The first thing anyone travelling to India will notice is the unbelievable amount of people. There are over one billion people in this country, and being always surrounded by a crowd is something that one just has to get used to. Most tourists will receive a lot of attention whether they want it or not.
Female travellers in India, especially blond Western women, will have to get used to a lot of unwanted attention from stares and cheesy comments to being followed and groped.
How To Deal With Noise In India
Then, there is the noise. The traffic, the street vendors, the stray dogs, the countless festivals and India's love of all things loud make sure that it is never silent, so earplugs are essential. And of course there is the smell: that unique smell of India that is a combination of incense, spicy food, cow dung and open sewers.
How To Deal With Touts In India
As soon as a tourist steps outside the airport, a crowd of people will attack: autorickshaw drivers, taxi drivers, hotel touts and beggars all want their piece of the tourist's money. Saying "no" doesn't help at all. Neither does screaming. Being hassled by people who are desperately trying to make a daily living in a developing country is again just something one has to get used to.
Autorickshaw and taxi fares as well as room charges in cheaper hotels are negotiable. So are prices at markets and in many shops, but generally not in shopping malls and more expensive outlets.
How To Deal With Beggars in India
Beggars are everywhere in India, and it is up to each individual to decide how to deal with beggars in India. Begging is an accepted way to make a living in India, and it is often seen as a richer person's duty to give to those in need. On the other hand, the child on the poor woman's arms that so desperately needs milk might not be her own child, and the money one gives to the woman might not be used to buy milk at all. Charities that work with India's children often advice against giving money to kids, and encourage donations to the many non-governmental organizations and charities that work with the poorest of India.
How To Deal with Getting Sick in India
Most tourists who spend long periods of time in India will get sick at some point. Medicine is cheap in India although it won't always come in a well-known brand. Going to the doctor in India is cheap too, but standards vary, and it may be a good idea to ask a hotel or a guest house to recommend one.
Standards of hygiene in Indian restaurants are also different from home. A general rule is to drink either filtered or bottled water, avoid anything that has not been cooked or that may have been washed in unclean water, and favour busy restaurants that are popular with locals or other travellers.
How To Deal with Traffica and Travelling in India
Indian traffic looks scary and chaotic. The unwritten rule is that smaller vehicles give way to bigger ones, pedestrians are fair game, and everyone gives way to holy cows.
When travelling in Indian trains and buses, always allow a few extra hours when planning the trip. On long trips delays are the norm rather than exception. If travelling by bus, it is highly recommended to choose the more expensive but much more comfortable Volvo Bus if at all possible. Domestic flights are very affordable but the environmental consequences of massively increased air traffic are something to consider.
What To Wear in India
Western-style clothes are common on the streets of Bangalore and Mumbai, and bikinis and miniskirts are fine in Goa, but outside bigger cities it is still sari territory. Female travellers can avoid a lot of trouble if they avoid strap tops and short skirts, especially when visiting India's holy sites.
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