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India is a vast, continental-sized country. When planning travel there, it needs to be thought of in the same terms as an equally vast area, such as the United States, Canada, or the continent of Europe. Unless you have a great deal of time, you would never think of combining New York and San Francisco, or Paris and Moscow into the same trip. Trying to do something similar in India would be even harder and waste more time, as the transportation infrastructure can be haphazard. Decide your priorities, pick an area, and concentrate on it.
Another geographic consideration is that, as a general rule, Southern India is more developed and hospitable than Northern India. For those who have never even been to a poor, Asian country before, jumping into Northern India will be a lot like taking a big plunge off a cliff into deep water. - If you have asthma or another lung condition, be advised that Indian cities are notorious for their air pollution. Smog is a universal problem in Indian urban areas. You should strongly consider bringing along a respirator or breathing mask of the type used by indoor construction workers for Indian city streets if you want to avoid getting ill, or avoid being outdoors and in major urban areas altogether.
- Indian men are notorious for not keeping their hands and their leers to themselves. Western women should be prepared for the occasional groping and a great deal of uncomfortable staring, and Western women traveling alone or in small groups should exercise caution at all times.
- Part of the same culture that produces shameless displays of groping in public also makes Indian people remarkably open with their curiosity and outgoing. Generally speaking, a traveler will find it much easier to have meaningful conversations with local people outside the tourist industry in India than almost anywhere else in the world. People feel free to walk right up and ask questions. However, despite the friendliness, remember that there are still people out there looking to take advantage of you. Be happy to talk, but circumspect about accepting invitations to go anywhere.
- Always drink bottled or boiled water. If your tea comes to you anything other than piping hot, do not be shy about sending it back. It is better to be safe than sorry, and stories about Indian sanitation are not understated.
- India is a haggling culture, and they are anything but polite about it. Don't feel bad about having to argue and curse with ever merchant and auto-rickshaw driver, though. Local people will tell you they have to argue with the same people over prices all the time. The only difference is that people will be more stubborn about haggling with a foreigner, because they think you are more naive and have more money. Treat haggling as a game. Do not expect to get as much for your money as the locals do and argue over the last penny, but be happy if you can get the price down to a reasonable level. Never be afraid to move on. Always ask for prices before agreeing to anything, and insist that you get what you pay for.
- The heat of India is no exaggeration. In May and June, temperatures routinely exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If you must go during the hottest months of the year, bring the right clothing, be prepared to tote your bottle of water everywhere, and do not push yourself hard.
