India is among the most colorful nations of the world and boasts of a rich history, culture and heritage. To get the most of your trip to India, it would be a good idea to equip yourself with useful information before you set out for a journey of a lifetime.

Visa

• Foreign Nationals visiting India are required to possess a valid Indian Visa

Best Time to Visit

• Although India is a 365 days destination still it is best to visit Indian plains during cooler months from October to March and mountainous regions of India during the months of April to September.

Domestic Flight Luggage

• Prior to boarding your domestic flights in India as you leave the main terminal, please ensure that you "identify your checked baggage". To do so, ask the airline representative where you need to actually identify the baggage that you have checked for your specific flight. Failure may mean that your checked baggage will not be put on the flight. Unfortunately, this process is not followed by all airlines and at all departure points, so make it a good and safe practice to ask for where you should identify your checked luggage just prior to boarding any flight.

Food and Health

• It is advisable to drink only mineral water (bottled water).
• Indian cuisine is a tad too spicy hence indulge in the gastronomical delights only if you have the stomach for it. Also, there are plenty of non-spicy cuisines and delicacies to choose from.
• You may occasionally need insect repellent cream. If you are allergic to dust, be sure to carry medication with you. Sunscreen is another must-have.

Clothes

• If you are planning to wear full length clothes during your walking tours, then make sure that they do not drag on the floor since streets can be dirty and wet. You should not wear clothes that are very loose because they can get caught in protruding stones and surrounding bushes. Bring light rain gear. Consider bringing, as a minimum, one "Tee" shirt, one "heavy" flannel type shirt and one light jacket. This will allow you to wear layered clothing for a variety of ambient temperatures.

Shoes:

• When you visit places of worship, you will need to take off your shoes prior to entry. You are free to wear your socks, but may find that the floor is wet, thus it may be prudent to take off your socks also. Make sure that you bring comfortable and well supporting walking shoes. You will be walking a lot in the ruins of old temples and forts, and they normally do not have a clean and clear path with upturned stones, and steep narrow and broken steps.

Accessories

• Consider bringing your swimming trunks, air brush to clean the dust from your cameras and lens, a telephoto lens if your camera supports one, lots of clean wipes for your face and hands because of the dust. Traditional 35 mm film is available in plentiful, however the new Advantix type is not freely available.

Document Safety

• Prior to start of your journey, send yourself an e-mail with all important passport and other numbers. Thus should you loose any documentation, then you can retrieve your mail and have all necessary information

Smart Shopping

• Bargaining is the norm in local bazaars selling products without a written price. Resist the urge to buy without comparing prices from shops selling similar stuff.
• Be aware of roadside peddlers trying to sell you semi-precious and precious gems and jewelry.
• Trading in ivory, fur, animal skins, antiquities and the like is illegal. If you must have it, obtain a certificate of legitimate sale and permission for export before leaving the country.

Special Permits

• Even with a visa foreign nationals are not allowed everywhere in India. Check with us if you are planning to journey on your own.

Social Decorum:

• Public display of affection is not appreciated and neither is public nudity unless perhaps one is at a beach.
• One is expected to cover the head before entering a religious place such as a temple or mosque.
• Photography is not always permissible .Ask for permission before clicking pictures of women and religious complexes. Some places charge for taking pictures while it is prohibited at a few places.

Important Note

• As per the directive by the government of India, all Indian / Foreign Nationals are required to produce photo-identity on or before arrival. Valid Identification documents are as below :-
  Foreign nationals  Passport alongwith valid Visa,
  Indian National  Passport, Current Driving License, voter's ID card or PAN Card

Additional Information

• If you are happy with some services and would like to reward  in that case you can tip according to your will. It is not compulsory but totally by your discretion.
• In India, public toilet facilities are few and far between. Take every opportunity you can to use a clean toilet in places such as hotels and restaurants. Make this a habit wherever you go.

Most museums in India are closed on Monday and Site Museums i.e. those near archaeological monuments are closed on Friday.