FAQ India

Your passport needs to be valid for six months after your departure from India.

You’ll need to arrange your visa to India before you travel, we have detailed all the information you’ll need on our visa guide.

Yes, we would always recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance when travelling, especially overseas, that is suitable for your requirements and needs.

You can buy most things you need in India at a bargain price so it’s worth trying to travel light, packing a comfortable backpack to travel around easily.

Mosquito repellent
Mosquitoes in India can be fierce little blighters, so make sure you take along insect repellent containing DEET, as well as coils to ward off any pesky evening visitors.

Wet wipes and antibacterial hand wash
Just trust us on this one!

Sarong
Talk about a multi-purpose item. As well as being used as clothing, a sarong can also serve as a blanket, towel or even a makeshift curtain for privacy when you travel. There’s nothing sarong with that!

Padlock and chain
Always handy to secure baggage when you’re travelling by train.

Mobile phone
Indian SIM cards can be bought on arrival, we recommend going to a mobile phone shop. Make sure you take a copy of your passport and visa, as well as some passport photos as they often ask for this to set up the account. It can take up to 24-48 hours to become activated, however, it’s worthwhile as this will give you access to 3G/4G to download travel apps, etc. SIM cards can be topped up in phone shops all over the country.

Rehydration kit
Unfortunately the dreaded ‘Delhi Belly’ is no myth. In fact, diarrhoea is fairly common when travelling in India. Our advice? Pack some Imodium Instants and re-hydration sachets to ease upset stomachs and dehydration.

Travel guidebook
Guidebooks are always handy when you arrive at a new destination and most will include a few useful language tips and phrases to scrub up on so you can impress the locals. We recommend Lonely Planet and Footprint as particularly good ones.

All tourists visiting India should get vaccinated for Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid. There’s also the risk of Malaria but health warnings in India change often so we suggest checking Fit for Travel for the latest updates and having a chat with your GP for further advice. Oh, and don’t forget to secure travel insurance before you go.

We know heading off on holiday is always a little bit stressful, especially on the day you leave, so we would advise doing these things before you depart:

• Check you have all your necessary documentation, including your passport!
• Take a photo of your documents and email it to yourself and travelling partners. Having a copy on your phone always comes in handy too.
• Ensure you have all your chargers and converters for any phones, cameras, tablets you are taking. A portable battery pack is a handy item to have in your hand luggage.
• Take snacks and a big bottle of water for your flight.
• Get to the airport with plenty of time to spare, we advise arriving 3 hours prior to your flight departure.
• Pack a change of clothes in your hand luggage and take a photo of your checked bag in case it goes missing en route.
• Sit back and relax knowing we have your holiday sorted!

Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India, however, there are countless others spoken depending on the region. These include Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati and more. A very high standard of English is spoken in towns and cities across the country.

The food in India is dhal-iscious (ahem) and is probably going to be a massive highlight of your holiday. Just allow yourself time to adjust when you arrive in the country and always go for freshly prepared snacks. Remember, queues are a good thing; a busy stall means food is prepared and eaten fast so less likely to have gone off. Avoid meat on the street and be wary of juice stalls and pre-sliced fruit that may be doused in dubious water.

Some of our favourite dishes:

Panipuri – hollow puffed balls filled with potato mixture and served with sweet and tangy pani (water)
Bhelpuri – a savoury snack made of puffed rice, vegetables and a tangy tamarind sauce
Stuffed paratha – layered flatbread stuffed with potatoes/vegetables/coconut shred/paneer
Bhaji – spicy Indian snack dish, like a fritter, most popular are onion, cauliflower, paneer, but the varieties are endless
Samosa (fried pastry with veg or meat filling – typically used spiced potatoes, lentils, lamb mince or combinations)

For dessert, try one of the many lassies (local milk-shake, which can also be served savoury), rabri (sweet milk-based dessert – super-rich in flavour so you may want to share!) or jalebi with ice-cream (deep-fried sweet pretzels which every street vendor will entice you with).

India has a population of a billion people and is one of the most chaotic, colourful and emotionally uplifting countries in the world. The country is so diverse, it will amuse, delight and distress you; you will experience complete sensory overload.

Although you will encounter crazy traffic, loud noise, and poverty, your attitude will influence your experience; if you visit India with an open heart, you’ll appreciate its beauty and warmth of human spirit.

Be prepared for curiosity – You might come across people who ask you lots of questions about yourself and where you’re from, or even the odd stare here and there.
Rushing doesn’t work in India – Try to adjust to ‘India-time’ and leisurely explore a small area. Mix a few tourist sites with downtime in the less hectic areas such as wildlife reserves, jungle, beaches and tranquil hill stations.
Be aware of the cultural etiquette – Eating with your left hand, for example, is considered dirty, so stick to your right hand. This also applies when meeting people, always use your right hand. Also, revealing the soles of your feet is considered very rude so keep them covered, especially around holy sites.

During your stay in India, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and use your common sense, especially in overcrowded places and when using public transport. Use pre-booked taxis when travelling at night and behave as if you know exactly where you’re going.

Women travelling alone
It’s unlikely that you will experience any serious violations as a female traveller in India, but there is a chance that you may encounter some unwanted attention. Be aware that in busy areas men may approach you and, though it is rarely threatening, it might make you feel uncomfortable. Don’t be afraid to say a firm ‘no’ and move yourself on to a different spot, and always ask for help if you feel in any way threatened.

India has a very traditional society
Particularly in rural areas, the way of life can be quite different to what you’re used to. Always try to observe local customs, be respectful of dress codes and limit public displays of affection.

Theft and scams
One of the best pieces of advice we can give you when travelling in India is that it’s OK to say ‘no’. A firm and clear response to any kind of haggling or harassment is usually enough to put people off. Persistent touts and fraudsters can target places of interest, so, as with travelling in any highly populated areas, it’s best to stay alert and be sure you are clear on your surroundings. Keep an eye out for fake guides who might give you incorrect information. We advise that you only take advice from officials and know your itinerary clearly. Most of our holidays come with a private guide and driver so you can always ask them if you are unsure. Hotel lock boxes are a good idea to keep travel documents safe.

Animals
It might be tempting if you’re an animal lover, but you should always avoid contact with stray animals as street dogs and monkeys can bite or scratch and there is a risk of rabies.

In the extremely unlikely event that you get bitten by a snake, you should immediately seek medical care. If you can, try to note the markings of the snake so it can be identified and the correct antidote given.

We are contactable in the UK during office hours and our local partners in destination are available 24/7 for any support or help you might need. They are in the best position as they will be on the same timezone, they should be your first contact in a case of emergency.

The Indian currency is the rupee and as it can’t be imported or exported, you won’t be able to pre-purchase it in the UK. Instead you’ll need to get them when you arrive. Currency can only be changed at banks or authorised money changers in India, including hotels. Both US dollar and GB sterling travellers’ cheques can be exchanged, and we suggest obtaining low denominations for small purchases and tips. Don’t accept any torn banknotes if you’re given them as change, as most places won’t accept them as payment. This applies to rupees (INR or Rs), euros or GBP notes. You should be able to exchange any damaged Rs notes in banks.

We’d recommend tipping for good service when travelling in India. This is generally expected, but how much you tip is totally up to you. You should tip in rupees and we’d recommend 200-800 Rs per couple per day for a day tour with a guide, or 200-500 Rs for a local driver. A 10% tip is the norm in restaurants and hotels when no service charge is added to the bill.

Obviously, this is very much a rough guide and you are completely free to give whatever you feel is appropriate.

Much of India is still fairly conservative compared to the West so it is wise to respect local dress etiquette. If you prefer to blend in it is worth avoiding wearing skimpy or revealing outfits and to dress appropriately to the culture you are in. Longer shorts are fine, but keep your upper half covered (pashminas are great for this).