Amazing, possibly the most fascinating, varied, and transformative location to visit anywhere in the world is India! However, India is a nation that nearly as much challenges and irritates a tourist as it rewards and excites, hence travel planning to India is no easy chore.
While some individuals find the cultural shock of their first trip to India to be very overpowering, for many others visiting in India private tours is a highlight of all their trips and they return again. Many visitors have a love/ hate connection with India, particularly the first time; after you get acclimated to India and know what to anticipate, it becomes simpler!
Many would rather be adaptable and not schedule their vacation to India ahead of time. However, because this is such a large and varied nation and travel here may be difficult, it is advisable to at least investigate when and where you like to come and attempt to create a basic itinerary around the key things you wish to see to save squandering time.
Though nothing will ever really be you ready for the cultural shock of your first trip to India, learning as much as you can about this very rich and unique culture can help you be ready for visiting India.
India is really a large sub continent, hence the temperature varies greatly depending on your location. Generally speaking for most places, winter from November to March is the ideal season to visit India because milder temperatures make travel more enjoyable.
From March, things start to become somewhat hot; the monsoon rains fall from June through September; the heat and humidity of April and May do not provide for a comfortable trip experience.
Still, if you want to visit the far North or the Himalayan areas Winter would be too chilly; contrary to common assumption, India does not constantly experience hot weather; it does snow! The greatest time to see places like Leh and Ladakh is in the summer.
The great variety of India’s subcontinent, from snow-capped Himalayan mountains to tropical beaches, from lazy backwaters to turbulent cities and desert forts, is one of the finest things about visiting this land. Consider your interests: may they be history, forts and palaces or environment, animals, temples or beaches, cuisine or nightlife. India really has everything, yet many people go several months at a time touring India as it would take a lifetime to fit everything. If you are pressed for time, however, you have to make decisions.
However, since India is modernising, there are now plenty of choices to travel in greater comfort with Western brands tempting tourists to indulge and world class luxury hotels. Get your immunisations for India. Don’t wait until the last minute; go approximately six to eight weeks before trip as some of the immunisations call for a course of therapy covering several weeks. Good information on recommended immunisations as well as health and safety advice for India is available on the NHS Fit for Travel website.
Most visitors are vaccinated against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tetanus and Typhoid and make sure all of their regular jabs are current. Additionally advised are vaccinations against cholera, diphtheria, Japanese encephalitis, and rabies. Should your doctor fail to provide all these, you may see a private specialist travel health clinic such as Nomad Travel Health Clinic.
Load up on a DEET based insect repellent to ward against dengue fever and malaria. Apart from certain parts of the North East, view a map of Malaria afflicted regions here; most of India has little danger of malaria. Many visitors believe that the low danger of malaria is insufficient to justify the side effects and expenses of antimalarial medications. See a specialist health centre or your GP to get expert medical advice on what immunisations you need and are appropriate for.
Although most of the time relax and ride through it and you will feel better in a few days, spicy food and poor hygienic measures do mean that sadly many tourists visiting India do endure some “Delhi Belly”.
Apart from residents of Bhutan and Nepal, all travellers to India need a visa. Therefore, a very important first step in preparation to visit India is applying for your visa!
Once you get your Indian visa, you may arrange your trip schedule, book your tickets to India, get ready and let the countdown start!
India is big, so great distances take time to go around. Using the extensive reach and excellent value for money Indian train network is the greatest way to see India.
But in the most populated nation in the world, tickets sell out quickly and trains are often reserved weeks or even months ahead. Booking your train tickets ahead of time is a smart idea, particularly if you have a limited itinerary or a short vacation to help to guarantee that your travels run as best they could.
Usually, it’s pretty simple to go around India private tours and, most of the time, turn up rather cheap accommodation. Although the experience in India allows spontaneity and flexibility, I would advise you to at least reserve the first few nights’ lodging. Particularly if you are travelling in Delhi and if your airline comes late at night, you might also want to ask for an airport shuttle to your hotel to save trouble and possible frauds at initial arrival. Although first-time tourists may find the Indian traffic a little too hectic for their comfort, hiring a scooter, moped or motorcycle is inexpensive and simple in India and is particularly popular way to move around in destinations like Goa! Usually a somewhat laid-back affair, most guest homes will be able to either lend you a motorcycle or know someone who can. For a scooter, expect to spend between 200–300 rupees daily; more for a famous Royal Enfield; less if you arrange a longer term rental.