Planning a Trip to India: here’s what you need to know
Know before you Plan a Trip to India
Searching for a perfect destination to relax, india is one of the most preferred destinations for hodophiles who love to relax on the beach, in ancient palaces, in the boathouse, in thick forests like kaziranga, along with some mesmerizing waterfalls spreading across india and much more activities need to cover. By reading this you must be lured to travel to india. However, you need to plan your trip to india before you commence. There are certain things to know before traveling to india, this blog aims at shortlisting what you need to know.
Currency in India
Indian rupees or Indian Rupiah is the currency used. We can exchange/convert the money in the airport or out in many nationalized banks. most urban centers have ATM’s, we can withdraw money from it anytime. Keep currency notes of lower value as many of the shops won’t be having sufficient amount to tender in exchange after you buy, especially in small shops. One more thing to keep in mind is about ATM’s, even though you find lots of ATM’s only few among them will be in working condition. It’s wise to carry extra cash and traveller’s cheques as backup.
Language
Hindi and English are the most common languages; even some road side vendors can speak English fluently. There are 29 states in india, each and every state has its own language and culture, don’t get tensed after knowing this. People in india are gullible, diligent and wear a gregarious smile all the time. You can ask them for their help when you are in need.
Visa
Most people travel on the standard six months tourist visa. Tourist visas are valid from the date of issue, not the date you arrive in India.
Mobile Phones
Getting connected can be complicated in some states due to security matters. To avoid expensive roaming costs get hooked up to the local mobile network.
Driving
Hiring a car with a driver doesn’t cost a fortune and india has expansive rail, bus and air connections. which are available round the clock in major cities. If you want to travel locally, opt for OLA cabs where you can pay the bill through online and the billing is transparent.
Which is the best season for a trip to india?
High Season
Starts from December to March, Pleasant weather with clear sky. Most of the visitors start coming in this period. In December and January northern parts of india can be freezing due to snow fall. Temperature starts increasing from February and continues till mid of august. Tourism reaches a peak of in this season with peak load pricing.
Shoulder Season
Shoulder season is from july to november, most parts of india will experience frequent showers. However you can manage visiting most of the places. North india is the preferred location for this period.
Low Season
Low season extends from april to june, scorching heat of sun welcomes you in most parts of the country. At the end of the june as the monsoon passes from south to north icy hills will help you to beat the heat with competing hotel prices.
Your daily budget for trip to india
Low range (100$ per day)
- Prices (particularly accomodation) vary wide across the country
- Lodge in low cost guesthouses with shared loos or hostels
- Crumble wayside stalls or essential restaurents
- Travel regionally by bus, often autorickshaw
Mid range (300-500$ per day)
- Smart accommodation with personal bathrooms and restaurants
- Travel regionally by cab or private taxi
Top end (900$ and above per day)
- Accommodation and dining – the sky is the limit
- Provides with private pool, gymnasium, bar etc.
- Travel regionally by a private cab hired especially for you.
Important numbers for trip to india
From outside India, dial your international access code,
India’s country code then the number (minus ‘0’, only used when dialling
domestically).
Country code – 91
International access code – 00
Ambulance – 102
Fire – 101
Police – 100
Arriving in India
There are six major airports in india, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad. We can exchange money from the foreign exchange within the airport. These airports have prepaid taxi booths. From where we can book the taxi directly to the hotels which covers luggage too. Some airports offers metro service, where they charge decent amount of money. Few hotels offers airport pickup if we communicate well in advance with the hotel staff. These are often complimentary with top end hotels.
Don't commence your trip to india without
- Getting a visa and travel insurance
- Seeking advice about vaccinations
- Nonrevealing clothes (both sexes) – covering up is respectful, and essential at holy sites
- Well-concealed money belt
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Small torch for poorly lit streets and/or power cuts
- Earplugs – noise can be a nuisance
- Slip-on shoes – handy for visiting sacred sites
- Expecting the unexpected – India loves to toss up surprises
