India Travel Tips

If you have been to India before, please share your experiences, ideas and feedback (Hotel, Excursions, General Feeling,…) in the comments section below, by doing so you will help fellow travellers to plan their next trip

Banner photo credit: Thejas Panarkandy

India is a country with a history that dates back more than 5,000 years. One of the most populated portions of the earth it offers the visitors sight and experiences unique to the country. A subcontinent of Asia, it has extensive natural environments, some of the highest mountains in the world, extensive jungle, deserts and seascapes.

India is also considered to be the birthplace of four major world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. However, India has no state religion, but 82% of the population is Hindu, followed by Islam, the second major religion in India. The spread of Islam into Asia before the European powers venture into Asia was by way of India.

Taj Mahal India’s Most Iconic Location Photo by Dennis Jarvis

In this page you will find practical information to plan a scuba diving trip to India:

Table of contents

India travel
Where to stay?
Activies and Excursions
Best time to visit
Health and Safety
Where is India?
Getting there
Getting around
Photos India
Best dive spots
Scuba diving

Where to stay?

What your interest are will be a driving force of where to stay in India and in what type of accommodations you will find. Those loving the beach and water activities will find the southern coast line more to their needs. These are often seasonal, while the off shore island chains offer year round destinations.

Activities and excursions in India

India represents many opportunities for the visitor. Here are just a few highlights:

The Taj Mahal: built between 1632 and 1653, this is one of the most recognized buildings in the world.
Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It is sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains with thousands of pilgrims doing their devotions in the River Ganges here.
Meenakshi Amman Temple is a Hindu temple that dates back to the sixth century. There are over 33,000 sculptures that make up the temple.
Dharamsala If you love yoga, hiking and learning to cook this is the place for you. It is also the home of the exiled Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama often has public lessons. Their official websites gives the dates for these events.
National Parks: If you are interested in wildlife including tigers and elephants in the wild, then one of the national parks is best to include in your visit. Some of the best parks for tourist are: Kanha National Park, Jim Corbett National Park and Bandhavgarh National Park

Watering hole Mangaluru, Karnataka, India photo by Karunakar Rayker

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Best time to visit India

The best time to visit India is said to be from September to March. India is considered to have three seasons, summer, winter and monsoon. The winters are mild and the summers can be very hot. India is considered a sub-continent and much of it is tropical. However, it does have some high elevations and portions of the country is in a tempered zone. So it is best to look at the weather average for the area you are considering.

Health and Safety

Visitors coming to the country should research the area they plan on visiting before arriving. Certain portions of the country are off limits to visitors. Conditions in the country vary greatly. In many areas the country is over populated, and this can cause health and safety issues, not only for the residents of the area but also the tourist.

This over population leads to stark poverty which influences crime. In many portions of the country, sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape are common. While not as prevalent in areas most often visited by tourist, precautions must be taken by women to protect themselves.

Clean water can also be an issue as well as tropical illness.

Health facilities in the major cities are adequate and in some locations outstanding. There is even a growing medical tourism program. However, regulations are not as strict as in other nations. Outside of the major cities, health care may not meet what you would consider an acceptable level.

While India is a great place to visit, you do need to keep up with your countries travel advisories.

If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to India, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Where is India located in the world?

India is a huge portion of South Asia, and often stated as a subcontinent. The Sea of Bengal separates it from South East Asia and the Arabian Sea separates it from the Middle East. The Himalayan mountain chain forms much of its northern border.

In fact, the Nicobar and Andaman islands, often considered as belonging to Thailand, are Indian islands. These mark the separation between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman sea.

How to get to India?

India is going through a rapid development of it airports. Actually, the aviation market in India is the 3rd largest in world now as they are increasing the number of airports. The goal is to add a total of 175 airports and cover the whole country.

As of now, India has 17 primary international airports. Indira Gandhi International Airport, in Delhi (DEL), and Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport, in Mumbai (BOM), are having the majority of the international arrivals. Otherwise, all of the major cities have an international airport nearby.

Do I need a visa for India?

In the last few years India has updated their visa system and has introduced an E-visa system. The system is modeled after the Australian’s Electronic Travel Authority. The information here is sourced from the India government website where you can apply for a visa.

!!! // The government of India advises travelers NOT to use third parties to process your e-visa application.

On the government website, you will find a list of countries which citizens can apply for an e-Visa. You will also find all the eligibility criteria, critical points and restrictions applying to the Indian E-visa.

Getting Around

Getting around can be a challenge in India. Most western governments advise their citizens to exercise extreme caution while traveling within the country. That does not need to frighten you, just be aware things are different. Driving is on the left side of the road and many local drivers look at traffic rules as suggestions. You may be more comfortable having a local driver instead of driving yourself.

a Bus Can be Crowded photograph by Liji Jinaraj

Also, taxi are common, but not all operate legally. If you plan on using a taxi have your hotel arrange it or if arriving get a taxi from the official airport taxi stand. Local buses are often overcrowded but may be acceptable outside of peak travel hours.

+ Beware of pickpockets at all times.

Between cities, flying is becoming more common and the cost is being kept low to encourage it use.

The train system has a poor reputation, you will often hear of accidents where many people are killed. You may also have even seem videos of people riding on top of crowded trains. That being said, and as bad as that sounds, the rail system may not be as bad as those impressions give. India has the second most used passenger system in the world, just slightly below China.

If you exclude daily commutes and subways, India has over 1/3 of all of the rail passenger travel in the world (based on passenger-kilometers). If you avoid travel during holidays, you may find the rail system a pleasant way to travel and see India.

India is a vast country that offers the traveler many life changing experiences. Ancient ruins to modern cites are all waiting for you to explore.