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Some useful travel tips for India & Nepal........
Useful Travel Tips
HI, My name is "Raju India", 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
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.
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.
Do not encourage beggars.
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.
It is advisable to cover yourself with travel insurance for thefts, loss and medi-claim.
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.
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.
Most of the monuments give very good discount for students from all over the world.
They must carry there valid school identity card.
SHOPPING
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
Often train’s and flights are get delayed and can be cancelled at the last moment without any prior notice. Yesterday (25.3.0 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.
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.
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
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.
HI, My name is "Raju India", 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
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.
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.
Do not encourage beggars.
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.
It is advisable to cover yourself with travel insurance for thefts, loss and medi-claim.
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.
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.
Most of the monuments give very good discount for students from all over the world.
They must carry there valid school identity card.
SHOPPING
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
Often train’s and flights are get delayed and can be cancelled at the last moment without any prior notice. Yesterday (25.3.0 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.
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.
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
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.
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