Visiting India might be a culture shock for some, but it’s a beautiful country with plenty for those seeking spiritual and personal growth.
India is a very diverse and (for many first-time visitors) a very tense country. India is a country that many people feel strong emotions about when they visit. Few people respond “meh” to a question about how India was – most people love it, hate it, or a mixture of the two. It is a country of superlatives, color, life, and paying tourist prices.
India is popular with hippies for being “spiritual” and for learning yoga. Many Westerners who have converted to a Westernized form of Buddhism enjoy India. But India is diverse and can appeal to a very wide audience and everyone should visit.
Heads Up With What To Expect
Visiting India is not like visiting European countries, East Asia, or even Southeast Asian countries. It is a country of extremes. One will be greeted with so much life – there may be celebration processions going down the streets with full colors. Random neighborhood streets may be blocked off for a wedding.
- Be Open-Minded: Being Open-Minded Is Important In India to See And Understand a Completely Different Way of Life and Mentality
- Vegan: India Is A Vegan’s Paradise
In the main touristic areas, tourists can expect to be approached by salesmen (often these salesmen are pretending to be just interested in the tourist). Often the question? “How long have you been in India?” is asked to gauge how green or familiar the tourist is with India and how much they may be able to inflate the price.
Tip: Be Careful About Being Scammed
- Travel Agencies: Many Of The Travel Agencies In Delhi Are Scams – Look for Reputable Ones With Reviews
No matter if one has a good time or a bad time in India, it will be an experience that one will always remember.
Is India Safe?
The short answer is – it’s complicated. For men, India can be regarded as safe, women are advised to take extra caution. There may be gropings, uncomfortable long stares, and other instances – these are more likely if the female visitor has blue eyes and long blonde hair. There are reports that the official statistics may be well understated in India.
- Women’s Safety: Women Should Take Precautions In India
Be careful about walking around in certain areas at night – especially after drinking. At night – and especially after drinking it’s always a good idea to stay in a group and take a taxi.
- Taxi: Take a Taxi if Drinking At Night
But if one takes sensible precautions India should be safe. The most common problem will be pickpocketing and other theft (especially in places like in the center of New Delhi where all the other tourists are and the crowds are thick).
- “Tourist” Price: A Fact of The Life Of A Tourist In India – Just Play the Game
One is almost guaranteed to pay an absurdly high “tourist” price. Just try to be smart and don’t pay it all the time.
- Rabbies: Take Rabbies Shots Before Visiting India – There is a Risk of Rabbies From Feral Dogs and Wild Monkeys
Is India Poor?
India is classified as a middle-income developing mixed economy and has a nominal GDP per capita of $2,395. But this grossly hides the sheer inequality in the nation. Many people will work for 2 or 3 dollars a day and abject poverty is everywhere.
One can expect to see beggars (as with any country) and some people sleeping in the streets with nothing at all to their name. There are some parts of India that one should do research on before visiting.
India does have a growing middle class and a wealthy upper class, as well. One will find nice neighborhoods, wealth, and development.
How Much Time Do I Need In India?
How much time does one need to see all of India – a lifetime should be enough. But joking aside, India is a very intense and diverse country. If one is only going for a couple of weeks, then one can only pick out a few highlights. There is no limit to how much time could be spent in India.
In two weeks one can visit New Dehli, Amritsar (and visit the holy Sikh Golden Temple there), Jaipur (with its many iconic forts and palaces), Agram (home of the Taj Mahal), and Varanasi (where bodies are cremated by the river Ganges). Or one can visit the south and explore the more developed beach city of Goa.
India is a very different and rewarding country with a very different mentality. After a cultural shock here, one may not get a cultural shock anywhere else again.
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