Travel Tips To India - Part 3, Dr Gour Kanjilal

Travel Tips To India - Part 3

Travel Tips To India - Part 3

By Dr. Gour Kanjilal

( Author Tourism Representative Govt Of India. )

Common Precautions

Water has to be from a reliably clean source. Try to use known brands of mineral water. Always carry a water bottle with you; this helps you from dehydration also, as sometimes a lot of walking is required at places like cave temples, treks, groups of temples, Fort areas.

Carry a first-aid kit with adhesive bandages, thermometer, water purification tablets, antibiotics, antiseptic creams, mosquito repellents. Once on the road, or even by air or train, take precautions that can save you from a running nose, tummy troubles, dizzy body temperatures, giddy hangovers, etc. Varied weather in India makes such precautions advisable. It is advisable to take all the vaccinations needed.

To avoid malaria, dengue, do carry mosquito repellents and sprays. You may join Sound and Light shows that take place in the evenings and open areas around historical monuments. If you can bear the heat, wear clothes that cover most of the body.

Food

Best is to be careful about food and water. Eating raw salads and fried food from a roadside vendor is absolutely NO. I know such foods are tempting with their aroma, but it is better to go to a clean restaurant that is worth it.

If you are visiting from a yellow fever zone, do carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate. This is just to play safe.

A sun cap is very essential to avoid blazing sun glare in summer months, and even a folding umbrella.

Main Season Period

Spring: Mid-March – Mid-April
Summer: Mid-April – Mid-June
Monsoon: Mid-June – Mid-September
Autumn: Mid-September – Mid-November
Winter: Mid-November – Mid-February

In all seasons, drinks like tea and coffee are available everywhere.

Food

Indian cuisine is very attractive, as different preparations of Indian dishes are prepared in Indian restaurants, which offer an enormous variety of Indian foods.

Festivals

Round the year, every month has one prime festival, and these are very participative.

Jan: Republic Day, 26th Jan; Pongal in Tamil Nadu; Vasant Panchami in Jan–Feb.

Feb–March: Holi, the colour festival.

March–April: Maha Shivratri, Ram Navami.

May–June: Muharram.

July–August: Rath Yatra, Puri, Odisha; Raksha Bandhan.

August: Independence Day.

Aug–Sept: Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Mumbai.

Sept–Oct: Durga Puja, Kolkata.

Nov: Deepavali.

Nov–Dec: Guru Nanak Jayanti.

Eid-ul-Zuha, Ramadan, and many local festivals every month.

Tips

Tips are optional in not-so-fancy restaurants; you can place a few rupees. But outside restaurants, tipping is practised. But in star hotels, they add a service charge to the bills.

For Railway, there is always a fixed price before taking service. For heavy bags, always fix a price before taking the services; much depends on the weight.

No tips for taxi drivers, except when they miraculously get you to the airport or put you on a train that you never thought you would make the scheduled journey.

You have to pay the guide fee as fixed by the government for approved guides. If you're pleased with the services, it's your wish.

Do carry some small change for people who help you with little services. Keep your shoes at temples, mosques, and extend your help.

There are some more areas, like visiting North-Eastern states, where you need to obtain a Protected Area Permit to enter Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram. Ask at Indian missions if you propose to visit.

And special tourist events: Pushkar Mela, Desert Festival, Dance Festivals in Khajuraho, Konark Dance Festival, etc.

With such precautions, no doubt you will enjoy your sojourn to India.

Dr. Gour Kanjilal

( Author Tourism Representative Govt Of India. )