You’ve finally made the trip from one country to another, but as with everything that has to do with travel, the journey has only just begun. We, in India, greet our guests as Gods, yet a country as inviting as India can be a little tricky to handle. It is one of the major economies in the world, and people from across the world travel in and out of the country for business and leisure, thus making it busy and quite eventful. While you can scrape your way through most situations, you could be left with a grim experience if you don’t know how to navigate through the nitty-gritty details of transport in any country, especially in a country as dynamic as India. On the contrary, if you are well-equipped, a trip to India can leave you with memories to treasure. Take a look at a few generic travelling tips that you should take into account to make your trip hassle free:

1. Get a pass

 If you’re in India for a longer duration, it would serve you well to get a train pass – these are only available for foreign tourists. With roadblocks and extremely pricey air fare, train travel will be your best friend, if you can get the hang of it, that is. If you’re not a big fan of following instructions and decide to ignore this tip, be prepared to stand in long queues – forget last minute bookings!

2. Pick proper footwear

You would want to pick a pair that has the perfect fit, is the proper size and has good grip – because Indian roads can be slippery, rough terrain owing to the constantly changing weather. Whether, it’s to hop from bus to taxi or simply run past the crowd to make your way to a train, make sure you’ve got your best shoes on. Pick wisely, you don’t want to have to change shoes too much through your travels.

3. Be prepared to shove

Local trains are usually crowded, therefore boarding one can be arduous. The people, who are otherwise quite helpful, might not be able to lend a helping hand when they are in a rush to catch the bus or train. You might have to push and make your way to a seat as quickly as you can, since those are pretty hard to get, but you might find a few helpful souls offering their seats.

4. Carry a rate card

For taxis, rickshaws – any form of public transport where you’re going to be paying them after your ride, remember to carry rate cards that are available at city specific official tourism websites, because you don’t want to feel lost! A rate card would be enough to assure you’re getting a decent deal. Different cities have different quirks – some cities use shared rickshaws while in others, sharing the ride is not a usual scene.

5. Buy your ticket legally

Don’t worry, we’re not suspecting you of going through with a shady deal – not intentionally at least. In India, like any other country you will find people selling tickets that are cheaper, quicker or guaranteed. It’s especially tempting to buy a ticket from one of these guys when the ticket counter says that they’re all sold out. Whether they’re for trains, flights or road travel, these tickets could be stolen or even fake. So, do yourself a favour and slide over to the official ticket counter.

6. Keep your wallet in order

This is a very, very important tip and one that people simply don’t seem to get. Think of the last time you were on a bus – did you see the lady next to you struggling with a coin purse, pulling out wads of bills and rummaging around for the correct change? Transport may get crowded, so make sure you’ve got the correct change (do your research) in an easily accessible pocket or part of your bag. Not to mention how much you will be saving yourself from disapproving glances from the ticket collector.

7. Be on time

It’s very likely that you would end up waiting for your transport in India, as it usually gets delayed, be it buses, trains or flights. But the funny bit is, on the one day that you’re late, you’re definitely going to miss the boat. That being said, be prepared for delays.

8. Guard your pockets

This one holds true everywhere else in the world, and India is not an exception. Beware of pick pockets by guarding your belongings with your life, even if you’re travelling by road, because people can snatch things, in public transport and at signals as well.

9. Book airfare in advance

Even if you’re used to booking airfare the day you’re flying out, you would be a fool to do that in India unless money is no bar for you. The reason being, India’s air traffic scene is very busy, so the last minute fares are exorbitantly priced. Plan your vacation down to the T and book everything well in advance.

10. Don’t book a day trip

This is a favourite among youngsters with expendable pockets and nowhere to go, but the average veteran for city transport will never recommend hiring a rickshaw for an entire day. They’re easy enough to get anywhere, and you wouldn’t want to spend your life’s savings on their ticking metres as you sightsee. The same goes for taxis. Remember to be prompt when you’re trying to catch a rickshaw and know beforehand the fares you’re paying them.

11. Carry sanitizer

This may be a side note, but it’s a favourite for us. So, lest you want to end up in the hotel bed or doctor’s clinic because of those germs you ingested while on the move, carry your sanitizer and clean up before you eat, drink or touch your face.

12. Trust your instincts

Alright, we could give you a host of tips to help you figure things out – but the best thing for you to do would be to trust your instincts. Everyone usually has a pretty good set of feelers around them, so the minute you feel as though you’re uncomfortable in a particular situation, exit it and find something familiar, safe and comfortable. Travelling through a city you’re unfamiliar with can be daunting, but it can be a lot of fun too. Just keep your belongings safe, wince a little while your driver spits out a wad of paan and push your way past throngs of people, and you’re that happy-go-lucky traveller who just discovered how colourful, a country as, India can be!

Nicole

A poet with a penchant for prose and the itch to travel, Nicole Reed is an assistant editor and features writer for a daily newspaper, struggling to find a way out of the concrete mess by dreaming of one day living and breathing off words in an idyllic country setting somewhere. Having been editor of her college magazine, written for a number of publications including Shamiana’s short film newsletter and as a current student of Literature from the University of London, Nicole sees writing like travel - an adventure – a journey to find her place, to define and redefine who she is over and over again and to live and learn through the process.

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