It\u2019s not inevitable, but it\u2019s common enough that you should be prepared for it rather than surprised by it<\/a>. Your gut simply isn\u2019t used to the bacteria here; even the water used to wash vegetables can be enough to trigger it in someone with no prior exposure.<\/p>\nPrevention is mostly common sense. Eat at busy, high-turnover places where the food is constantly being made fresh, avoid raw salads at places that don\u2019t look particularly clean, drink only sealed bottled water, and wash your hands more than you think you need to. Carry hand sanitizer everywhere.<\/p>\n
If it does hit, oral rehydration salts (ORS) sachets, available at any pharmacy for almost nothing, are your best friend. <\/p>\n
Rest, bland food (bananas, plain rice, curd), and plenty of water. If it\u2019s severe or comes with a high fever, see a doctor. Before you travel, ask your doctor to prescribe a course of antibiotics for exactly this situation. Most travel doctors do this routinely, and it\u2019s worth having in your bag even if you never need it.<\/p>\n
Check the AQI Before You Visit<\/h3>\n
If you\u2019re visiting North India, particularly Delhi-NCR and Punjab, between October and January, you should be aware of the air quality. Hazardous AQI days are genuinely common during this period, where the sky turns a particular shade of grey, and your throat knows about it by evening. If you have any respiratory conditions, either plan your visit outside this window or pack good-quality N95 masks and use them. I say this as someone who lives with this every winter; it is not exaggerated.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t Underestimate the Heat<\/h3>\n
April through June in most of North and Central India is brutal in a way that\u2019s hard to fully convey until you\u2019re standing in it. Delhi regularly hits 45\u00b0C and above. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are real risks, not theoretical ones. Hydrate constantly. More than feels necessary. Wear a hat outdoors. Avoid being outside during the middle of the day if you can. Give your body a few days to adjust before doing anything too ambitious.<\/p>\n
Take Sensible Safety Precautions<\/h3>\n
India is, for the most part, a safe country to travel in. The usual sensible precautions apply: keep a photocopy of your passport separate from the original, use the hotel safe for valuables rather than carrying everything on you, and stay alert in crowded markets, busy railway stations, and popular tourist sites where pickpocketing happens. Keep your bag in front of you and your phone out of your back pocket; the chaos of a crowd is exactly when these things occur. For getting around, use Ola, Uber, or licensed taxis rather than accepting rides from people who approach you unsolicited. And on trains, it\u2019s documented, though not common, that food or drink offered by strangers has occasionally been spiked. Trust your instincts on that one.<\/p>\n
The more elaborate scams, the ones that are specific to India and worth knowing about before you land. I\u2019ve dedicated a whole section to it later in this guide, so do read that before you land.<\/p>\n
Know Where to Go If You Get Sick<\/h3>\n
If something goes wrong in a major Indian city, you will be in good hands. Private hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, and Max are excellent by any global standard and well-equipped to treat international patients. Rural areas are a very different story, which is another reason the travel insurance conversation matters.<\/p>\n
Pharmacies, called Medical Stores or Chemists here, are on practically every street and stock most over-the-counter medications, including many that would require a prescription elsewhere. This is useful to know, but use your judgment and ideally have a doctor on call via your insurance who you can consult before self-medicating.<\/p>\n
Pack Light and Buy the Rest Here<\/h2>\nClothing: The One Rule That Matters Most<\/h3>\n
The cardinal rule: dress modestly outside of beach\/resort areas.<\/strong> I want to be clear that this isn\u2019t a moral judgment; it\u2019s purely practical advice. You will get less unwanted attention, you\u2019ll be welcomed into more temples, and you\u2019ll feel considerably less like a walking target if you dress in a way that doesn\u2019t stand out. It also just makes for a more comfortable trip.<\/p>\nFor women, lightweight cotton salwar kameez or kurta-trouser sets are ideal. They are cool, appropriate everywhere, and genuinely beautiful. The best part is you don\u2019t even need to bring them from home. You can buy stunning versions all over India for \u20b9400\u20132,000, so pack light on clothes and shop when you arrive.<\/p>\n
For men, lightweight trousers are your friend. Shorts that cover the knee work fine for temples if trousers feel like too much in the heat. T-shirts are perfectly acceptable in cities.<\/p>\n
On fabric: cotton and linen, always. India is hot and humid for most of the year, and synthetics will make you miserable. Pack breathable, pack light, and remind yourself that laundry services are everywhere and cost almost nothing, around \u20b950\u2013100 per kilogram. There is genuinely no reason to bring more than two weeks of clothing, even on a month-long trip.<\/p>\n
For footwear, bring sandals you can slip on and off easily because you will be removing your shoes at every temple, many guesthouses, and most Indian homes. A comfortable pair of walking shoes for longer days, and flip-flops for hostel bathrooms. That\u2019s all you need.<\/p>\n
Packing Essentials<\/h3>\n
A few things that are either hard to find in India, overpriced when you do, or just genuinely make the trip easier:<\/p>\n
\n- High SPF sunscreen<\/strong>: surprisingly difficult to find locally and expensive when you do. Bring enough from home.<\/li>\n
- Insect repellent<\/strong>: DEET-based for areas with mosquitoes, which is most of India outside of winter in the north.<\/li>\n
- A reusable water bottle with a filtration system<\/strong>: good for the environment and your budget.<\/li>\n
- Microfibre towel<\/strong>: compact, dries fast, endlessly useful.<\/li>\n
- Universal power adapter<\/strong>: India uses Type D and M plugs most commonly (three round pins). Don\u2019t assume your adapter covers these.<\/li>\n
- Power bank<\/strong>: absolutely invaluable on long train journeys and bus rides.<\/li>\n
- Offline maps<\/strong>: download Google Maps or Maps.me for your regions before you arrive. Do not rely on having data everywhere.<\/li>\n
- A sturdy daypack<\/strong>: for day trips, temple visits, and train journeys where your main bag goes in the overhead storage.<\/li>\n
- A small torch or headlamp<\/strong>: power cuts still happen in smaller towns and rural areas. You\u2019ll be glad you have it.<\/li>\n
- Wet wipes<\/strong>: for everything. Truly everything.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Know What to Leave at Home<\/h3>\n
Bulky printed guidebooks, your phone does this better. Expensive jewelry, you won\u2019t want to worry about it, and you\u2019ll find beautiful things to buy here anyway. And as I mentioned, more than two weeks of clothes. India has excellent laundry services at every price point, and you will only thank yourself for packing light.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019d rather wash your own clothes on the road, a Scrubba bag, a lightweight portable washing machine bag weighing just 150 g, is genuinely brilliant. Pair it with a travel clothesline and solid laundry soap, and you\u2019re completely self-sufficient.<\/p>\n
A Little Cultural Awareness Goes a Very Long Way<\/h2>\n
India is one of the most culturally rich and layered societies in the world, and part of what makes traveling here so extraordinary is also what makes it easy to put a foot wrong without meaning to. None of these guidelines is meant to intimidate you. Most Indians are enormously forgiving of well-meaning visitors. But a little awareness goes a long way, and honestly, the more you respect the culture, the more it opens up to you.<\/p>\n
Follow Rules at Temples and Religious Sites<\/h3>\n
Remove your shoes before entering, always, without exception, and without being asked. This is non-negotiable at every temple, gurudwara (Sikh place of worship), and mosque in the country.<\/p>\n
Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered at minimum, and some temples will ask women to cover their heads as well. Scarves are useful to carry for exactly this reason.<\/p>\n
Many Hindu temples do not permit non-Hindus inside the inner sanctum. If there\u2019s a sign or someone tells you this, respect it without argument; it\u2019s not personal, it\u2019s a religious practice. Don\u2019t touch idols or sacred objects, and don\u2019t assume photography is allowed near the deity. Look for signs or simply ask.<\/p>\n
One thing worth mentioning, because it surprises many visitors: menstruating women are traditionally asked not to enter certain temples. This is a contested practice, and attitudes are changing, but it is still observed in many places and is worth being aware of.<\/p>\n
Know What to Expect When Invited Into an Indian Home<\/h3>\n
If you\u2019re lucky enough to be invited into an Indian home and spend enough time here, you will be expected to remove your shoes at the door. Accept whatever food or drink is offered to you, because refusing can come across as rude, even if you mean it politely. Eat with your right hand. And if you know in advance that you\u2019re visiting someone\u2019s home, bring something small, like sweets or fruit, which are always appropriate and always appreciated.<\/p>\n
Learn the Social Norms<\/h3>\n
Public displays of affection beyond hand-holding are best avoided, particularly in smaller towns, rural areas, and near religious sites. This is one of those things where what feels normal at home can read very differently here.<\/p>\n
Now, the head wobbles. You will see this everywhere, and it will confuse you initially. That side-to-side bobble of the head means yes, okay, I understand, I\u2019m listening, no problem, and about fifteen other things depending on context. It is not a disagreement. Once you get it, you\u2019ll find yourself doing it too, usually by the second week.<\/p>\n
\u201cChai, paani?\u201d (tea or water) is how hospitality begins in India. A shopkeeper will offer it before you\u2019ve bought anything, and a host will offer it the moment you sit down. Accept it. It\u2019s not a transaction; it\u2019s just how things are done here.<\/p>\n
Indians are wonderfully, unapologetically curious about visitors and will ask you questions that might feel quite personal by Western standards, such as your age, whether you\u2019re married, how much you earn, and why you don\u2019t have children yet. This is genuine friendly interest, not intrusion. Answer as much or as little as you like, but take it in the spirit it\u2019s meant.<\/p>\n
Always Ask Before You Point a Camera at Someone<\/h3>\n
Always ask before photographing people, particularly in rural areas, at religious ceremonies, or in any moment that feels intimate or private. A smile and a gesture towards your camera is usually enough. Most people will either nod or shake their head, and you\u2019ll know.<\/p>\n
Sadhus (Hindu holy men) at pilgrimage sites will often agree to be photographed but expect payment. Decide in advance how you feel about that and act accordingly.<\/p>\n
Military installations, airports, and certain government buildings prohibit photography. Take the signs seriously.<\/p>\n
Research and then Choose Your Region<\/h2>\n
I want to say something before we get into this: what follows is not a comprehensive guide to every region. It\u2019s my honest overview, the places I know, love, and think you should understand before you go. Every single one of these regions deserves its own dedicated post, and many of them will get one. But this will give you a real sense of what each place is actually like, not just what it looks like in photographs.<\/p>\n
The Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur)<\/h3>\n
This is the classic first-timer route, and it\u2019s popular for good reason<\/a>. These three cities together give you a concentrated hit of Mughal history, Rajput grandeur, and the particular controlled chaos of North India. But there\u2019s considerably more here than the standard postcard version, and I\u2019d encourage you to go slower than most people do.<\/p>\nDelhi<\/a> is a city that takes time to understand. Old Delhi, Shahjahanabad, the walled city built by Shah Jahan, is one of the most intense sensory experiences you will have anywhere in the world. Chandni Chowk\u2019s food lanes, Jama Masjid\u2019s courtyard at dusk, the sheer red-sandstone scale of the Red Forts, chaotic, yes, but that\u2019s the point.<\/p>\nDon\u2019t rush it. It\u2019s the city most people treat as a gateway and leave too quickly, and it\u2019s also the city that needs patience more than almost anywhere else in India. Give Delhi at least two to three full days before you form any opinions about it. It will take one day just to adjust, one day to start seeing it, and one day to actually feel it.<\/p>\n
Agra<\/a> is more than the Taj Mahal, though the Taj Mahal deserves every superlative ever written about it. Go at sunrise if you can manage it; the light is extraordinary, and the crowds haven\u2019t arrived yet. Agra Fort is genuinely undervisited and magnificent. And forty kilometers away, the abandoned Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri will give you that rare thing: ruins of breathtaking scale with almost no one else around.<\/p>\nJaipur<\/a>, the pink city, is beautiful, hectic, and very easy to love. Amber Fort is the highlight, and rightly so, but the bazaars are where I\u2019d send you first, for block-print textiles, silver jewelry, and blue pottery; the markets here are among the best in the country. Stay long enough to eat properly. The food in Jaipur is excellent.<\/p>\nRajasthan Beyond Jaipur<\/h3>\n
Rajasthan<\/a> is where India goes theatrical, and if you have the time to go beyond Jaipur, please do.<\/p>\nJodhpur<\/a>, the blue city, is home to Mehrangarh Fort, rising above a cascade of blue-painted houses, and it is one of the most dramatic sights in India. The fort itself is one of the finest in the country. Jodhpur is smaller and calmer than Jaipur, and I think it has more character. It hasn\u2019t been quite as polished for tourism, and that works in its favor.<\/p>\n