India is a nation of many extremes and that is probably why it is so sought after in tourism circles across the world. But these extremes are not always good for your trip, especially if you fail to plan properly. A first-timer in India is like a kid venturing out to play for the first time: its going to be fun but you have to follow some rules. So here are a few basic things to keep in mind before you plan a trip to the resplendent and often overwhelming subcontinent:
- Stay Hygienic: It is easy to get lost in the swarming hustle bustle of tourist places and the million happenings of a billion people, but keeping healthy is key to one’s trip. Locals might be extra immune to several common pathogens but these tend to quickly escalate in foreign (literally) bodies and can waste your time and mood. Go for bottled water, avoid excess street food and be careful at public utilities like washrooms. You should be fine with some regular travel and enough time to acclimatise.
- Be safe: There is an unfortunate disparity when it comes to the demographics and hence some places might be notorious for ill-mongering. It is important to keep your valuables safe, be away from unwanted trouble and maintain safety in terms of following rules. The best way is to ask your guide or a known person about a certain place and how safe it will be to travel through that. Some quaint towns might worship you as a guest, while others might not be so hospitable, so pick your battles wisely.
- Plan Ahead: It is always better to be two steps ahead of your plan and the internet is a great place to do only that which is necessary. A well planned itinerary will save you oodles of time and provide you with maximum comfort to refresh your senses. Your route needs to be decided beforehand and sticking to it will ensure you spend quality time rather than resolving last minute logistical issues.
- Take it slow: A majority of people want to extract the maximum out of their trip and that is understandable. However, it is highly counterintuitive because even though you’ll tick off a large number of places, you will have enjoyed none. Beautiful places take time to assimilate and the meaning of travel is to absorb the experience. It can be very confusing as a first-timer in the already brimming country and covering fewer places will definitely heighten your experience.
- Language barriers: Chances are, there are more languages in India than you have heard of in your entire life but that shouldn’t give you a headache. This is because a lot of people understand and can converse in English, if you’re English speaking that is. Otherwise, a little help from locals and occasional use of Google Translate use can do the trick.
- Timing: When you visit is as important as where you visit, especially for India. Seasons in India change like days and every place have its own properties which make it iconic. Cold, heat, rain, wind and a lot more nature interventions will keep you guessing what to wear and how to travel. It’s better to see predictions rather than just expect the weather to be conducive.
- Avoid hacks: It always sounds good to get great deals but a lot of people are looking to take advantage of that, and especially of foreigners who are unsuspecting. Trust only reputed companies and take help from a local you might know.
Following everything above will be more than sufficient for a great experience and a few hiccups here and there, if safe enough, can actually turn out to be great stories. So don’t be shy and enjoy your trip, so you can keep going back. Happy travelling!
