10 books to read before travelling to India

If you are visiting India this year and you want to learn a few things about the country then it is always a good idea to read something about the place. These books will give you an idea of what India is all about and prepare you for your trip to India. I have compiled some of the best books to read before travelling to India. I don’t recommended you carry all the books listed here so why not get yourself a kindle fire and buy the kindle edition of these books.

India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

Nine Lives by William Dalrymple

Around India in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh

2 States: The Story of My Marriage by Chetan Bhagat

Eat Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo

Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found by

An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India by Shashi Tharoor

I hope you liked the list of some of the best books to read before travelling to India. If you have your favourite then feel free to list them below in the comments.

Travel Tips Roundup: Best Travel Tips for India

I would like to wish everyone a happy new year. Hope the New Year will bring prosperity and happiness in your lives.

If you are considering travelling to India then you might wish to save this page. You will find the best travel tips for India here. Just go through each one of these tips one by one. If you have questions then feel free to ask.

A travel scam of that might get rip you off a lot of money. You can read about it here.

Beware of a new scam by auto rickshaw drivers in cities around India.

If you going to Indian and want to find out what Indians wear then you might wish to take a look at this. Furthermore here’s what to wear in India. Here’s how to wear the saree if you are interested.

Here’s a list of the top 10 things to do in India. If you want to make the most of India then take a look at some of the best places to visit in India for historical purposes. Here are the some of the best places to visit in Kerala.

If you are up to it the challenge then you might try chewing Gutka and smoking the beedi but be warned it’s not good for your health.

You might wish to polish up on your Hindi numbers. Here’s Hindi numbers 1 to 100 with audio.

Learn some more greeting Hindi words, phrases and sentences for your travels to India.

India has fewer beggars that ever before. But what would you do if did see one. Here’s how to deal with beggars in India.

Are you one of these people who believe in ghosts? Then India has great places if you want to visit haunted places. Here’s a list of the most haunted places in India and the most haunted places in the world. Bhangarh Fort is one scary place, read about it see if you visit this place. 

Fancy trying something different in India? Why not try drinking sugarcane juice? You might like it and its dirt cheap. Try the famous jalabi sweets. 

Did you know that public displace of affection is not allowed in some parts of India. You might wish to read this before you give your partner a kiss on the lips in India in public.

If you are travelling to India from the UK then you might wish shop around for cheap air tickets to India. Here’s a list of ways you get cheap tickets to India.

Are you one of those who get constipated then you might wish to read up on how to reduce and even avoid your travel constipation?

If you do wish to travel to India during the monsoons then you might wish to read up on the Indian monsoons. Here’s a list of things you should bring if visit India at time of the monsoons. 

India Travel Health Guide: Health Advice and Tips for Travelers to India

Have you got a travel blog? Do you want to start a travel blog? Here’s how to start your very own travel blog. If you want to make money from your travel blog then feel free to read this post. You will find plenty of tips on how to monetise your travel blog.

Darjeeling is one best place you can visit in India. There are plenty of things to do for everyone. Here’s your Darjeeling travel guide.

When you do visit India then you realise that Indian men do not hesitate to scratch their testicles in public. Here’s a list of my reasons why Indian men scratch their testicles.

Agra is more than just visiting the Taj Mahal. If you do go to Agra then a visit would be incomplete without visiting the Agra Fort. Read more about it here.

If you are travelling to Mumbai then you must read this post. You might wish to get this book on the best places to visit in Mumbai.

India is about trying different foods. Here’s the gol gappa,  jalebi, lassi, masala dosa, chicken dishes. Whatever you do, do not eat beef in India.

Have you ever wondered on how much you should tip those helping you then you might wish to take a look at tipping in India post.

Are you going to Bangalore, then read up on some of the best places to visit?

Have you ever wondered why Indian women are so shy and why some are so beautiful?  If yes then you might wish to read up on why Indian women are beautiful.

Indian can a very dirty place and women will find it extremely difficult to urinate in some of the public toilets. There ways round it, please take a look at this post on how to use female urination devices.

Did you know that marijuana is legal in some places in India? In fact, it’s ingrained in the Hindu culture. A popular form of marijuana is bhang which is drank during the festival of Holi.  But be warned, I would personally stay away from these things.

Did you know that men holding hands in India does not mean they are gay, it’s just happens to be they are friends.

Lots of tourists to India travel to Varanasi one the holiest places for the Hindus. If you do want to visit Varanasi from Delhi then here’s how you can do it. Don’t forget to take a dip in the holy Ganges.

Some street stalls are dirty and its best avoided. Here’s how to figure out if you want to try Indian street food for not.

Whatever you do in India, make sure you drink bottled water. Here’s a guide on how to choose bottled water when you are in India.

Indian toilets are different. So if aren’t sure on how to use them read about it here.

You are bound to do shopping in India and bargaining is a major part of your experience. Here’s how to bargain in India.

If you want to buy souvenirs for your friends and family from India then here’s what you can buy in India. If you are coming to India to visit your friend then here’s what you can buy for them. 

India can be rough at times so don’t forget to read about travel safety.

By the way, here’s a post on some of the things you will hate about India.

Finally don’t forget to buy travel adopter for India. You will need something like this.

For more travel tips carry on reading here. Please feel to subscribe for travel tips for India here.

Hindi numbers 1 to 100 for your travels to India

Someone recently emailed me asking me how to say the Hindi numbers. So here are the Hindi numbers from 0 to 100. If you are travelling to India then they might come in handy. Although, you don’t really need these numbers but if you wanted to use a few of them then it will be useful particularly during bargaining and buying things in India. I have written down the numbers the way it is written in the Devanagri (Hindi) script and its English equivalent. Don’t forget to watch the video for the pronunciation. Here are Hindi numbers from 100 to 1000 in units of 50.

Essential Hindi Words And Phrases For Travelers To India

Teach Hindi Numbers 1 to 100 to kids.

The Hindi numbers 1 to 100 (including zero). Don’t forget to listen to the video below so that you can pronounce the numbers properly.

1 to 10 in Hindi

0          zero     ०          शून्य    Shuniye
1          one      १          एक      Ek
2          two      २          दो         Do
3          three   ३          तीन      Teen
4          four     ४          चार      Char
5          five      ५          पांच      Panch
6          six        ६          छह       Cheh
7          seven   ७          सात     Saat
8          eight    ८          आठ     Aath
9          nine     ९          नौ        Nao
10        ten       १०        दस       Das

11 to 20 in Hindi

11        eleven             ११        ग्यारह  Gyaarah
12        twelve             १२        बारह    Baarah
13        thirteen           १३        तेरह     Tehrah
14        fourteen          १४        चौदह    Chaudah
15        fifteen             १५        पंद्रह     Pandrah
16        sixteen             १६        सोलह   Saulah
17        seventeen        १७        सत्रह     Satrah
18        eighteen          १८        अठारह Atharah
19        nineteen          १९        उन्नीस Unnis
20        twenty             २०        बीस      Bees

21 to 30 in Hindi

21        twenty one      २१        इकीस      Ikis
22        twenty two      २२        बाईस      Bais
23        twenty three   २३        तेइस       Teis
24        twenty four     २४        चौबीस     Chaubis
25        twenty five      २५        पच्चीस    Pachis
26        twenty six        २६        छब्बीस    Chabis
27        twenty seven   २७        सताइस    Satais
28        Twenty eight   २८        अट्ठाइस    Athais
29        twenty nine     २९        उनतीस    Unatis
30        thirty               ३०        तीस           Tis

31 to 39 in Hindi

31        thirty one        ३१        इकतीस         Ikatis
32        thirty two        ३२        बतीस           Batis
33        thirty three      ३३        तैंतीस          Teintis
34        thirty four        ३४        चौंतीस         Chautis
35        thirty five        ३५        पैंतीस            Paintis
36        thirty six          ३६        छतीस            Chatis
37        thirty seven     ३७        सैंतीस            Setis
38        thirty eight      ३८        अड़तीस         Adhtis
39        thirty nine       ३९        उनतालीस     Untaalis
40        forty                ४०        चालीस            Chalis

41 to 49 in Hindi

41        forty one         ४१        इकतालीस        Iktalis
42        forty two         ४२        बयालीस           Byalis
43        forty three       ४३        तैतालीस           Tetalis
44        forty four         ४४        चवालीस           Chavalis
45        forty five         ४५        पैंतालीस           Pentalis
46        forty six           ४६        छयालिस          Chyalis
47        forty seven      ४७        सैंतालीस          Setalis
48        forty eight       ४८        अड़तालीस        Adtalis
49        forty nine        ४९        उनचास            Unachas
50        fifty                  ५०        पचास               Pachas

51 to 60 in Hindi

51        fifty one           ५१        इक्यावन   Ikyavan
52        fifty two           ५२        बावन        Baavan
53        fifty three        ५३        तिरपन      Tirepan
54        fifty four          ५४        चौवन       Chauwan
55        fifty five           ५५        पचपन      Pachpan
56        fifty six             ५६        छप्पन      Chappan
57        fifty seven       ५७        सतावन     Satavan
58        fifty eight        ५८        अठावन    Athaavan
59        fifty nine          ५९        उनसठ     Unsadh
60        sixty                 ६०        साठ          Saadh

61 to 70 in Hindi

61        sixty one          ६१        इकसठ      Iksadh
62        sixty two          ६२        बासठ       Baasad
63        sixty three       ६३        तिरसठ      Tirsadh
64        sixty four         ६४        चौंसठ        Chausadh
65        sixty five          ६५        पैंसठ          Pensath
66        sixty six            ६६        छियासठ    Chiyasath
67        sixty seven       ६७        सड़सठ     Sadhsath
68        sixty eight        ६८        अड़सठ     Asdhsath
69        sixty nine         ६९        उनहतर    Unahtar
70        seventy            ७०        सत्तर        Sattar

71 to 80 in Hindi

71        seventy one     ७१        इकहतर   Ikahtar
72        seventy two     ७२        बहतर     Bahatar
73        seventy three  ७३        तिहतर    Tihatar
74        seventy four    ७४        चौहतर    Chauhatar
75        seventy five     ७५        पचहतर   Pachhatar
76        seventy six       ७६        छिहतर    Chiyahatar
77        seventy seven  ७७        सतहतर   Satahatar
78        seventy eight   ७८        अठहतर   Adhahatar
79        seventy nine    ७९        उन्नासी   Unnasi
80        eighty              ८०        अस्सी        Assi

81 to 90 in Hindi

81        eighty one       ८१        इक्यासी    Ikyasi
82        eighty two       ८२        बयासी      Byaasi
83        eighty three    ८३        तिरासी     Tirasi
84        eighty four      ८४        चौरासी     Chaurasi
85        eighty five       ८५        पचासी      Pachasi
86        eighty six         ८६        छियासी    Chiyaasi
87        eighty seven    ८७        सतासी      Sataasi
88        eighty eight     ८८        अट्ठासी     Athasi
89        eighty nine      ८९        नवासी    Nauasi
90        ninety              ९०        नब्बे       Nabbay

91 to 100 in Hindi

91        ninety one       ९१        इक्यानवे    Ikyaanave
92        ninety two       ९२        बानवे        Baanave
93        ninety three    ९३        तिरानवे     Tiranavay
94        ninety four      ९४        चौरानवे     Chauraanavay
95        ninety five       ९५        पचानवे     Pachaanavay
96        ninety six         ९६        छियानवे   Chiyaanavay
97        ninety seven    ९७        सतानवे    Sataanavay
98        ninety eight     ९८        अट्ठानवे    Adhaanavay
99        ninety nine      ९९        निन्यानवे  Ninyaanavay
100      one hundred    १००      एक सौ     Ek Sau

Here are some essential Hindi for foreign travellers. Some more basic travel Hindi.  You might wish to look at some of the greeting Hindi words and phrases. You can also learn Tamil numbers 1 to 100 here.

Learn Hindi Numbers: Learning Hindi Numbers 1 to 100: (Hindi Books for Kids)

Hindi numbers 1 to 100 video

Try my two books if want to learn more Hindi:

1 . Hindi Language For Kids And Beginners: Speak Hindi Instantly

2. Essential Hindi Words And Phrases For Travelers To India

How to deal with beggars in India

Let’s be clear on this. India is no longer a poor country.

There was a time when people used to die of starvation. But things have changed, no such thing is happening any more.

However, You will still find poor people on the streets sleeping rough but not all of them will be beggars.

The Indian government has done lots to uplift the people of India out of poverty.

But…

You do find beggars on the streets:)

Many of them are concentrated at religious places. You go to a temple, a mosque, a church or a gurudwara (a Sikh place of worship) and you will be swamped by beggars.

(More on Hinduism here)

You will find some at traffic lights. As soon as the car or taxi stops, you will find beggars knocking on your car window.

To be honest, most of them look perfectly fine and able to work. These beggars are not beggars in the real sense but opportunists.

They just want to feed on your emotions….

So how do you deal with beggars in India?

You can shoo them away,

Give them money,

Just ignore them and do nothing,

Give them something to eat like a biscuit or something,

Take them to a restaurant and feed them,

Don’t stop, keep walking as if you don’t care,

Give them a fresh bottle of water and say this is all you have,

Tell them you don’t have money,

Tell them they look perfectly fine and they don’t need any money,

Keep your windows up,

Tell them to get lost,

Beat them up (not really).

Begging in India has become a business. You’ll be surprised to know that in some cases, beggars have been found to be millionaires. 

Just take a look at this video 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSF_5MzA8cU

If your heart does cry out for these beggars, perhaps you could spare a few change. It’s up to you entirely.

Enjoy India. India is almost beggar free.

Is public display of affection allowed in India?

If you are coming to India from the States or Europe, you are in for a shock. Unlike the West, we Indians are not allowed to show affection at least in public. In fact, there’s a law that prevents obscenity in the open. The “Indian Penal Code Section” 294 (a) states: Whoever, to the annoyance of others does any obscene act in any public place, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both.

Basically what’s happening is that touch is somehow perceived as interlinked with sex in India? For example, we Indians think that mouth-to-mouth kissing is a western concept and therefore not really something that we should be doing in public. But many of us do not know the origins of kissing were first mentioned in the Mahabharata. Historians have found the earliest references to the practice of lip kissing in the Mahabharata dated 1500 B.C. and the reference continued with the Kama Sutra with many descriptive verities of kissing and having sex. Another interesting point is that the conquering armies of Alexander and his army learnt the art of kissing from the Indians. This doesn’t mean Indians were the first to invent kissing; it simply means that it was first mentioned in texts where people appeared to be kissing.

India Travel Survival Guide For Women

Funny thing is that if you have been to India before, you probably have seen two men holding hands. This doesn’t mean they are gay, they just happen to be friends. But on the other hand if a boy and a girl hold hands in public – this is frowned upon. Boys do not shy away from showing this intimacy. However, show of affection and intimacy between men and women is frowned upon throughout India.

So what is allowed and not allowed

Kissing in public

Kissing may be the universal language of love but kissing on the lips is a definitely a no go area in India. This is dangerous territory. However, an innocent goodbye kiss at the International airport would probably be fine but not at the railway station while smooching at a restaurant is definitely not a good idea.

Holding hands

Holding hands in most areas of India would be acceptable. It may seem strange but even men do it (this might seem bizarre to the western eye but there is nothing sexual about it).  If you wanted to hold hands or wanted to put your arms around your partner’s shoulders, feel free to do so as that would be fine and is not a public offence.

Hugging

Hugging is quite a new concept in India different to the traditional Namaste where the hands are folded together and the head is bowed. I see more and more people hugging to show affection. There’s even a saint called, “Mata Amritanandamayi Devi” from Kerala popularly known as Amma, the hugging saint. Hugging is acceptable.

This is certainly one of the many paradoxes of India. In a country where rape is common, groping is considered almost acceptable, there are erotic and sensuous sculptures on temples expressing love in its unique forms, men peeing on the side of the road, street animals openly copulating – human intimacy is a curious contradiction. Here’s more on how to stay safe in India.

Hope this article was useful and if you have any questions relating to your travels to India, you can ask here or send me a message.

5 essential monsoon travel items for India

If you are travelling to India this monsoon then you might wish to take some of these essentials with you. Although it’s not necessary and you will be able to buy all these items when you get to India but nonetheless, you might wish to take your own.

Mosquito bands or repellents

These are essential as mosquitoes breed in large numbers during the monsoons so you might wish to take some mosquito bands. Good thing about them is that you can wear them on your clothing or you can attach them to your bag. It creates a protective halo around you which will help you against malaria and dengue fever (Delhi is famous for this).

Rain coat or jacket and Umbrella

A rain coat or jacket is going to be essential if you are visiting India during the monsoons. But do make sure they are light and thin as most parts of India are still warm even during the rainy seasons.

This goes without saying but bring a small one so that you can fold it away in your bag.

Sunscreen

If you have a sensitive skin then you bring a bottle of your favourite sunscreen.

Waterproof shoes

When it rains in India – it rains like crazy. So bring a pair of waterproof shoes. If you can, try to avoid slippers during the rainy season in India.

Don’t let the rains let you down. In many parts of the world rain is a nuisance but in India it’s a welcome change. Here’s a comprehensive packing list for India.

India Travel Health Guide: Health Advice and Tips for Travelers to India