Five Things Everyone Should Know Before Visiting India

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India is an amazingly huge and vibrant country that’s buzzing with culture, making it one of the most perfect destinations for anybody who wants to explore some more of the world. Whether you’re planning to visit India as part of a once-in-a-lifetime backpacking excursion or are visiting the country for just a short while, the mouth-watering food and unique traditions will surely be enough to keep you in good memories for a very long time. However, if you’re ready to set off to India soon, it’s a good idea to keep these factors in mind to ensure that your trip is safe and smooth.

#1. Beware the Traffic:

You might not think that movies and TV are being quite honest when it comes to Indian traffic – surely roads can’t be that bad? But, it’s best to believe the hype when it comes to the roads in India and always have your wits about you since many drivers just do their own thing. In Delhi, you’ll find plenty of stop lights and road crossings, however, don’t always assume that drivers will adhere to them. The good news is that taxi drivers are used to the crazy roads, so you will be in safe hands with them.

#2. Avoid Eating Street Food:

For many people who travel to India, one of the biggest priorities is avoiding getting any food poisoning or other sicknesses related to what they eat. Thankfully, this problem isn’t as bad as you might think, and can easily be avoided by being savvy with the food that you choose. For example, whilst Indian street food may look tasty, it’s usually one of the biggest culprits. Try to stick to restaurants that the locals frequent, and if you do go for street food, make sure that it’s piping hot and freshly prepared.

#3. Don’t Drink the Tap Water:

Another way in which you can quickly make yourself sick when traveling in India is by drinking the tap water. Since most diseases in this area are water-borne, the tap water is completely unsafe to drink and could end up ruining your trip. Instead, stick to bottled water or take a portable water filter along that you can use to purify tap water.

#4. Dress with Respect:

It’s important to know when to cover up when visiting certain places in India. Usually, religious places such as temples, shrines, and other popular tourist spots will require you to dress respectfully. This usually means making sure that your shoulders and knees are covered, however, it’s always best to check the dress code beforehand for the specific places that you hope to visit. Otherwise, you may get turned away after queueing up.

#5. Be Ready for Hectic Public Transport:

If you’re planning to use public transport in India, then get ready for a crowd. The buses and trains in India tend to be massively crowded, and it’s not uncommon to see people running and jumping on a train or bus when it’s moving. For a more comfortable way of traveling between cities, why not make a Pune to Delhi flights booking.

If you found this information useful, we’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Written by Krissy Georgiadis

Law graduate and wanderlust sufferer. I like rum and beaches.