Basic guide for traveling to India for the first time

Some recommendations to keep in mind before leaving

There are countries that arouse conflicting feelings, corners that exert a powerful fascination on travelers but that, at the same time, arouse numerous misgivings. One of them is India , a spectacular and extremely exciting destination, whose journey requires special planning.

Beyond taking into account the bureaucratic procedures, the route, the accommodation or the visits one wishes to make, India requires additional mental preparation . The cultural differences are abysmal and their customs often cause a real shock to Western tourists. Knowing them in advance and taking them into account will undoubtedly help you live better and enjoy the trip more intensely.

Visa

Any Spaniard who wishes to travel to India for tourist reasons, in addition to a passport with a minimum validity of six months , needs to have a visa , the e-Tourist Visa . It is obtained in 72 hours electronically and allows you to stay in the country for a maximum of 60 days. To do this you need a photo and payment of around 40 euros.

Completing it is your first contact with the reality of the country, so take time and be patient. The form is very extensive – it occupies several pages – and contains questions of all kinds: from your religion to the countries you have visited, including information about your parents, profession or whether you have visible identifying marks on your body such as moles or tattoos. A reference person will also be requested in Spain and India, in which case, you can indicate the details of one of the planned accommodations.

Vaccines and health insurance

Regarding health issues, it is essential to be vaccinated against yellow fever, while the vaccine for tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles, rubella, mumps and hepatitis A is recommended.

Do not play with fire. The health situation in the country is extremely delicate: India has a very poor health system . The only quality hospitals are found in large cities, they are private and, therefore, expensive . Therefore, it is highly advisable to travel with travel insurance that covers any type of possible incident.

Transport

Horn noises, screams, engine roars, traffic jams, people and more people… the first impressions after setting foot in India are stressful. The feeling of chaos seems to permeate everything in a constant coming and going to which one ends up getting used to. Crossing the street is an adventure that involves avoiding vehicles (and waiting for them to do the same).

You will need to get around the city . The means of transportation are uncomfortable, dirty and overcrowded. Keep in mind that the best way to get to know it is by motorcycle taxi or rickshaw , the typical wagons that are already part of the landscape. They are cheap, but following the usual trend, they will most likely try to charge you an exorbitant price for their services. Don’t let yourself be scammed and haggle .

If you don’t want to deal with it, it is advisable to use a mobile application that allows you to know the amount of the trip before requesting the service, such as Ola Cabs , surely the most popular. You can get any type of vehicle, including luxury cars.

India is very extensive , so the railway is the best way to travel around it at affordable prices . The railway network, a British heritage , is an excellent way to discover the great diversity of the country. Trains have different types of carriages and classes , which makes it very important to choose the type of ticket appropriately.

The I ndRail Pass is an ideal travel pass for tourists to travel for a certain period. In important cities such as Varanasi or New Delhi there are ticket offices for foreigners.

Food

Food is often the main cause of many of the health problems that affect travelers. Tourists’ stomachs are not very accustomed to local cuisine, which usually causes major episodes of diarrhea . It is therefore necessary to progressively accustom the body to local nutrition. Remember that Indians usually use many spices and mixtures of them, such as masala.

Avoid the temptation to eat anywhere, especially on the street , where hygienic measures are often conspicuous by their absence. Also, do not eat raw vegetables or fruits if there is no guarantee that they have been properly disinfected , nor drink water that is not bottled. If you take these precautions, you can enjoy truly delicious cuisine.

Accommodation

When planning your trip, keep in mind that you will find all types of accommodations. If you opt for the large international chains, you will have no problem: you will discover that the hotels are similar and acceptable everywhere.

But if you want to spend little on accommodation and decide to sleep in hostels or hostels, don’t expect to find clean rooms. Dirt is usually common in these types of establishments. We recommend that you dedicate a little more of your budget to this section and look for a hotel with an individual bathroom . Your health will thank you. If you haggle, you can get a good price.

And also…

Get ready to meet friendly and curious people , who will make you the center of attention. If you are a foreigner, don’t be surprised if they stare at you and dare to ask to take a photo with you . You can do it. No problem.

Buy a local SIM card so you can surf the internet to your heart’s content. Many establishments, such as cafes or restaurants, that advertise having a connection, in reality either do not have it or claim to have a fault.

India is not an unsafe country , however, it is important to be very careful with passport theft . In order to avoid problems and facilitate the completion of procedures, travel with a copy of all documents, including hotel reservations and transportation tickets. Do not leave your passport in storage even if you are required to do so, it must always travel with you.

In order to avoid contagion, do not approach stray animals and avoid the bite of certain insects, the source of disease transmission. For this reason, it is advisable to use repellents especially in the summer season.

A thousand and one wonders

The diversity of India offers the possibility of visiting a thousand and one corners. On your first trip to the country you can start with three cities in the so-called Golden Triangle: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur .

In Delhi you will discover the new and old capital. You will be able to see Qutb , the first Islamic city, the Red Fort , and the Pearl Mosques and the Jama Masjid, the largest in the country.

In Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, you will enjoy the Taj Mahal , the white marble mausoleum that Emperor Shah Jahan had built for his wife, Princess Arjumand Banu Begum. Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful buildings on earth.

The pink city of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, will delight you with the Palace of the Winds, the Amber Fort , authentic wonders of Indian architecture. From here, a spiritual getaway to Benares, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, nine hours by train from Agra, is in order . And this town is one of the sacred cities for Hinduism. Its narrow streets, its gahts and the view of the Ganges with its steps will fascinate you and invite you to return again.