| Traveling to India can be daunting and a challenging | | | | into the fray. Trains are a good option, as train |
| experience, this article gives you 10 tips when | | | | services exist even to remotest and farthest places |
| planning a holiday to India. If you were to keep the | | | | in India. Official website of Indian railways is good |
| following tips in mind, the journey will be less stressful | | | | place to visit while planning a trip to India. Always |
| and more enjoyable. | | | | keep a map so that one can even depend on bus |
| 1. The Subcontinent: India is a vast country with 28 | | | | services or boat services to travel. |
| states (aptly called a sub-continent), each of which is | | | | 6. Food Is Spicy: In general, food is spicy. In most |
| a small country by its own right. Each state has its | | | | places in India, especially in the northern and western |
| own language, culture and climate. Actually it is like | | | | regions, cow is a sacred animal. So beef is not widely |
| many nations existing within a single large nation. No | | | | available. If not from high-priced hotels, meat may |
| wonder India is called a subcontinent. The only thing | | | | not be a good option. For strict non-vegetarians, it |
| common is an impressive array of unique tourist | | | | always better to go for fish, especially coastal places. |
| places. | | | | Remember that the food is spicy and you must tell |
| 2. The Summer-winter Divide: A majority of places in | | | | the waiter to serve you mild or medium variety. |
| India, especially Delhi, experience two diametrically | | | | 7. Beware of Cunning Agents and Pick-pockets: Once |
| opposite kinds of weather in a year. Summer is | | | | in India, keep in mind that not all people approaching |
| extremely hot and humid, while winter is chillingly cold | | | | you are genuinely interested in helping you. Some |
| and foggy. Generally, summer starts in March and | | | | people earn their daily bread by cheating the hapless |
| extends till July, when the monsoons take over. | | | | tourists. Also, always keep only small amount of hard |
| Winter arrives three months later at November and | | | | cash with you. Debit cards or credit cards will do. |
| goes on till February. So be prepared to dress for the | | | | When you are in trouble or have lost way, it is |
| weather. | | | | better to approach a police man. Most of them |
| 3. Book Accommodation in Advance: A lot of good | | | | understand English, though may not be able to speak |
| hotels in India provide online reservation facility. Scan | | | | in English. |
| the web and book a hotel room that suits your | | | | 8. Bargain Hard: When you go shopping, don't |
| budget well in advance. Otherwise one may never | | | | purchase anything without bargaining. Don't bargain in |
| know when an emergency creeps up. An all-India | | | | big shops as it is frowned upon; but for the roadside |
| level examination or a massive political rally in a | | | | shop, bargaining is common. |
| particular place can quickly fill the hotel rooms. So it is | | | | 9. Respect Holy Places: If you go to holy places, such |
| better to reserve the hotel rooms. | | | | as temple or mosque, remove your footwear before |
| 4. Plan your trip via Metros: The four metro cities in | | | | entering. Also do not smoke inside the holy places. |
| India are well-connected in international aviation map. | | | | 10. Always Carry ID Cards: If you land in trouble, the |
| So identify the metro city nearest to the place you | | | | first thing authorities ask for is an identity card. If |
| want to go. Delhi (Northern India), Mumbai, better | | | | you can produce a valid passport and or some other |
| known as Bombay (Western India), Kolkata, better | | | | equally sound identity proof, your safety is half |
| known as Calcutta (Eastern India), and Chennai, | | | | ensured. |
| earlier known as Madras (Southern India), are the | | | | In summary, plan your journey according to the |
| four metros in India. | | | | season, read where you are going, carry ID cards, |
| 5. Keep a Map: You have plenty of options for travel | | | | travel to big cities to get an inkling into the Indian |
| within India. Nowadays air tickets are becoming | | | | way of life, respect Holy Places and eat sensibly. |
| cheaper, with lot of domestic airline players coming | | | | |