5 Tips for Exploring India

India is one of the most beautiful, fascinating, vibrant and culturally exciting countries on the planet. Sure, being half Indian I’m a little biased, but I’m sure many will tell you the same! However, it’s so different in so many ways that it can be a difficult place to visit, from the sheer amount of options when planning, to getting about safely and easily while you’re there. I’ve been visiting since I was a child, so I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks to make things easier along the way that I thought I’d share.

1. WHERE AND WHEN TO GO

When to go depends on what kind of vibe you’re looking for. The beginning of the year is high season so is packed out, particularly in the resort areas, so if you’re looking for a party now’s your time! The weather is generally best – it’s less stuffy though still hot at 30+ degrees. The Summer months can get very hot, and are likely to be rainy with monsoon season starting around July. However it’s quieter – I’ve had Goan beaches completely to myself this time of year, which is a rare occurrence!

India has so much to offer in terms of things to do and see – there’s nature, wildlife, beaches galore, the beautiful backwaters, and bustling cities. It’s almost impossible to fit it all in – ideally you’d need at least three months to really see the country! If you’re going for a couple of weeks, its probably best to base yourself either in the North or South, depending on what you’re looking for.

If you want beaches, Goa is the obvious option, particularly if you want to be able to drink, socialise, and party. But there are plenty of other beaches lining the South Coast such as Varkala and Kovalum – if you’re a real beach bum you could definitely plan a nice beaching hopping tripping through Kerala!

If you’re interested in the beautiful architecture, you’re spoilt for choice. The North has some gorgeous architectural gems that have no doubt spammed your Instagram feed in spots like Jaipur and Agra, whilst the South boasts the Ajanta and Ellora caves, the ruins of Hampi, as well as the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai. To learn about colonial India spots like Pondicherry and Fort Kochi are worth whiling away a couple of days in.

For nature, again there’s an abundance of options. Take a week lazing on the backwaters of Kerala in a houseboat, or head north to Ladakh for stunning mountain views. If you’re keen to spot an elephant or a tiger, there are national parks dotted all over the country (this list is a good starting point if you’re thinking of visiting). If you want a respite from the heat, head to the Hill Stations such as Darjeeling or Munnar to enjoy a cuppa with a view of endless tea plantations.

2. WHAT TO WEAR

This one is mainly for the ladies, if you’re a guy you’re good to wear what you’d wear in the West (provided you don’t go round in neon mankinis or something!). India is a conservative country when it comes to dress, and although Western clothing is becoming more readily available (they’ve got H&M and Zara popping up in bigger cities for example), women are still unlikely to be showing a lot of skin and most will still be wearing traditional sari’s or churidar’s outside of the cities. Whilst you’re not going to receive any backlash if you’re dressed more racily, you will get stared at and it can be very uncomfortable. I’ve felt inappropriately dressed in clothes that would be considered conservative in London! Generally I’d advise keeping your shoulders and bust covered, as well as wearing below knee skirts. Keep a shawl with you if you’re going to be visiting temples or other places where covering up is required. Of course if you’re in particularly touristy areas such as Goa you can pretty much wear what you like – just take stock of what other people are wearing and use it as a guide.

3. APPS

I’d recommend picking up a local sim when you arrive in India – they’re cheap and it’s always worth being able to call and use internet for emergencies. Google Maps will become your best friend – the iOS maps don’t work as well in India as they don’t do directions so Google is the way forward here.

Whilst in many places cabs and autos are metered, there are just as many where they aren’t and you can easily find yourself getting completely ripped off for journeys that would cost half as much for a local. Therefore it’s worth downloading Ola cabs, which works like Uber and includes options from taxis to autos. When you set your destination it gives you the estimated fare so you know what you’re paying (generally a fraction of what the auto guys will try and charge you!) and you can pay in cash at the end so you don’t have to link up your bank card and risk charges.

Another app I downloaded while in India was Zomato, which is like Trip Advisor but just for restaurants, cafes and bars. I used it to book tables, find reputable bars for a drink, and the perfect spots for brunch! It’s particularly useful in big cities where you’re less likely to just stumble over a great place – often we’d end up at amazing cafes that we would never have found otherwise as they weren’t generally in touristy areas.

4. HAGGLING

You’re going to get ripped off at some point. Fact. But you can try and avoid getting burnt too badly by learning the basics of haggling, and keeping in mind that whatever price they quote you, it’s probably at least twice what the item is worth.

If you think someone is ripping you off, try asking at a few stalls to get a sense of average prices – then go back to the cheapest one and bring them down! If someone is asking a crazy price, start walking away. 9 out of 10 times they’ll start calling you back with a lower price, and then you can start to haggle.

It can be exhausting, and when you think about it as only a matter of a couple of pounds it can be tempting to just give in, but it really does add up – plus it’s a real adrenaline rush when you score something for a fraction of the ‘original’ price!

5. GETTING AROUND

India is one of the hardest countries I’ve ever been to in terms of getting around – there’s relatively little information online and it’s often out of date. Internal flights are only really good if you’re flying between big cities, and can be expensive. Generally you’ll probably be travelling by train or bus, or taxis for short journeys as they’re relatively cheap and a lot more comfortable.

It’s such a large country that you may end up doing a couple of overnight trains – they’re a novel experience but it’s hard to get much sleep as they’re not exactly comfortable. Still, it’s worth doing once to say you’ve done it! It’s worth booking your tickets in advance online, or going to the station a couple of days before to confirm times. I’ve been screwed over before by people giving me the wrong information, so make sure you’re triple checking! Generally people are very keen to make themselves useful, so don’t be afraid to ask for help, and make sure you give yourself plenty of time for the inevitable queues, confusion, and general faff that makes travelling in India so frustrating, but memorable.

I’d love to know if you’ve been to India before, or are planning a trip? If you have any questions about travelling in the country, or anything else you’d like to know, feel free to leave a comment or email me at hello@anoushkaprobyn.com! Also make sure you check my Instagram for plenty of photos from the trip!