10 Things To Prepare When Traveling To India

Every trip and every travel requires logistical preparation beforehand to make sure everything goes smoothly. This is especially the case when traveling to another country.

As the title suggests, the country that we will be discussing today is India. India is a marvelous place full of things never before seen in the Western World. It is a home to breathtaking scenery that needs first-hand sampling.

But before you book your flight, there are things you should know. So, with all that said, here are the 10 things to prepare when traveling to India.

1. Prepare Your Mind

India might sound amazing, but there are always things that can ruin your vacation. The country is part of Asia’s lush wildlife and vegetation.

And while there are some amazing species to discover, others are not that welcoming and friendly.

2. Pack Lots of Gadgets

It is always advised to pack a lot of gadgets in advance for your next travel. And while India is certainly a place that doesn’t need much, you could benefit a lot by having a few extra gadgets with you.

The most notable gadget includes your smartphone. Before you travel, you can download a map of the country that will allow you to navigate on Google Maps even without internet access. You can also have an app with you that can translate English to Hindi.

If you are going for hiking for the first time, according to Thrillophilia in their Nag Tibba Trek itinerary, there are some essential things that you should have such as a map and compass for navigation, sunscreen, extra clothes, flashlight or headlamps, first aid items, lighters, candles and waterproof matches to light a fire, Nutritional food and water, and tents or plastic tube tents for relaxing.

3. Pack Essentials

Every travel requires different essentials, and India is no different.

For example, it would be smart to pack a lot of hand sanitizer, as everyone in the country eats with their hands. The cousin is also different from most of the world and can be easily eaten using only your hands.

So, you pack hand sanitizer to protect you from all the bacteria that accumulates during your traveling, and especially while using public transport.

Other notable stuff includes earplugs, since the streets can really be noisy and busy during certain hours, and tiger balm for anything skin related.

4. Scarf’s

Since you’re a foreigner in the country, people will look at you differently. This is not to say that you should feel intimidated, but you’ll certainly draw eyes.

If you happen to be a woman or traveling with your girlfriend/wife, then do know that a smart thing to do to avoid all that unwanted attention is to cover up with scarfs.

Indian women tend to dress traditionally, and the men get more drawn towards western women. So, to avoid any unwanted attention, do bring a scarf or two.

5. Bring a Camera

As we mentioned at the start of the article, India is home to breathtaking scenery and amazing places that everyone should visit.

But once you’re there, the first thing you will do is taking pictures of EVERYTHING.

One thing you should know is that the country loves colors. Everything in India is colored, and it resembles nothing like the Western World.

Once you’re off visiting the places on your bucket list, you should take pictures to preserve the memories. As a general rule of thumb when traveling, keep your camera on you at all times.

6. Get Your Visa

India, like most places in the world, requires a Visa to enter the country. If you were traveling in the past, you would have to get it once you arrive in the country. Currently, you can do so by applying for it online.

All you have to do to apply online is to visit www.india-visa-gov.in. Here, you can apply for any type of Visa, which includes tourism, business, medical, medical attendant reasons, and conference reasons.

Once you apply for the Visa, it will be sent directly to your home. Each visa has an expiration date of 180 days.

7. Bring Cash

You should bring a lot of cash, depending on where you’ll be staying. Although most establishments accept credit cards, you’ll mostly be paying in cash for services and goods.

Cash is the preferred type of payment in most rural parts of the country. Cab and tuk-tuks drivers also accept payment in cash.

Naturally, this means you’ll be handling a lot of money and that’s why you should always take the hand sanitizer with you whenever you’re out.

8. Book a Reputable Hotel

If there is one thing that you have full control of, it’s booking your accommodations.

When looking for places to stay during your visit, you should always opt for the most reputable ones out there. Accommodations in India can be tricky, to say the least. If you’re a first-time traveler, then you need to make sure not to make this mistake.

And while you shouldn’t think negatively, the big cities can be somewhat dangerous during the night, so it’s best that you book your accommodations somewhere reputable and safe. This is why most of the guides online will suggest staying at a 4-5 star hotel.

9. Open Your Mind

Parts of this article will definitely throw people off. And while India might not be the perfect destination, it definitely is for most travelers.

According to Thrillophilia, there is nothing harm in pointing out the things that everyone should be wary of, but you should open your mind to the hospitality of the Indian people.

The country’s residents are very friendly, to say the least. They are very welcoming of guests and want them to think nothing but positively of their country. It is because of this that you will feel very welcomed.

With that said, you might feel ripped off by cabs looking to scam you for an extra dollar, but it’s essentially the life in the big cities like Delhi or Mumbai.

10. Stay Safe

While this isn’t something to prepare, but you should always be vigilant regardless of where you travel. This last tip doesn’t apply only to India; it applies to every country in the world.

India does have a high poverty level, so people will approach you for food and money. The big cities can be very overcrowded during the days, so pickpocketing isn’t unheard of.