India, the second most populated country in the world is a world apart, a country of contrasts, from the most extreme poverty and misery to luxury, from snowy peaks to vast plains, from the most deserted areas to the overwhelming jungle. India will not leave you indifferent, the journey is hard but worth it. Being able to admire the Taj Majal, ancient temples, Bengal tigers, exotic beaches, crowds, hustle and bustle, chaos, calm, learning yoga, enjoying an Ayurvedic massage, spices... are some of the experiences that this country offers you.
China fishing nets in Kollam
Visa
It is compulsory to apply for a visa to enter India, its price is around 60$.
Money
The official currency is the Rupee.
Jama Masjid Mosque
Language
The main language is Hindi, although as it has been an English colony, English is spoken by a significant percentage of the population. Useful words: namaste hello, svagata thank you.
Backwaters
Transport
Trains are the best means of transport, they are cheap and the safest, it is an experience you should not miss.
The roads are quite deteriorated and although there is no excessive traffic (except in the big cities), you have to overcome many obstacles (cows, people, other vehicles).
There are many airports within the country, the prices are quite cheap for a Westerner and they save quite a lot of time.
Bengala Tiger
Accommodation
The Indians build very well, the accommodations even the cheapest ones are usually well isolated and clean. In general it's very hot although we don't recommend paying for air conditioning everywhere as the electricity goes out constantly and it takes hours to come back in, the fan is cheaper although it also suffers from power cuts.
Health
Before starting your trip contact the international health service, it is advisable to take out travel insurance to cover medical services. It is advisable to take permethrin to impregnate your clothes and avoid insects. The tea tree is a good antiseptic. We also carry a hydroalcoholic gel to wash our hands before meals.
Don't forget a first aid kit with the essentials: medicines, betadine, antibiotic ointment, syringes, flint, bandages, band-aids, scissors, water pills, mosquito repellent, sun cream.
Khajuraho Temples
Safety
Before travelling it is advisable to have travel insurance, not only health insurance but also civil liability insurance.
Women travellers
The Indian population in India is in general friendly, they tend to relate more between men, leaving women in the background. The Muslim population is more reserved and less communicative than in other countries. If you go alone to India, take precautions, even if you go with more women. Although it may seem a cliché, a male figure can avoid compromising situations. Dressing discreetly also helps, although simply showing your shoulders can be considered a provocation. In sacred places you must enter barefoot and cover your head and shoulders with a handkerchief, in some places you can rent handkerchiefs and even dresses to enter.
Kollam
Gastronomy
Indian food is very spicy and sometimes very hot so it is not suitable for all stomachs. However it is not easy to find western food outside the tourist areas and sometimes there too.
The dal are delicious sometimes prepared on huge trays with vegetables, rice and egg, accompanied by a chapati that is sometimes made of potatoes. Samosas are also delicious.
The Indian beer is also a little spicy and it is difficult to find it and above all cold, since the refrigerating chambers do not have much power and the light goes out constantly.
Train
Society
The caste system exists traditionally in the Hindu countries to which one belongs by birth and from which one cannot leave. The outcasts or untouchables are considered the lowest class and the Brahmins are the highest. The former live in extreme conditions.
Misery and poverty in the rural world is evident but in the big cities it is even more intense.
Traditionally men wear lungui or dhoti and women wear sari.
It is preferable to avoid public toilets, as they are often latrines with a hole without running water and the dirt is high. Toilet paper is not used, there is usually a small shower with which to clean yourself, although bringing your own paper or wipes is the best idea.
Saint Nizam-ud-din-Aulia marble sanctuary
Time
It is important to find out before traveling about the temperature in the area of the country you are visiting. The temperatures become unbearable if you do not travel in the right season, for example in Delhi we get to 50 degrees during the day and 48 at night. Hydration is essential. Also the roads are complicated in the rainy season.
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