5 Tips for Your First Trip to India

Visiting India for the first time can be a complete culture shock – the busy streets, vibrant colors and constant noise can easily overwhelm new travelers. However, if you love immersing yourself in new cultures and basking in the hot sun, India is the place for you! Highlights of India include the chance to interact with monkeys in the streets, barter for souvenirs in marketplaces and enjoy the best vegetarian curry of your life.

It’s best to do your research on the cultural differences in India before you’re thrown in at the deep end. There are some specific rules and tips you should know about life in India that will keep you happy, safe and ensure your time in India is the trip of a lifetime.

Read on for our guide on eating out, dressing up and the must-see attractions in beautiful India.

The number 1 thing to bear in mind when traveling in India is to allow more time than you expect to get to places – Indian streets and roads are heavily congested, and traffic delays are extremely common.

With regards to Indian airports, expect their processes to be heavily regimented. This means that you need to come fully organized with your boarding passes, bag tags and identifications. Without all your documents, military guards around the airport may not even let you enter the building.

It’s best to pre-book taxis from reputable companies when you need to go somewhere. Getting into a random taxi leaves you at risk of dangerous drivers and cars that haven’t undergone road safety checks.

When eating in India, the main tip is to eat everything cooked and avoid raw foods. Uncooked foods like raw fruit and salads tend to have been washed in water – a big no-no for a foreigner’s stomach.

Only drink bottled water – drinking the Indian tap water entails the risk of seriously upsetting your stomach.

Indian food is predominantly vegetarian, and it’s recommended that you stick to a meat-free diet while in India. Meat in India is not stored or prepared to strict western standards and eating some could make you very ill.

As with any heavily populated city, you should keep your money safe and concealed at all times. Consider getting a money belt to hide cash, and always use bags with zipper fastenings.

If you’re going to be staying in India for some time, it’s best to open a local bank account. There are hundreds of banks in India – popular ones include the State Bank of India, Barclays and Yes Bank. Having an account and card helps to store your money safely, and you can transfer money to your bank from home. Pangea Money Transfer is a useful phone app to help you do this quickly and easily – visit their website to find out a little more about their service.

Taj Mahal, Agra – the spectacular Taj Mahal is India’s most popular tourist destination. One of the eight wonders of the world, it’s not to be missed during a trip to India.

Amber Fort, Jaipur – the most popular tourist attraction in Jaipur is the Amber Fort, built in artistic Hindu style from sandstone and marble. The historic site offers breath-taking views across Maota Lake.

Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi – this beautiful temple is sure to be some of the most incredible architecture you’ve ever seen; and the gardens and grounds are stunning. Families can spend a whole day here, from touring the temple in the day to viewing a fountain show by night.

India is both very conservative and very hot – dress for both requirements by wearing long, loose clothing. Ensure your shoulders and knees are always covered with flowing dresses, skirts and shawls for women, and shirts and cut-off trousers for men.

In some holy sites you may be required to remove your shoes. Generally, if somewhere has a stack of shoes outside, it’s best to remove yours before entering.