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Many years of my work as
a professional tourist taxi driver in India and Nepal I drove more
then one million km. without accident, during all this time I always
discover and collect information from other places which is useful
for any western tourist during there India travel. Here below is the
list which will help you lot if you careful about all this:-
GENERAL TIPS FOR INDIA & NEPAL TRAVEL
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Visiting India or
Nepal can be a wee bit unnerving for the first-time visitor. The
lifestyle and culture is totally different from the West. I made a
list of some important dos and don'ts for hassle-free and
enjoyable travel in these both countries.
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A proper VISA to enter
and stay in India & Nepal is a must. There are reported cases when
travelers are advised non-requirement of Indian/Nepal VISA by
their travel agents. Practically every foreign national requires
VISA to enter these countries.
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Do not encourage
beggars.
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Don't trust strangers
with money. Trust your hotel, but not people you may bump into on
the streets.
-
Don't offer bribes to
get any job done. Bribe-taking and bribe-giving are a common
practice in India but they are intended to speed up things or win
a favor that you are not entitled to. Plan well in advance. Use
consultants or trade and industry associations. If you expect
favors, let them come free or not at all. Warn anyone (even in
government) who asks you for a bribe that you would report him to
the Anti-Corruption Bureau or the nearest police-station. If he
persists, do it discreetly so that he can be caught red-handed.
-
Indian English has its
own delights especially to foreigners of English nativity. Don't
show amusement at the different Indian accents and choice of
words. This does not take away from the fact that many Indians
speak and write better English than many native English speakers.
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It is advisable to
cover yourself with travel insurance for thefts, loss and medi-claim.
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Carry proper maps of
the places proposed to visit in India/Nepal, as signboards are
often absent. Try to reach a station during daytime if traveling
on your own. In any case avoid persistent touts and taxi-drivers
at airport/stations/bus stand to help you find your hotel. Always
use tourist assistance desk for proper advice.
-
Women traveling alone
in certain deserted places should avoid walking at odd hours.
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While changing money,
insist on getting encashment certificate.
-
Do not checkout of the
hotel in hurry. While checking out it has been noticed in some
hotels, the extras are unreasonably charged which the guest
hurriedly pays without cross-checking.
-
Do not leave your cash
and valuables in your hotel rooms. Keep your cash divided in
different pockets.
-
Take care of proper
disposal of your rubbish always whether you are exploring desert,
or Himalayas or beaches or anywhere else.
-
Don't accept offers of
visiting anyone's home unless you are confident of the person.
-
Use licensed guides
for sightseeing.
-
Always use strong
suitcases/baggage, as mishandling is common at airports/stations.
-
Don't tip unreasonably
and unnecessarily in a hotel. The NEWS soon spreads in the hotel
and by the time you checkout there will be a group of them
saluting you to expect something.
-
In Monsoon time avoid
night stay in the desert while you do camel safari.
SHOPPING
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Don't buy antiques
more than 100 years old. Selling and buying "shahtoosh" shawls is
a crime. The same goes for ivory and wildlife.
-
Buy at genuine shops
only. Bargaining is a popular practice in India and necessary too.
Don't ever believe in lucrative offers of antique dealers in which
they offer you to carry a parcel of some other buyer back home
with your own margin described. Entire transaction should be legal
and transparent so that you may claim later if dissatisfied.
-
Almost every touristy
town you will found some boys and they will introduce you as poor
student with many different stories, finally there target is to
sell you and get commission.
-
Indian Customs
department at the airport stop some people from Spain in 2006, Her
name was Lionor Mendoza, because they were carrying some Auer
Vedic Medicines ( Herbal), which they bought from one of the
Aurveda Message resort from South of India. So if anyone buy such
kind of things must ask and be sure if you can carry or not to
your home.
-
Guides & Taxi drivers
often get commissions if you make any shopping. Percentage of
commission is depends on your bargaining level, as more you
bargain they get less commission.
TRAVELING IN TRAINS, BUSSES & FLIGHTS
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Often train’s and
flights are get delayed and can be cancelled at the last moment
without any prior notice. Yesterday (25.3.08) it happens with one
of my client from USA and they phone me about this situation from
Jodhpur town at 9.00pm and there connecting flight to States was
just after three hours, It was horrible situation for both us. So
it is always better to arrive one day before to your departure
destination to catch your International flight.
-
While traveling, don't
act confused. Keep a posture of a person known to the region.
-
If you are traveling
in the trains then you may have to reserve your seats in advance,
last time it will be not so easy to get confirm seat reservation.
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Buses are not as
comfortable as trains.
-
Trains and buses are
the best and cheapest option if you are traveling for more then
one month holidays.
-
Be careful about your
luggage while you travel in train or in bus.
-
Flight from Khajuraho
to Varanasi is often over booked so try to get boarding pass as
soon as possible otherwise they will provide you car for to go
Varanasi.
-
It is always better to
arrive one hour before scheduled departure at the train station
and one and half hour before any domestic flight.
-
Always chain and lock
your luggage under your berth in a train. Don't keep anything
valuable near the window. Always carry plenty of water, fruits in
trains. Alone woman traveler may request to be accommodated near
other women travelers.
-
Don't eat anything
offered by fellow travelers on train or road travels. It might
have sleeping pills. Always travel reserved class in trains.
CAR - PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION FOR TRAVEL
-
Cars are one of the
best and safest way to travel in India, if you are not traveling
for months in India.
-
Make sure that your
driver is trained for defensive driving and speak basic English.
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As a driver you always
have one person with you to help you and your luggage is always
safe.
-
Always avoid driving
at night on Indian highways, It is not recommended.
-
Avoid self driving in
India unless you have been trained on Indian roads.
-
If you feel not
comfortable by the driving or he drives fast is always better to
tell him to drive slow.
RELIGIONS
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Do not visit places
which encourage orthodoxy, social injustice and inhuman practices
(like visiting a sati temple).
-
Politics can be freely
discussed in India and most people will have an opinion which they
will not mind being contradicted. But avoid discussing religion.
-
Avoid offers of
spiritual salvation and magic remedies from saints, god men and
quacks. There may be some spiritually elevated people in India,
but there is no way you can distinguish the genuine ones from the
crooks. If you are seriously interested in these aspects of India,
take help from someone you know or visit one of the respected
spiritual organizations in India.
-
Don't ever enter a
temple, mosque, tomb, dargah or Gurudwara ( Sikh Temple) with
shoes on and/or scantily dressed. One should cover his/her head
with a cloth while in a Gurudwara or Dargah. Parikrama or walking
around the sanctum sanctorum should always be in clockwise
direction. Also should use your full pantaloon.
FOOD & WATER
-
Take care of
contamination of water and food problem. Always drink safe mineral
water and take well-cooked food.
-
Drink bottled water
only. Even many Indians who have lived out of India for a few
years sometimes suffer stomach upsets on drinking local tap water.
If there is no alternative to tap water, ensure it is boiled. Most
famous brand is Bislery, Aqua Fina and Himalaya.
-
Avoid eating buffet
meals, even in expensive hotels. The food may become contaminated
due to over-exposure
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If you are buying from
roadside stalls or hawkers, bargain you must. Start by offering
half the price they ask for and settle for 70 - 80 per cent. Don't
bargain in proper shops especially those that display "Fixed
Price" signs: that will be seen as bad manners.
-
Never buy food from
roadside stalls or mobile canteens. Not that they are bad, but
your system may not be accustomed to such delicacies and you might
end up spending more time in the loo than normal.
Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka, Chicken Curry, Malai Kofta and
Naan these are the most famous dishes eaten by western people and
they like them very much.
-
King fisher Lager bear
is one of the most general alcoholic drinks taken by any western
tourist.
-
Lassi & water is one
of the most general non alcoholic drinks taken by any western
tourist.
-
Not only drink bottled
water also brush teeth with it.
SOCIETY & TRENDS
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Participating in a
social occasion or visiting a home requires conservative dress
codes. Do not shake hands with ladies. Always pick up a thing and
eat with your right hand. Take only as much as you can eat, do not
leave anything uneaten over the dish.
-
Do not point your
finger at any person. It is taken as a sign of annoyance.
-
Be careful of cultural
and social sensitivities of the regions. There is no single rule
for that, the best way is to observe and follow.
-
The “NAMASTAY” is a
local form of greeting. It involves the joining of your palms as
during prayer in church – well, not exactly, but it can pass (in
church, the two thumbs are crossed, in the Indian “NAMASTAY” , the
thumbs join but remain parallel to each other: this is only for
information as the difference is not visible to the person in
front of you).
-
If you find the lady
is not extending a hand shake, go for the “NAMASTAY” , Even with
men, the “NAMASTAY” can be an excellent little PR gimmick! Follow
it up with a “AAP KAISE HAIN” (how are you?) and you have broken
the first block of ice if one there was!
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If somebody has
invited you home for dinner, carry with you a box of sweets or at
least a chocolate bar for the kid.
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Many Indians are in
the habit of shaking their head in the course of conversation or
taking instructions. Don't show amusement if you witness this.
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Don't photograph women
without permission.
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Indian weddings are
one of the most famous social ceremony liked by western people.
TERRORISM & UNSAFE AREAS TO TRAVEL
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Avoid visiting Kashmir
in the extreme north as well as areas in the extreme north-east.
Foreigners, especially West Europeans ands Americans, are at risk
to hostage-taking by terrorists in those areas. The rest of India
is safe haven for everybody.
-
Never argue strongly
with anybody.
DREAM PLACES IN INDIA
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Majority of the people
think that to spend night in a house boat in Karela Back Waters is
one of the most memorable moments of their India Travel.
-
Jaisalmer ( The Thar
desert) is considered as one of the most beautiful and peaceful
places of India.
-
"Taj Mahal" at Agra is
one of the most visiting place in India.
-
"Golden Temple"
Amritsar is one of the most impressive monuments after "Taj Mahal".
-
Varanasi (Ganges) is
one of the towns which give you most strongest feeling.
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Rajasthan, Kerala &
Goa are one of the most organized states for tourism.
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