It is generally accepted that India is a safe country to visit but one cannot be too safe. Here’s a round-up of safety precautions and tips when travelling to India.
To start with, here’s a compilation of my 101 tips when travelling to India. The list comprises of how to keep safe to what to wear while India.
Act like a local
Although India has many languages, you just cannot escape Hindi. English will also do just fine but what better way to impress the Indians with some of your Hindi. Here’s a compilation of some Hindi words and phrases I recorded, you might need in India. Also the local language will make you look like as if you’ve been here before and cannot be taken for a ride.
Wear Indian clothing
What exactly should you wear in India? Most foreigner travellers to India wear the jeans. I think that’s perfectly fine. Cotton is the best fabric one can wear as they are light and keeps one cool in a hot country like India. More on what you should wear in India. But in order to lower your tourist profile, I would recommend wearing Indian clothes. Here’s what we Indians wear.
Travel pants such as combat trousers or cargo pants are also popular amongst tourists to India. I personally like them as it frees your hands from carrying things. These pants allow you to keep your money at various places and if one gets pick-pocketed then you still have money in the other. If you happen to be a woman and want to try out the saree (sari), then here’s the step by step guide to wearing the saree.
Look after your health while in India
Mosquitoes are big problem in India. Unless you are staying in a luxury 5 star hotel where they have inbuilt mosquito resellers’, you should make sure that you have repellents or mosquitoes nets. Here’s how to combat mosquitoes while you’re in India. Make sure that you are immune against typhoid, cholera and hepatitis A before you come to India. Always drink bottled water and make sure they are authentic and not refilled with tap water. Here’s a guide to drinking water in India. In addition, considering going veggie while in India since a dodgy piece of meat could ruin your holiday.
Safety when using local transport
Although cabs are perfectly fine to use, there is no substitute for being safe. Here’s how to be safe while riding cabs in Delhi. Child abduction is a reality. So if you’re travelling with a child then make sure that you keep them safe. Learn about child abduction in India.
Are you travelling alone?
Many men and women travel to India alone in large numbers! In general, India is a safe country but you just can’t be too safe. Here’s how to be safe when travelling alone.
Solo female travellers to India must take extra precautions to be safe India. An unthinkable crime has happened where a 23-year old was gang-raped and assaulted on a moving bus in Delhi in such a way that her intestines were ripped off her body. Unfortunately she died. A women’s helpline number “181”, operational on all service providers has been set by Delhi police for females in distress.
Hence a word of caution is not to use Delhi buses especially if you are a lone female traveller There was a time when I used to use these buses but not any more Chances are that you might be groped, touched or stared at. Avoid local Delhi buses at all costs. Take taxis or auto-rickshaws.
When you are on the streets or at busy places or on a crowded train, chances are that your purse or wallet will be pick-pocketed. This happens all the time with foreigners and natives alike. Here’s how to beat the pick-pocketers.
I am not trying to scare travellers out of India but you just cannot be too safe . If you remain on high alert and exercise caution, you’ll be fine. I still maintain, India is a relatively safe country for holiday.
Safe journey