Delhi – Agra – Jaipur - Amritsar
India's most famous tourist route is the Delhi to Agra to Jaipur. It is the golden triangle. Spend a few days in India's capital Delhi and take in at least the Red Fort, visit India's most famous monument the Taj Mahal in Agra, and take a couple of days to tour the
Golden Temple in Amritsar
forts, the old palaces and the bazaars in Jaipur, the Pink City. If you have time and energy, take the Shatabdi Express train from Delhi to Amritsar and visit the Amritsar Golden Temple, Sikhism’s holiest site.
A Week on the Beach in Goa
There could be worse ways to spend a week in India than lazing on Goa’s beaches. Goa has around 100 km of coastline with sandy beaches, the best variety of food in India (including good seafood), lots of accommodation options from bamboo huts on the beach to five-star hotels, and several family-friendly beaches too. Goa gets crowded for Christmas so try to visit outside the peak of the high season.
Beaches and Backwaters of Kerala
Kerala in South India is one of India’s most beautiful parts. This tropical state has palm-fringed beaches, picturesque canals and lakes, hill stations, wildlife parks and Hindu temples. If you’re pressed for time, book a week in one of Kerala’s beach resorts in Kovalam or Varkala, and make sure to take at least a day-trip to the backwaters (the network of rivers and canals that covers much of Kerala) and try to get an Ayurvedic massage in the birthplace of this traditional Indian system of medicine.
Take a Luxury Train Tour
If money is no object, take one of India’s luxury train tours. The Palace on Wheels starts from Delhi and visits Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, and finally Agra and the Taj Mahal, all in seven days. The Deccan Odyssey starts from Mumbai and travels down the coast to Goa, returning via Aurangabad and the Ajanta caves. The tour lasts eight days. It’s all a bit rushed to my taste but at least you’ll see a lot of the country through the train window!
If you’re dreaming of some winter sun, here are six good reasons to go to India this winter:
1. Because it is one of the cheapest places in the world to have a beach holiday: try a bamboo hut on the beach in Goa for around US$2.00 a night (yes, that’s two dollars) or a comfortable guesthouse for just a couple of dollars more. Goa and Kerala have a wide range of accommodation for all budgets and the beaches in Gokarna offer some excellent value for money if you’re on a shoestring budget.
2. Because when your friends back home are suffering from the post-Christmas blues, you’ll be sipping fresh coconut water on a tropical beach in Kerala and trying to decide if you should get an Ayurvedic massage, feast on fresh seafood or just fall asleep on the beach.
3. Because in one single country you can see Hindu temples and Islamic mosques, ancient palaces and fortresses, snow-capped mountains and palm-fringed tropical beaches, jungles and deserts, huge chaotic cities and tranquil backwaters, holy cities, and five-star beach resorts.
4. Because everyone should take a train journey in India at least once in a lifetime.
5. Because once you’ve had the bisibele bath (literally hot lentil rice) in South India, the food in your local Indian restaurant back home won’t seem so spicy at all.
6. Because once you’ve had a cup of sweet, milky, hot chai at a local tea stall in India, you’ll never be able to take the weak chai tea latte at your international coffee-chain outlet seriously.
Here are five places in India to visit if you want to see some stunning temple architecture.
Shri Meenakshi Temple in Madurai
One of the largest temples in India, the Sri Meenakshi Temple in Madurai is a full-on Indian temple experience. Forget about quiet and peaceful and be ready to immerse yourself in a crowd of beggars, salespeople, touts, palm readers, pilgrims, and tourists. The temple is famous for its decorated 12 gopurams (towers) and the thousand pillared halls. The temple complex is large and there is enough to see for several hours so take your time.
How to get there: Madurai has a domestic airport and good train connections to cities in South India, as well as local and regional buses.
Rameshwaram’s Ramanathaswamy Temple
Rameshwaram is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage places in South India. Its highlight is the Ramanathaswamy Temple, one of India’s holiest Hindu temples. The temple has a strong connection to the Indian epic Ramayana and its hero, Lord Rama, and stands on the Rameshwaram Island off Tamil Nadu’s coast.
How to get there: The nearest airport is in Madurai, over 160 km away. Trains travel between Rameshwaram and Madurai, and also Chennai where the nearest international airport is.
The Hindu Temples in Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu is one of the seven sacred cities for Hindus and has several stunning temples, dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. The Kailasanatha Temple is said to be the oldest in the city and dates back to the 7th century. The Sri Ekambareswarar Temple belongs to the biggest in Kanchipuram. The Kamakshi Amman temple is (unlike most of the other temples here) dedicated to Goddess Parvati, in her form of Kamakshi.
How to get there: The nearest airport is in Chennai, around 70 km away. There are trains and buses from Chennai to Kanchipuram, or you can also take a local bus or a taxi from Mamallapuram if you happen to be there to see the famous Shore Temple.
Tirupati and the Venkateshwara Temple
Tirupati, in Andhra Pradesh (around 150 km from Chennai) is a very busy pilgrimage destination and visitors from around India flock here to see the temple of Shri Venkateshwara. The temple stands on the Tirumala hills by the city of Tirupati and like many South Indian temples, it is built in the Dravidian style. The annual Brahmotsavam festival in September/October is a major event here.
How to get there: the Tirupati-Reningunta airport has domestic flight connections to many South Indian cities. You can also take a train from Chennai or many other major destinations in South India.
The Temples in Belur and Halebid
For a very different temple experience from the colorful and magnificent Tamil Nadu temples, visit the Hoysala temples in Belur and Halebid in Karnataka. The temples here were built by the Hoysalas, the rulers of Karnataka between the 11th and the 14th century. They are built of soapstone and are not as tall as the Dravidian temples with their high gopuras, but they are decorated with intricate carvings and beautiful soapstone sculptures. The Hoysalas were famous for their skilled craftsmanship and the Chennakeshava temple in Belur and the Hoysaleshwara temple in Halebid are covered in detailed carvings and decorations.
How to get there: take a train from Mysore or Bangalore to Hassan and a bus/taxi/rickshaw from Hassan to the temples. Belur and Halebid are 16 km from each other.
If you’re going to India on a spiritual journey, you may have an idea of what being “spiritual” means: you’ll float around in white robes in beautiful and exotic surroundings, at peace with yourself and the world. But India will challenge all that.
Instead, you might end up sitting for hours on a stone floor in a giant hall with thousands of others in 40 degrees heat, crammed in so tight that you can’t stretch your legs or move your arms; all just to see a glimpse of a guru with a black afro somewhere far away, while your neighbour constantly elbows you in the ribs. Ashrams in India can be shockingly lively, colourful and noisy to a Western visitor looking for peace and quiet, but it is, of course, the inner peace that counts…
Here are a few ashrams, holy cities and yoga centres in India that are popular with Westerners and accept Western visitors and students. Note that most ashrams in India have fairly strict rules regarding dress code, food is generally vegetarian and alcohol and tobacco are banned.
Sai Baba Ashram in Puttaparthi
Sri Sathya Sai Baba is one of the most famous gurus in India alive today, and his ashram attracts millions of visitors every year. Both Indian and foreign devotees flock to Prasanthi Nilayam (the Abode of Supreme Peace) in Puttaparthi in the state of Andhra Pradesh, around 120 km of Bangalore.
There are two daily darshans, or meetings with the guru; these events get very crowded and you’re likely to see Sai from far away from the back of the darshan hall, but it’s all part of life in the ashram.
Prasanthi Nilayam ashram is well organized. Accommodation is in single-sex dormitories and is very affordable and cheap food is available in several canteens. Visitors can help out in the kitchen (SEVA, or service, is big here). Check the ashram website for timings, Sai sometimes travels to his other ashrams in Kodaikanal or to Whitefield near Bangalore. There are frequent buses from Bangalore to Puttaparthi (the bus station is right next to the ashram) and trains to the Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam station.
Amma Ashram in Amritapuri, Kerala
Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, or Amma, is incredibly popular with Westerners. Famous for hugging her devotees in darshans that can last for hours, Amma welcomes Western visitors and devotees to her ashram in Amritapuri, in South India’s Kerala. The ashram’s website has lots of tips for visiting and foreigners planning to go to the ashram should register online.
The nearest airports are in Cochin and in Trivandrum but to get from these cities to the ashram you’ll still have to travel some distance by train or a bus, or hire a car. The Alapuzzha-Kollam backwater boat used to stop at the ashram so it’s worth enquiring if you’re taking the backwater trip.
The Sivananda Ashram in Kerala
If you’re looking for a yoga holiday in India or an intensive yoga course, the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram in Kerala is very popular with Westerners and offers lots of courses. Located in Neyyar Dam, in a large compound in the lush Keralan countryside, the ashram teaches yoga in the tradition of Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda. The ashram offers short yoga holidays, month-long courses and also teaches courses the traditional Indian medical system, Ayurveda. For many courses, you don’t need any previous experience in yoga.
Rishikesh, India’s Old Yoga Capital
Rishikesh, in the foothills of the Himalayas and by the holy river Ganges, is a centre for yoga studies, ashrams, meditation courses, and very popular with Westerners. It used to be called India’s yoga capital until Mysore in South India took over. If you’re planning to study yoga or meditation in Rishikesh or visit an ashram, do some research before committing to a course and ask around; like in many other places in India, a whole industry has developed around “spirituality” and there are some fake gurus around.
Mysore, India’s New Yoga Capital
When I first arrived in Mysore in 2005 to study in the Sri K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute, it was already very popular with Western yoga students. In the following years, it became madly popular, so much so that newspapers and magazines labeled Mysore India’s new yoga capital (Rishikesh being the old one).
I’ve heard there are around 50 yoga schools in Mysore now and I know that some of them have only opened in the last couple of years as a result of the Westerner influx. If you are planning to study yoga in Mysore, plan your studies well; some schools don’t accept students on a tourist visa and request a student visa instead, some may ask you to apply well in advance.
No matter how much you love traveling in India, there are times you want to get away from it all. If traveling in India starts to get to you, here are five places to go for some peace and quiet away from the crowds.
Nubra Valley in Ladakh
Nubra Valley is India’s northernmost part a tourist can visit and to get there you’ll have to cross one of the highest motorable mountain passes in the world, Khardung La. To visit Nubra you’ll need a permit and it only allows for a seven-day stay in the valley.
Trips are arranged from Leh, Ladakh, so it’s not a completely undiscovered and unspoiled place (and new guesthouses were being built as I visited in 2008 so I’m guessing visitor numbers are increasing) but it is still one of the most peaceful places in India. To get to the Nubra Valley you’ll first have to make it to Leh in Ladakh.
The Kerala Backwaters
The backwaters are a network of canals, rivers, and lakes that cover most the state of Kerala in South India, and you can explore the backwaters on luxury houseboats (often converted from old rice barges, kettuvallam), on day trips, or on public boats.
The ultimate luxury is a hired houseboat that comes with staff, including your private cook, so you can just sit back for a few days and admire the lush scenery along the canals. If you just want a day trip, the popular boat service from Alapuzzha to Kollam that was stopped for years has recently been relaunched. Kerala’s department of tourism has a list of houseboat operators.
Coorg (Kodagu) in South India
Coorg in the Western Ghats, in South India’s Karnataka, is a very special place. Mountains, coffee estates, forests, trekking paths, small villages, homestays run by local families: Coorg is a place to retreat to when the madness of the South Indian cities gets too much.
The Mountains in Sikkim
Sikkim is one of the regions in India I never managed to visit, yet one I would love to see. Fresh mountain air, Buddhist monasteries, snow-capped peaks; the perfect place to escape to. The best times to visit Sikkim are from late September to mid-November and in April and May. Avoid the monsoon season.
Lahaul & Spiti in Himachal Pradesh
The region of Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, just south of Ladakh, is one of the most sparsely populated regions in India (and in the world, apparently) and the perfect place to get away from the crowds. Miles and miles of high altitude desert in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, high mountains, Buddhist monasteries and very few people.
The small town of Keylong at just over 3000 meters altitude, on the Manali to Leh road, is the capital of the region. You can get to Lahaul from Manali via Rohtang La, a 3978 meters high mountain pass; Rohtang is popular with tourists on day trips from Manali but beyond the pass, you’ll find very little in terms of modern civilization (and I mean that in a good way).
The mountains passes are usually open only between May and October, and much of the area becomes snowbound for six months of the year. The Spiti valley is divided from Lahaul by the Kunzum Pass (4551 meters) and while Lahaul has green and fertile areas, Spiti is more rugged and dry. For those seeking spiritual support, India offers a profusion of holy sites. History buffs will encounter gems from the past almost everywhere. The grand vestiges of the British Raj dominate the quiet splendor. There are spice bazaars and decaying fortresses on the edge of steep escarpments. The spirituality is the common thread that weaves the complex tapestry of India. Countless sacred sites and traditional rituals testify the long, and hectic religious history.
Those looking for excitement in nature can paddle the sparkling waters of one of the coves. Go and look for the big cats in an exciting safari to see animals in the jungle. Or breathe air that smells of pine during a meditative walk in the forest.
Epicureans can charge tasty samples of all kinds. The sticky Idli is a sweet fermented rice typical of southern India. And there is the spicy curry in the north of the country. Set foot on Indian soil for discovering the national obsession with cricket. It dominates and makes all conversations animated. Along with the latest intrigue of the crazy world of Bollywood.
Too much noise, too many people, too much heat, too much rain but there is grace in the smiles. There is elegance in the movements of a sari, in the winding of a turban, a naturalness in the spirituality. There is a majesty in its architecture and fervor in its prayers.
Every day of the year, in some places of India, is a festival. There are thousands of God's, prophets, and gurus. There are celebrations that can last for several days. They are almost always accompanied by music, dances, and delicious food. Major among them are Holi, Independence Day, Krishna Janmashtami, Raksha Bandhan, Onam. There is Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali, Pushkar Fair. There is the Makar Sankranti and the celebrations vary from region to region.
Eid-ul-Fitr is after Ramadan along with Eid-ul-Zuha or Bakr Eid. Goa celebrates the Intruz Carnival. The Portuguese Entrudo lasts for three days and three nights. The most important event takes place in the city of Panaji. King Momo event finds wide resonance even outside the Christian community. Huge parades of floats, dances, and music invade all the cities of the state into the night.
Many other festivals do not have an exact date but follow the lunar calendar. There are also tribal festivals, which are little known to the general public. With traditions and customs, they are distant in time.
To see the entire India, you will need at least a month, if not more. Whatever plan you choose to follow, you will end up in some way to jump, or modeled in a different way than you had thought. The biggest risk for those who have never been in India before is trying to fit too many stages in the itinerary. And in an attempt to see it all end up seeing nothing.
Let's start with the simple things. One in Rajasthan is a classic route, the most popular among the short-term tourists who land in Delhi. Agra and the Taj Mahal is nearby and about twenty trains a day connect the two cities. After a day to photograph the sunrise, sunset, and everything, continue towards Rajasthan.
Before arriving in Jaipur lies the Ranthambore National Park, where you can go on a safari and hope to see a tiger. The center of Jaipur is completely painted in light red. Its highlights are outside with the Amer Fort and the floating palace of Jal Mahal. Continuing south you can reach Udaipur, the city on the lake. If you want you can make a stop in Pushkar, especially if you are in the period of the camel fair. Going up Jodhpur, the blue city is on the trail and follows Jaisalmer. From here you can arrange to visit the Thar Desert aboard a camel.
Jumping on a train to reach Udaipur, you get closer to the state of Gujarat. The capital, Ahmedabad, is home to the house of Mahatma Gandhi. Nearby is the sanctuaries of the white lion in the Gir forest and the Rann of Kutch. In Maharashtra, there is Nashik, another holy city built on the banks of the Godavari River. It is the place of the Kumbha Mela.
Here you can observe the rituals of the devotees even if the dimensions are much smaller than the Ganges. Aurangabad is a base for visiting the World Heritage of Ajanta and Ellora. After a few days in the ruins of these ancient structures, continue to the home of Bollywood, Mumbai.
Taking the long route from Delhi, you can reach Varanasi. Spend a few days on the banks of the Ganges, then return to the west serving northward. In Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh lie dozens of villages, valleys, and parks. India's first national park is the Jim Corbett.
Shortly thereafter is the small towns of Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Mussoorie. This has become the best known of the villages in this area after a visit of the Beatles in the 70s. Today the large part of its tourists turn around to yoga.
It is a very popular tourist spot and offers beautiful scenery and a chance to see the clean Ganges. From near here, you can leave for the trek to the source of the sacred river. Shimla and Manali, are towns in the mountains. It is a summer resort and has remained intact as it was in the past. The great thing though is it to get to Shimla, you can go up and take the historic train that starts from Kalka.
Then there is the Tibetan community of McLeod Ganj, a short distance from Dharamsala. Here the Dalai Lama resides. From here you can make excellent treks, including one to Triund. Leh and Ladakh is also not far through the Zanskar range.
To conclude a major event is at the Wagah border near Amritsar in Punjab. Here a celebration takes place for the evening closure of the border with Pakistan. Amritsar is also the spiritual capital of the Sikhs, and a lunch at its Golden Temple is a must.
North India offers a fantastic cultural cocktail and dizzying diversity. It will remain engraved in your mind long after your trip. Its luxuriance contrasts with snow-capped mountains and plains burned by the northern sun.
Kolkata in the east is the second Indian city by population. It is a madhouse with an explosion of smells, colors and sounds as is difficult as interesting. After spending a few days in Calcutta, climb towards Darjeeling. It is the famous hillside famous for its tea. Sikkim is also nearby. From here there are several treks and the ability to approach the Buddhist life.
Going down you will need to make a stop in Patna, the capital of Bihar. Reach Bodhgaya, the place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. Here is the tree under which Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. Going by train from here is Varanasi, after which is Khajuraho and its temples. Nearby are Jhansi and Orchha, from where you reach the end of the trail coming to Delhi.
Delhi can provoke exaltation and at the same time give thrills of joy and discomfort. Even the most accustomed travelers sometimes get saturated. Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will have unforgettable memories.
See the Aboriginal and rural cultures of central India in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.
South India rushes you to the depths of your being. With the gigantic tip into the Indian Ocean, the southern peninsula is the hot and humid heart.
It is India of those who love the seaside life. There are the beaches of Goa to the old temples of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. There are the urban jungles of Mumbai and Bangalore. The backwaters fringe with palm trees and cool by the breeze in tropical Kerala. Trek in forest reserves to discover wildlife.
From Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, go down to the sea at Mamallapuram, a sleeping village on the shores. Ooty is the hill station in the Nilgiris. In the former French colony of Pondicherry, you can still find baguettes.
In Madurai, you cannot help but admire the large colorful temples carved in the most detail. Not far away is the island of Rameswaram. It has a long bridge, which stretches towards Sri Lanka. This is a sacred place and for many Indians. Many collect the water of the Ganges for depositing here. And then collect the water of this sea and bring it into the Ganges to conclude the cycle.
Then we enter Kerala, the green state, and get to Munnar, another tea land. Coming down from the hills end up in Kochi and its islands. You can move south to explore the backwaters before concluding the trip.
There is an India hidden and unknown to most people. It starts from the chicken neck of Siliguri in West Bengal. The cultural diversity recall, as always, the interest of anthropologists. Northeast India has a border with China, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. The seven sisters are Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Tripura. The Himalayan region preserves a cultural heritage of tribal communities that inhabit them.
Assam is the second largest state of the seven sisters, crossed by the Brahmaputra. It is most accessible to tourism and alone produces 65% of the total production of tea in India. Here are two important parks famous for the last vestiges of Indian rhinos. Manas and Kaziranga, a World Heritage Site.
The whole of northeast India has many tribal communities of the Mongolian strain. They are a treasure of humanity with varied languages, customs, religions, and traditions. They live on agriculture and livestock and other local crafts. The peculiarities of these tribal communities are in their dances and songs. The food, festivals, art and other social occasions express their vitality and pride.
Traditions have survived time and modernity. Nagaland is the least populous and yet one that is home to the rich ethnic diversity. As many as 80 tribes and sub tribes of Mongol origin live. Arunachal Pradesh sees the rising sun because the sun everyday lights it first rays. The beautiful orchids color the entire landscape.
Visa and Customs
All foreign visitors must have a visa to visit India. You must get it before arriving in India from the Indian Embassies or consulate general. The passport must have a validity of at least six months with free pages for affixing the visa. The Indian authorities do not issue visa on arrival at the airport.
When to go to India and Weather
In India, the weather is so diverse that it is impossible to choose a better period than others for the journey. In principle, in much of the country, the most pleasant months are those ranging from October to March. In the far south, the best period goes from January to September. Eastern and northeastern India is more attractive from March to August. Kashmir and the mountainous regions are more attractive between May and September. Snowfall happens during January to April in Himalayan regions.
The deserts of Rajasthan offer the best of themselves in the monsoon season. The Indian Himalayan trekking season lasts roughly from April to November. It varies depending on the location, altitude, and region. The ski season is from January to March.
How to get to India
The main airports in India are Mumbai and Delhi. Many international flights also arrive in Calcutta and Chennai. Flights from Europe arrive in India in the early hours of the morning. It can be quite inconvenient if you have not booked the hotel and you do not like to wander in the dark in a strange city. The place where you can buy tickets at a cheaper price is Delhi, followed by Mumbai and Calcutta.
If you're heading from Kathmandu, the most convenient entry point is Kolkata. The only open border between India and Pakistan is between Lahore and Amritsar. The crossing can take place by rail or road. A bus service between Lahore and Delhi makes four trips a week. Phuentsholing is the incoming and outgoing border point between India and Bhutan. You need to have a visa to enter the country.
Getting Around India
Air India is the main Indian airline, which has an extensive network. Deregulation has improved the quality of service and multiply the private players. The Indian railway system is legendary. Traveling by train in India is a unique experience in the world. Sometimes it can be uncomfortable and frustrating, but it is also part and parcel of the Indian trip.
There are different types of trains. You can take an express or a local train, but try all the different classes for the simple sake of it. The reservation system is labyrinthine and definitely, deserves an anthropological study. Be patient, because it is one of the few bureaucracies in the country that actually work.
Buses are many from state to state. On the main routes, there is a choice of ordinary, semi-deluxe, deluxe, AC and even deluxe seats with the bed. Apart from state buses, private companies also operate that are expensive but comfortable. It can prove to be a smart choice if you have a long way to go.
The local buses are usually crowded, slow and inconvenient. Then you'll have to endure full volume Hindi pop music in ramshackle tin speakers. The bus is the best way to get to Kashmir and also to go to Nepal and Uttar Pradesh. They are usually faster than trains in Bihar and in large areas of Rajasthan. It is very easy to rent a car and driver. If you want to drive yourself you have to have nerves of steel and an outstanding karma.
Cars are available for the day or trip. You may have to provide for the driver's expenses. So get clarified exactly how much you have to pay each day before getting in motion. If you're planning a long trip, ask to do a short test drive to check the braking speed of your driver. Biking in India has become a popular pastime, but it is a risky business and unwise for amateur bikers.
Cycling is good in cities and in general, you can rent for a pittance. For long distances, it takes good legs and a strong heart. If you intend to bring your own bike, think twice.
The local transportation includes buses, taxis, auto rickshaws, cycle rickshaws. The auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws generally cost half of a taxi. But the passenger has to breathe the diesel fumes. The cycle rickshaws have almost disappeared from the major Indian cities. In smaller towns, they are still an essential part of the transport network. Agree on the fare before boarding.
India Travel Tips
The Indians are curious. There are many topics of conversation that you can deal with. Remember that many Indians are sensitive towards Pakistan.
Do not take photos of women who bathe in the springs or relatives of the dead during a cremation. Avoid giving money to the children in the street. They are often in a racketeering and money will end up to their exploiters.
Many Indians, asks to take pictures with you that has become popular in recent years. Try to avoid them.
Go see a Bollywood movie during your visit. India is full of shopping malls with multiplex cinemas. Watch a movie surrounded by enthusiastic spectators. They sing together or sometimes they dance, which is a unique experience! Remember not to ridicule Bollywood as for the Indians is like a religion.
Dress up as Indians in saris, shalwar kameez or dhoti, lungi or kurta. Put on by Western wear but in moderation. It is good that women avoid tank tops, vests, too low-cut or short sleeveless dresses. But, it depends very much on the area as the phenomenon is more pronounced in the south. Always remember that it is correct to respect the decency of the culture in which you are.
Never kiss a woman in the audience to greet her. Do not embrace her and try not to shake her hand. It will go well to join your palms in front of you with a namaste.
Before leaving read something on Hinduism. It will help you understand many things India also not related to religion. Visit the Hindu temples, even those that may seem insignificant, and stay there for long. Do not visit the temple and its monuments, but live it. Sit down and look, listen, smell and touch.
Always remove your shoes to enter a temple. Do not take food or beverages in the Jain temples. Wrap up the head in Muslim and Sikh shrines. You can get in many temples, but not those that contain the lingam, as in Varanasi. Once inside, you can sing or dance with the Indians. Beware of the puja, the ritual act of the offer in the temples. The actual pujari will never do business with Westerners because it would be a taboo.
Watch out than for those who offer you a tour of a temple with adjoining puja in an unlikely Sanskrit language. He may be a fake pujari who often use gentle kids, who can enchant you in minutes. But in the end, the cost of your mock puja will be very high.
Do not ever ridicule a Sikh for his turban. I would recommend if you are in the area at the right time to take part in some festivals like Holi and Diwali. Do not make fun of tantra or Kamasutra.
Do not assume any price as even the rates of luxury hotels are negotiable. They will take into account when you propose other services. In fabric stores, expect a price increase of 7-8 times the actual price. Bargaining should be fierce. You can pretend to go away. Usually, they will call back and you get the price you want.
Visit the markets, especially those not intended to tourists but to the locals. Here colors, sounds, faces, and music will bewitch more than an artistic monument. Keep little saving for an Ayurvedic treatment especially if you are in Kerala.
The Indian food could cause problems to your stomach. Start with lighter dishes and then, try spicy ones. The hygiene in India is a problem. Sooner or later, during your trip, you may have tummy problems. The drugs for these disorders are at local pharmacies.
There may be circumstances in which some Indians may not want to eat near you. Respect their customs, as they may be orthodox. In restaurants, always ask for the spice level you want.
