List of some must know things you should know before visiting or travelling within India.

2. India Is Very Hot
Except for few months of winters, India
for rest of the year is really hot. In the
plains of north India the temperatures
go well above 40 degrees Celsius and it
is very dry. It is very important to keep
oneself well hydrated and have wet
napkins or some cloth to wipe yourself.
Also, some headwear is helpful. Wear
something loose and light in color.

3. Start Early
India is hugely populated and
everywhere you go you will find
lot of people and crowd and
noise. So, if you want some quite
time or you want to rush through
some place quickly it is better if
you start early. You will beat the
city traffic. Also, since India is hot,
it is beneficial to reach a place
before noon.

4. Clean Loos Are Not Easy To Find
Hygiene is not India’s forte. So, do not
expect clean public loos easily. You
should always carry toilet paper when
on move. A tip to remember is that
generally places like McDonalds, Café
Coffee Days, KFCs have clean loos and
also you can use Sulabh
International’s toilets if you find
those. In general it is better to be
aware of nearby cafes and restaurants
for this.

5. Always Bargain For Cheaper Rates
India is a place where bargaining is your
right. Fixed price shops are hard to find,
and even if some shop is you can still
bargain! Even hotel room prices can be
bargained if you have not booked it
online and it’s not a star hotel. It’s usual
to bargain on souvenir shops, with auto-
rickshaw drivers.

6. Watch What You Eat and Drink
India is a land of diversity, the food
and water changes every 200kms.
Street food in India is quite famous
and you get it everywhere. It’s nice
to try all the different cuisines you
can lay your hands on but be
cautious. Always try to have filtered
or bottled water and eat at clean,
hygienic places. A trip with an upset
stomach is no fun!

7. Dress Conservatively
This rule is especially for women, alas.
India is relatively a modest culture.
Bollywood divas may be skimpily
dressed but not the common
woman. Anything showing more than
shoulders and knees is ill
advised.Cover yourself fully when you
venture out especially, if you are
visiting a religious place. In religious
places it is required to take off your
footwear as before entering the
shrine. In Sikh gurudwaras, you are
required to cover your head with a
scarf or handkerchief.

8. Multi-Tiered Ticket Price System
Many tourist spots in India have separate
entry fees for Indian nationals, foreigners,
students. There are places where even
entry for Indians and foreigners is
different. It’s useful to carry an identity
proof with you as you may get some
concession based on it. To avail a
student’s discount you just need to carry a
valid student ID. The students discount is
generally valid regardless of your
nationality. For example, National
Museum in New Delhi has admission fee
of Re.1/- for students!

9. Beware of Scams
There are always people who will try to
take advantage of your ignorance and
India is no exception. There will be
touts who will want you to shop from a
specific shop or stay in a particular
hotel. Be affirmative in saying a NO to
them. Also as a practice do not give
money to beggars.

10. If you are Driving, Do Not Take Hitch-Hikers
Indian National Highways are quite safe
but the person asking for a ride may not
be. As a rule of thumb do not give ride
to any one asking, unless you have a
compelling reason. Also, beware of
village boundaries and intersections on
the highway. People cross the roads
carelessly due to which a lot of
accidents happen.

11. Always Prefer Pre-paid Taxis Wherever Available
Many Taxi drivers and Autorickshaw
operators try to con tourists by asking
or charging way more than what is the
correct fare. Prepaid taxis have fixed
rate. You get a receipt with license plate
number and are therefore very safe.
Otherwise even if you negotiate well
there is good chance you will be
overcharged some way or the other by
regular taxis and Autorickshwas
(tuktuk). It’s always better to either
have an idea of the prices beforehand
or always use pre-paid services. Most
Airports and railway stations have a
prepaid taxi counter.

12. Always Be Aware Of Your Surroundings
This is the rule which could have been
left unsaid, but we had to make the
count 11 you see! ;) As always, practice
caution always. Be aware of things
happening around, pick-pockets
abound at busy tourist spots and as
mentioned in point 4 don’t fall prey to
scamsters.

13. Photographic Attribution
• Thank you all for your contributions!
• India Is Very Hot: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevephillips/238560751
• Start Early: https://www.flickr.com/photos/meghdutgorai/8028578095
• Clean Loos Are Not Easy To Find: https://www.flickr.com/photos/simontaylor/223705944
• Always Bargain For Cheaper Rates: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericparker/6878174919
• Watch What You Eat and Drink: https://www.flickr.com/photos/74821492@N00/11468224145
• Dress Conservatively: https://www.flickr.com/photos/govmilliken/3116688091
• Multi-Tiered Ticket Price System: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tzejen/4397567553
• Beware of Scams: https://www.flickr.com/photos/95976276@N00/103995641
• If you are Driving, Do Not Take Hitch-Hikers:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/vhbelvadi/9004746979
• Always Prefer Pre-paid Taxis Wherever Available:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/s_w_ellis/3941487055
• Always Be Aware Of Your Surroundings: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jan_k/82454755