Buzz
In recent years, India has attracted tourists from all over the world with its diverse beauty and rich cultural heritage. However, India is often considered complex and potentially risky for foreign travelers. To ensure a safe trip to India, here are some tips to help make your travel experience smoother. Let’s explore some essential travel tips with Mytour for your trip to India.
Not all eateries maintain good hygiene
If it's your first time visiting India, you should be cautious about your digestive health. Indian cuisine is often spicy, with bold flavors and a variety of spices and additives, which can be quite stimulating for your stomach. Additionally, India ranks among the countries with the lowest food hygiene standards. Therefore, it’s recommended to carry basic medications for stomach issues. However, don’t miss out on the exciting street food, and always stick to cooked food while drinking only bottled water and avoiding ice.
Haggling while shopping
India is renowned as a shopping paradise, offering a vast array of handcrafted items, precious stones, and intricately beautiful jewelry, making it a place unlike any other. However, foreign tourists often find themselves being quoted much higher prices than usual, so it's essential to know how to haggle. Start by offering a lower price, gradually increase it, and walk away if the price seems unreasonable. Also, be sure to carry small change for your purchases, as vendors may not give back the correct change. If you're not planning to buy anything from street vendors, firmly refuse to avoid being relentlessly pursued by them, even to your car.
Clothing and dress code
India experiences an average temperature of around 36 - 40°C, making it hot and humid. However, this doesn't mean you can wear revealing clothes. Long pants that extend beyond the knee, as well as shirts that cover your shoulders and arms, are respectful ways to dress according to India's cultural norms. Additionally, wearing long sleeves and scarves will help you protect yourself from the intense heat. When visiting temples or sacred places, you must remove your shoes before entering. A helpful tip is to wear socks, as the scorching floor tiles can burn your feet.
Be mindful of public behavior
Unlike Western cultures, in India, a friendly smile or a glance can be interpreted as flirtation. Therefore, when traveling in India, women should avoid engaging in conversations with unfamiliar men. If you feel you're being stared at or attracting unwanted attention from strange men, it's best to move away and head to a more populated area for safety. It’s highly recommended to travel with a guided tour or in a large group, rather than alone or with just one or two people, to ensure your security. Many unfortunate incidents have occurred with female travelers from the West who chose to travel in small groups or solo.
Beware of scams
If someone approaches you and offers to take you to a so-called 'official government tourism office' to purchase tickets or exchange money, be cautious, as this is a common scam in India. Many travelers have reported paying for domestic tours, only to find out the agency didn’t even exist.
