Things To Know Before Visiting India
I would like to start this post by saying what I am about to share should not deter you from visiting India. India is a unique country, with a very unique culture and if you get the opportunity to visit you should.
Both Josiah and I have spent time in developing countries before and are not strangers to distinct cultures. However, we were caught off guard by some of the things we experienced in India and I hope this article gives you some insight before you visit.
I can not state this enough my intentions with this article is not to offend anybody, this is nothing against the people living in India. I just wished I had read something like this before coming to India to help prepare us for how the culture is different.
Tuk-Tuk Scams
Riding tuk-tuks in India are affordable and quite the wild experience. However, tuk-tuk scams are real and we were almost got dupped into one. We had a tuk-tuk driver taking us to the Red Fort in Delhi and he kept telling us about the “Ministry of Tourism” and we should buy our train tickets from them, because it is a government agency and they will give you a better deal. We still had to buy some of our train tickets for our time in India, so we told him maybe after we visited the Red Fort. By the time we got finished with the Red Fort we only had time to make it to our next tour, so we wouldn’t make it in time to the “Ministry of Tourism”. We told the tuktuk driver and he said okay. Instead of dropping us off at the tour starting point he took us to the “Ministry of Tourism”.
It did not end well, he started telling us we had to buy something from them, because we told him we would (which we did not) and we said “no” and he refused to take us to our tour. We ended up leaving him and hoping on the local subway. Barely making our planned tour. Our tour guide said that was definitely a scam there was no “Ministry of Tourism” in that neighborhood. They would have taken our money and given us a fake ticket. She also said they will try to convince you that a certain area of Delhi is closed, or your hotel is closed and they will “help” you find a tour or a new hotel.
We went on multiple tuk tuk rides after that incident and never ran into that issue again.
Cleanliness Level
I book my hotels through bookings.com and I usually look for a cleanliness level at least a 7/10. This standard has worked throughout our travels, except for India. The hotels we stayed at (which were at least $30 a night) had very low standards for cleanliness. Stains on the sheets, built up dust, mildew, grimy sheets. Make sure to check the reviews and check other foreigner’s reviews.
People are Helpful and Friendly
The people in India were some of the friendliest and most helpful we had encounter on our travel. Coming out of their way to help us find our way, start a pleasant conversation, and generously help us navigate the train system. The people are who make India worth visiting.
So Loud, So Much Trash, So Many People, So Much
I realize New Delhi alone has a population of at least 29 million people, one of the largest in the world. But the amount of noise coming from cars honking their horns is deafening. We spent the day out exploring and by the time we came back to the hotel my ears were ringing like I had gone to a concert.
We like to walk when exploring a new area, because it allows us to go slow and experience the neighborhood in a more intimate level. We loved doing it in India as well, however, it was physically more difficult to walk in some areas, because you are constantly side stepping animal poop, trash, poorly irrigated streets, and stray animals. It was also emotionally difficult to walk, because the amount of people you see living in poverty. Families with babies living on the street with nothing more than a mat to sleep on. The amount of trash is devastating, especially when you see kids running in the trash heaps without shoes. The poverty was at a level we had never seen before and it weighed heavy on us.
With all the poverty it’s easy for you to want to give money, but do not do it. I know it sounds cruel to say it, but it is the best thing to do. It devalues them, and how can you give it to one and not the person sitting next to them. It also sets the next traveler up for more begging and harassment. To be honest, we ended up giving one lady with a baby some cash, even though we knew better and just like clock work another lady came up, then another one, and the lady we just gave money started asking for more. One lady followed us for at least a half a mile.
On a Side Note for Ladies
I love traveling solo, I have done it several times domestically, backpacking, and internationally. I recommend solo trips and look forward to my next one. I have read a couple of blogs of women that have traveled to India solo and they have had no issues and I am so grateful.
However, during our travels in India I noticed at night there were very few women out and I was traveling with my husband and I would still get some off-putting stares. Not the normal stares of being a foreigner. I never quite felt comfortable to the point I would be comfortable being by myself. I would not suggest going to India solo, go with a group of ladies or some male companions.
If you are considering going solo look up the Delhi Bus Rape Case in 2012, the brutal case in Mumbai, and the unfortunate case of a YouTuber. These cases are not uncommon. There were over 32,000 rapes reported in 2019 alone, this does not even include other sexual violence.
I do not say this to make you scared, but out of deep concern for you to be safe.
