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The Rickshaw Travel Group ("Rickshaw Travels") was founded in May 1988. From our humble beginnings as a small travel agency, we have grown and expanded into several countries and today have 28 years of experience in the travel business, both corporate and leisure... read more .

First time in India?

India, or Mother India as her 1 billion plus inhabitants like to call her, with all its chaos of beeping horns, it’s language, cows in the streets, the smell of spices, incense and humans can overwhelm an unprepared first-timer or even put them off India forever. But don’t let it.  Here are a few tips to help you decide where and how much time you may want to spend if you’re going for the first time and aren’t sure where to go.

India cannot be seen in a month or even a year as it’s a vast country filled with historic tales of intrigue, treasures in the thousands of temples, mosques and forts and its multitude of differenct cultures and languages.  Ask an ardent fan of India and he or she will tell you they have been to India at least a few times and still have not covered it all.

So let’s just start with Northern India with its famous cities of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur, a circuit famously known as the Golden Triangle, which trip would require around 7 to 10 days. If you have two weeks to spare, you may want to include cities such as Jodphur, Jaisalmer and Varanasi or even Amritsar. Or make a stop in Mumbai and experience a sensory overload, but don’t let it get to you.

Travel with a reputable tour company that has English-speaking guides, who offer you a private tour which would include the driver.  You may have to fly to Amritsar or Mumbai and India has options for many flights at reasonable costs.

The single most important piece of advice for any India first-timer is to try to remain calm, no matter what.  Frustration can come easily so take a deep breath and move on – the key is to enjoy your time in India.

Some basic things you may want to keep in mind are:

Culture Shock - Go with an Open Mind -  Be cautious but not nervous, open but not naïve and don’t bring fear, as most Indians are friendly and helpful. India can be a challenging assault on all the senses at first so prepare by learning about India before you go.

Avoid Burnout - Have realistic expectations of how much you can see – don’t try doing too much in too little time.

Stay Healthy - If you’re eating at high-end or known establishments, you should be okay, but as a precaution you want to avoid street food, eat peeled fresh fruits and stay on bottled water.  Avoid salads or ice in the smaller establishments or altogether. There is an over-the-counter vaccine for traveler’s diarrhea called Dukoral which will help protect you against this.

Dress Conservatively – India has a relatively modest culture so be mindful of that, especially when travelling in the villages and outside the main Cities.  Be prepared to be stared at and avoid eye contact with folks who do that. Your guide will be knowledgeable in safety matters and will probably guide you in matters of safety.

Be Prepared for Noise – If noise bothers you, perhaps you want to carry earphones with you to shut out some of the surrounding din. Plan some relaxing escapes in your journey.