
So what do you need to know about traveling to this country? Keep reading our guide and discover the best tips first-time visitors in India should take notice of.
1. Do Proper Research Beforehand
Before you book your flight and stay, do general research on the country and the area you’ll be visiting. Depending on where you’re coming from, the Indian climate may be quite shocking to experience.
This is true both in terms of geographical location and for the consistency of the air. Moreover, Indian temperatures can go relatively high during certain times of the year, so you’ll need to be prepared for this.
Based on your findings, you’ll be able to know what kind of clothes to pack and whether to carry any accessories designed to help deal with problematic weather conditions. And, if you have some medical conditions that warrant a particular type of therapy or climate, you’ll know how to prepare appropriately.
2. Set Your Papers in Order
You can’t go to India without knowing what papers and documents you need to enter the country. Open government websites beforehand, and pay close attention to every form you need to fill in, every fee you need to pay, and every regulation you must abide by.
Note that to enter India, you will need to have a valid visa alongside your passport. You can use an India passport photo tool online to make things simpler and more accessible. Luckily, you can do the same; so if you’re due for a passport renewal, submit a digital photo and speed up the process.
3. Make a Detailed Plan for Visiting Places
When it comes to enjoying your trip, our advice would be to make a detailed plan of all the places you’re thinking of visiting. India is a gigantic country with thousands of mesmerizing locations and events that deserve tourist attention.
However, experiencing everything in a few-day trip is not a feasible agenda. For this reason, make a short and realistically achievable list of all the places you want to visit during your stay in India.
Base your choice of locations on such factors as vicinity, price, and personal interest. In other words, if you’re too far away from some of the bigger cities, don’t try to cram a city tour on your short trip. Instead, focus on what will be near you without it being too expensive to afford.
4. Adapt to Enjoy
The best way to enjoy a new location and truly experience its splendor is to try and adapt to the local practices and traditions. Do what the locals do, and let them guide your behavior during your trip.
Act as if you’re one of them; this is the only proper way to give into a new experience with a new culture. If you stay too much within your regular habits and act the same way you do at home, you’ll only be repeating the things you regularly do.
Breaking away from your patterns of habit will allow you to feel like a proper resident of India, leading to an unforgettable journey that you’ll talk to your friends and family about for years to come!
5. Experiment with Indian Food – But Carefully
Indian cuisine is some of the best in the world! However, you should always know your limits around it. India is notoriously rich in spicy, delicious herbs constantly used to make lush, premium-quality dishes. Yet, not all stomachs can tolerate such strong spices.
It’s more than recommended to try out Indian food, of course. But before you do so, be sure to ask what spices a given dish contains and how strong it will be for you to digest. If you have digestive issues or are not used to eating spicy food, a single wrong move may ruin your entire trip.
6. Don’t Trust What You Hear on the News
The media has always portrayed India as a chaotic country that may even be dangerous for visitors. But in reality, that is far from true. They usually brush off the many positive sides of the area.
All places around the world can be dangerous under given circumstances. So long as you don’t look for trouble, trouble won’t find you. A simple tourist trip to India will pass as pleasantly as a trip to any other Asian, European, African, or American country.
7. Know Your Budget Limitations
Last but not least, there is one thing that you need to pay close attention to – budget. We know that going on an adventurous trip makes your imagination skip! You feel like you want to visit all the places, engage in all the fun activities, and participate in all events and holidays. But the question is, “Can you really afford to do everything?”
To save yourself the disappointment, it’s best to detail every part of how you plan to spend your money beforehand. Of course, research what India’s prices are like, check some cheaper accommodations, and see if there is anything you can replace that would save you some cash.
Instead of taking a taxi, see if a bus is a better option. After this, make sure not to overstep the budget limitations that you’ve set for yourself.
Final Thoughts
With that, we’ve rounded up our list of suggestions! Of course, there are many other tips that we could give you, but many of them go without saying for any location you travel to.
Most importantly, remember to relax and have fun. Make sure to take many pictures, try out as many new experiences as possible, and create as many memories as possible!
