| Taj Mahal (Agra) - 15 Feb 2014, This is so remarkable!!! |
1. Choose your route wisely
Think about what interests you, what you like doing, and tailor your trip accordingly. I flew form Singapore to New Delhi by Singapore Airlines. Below are the tips for you guys;
The most popular India tour is the all-time classic Golden Triangle.
Clichéd, yes, but if time is short this is a fantastic introduction to
three of India's very best destinations. Start in Delhi (Hamayun's Tomb, Old Fort) before hitting Agra (Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri) then Jaipur (Pink City, fort at Amber). Head back to Delhi's wonderful bazaars for a final shopping spree before you fly home.
And if you have more specific interests:
Shopping - Delhi
Beaches - Goa
Trekking - Himachal Pradesh
Yoga - Rishikesh
Food - everywhere!
Tigers - Madhya Pradesh
Thrill-seekers - Manali
Religious fervour - Varanasi
Just chilling - Kerala
2. Slow down
Too
many people try to cram too much into a visit to India. Don't be one of
them. Seeing one place slowly is so much more rewarding than seeing
many places in a flash. You'll be less stressed, gain a deeper
understanding of where you are and have more time to build relationships
with the people you meet.
3. Avoid the crowds
One
billion locals gets a bit too much for some travellers, but India also
has plenty of quiet retreats. If you need to escape the crowds in the
sprawling cities, consider heading south to the backwaters of Kerala, north to Tibetan-influenced mountainous regions such as Ladakh or paying a visit to one of India's many hill stations.
4. Stay healthy
Avoid tap water, and any food that may have been washed in it, at all
times. No ice, no salads and no fruit you haven't just peeled yourself.
Many travellers go veggie whilst in India. It's not a bad idea. A
dodgy bit of meat will do you a lot more harm than slightly undercooked
vegetables. Plus, many Indians are vegetarian, so there's a fabulous
choice of vegetarian food. If you do eat meat, make sure it's well
cooked. If in doubt, eat at a place that's packed with locals.
Toilets are notoriously bad in India, but they don't have to be
health hazards. Consider using the left-hand-and-water-jug method
preferred by many locals (it is, after all, so much more hygienic than
using dry paper), but don't forget to carry soap with you so you can
wash your hands properly afterwards.
5. Keep cool
India is renowned for its touts and scams, for its in-yer-face
hassles and for being generally bloody hectic. There are various ways
you can reduce the chances of being overcharged or just plain cheated
(see scams in India),
but there's no way you can avoid them altogether, so the single most
important piece of advice for any India first-timer is to try to remain
calm, no matter what. Frustrations boil over easily in India, and being
able to control them, take a deep breath and move on, is key to enjoying
your overall experience.
Credit to: Lonely Planet author Daniel McCrohan researched the 14th edition of India.
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