Visiting India for the first time? This was me only a few months ago! As soon as you step foot into India, get ready for a whirlwind of sensory overload. Chaos, Colour, and Culture are the first things you will notice about India, and soon you will have fallen in love with this incredible country. I have visited many countries over the last fourteen years of my travels, and India still gave me a cultural shock I wasn’t expecting. This blog post is designed to help people visiting India for the first time prepare for their trip to this amazing country and be able to have the best experience!
What to Expect When Visiting India for the First Time
Landing in India, I didn’t have an idea what to think. I didn’t do much research before my trip, but realistically, I should have. For Women, expect to see many people, especially men, stare at you from arrival. If you are white and have light hair and light eyes, you are more likely to draw attention. I have experienced this in other countries too, but nothing like what I experienced in India.
Another shock when arriving is that there are people everywhere! India is currently the most populated country in the world, and you can feel this when travelling through India. It can sometimes make you feel uncomfortable being surrounded by so many individuals, and personal space isn’t always considered in India. My favourite way to describe my experience in India was “Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable”.
It’s dirty, loud, and a lot of the time, your sensors will be in overdrive. This is where you need to be able to go with the flow and enjoy the feeling of being uncomfortable and out of your comfort zone. India has terrible air quality in the north, and you may at times feel like you are just breathing in dirt, especially in summer. But it’s worth it for the experience! India is loud, thanks to everyone constantly beeping their horns to communicate when driving!
The people are quite friendly and will most likely stare at you a lot of the time! In the tourist zones, you could find yourself with a line of twenty families wanting a photo with you! If you don’t want this to happen, you need to be polite and refuse to take photos with them. They will most likely try to take photos of you, so that you know.
India is a culturally and religiously diverse country, where every region differs slightly from the others. It is helpful to learn a little about the areas and how they perceive you are visiting the world.
When is the Best Time to Visit India?
India has three seasons: Monsoon, Winter & Summer. The monsoon season is from June to September, and it’s best to avoid visiting during this time as there is plenty of heavy rainfall, making it harder to travel around. November to March is peak travel time as it is winter and allows for cooler weather and clearer skies. March is also a very popular month as it hosts the Holi festival in India. April to June is known as the pre-monsoon season and is the start of the hot and humid temperatures before the monsoon starts.
I visited in April, and even though I am used to hot weather in Australia, I would have preferred it to be much cooler! They did say that the April I was there it was the hottest April on record in twenty years. We had a constant week of 38/40 degree days! (Just my luck)! But knowing this now, I would prefer to travel in the peak season for nicer temperatures and clearer skies, as a lot of destinations were heavy with smog.
Choosing the right time to visit can also depend on the places in India you plan to visit. Here are some of the most popular locations and the best time to visit them:
- Northern India (Delhi, Agra and Jaipur) – November to March
- Rajasthan: Winter months (November to March)
- Southern India: Anytime besides the monsoon season (Avoid June to September)
- Ladakh: Best time is June to September (When the rest of the country is experiencing the monsoon).
Must-Visit Destinations for First-Timers
There are numerous incredible destinations to visit in India, and choosing which one to visit can be a challenging decision when visiting the country for the first time. If you haven’t already heard, there is a popular route that every traveller should at least do once in India. This is known as “The Golden Triangle”. You start your travels in Delhi, as it is the capital and the easiest starting point for other countries. After Delhi, you travel to Jaipur and then to Agra or vice versa. It’s an easy route to travel around, offering plenty of sightseeing and cultural experiences. This part of India allows you to visit the “touristy spots” such as the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, the Pink City and many famous temples.
Here is a list of Highlight Destinations I think should be explored for people visiting India for the first time:
- Agra: The Taj Mahal & Itmad-ud-Daula (Baby Taj)
- Delhi: Red Fort, India Gate and Humayun’s Tomb
- Jaipur: The Pink City, Amber Palace, Hawa Mahal, the City Palace and Nahargarh Fort
- Varanasi: A Spiritual Experience, the Ganges River
- Kerala: Periyar National Park, Munnar’s tea gardens, houseboat cruises in Alleppey and relaxation.
- Goa: Exploring Beaches like Palolem Beach, Dudhsagar Falls and Basilica of Bom Jesus
Practical Tips for First-Time Visitors to India
There are plenty of practical tips that I could talk about for people visiting India for the first time, but here are the most important ones:
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Visa requirements: All individuals entering India are required to obtain a visa. For most visa’s you need to obtain an e-visa online; they say up to 180 days before travel, but when I did it, I could only do it 30 days before travel. However, please check online to determine what visa is required for the country where your passport is issued.
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SIM Card: The easiest way to get a SIM card is to get an e-sim; my go-to companies for this are Holafly and Simify. This can be more expensive, but it is the easiest option when travelling. If you want to purchase a SIM card once you get to India, you can purchase them straight at the airports or from certain kiosks in the cities. You will need to take your passport to purchase one, too. The top three providers are: Airtel, Jio and Vodafone-Idea.
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Language tips: English is spoken a little in India, but it is not widely spoken, so learning key phrases in Hindi will be beneficial. Namaste” (hello), “Aap kaise hain?” (How are you?), and “Shukriya” (thank you) can be very helpful.
Speaking Slowly clearly will help to speak in English in India also having patience when communicating, remember you can always use google translate if you get stuck. -
Packing list essentials: Enclosed shoes are a must! I definitely wore only enclosed shoes for my entire trip because the streets are quite dirty and full of rubbish. Breatheable shirts and long pants/skirts for cultural etiquette, Gastro-stop and medication for potential food poisoning or other illnesses.
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Clothing tips: Packing items that can cover your skin is a must like long sleeved tops, long dresses or pants, scarfs. Swimmers if plan on going to a pool or the beach (definitely recommend for summer, you’ll want to cool off). Enclosed shoes and one pair of thongs for showers. Breathable clothing and a light jacket, hat to keep the sun off your face.
Health and Safety Advice
Food and water safety
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India is known for poor hyigene, its important to never use the tap water for anything besides washing hands (definitely still use hand santitiser after though), buy bottled water to drink, brush your teeth and wash your fruit with if you purchase some. Be extremely cautious with street food vendors and eat at places that are busy. Even if you think your safe going to Mcdonalds and takeaway shops you have at home, think again. They have different standards of hygiene then in western countries. Be cautious if you dont want to get sick.
Staying healthy
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These items are a must if you are wanting to stay healthy during your travels. Hand sanitiser is essential, I went through two bottles on my 3 week trip! Body wipes are great too, especially if you sweat a lot and sometimes when you feel your face and arms are covered in dirt. Bringing Gastro Medication and paracetamol are great to pack and carry with you in case you might need it. Bug spray is also a must so you avoid being bitten by any bugs.
Scams and common tourist traps to avoid
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Indian’s can try and rip any tourists off to get more money out of you, one of the biggest ways is with overpriced/ metered tuk tuks. Before flagging down a tuk tuk, look on uber or Ola to see what the rough price should be for your ride.
Begging Childern and Mothers, It is super hard to see young kids and families out on the street looking very malnourished and not giving them any money or help. But its advised not to because they are usually made to work for large organisations to get them money. If you want to help, its a great idea to donate to a verified local charity or look at doing a volunteering program to help.
There are tourist prices everywhere in India, including at the scared sites and historical locations. While you might not be able to baragin there you can baragin at markets, its good to ask some locals at your hotel or around to see how much they would pay for the same thing.
Solo female travel considerations:
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When traveling as a solo female travel its important to consider your safety as your number one concern. I decided to do my india experience in a tour. I wanted the ease and assureness of my safety and I highly reccomend this. It wasn’t that India is unsafe, its more the cutural differences and how the Indian men come across and be quite intimdating. I felt very uncomfortable with a few of the male customs officers on arrival. Into India and there are points during my travels that I wasn’t okay with when it came to Indian men.
It’s a great idea to cover most of your body when in India to attract less attention and to respect their culture. Using rideshare apps is a great way to travel around and are safer then just flagging down a ride. Avoid walking around at night alone and book trusted accommoadtion are helpful ways to stay safe as a solo female traveller.
Transportation in India
Trains vs. flights vs. taxis:
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Arriving into India, flying is the best way. When you are traveling within India, trains are definitely one of the easiest and cheapest ways to travel. When you are travelling in just one part of India, Tuk Tuks or taxis are your best options. If you are looking to move around alot and see many things in one day it might be worthwhile to find yourself a private driver for the day. You can ask your hotel or where you are staying if they know of any good ones.
How to use ride-hailing apps like Uber/Ola:
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I used Uber all the time in India but not to actually book Tuk Tuks or taxis. Occassionally I did but I most commonly used it for seeing the suggested price for the cost of the trip and then baragining with the local drivers that were stopping right in front of me. This helped to not get ripped off when working out the cost.
Booking Indian Railways:
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Most train tickets sell out as soon as they are made available, Why do you ask? Because there are as many people travelling on trains in India per day as the entire population of Australia. Tickets go on sale 60 days before the depature date and it can be hard to secure your tickets. You might pay a bit more but booking through Rail Ninja will help to secure your tickets. Also try and get tickets in AC3, AC2 or AC1. These are all with air conditioning and assigned seats. Trust me this is needed to make the journey more comfortable and enjoyable.
What to expect on local transport (autos aka Tuk Tuks and buses):
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Expect the unexpected, actually these are all quite good modes of transport in India. Every Tuk Tuk is a different experience. The streets are loud and chaotic so be prepared to get a headache and have to stop suddently. Buses can be a good option to travel around. But they can get hot and smelly if it doesn’t have airconditioning.
I had many fun Tuk Tuk rides, and even got to drive a Tuk Tuk myself. If you find a great driver remember to get their whatsapp number and contact them for more rides!
Cultural Etiquette and What Not to Do
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Dress modestly in religious places: It is noted to always where long pants or skirts and long sleeved shirts or scarfs when travelling in India. This helps to not bring attention to yourself and to respect the culture.
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Right-hand rule (eating, shaking hands): In many cultures, the left hand is used for cleaning oneself after using the toilet, making it unsuitable for tasks like eating or handling food. The right hand is often associated with auspiciousness, respect, and positive actions, while the left hand is seen as less clean or even associated with negative things.
Don’t point feet at people or religious objects: Feet and shoes are considered dirty. Do not step over a person sitting or lying on the floor, as it is offensive. Never touch anything with your feet, and don’t point the bottom of your feet at religious altars or toward people. To avoid this, sit cross-legged or kneel on the floor while in a temple or holy place. If you must extend your legs, point them away from sacred icons. Never turn your backside to a religious statue.
Money and Budgeting for Your Trip
How much does it cost to travel to India?
This is ultmiately up to you and how much you want to spend in India. It’s possible to do it super cheap or go all out and spend a fortune. India overall is a pretty cheap country to visit. I think for my tour flights and expenses I spent in total $3500 for the 3 weeks. India can be done alot cheaper or alot more expensive, food is super cheap as well as accommodation and transport. It just depends on how much money you want to spend and the things you want to see and do.
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ATMs and card acceptance: You are not able to bring in Indian Rupee into India unless you are an Indian citizen. Which means that the first you are likely to do is get some cash out, I found this very difficult for the first time in India because my VISA card didn’t seem to work anywhere. I realised after a while that it wasn’t my card it was that the ATM’s didn’t have enough cash. Lots of the ATM have limited cash and run out of money all the time, You might have to try a few to be able to withdraw the amount you want.
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Tipping culture: It’s not necessarily mandatory to tip in India, it is highly suggested too, at restaurants, in hotels, and for drivers. This is still a common way to show appreciation for services and with the average amount being around 10% of your total purchase.
What I Wish I Knew Before Visiting India for the First Time
I did not do much research befor visiting India for the first time and even though I have been to many other countries, I still was faced with a cultural shock. I wasn’t prepared for all the attention my blonde hair and blue eyes would attract. My second day in India I was faced with a line of 20 families wanting a photo with me because I said yes to one person. I had to learn to politly decline photos.
The biggest cutlural shock for me was seeing people take shits and urinating in public places (train tracks and other areas). This doesn’t hapeen everywhere but was a shock to me when I saw these things happening.
Also if you aren’t from a very populated location it can be alot when you are surrounded but lots and lots of people all the time in India. Sometimes I needed to find a little quiet spot and recharge my batteries. I wish I few that I needed a few extra days inbetween to relax before heading to new destinations.
Final Thoughts on Visiting India for the First Time
Whether you are visiting India for the first time or a different part of India, it is an incredible country to explore and a trip that you will remember forever. It chaotic, dirty, loud, vibrant, cultural and many more things. If I had my time again I would slow my travels down and enjoy longer and slower days. I was in photographers heaven photographing all the exciting things India has to offer and there are many. If you are a solo traveller or travelling with someone it is a beautiful country to explore. This blog post was all about things you should know before visiting India for the first time. If you are looking to Join a tour in India this is the one that I did: G Adventures.