The Mindset Shift
India is not a country you visit — it's a country that happens to you. Nothing goes exactly to plan, and that's the point. The travellers who love India are the ones who surrender to the chaos rather than fight it. Trains will be late. Plans will change. That's where the best stories come from.
1-5: Health & Safety
1. Don't drink tap water — ever. Bottled water everywhere (check the seal). 2. Delhi Belly is almost inevitable — carry Imodium and ORS packets. It passes in 24-48 hours. 3. Street food is safe if it's cooked fresh in front of you — the risk is pre-prepared or room-temperature food. 4. Carry hand sanitiser obsessively. 5. Travel insurance is non-negotiable — Apollo and Max hospitals are excellent but expensive without coverage.
6-10: Money & Transport
6. Carry cash — rural areas and small shops are cash-only. UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe) works in cities. 7. Book trains on IRCTC 60-120 days ahead — waitlisted tickets often don't confirm. 8. Use Uber/Ola in cities — metered auto-rickshaws exist but drivers often refuse the meter. 9. Domestic flights are cheap (₹2,000-5,000) — IndiGo is the most reliable. 10. Prepaid SIM cards (Jio, Airtel) are ₹200-500 for a month of 4G — get one at the airport.
11-15: Culture & Etiquette
11. Remove shoes before entering homes and temples. 12. Use your right hand for eating and giving/receiving — the left hand is considered unclean. 13. Dress modestly at religious sites — cover shoulders and knees. Women: carry a scarf. 14. Head wobble means "yes" or "I understand" — not "no". 15. Bargaining is expected at markets (start at 40% of asking price) but never at restaurants, supermarkets, or pharmacies.
16-20: Practical Wisdom
16. Indian Standard Time (IST) — Indians joke it stands for "Indian Stretchable Time". Trains run late, meetings start late, relax. 17. "Where are you from?" is a conversation starter, not a scam. Engage — Indians are genuinely curious and hospitable. 18. Tipping: 10% at restaurants (if not included), ₹20-50 for hotel porters, ₹100-200/day for guides. 19. The toilet situation: carry your own tissue paper. Western toilets exist in hotels; everywhere else is squat toilets with a water hose. 20. India is overwhelming on day 1, charming by day 3, and unforgettable by day 7. Give it time.