India is a beautiful country worth visiting to explore its diverse culture and cuisine. People of India feel very happy hosting and inviting tourists, its something from our culture. However, there can be several concerns of a foreigner traveling to India or might have second thoughts about it. I have tried to bust a lot of myths and concerns that I have come across shared by my foreign friends.
A ) Language
Indians speak not one but so so many languages. I have included a map of India below which shows the most predominant language spoken in every state. But this fact shouldn’t scare you off. Let me explain you why?
- Destinations that are more used to witnessing tourists know day to day English such as taxi drivers, shop owners, reception desks of tourist places etc.
- There are travel companies that can provide you with a agent on guide to take you through places and help you communicate with local being a translator.
- Kids in schools of India are generally taught English as a one of the languages. If your ever get stuck, you can make an attempt to have a conversation with a young person.
- Indians are not very used to native accents of English spoken by other countries. If locals find it difficult to comprehend, try speaking slow and clear. Also please don’t mind repeating the words for them.
B ) Food
You must have heard of Delhi belly. While foreign tourists are very susceptible to getting it, there are tips and precautions when it comes to eating in India. There are really good restaurants serving quality good everywhere, well most of the towns and cities. However, you are very prone to getting your stomach upset if you go around munching on street food. Hygiene is not the top priority of Street food vendors. Many of them cater to the daily wage workers who might need cheap food to feed themselves. Its usually not the main diet of people.
Secondly, Indian cuisine is predominantly spicy. By spicy, it could mean SPICY (meaning that has different kinds of spices) and it could also mean hot. Please make sure you mention to the waiter to make it less spicy for you. Even though you think you have a high spice tolerance. I eman not underestimating you, but lets not try and beat the everyday spice tolerance of locals.
Top tip: never drink normal or tap water. Always go for bottled. Look out far fake versions of branded bottled water (Refer to this blog over here – https://blog.karlrock.com/travellers-beware-dont-buy-fake-water-in-india/)
C) Safety
I must agree that it not very safe especially when you attract a lot of attention being a foreign tourist. This also tops the list of Concerns of a foreigner traveling to India. But, there are rules of thumb to follow and you can be very very safe.
1. Look confidant. Tried and tested, it makes a lot of difference.
2. If you are alone, please don’t travel around at night or take public transport when its quite empty.
3. Keep all your belongings safe and secure and carry them on your front and not back.
4. Don’t keep essentials in your pant or shirt pockets. They should be safely kept in your bags.
5. Stay in reputed hotels.
6. Get an Uber/Ola/Blu taxi booked through an app to save yourself paying hefty prices to auto drivers or being misled.
Top tip: Never tell anyone you are traveling alone, even if you are. Also, never tell where you live.
D) Weather
Weather in India is striking different from place to place and season to season. Fishy, it changes quite a for throughout the year. And these changes differ for different geographical locations. To explain the diversity we have snow capped mountains- to huge mountains -to dry sandy deserts -to wet hilly places- to hot and humid beaches – and moderate plateaus.
Top tip: If you are a resident ofcold country, it would be ideal to visit India during winter season (December – January). It will be like your summers and more comfortable. But other months also have their own charm, especially monsoons.
E. Transport:
You will be amazed at the range of options available. ‘ there are loads q flights, trains, buses, taxis taking you anywhere and everywhere. But were are some considerations for all of them.
1. Flight: quiet safe option. Booking them in advance saves you money especially four long distance flights.
2. Trains: there are different types of trains and several class tickets (1st class, 2nd class, 3rd class, sleeper class, general class ). Try and go for premium price trains or 1st class in other trains to have a comfortable journey and avoid much of crowd.
3. Buses can take you anywhere in India, even at night. There are both private operators as well as Government buses running around everywhere. Go for government ones if you are not sure.
This blog provides summary of many concerns of a foreigner traveling to India. More posts to follow with detailed blogs on particular topics covered in here.
Please visit the blog – sustainable-and-responsible-travel-budget-options for more tips that I learned traveling around India.
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