What you need to know before traveling on your own to India. Independent travel to India Travel India

Almost every tourist dreams, while not everyone succeeds in making the cherished dream come true. But you are actually lucky, because you have the opportunity to visit this glorious multimillion country without spending a lot of money. Just follow our advice and you will succeed.

So, independent trip to India almost always comes out an order of magnitude cheaper in comparison with the prices that are broken travel agencies... In addition, since you will carry out all the actions yourself without anyone's help, you will receive a sea of ​​positive emotions and memories.

Ready-made tours offer almost nothing new, and apart from visiting a few main attractions and selfless relaxation, nothing else will shine for you. Whereas, acting on the principle of "his own master", you will get incredible freedom and plunge into a real adventure, which will become story # 1 for you among your friends.

A little about the geography of the region. Given that India is home to over a billion people, you can imagine what a huge territory there is. In addition, climatic features, living standards and many other fundamental factors are so different here that having visited only one, you definitely will not know all the features of the region.

As a rule, the most popular holiday destination among Russian tourists is the one that is most suitable for the European way of recreation. Sunny beaches, clean ocean, dozens of hotels and an almost native attitude towards foreigners. Which, in general, is not surprising, because this state was previously a Portuguese colony.

Unlike other regions of India, where you know people follow strict rules, you can walk in short shorts or even bikinis here. But, you cannot call yourself a real tourist who has visited India without visiting at least a few places. Well, now let's talk about how you can organize your trip to India on a budget.

Purchase of air tickets

The fastest and most comfortable way to get to India is, of course, by plane. There are also travel options through bus tour or even trains, but, as a rule, the most desperate tourists agree to this, because it will take at least ten days to go one way.

While for people with a short vacation, an airplane is most suitable. The average cost of tickets to India is about three hundred euros, moreover, such routes take into account several changes and imply the purchase of tickets at once in two directions.

Most of the flights depart directly from Moscow or St. Petersburg, in the case of choosing the country of residence of Russia, as well as Kiev (in the case of Ukraine) or Minsk (Belarus). Other smaller metropolitan areas also have a choice of flights to India, but their cost and availability are not always popular with tourists. Please note that the cheaper the air ticket to India costs, the longer it will take you to fly. In general, the fastest methods involve the cost of a plane ticket from 330 euros.

It will be most profitable to buy tickets to India on the website of the cheap tickets search service Aviasales. It is here that you can compare various offers for buying air tickets from several companies at once. Thus, you can save not only a large amount of time, but also a rather large amount of money. For everything about everything, as a rule, no more than 30 minutes is spent.

Finding Accommodation in India

When choosing a vacation home, this site can save you a significant amount of time, which you can then spend on more useful things. Alternatively, you can also rent an apartment or a house directly from local residents... This option allows you to plunge headlong into the Indian cultural flavor and live like a real resident of India. Of course, the quality of housing differs from the level we are accustomed to, so we always recommend carefully studying the photos in advance.

Required documents

So, in order to get to India, you will need to present your passport, as well as a visa. In some cases, health insurance may be required (depending on the state of India you are traveling to). In fact, treatment in India is very expensive, so, of course, it doesn't hurt to get insurance for yourself. Just in case.

On the territory of Russia there are 3 centers for issuing visas to India, located in Vladivostok, Moscow and St. Petersburg. In addition, this can also be done via the Internet. On average, the cost of a visa is about $ 60, while its processing time takes no more than four days.

To obtain a visa, the following documents are required: a valid passport, a completed application form at the visa center (purpose of the trip, etc.), a photograph, a mandatory confirmation of a hotel room reservation, or rented apartment... In general, the list of documents is subject to change, so all relevant information can be found on the website of the Indian Embassy.

List of top attractions in India

Given the size of the country, there are so many really worth seeing places to be found here. But, anyway, wherever you plan to vacation, it will be very difficult to build a travel itinerary for sightseeing throughout India. The only thing in this case I would like to tell about the most famous sights of the country.

• Dudhsagar
• Stupa in Sanchi
• Mahabodhi Temple Bollywood
• Taj Mahal
• Delhi National Museum
• Humpy
• Fort Aguada
• Qutub Minar

It is worth noting that it will be most convenient to get to attractions located in different parts of India by car. Of course, such a trip will have to spend at least a couple of days, but you will get a great variety of impressions.

Of course, if the budget allows you, it will be possible to use domestic services to travel around the country. Moreover, there are a lot of such companies here, and buying a ticket for them will not pose any problems.

India travel cost

It all depends purely on your personal preferences. For some, 800 euros will be enough, while others will not be able to have a good rest even for 8,000 euros. So everyone here chooses the level of rest for himself. This is the beauty of such travel. As a personal example, I suggest you familiarize yourself with a 10-day vacation in Goa for two people, taking into account the departure from Moscow.

• The cost of plane tickets for two cost 900 euros round trip
• Accommodation for 10 days cost 500 euros.
• Meals for two - 200 euros.
• Travel costs around the resort - 50 euros.
• Visiting attractions - 50 euros.
• Souvenirs and various travel expenses - 250 euros.
• Registration of visa and insurance - 80 euros.

In total, almost 2 thousand euros came out. Of course, you could have a rest much cheaper, or much more expensive. The main thing is to know that a vacation on a budget is completely real.

Travel Savings Options to India

I bet that if you take into account some of the basic travel tips for traveling in India as a “savage” yourself, you can significantly reduce your line of expenses. For example, we recommend that you use the roomguru.ru service to find cheap hotel rooms

In this way, you can save some of the money without losing anything in terms of comfort level. Also pay attention to the choice of a resort for a vacation, because, for example, Goa and Agra have almost the same conditions in terms of recreation, only in the first case you will have to pay twice as much.

Another tip for booking hotel rooms or apartments would be to recommend making a reservation a couple of months before your visit, so you can get up to 20 percent of the total cost. Some, of course, may agree to stay in a hostel, however, such an offer is not suitable for everyone due to the practical lack of comfortable conditions.

In the case of choosing the time of year for a vacation in India, it is recommended to choose directly the off-season, because during this period the prices for accommodation will be an order of magnitude lower. In general, now you know how you can relax on your own in India. Use the acquired knowledge and buy air tickets to India now. Happy travels.

Another article from our friend Denis Bashmakov. Denis made an independent travel to india... On the pages of his blog, he talks about travel in India on your own and what you need to know those who are just going to go to study this country. At the end of the article there will be a link to his blog, I advise you to subscribe.

Long time I'm going to write about my half year old travel in India but I still can't find the time. And now the moment has come. There is nowhere to pull further.

I'll start with the next one. India is definitely a country worth visiting for everyone. Not the fact that everyone will like it. And all because people are different and everyone has their own personal experience behind his shoulders, his vision and worldview. But, certainly, everyone will find something of their own in India.

These six months passed quickly and I really enjoyed my stay in this beautiful country. True, as in everything and everywhere, in the end I got a little fed up - I felt that it was necessary to change the situation. And that's okay.

Mine began with a landing in Delhi, in which I ended up spending about 2-3 weeks in total, and then the roads brought me there, but I tried to go around it. Honestly. I did not particularly hook the city. Very noisy, a lot of people, traffic jams, dust, dirt, stinks, etc. Yes, there are also cleaner, more modern areas, but the overall picture is similar to that described above.
In addition to everything, there are many attractions and historical sites that you can visit.

Agra. The city to which everyone advised me to go and see one of the seven wonders of the world - Tajmahal in my independent travel in India. But I didn't go. Why? I didn't feel that I should go there, and besides, just pay 750 rupees for the entrance - I didn't see the point at all. According to many, apart from this miracle there is nothing more to see, and the surroundings look far from attractive.

Traveling in India on your own: what you need to know

Yes. It is worth noting about tickets to these tourist places. As a rule, the price for locals and foreigners differs by 10-20 times. I was greatly amazed by these every time. Therefore, in many cases I only photographed outside or found ways to go for free, which I managed much less often. Examples of prices. For locals - 10 rupees, for foreigners 200-300. And this is almost everywhere. Yes, there are places where you can go for the same prices as the locals. For example, I went to the zoo in Trivandrum for 20 rupees and gave 4 rupees for a storage room. There are places like this too. Since my trip is budgetary, I still tried not to spend money on expensive tickets.

Travel to India on your own: cities

Most of all in travel in India I liked the following cities:
- CHANDIGARH - because it is quite clean and well-groomed there. The whole city is divided into sectors and it is easy to understand the map. There are parks in each sector. All in all, comfortable city for education, work, life and raising children.

- Udaipur is a city of lakes. A nice place... Tourist town. There is no city transport here - it was launched, but it turned out to be unprofitable. Therefore, in the city you can only see tuk-tuk. And I initially tried to understand why this is so. Only then one of the local voiced the answer to the question that tormented me.

- MUMBAY (Bombay) - the city of opportunities, the capital of Bollywood. You can find absolutely everything here. Be it some of the world's largest slums, or some of the most expensive real estate in the world, as well as the richest owners. It is very big. Conveniently, the railway network covers the entire city with its suburbs and it is quite easy and convenient to get from one place to another, bypassing traffic jams. And the prices are very low. For 10 rupees, you can drive for about an hour. Tickets are not particularly checked. Therefore, you can play hares.

- VIKSAPATNAM. City in the east of India, Andhra Pradesh state. Very clean, comfortable and modern city... Wide streets, great roads and traffic. In general, everything for life. According to my friend who invited me there, 20 years ago the city looked the same as many Indian cities that I imagined to see. But lately, residents and the administration have fought so actively for the improvement - the results are obvious. We can only add that nothing is possible - there would be a desire and active participation.

India travel on your own: places

- Sai Baba's Ashram is a wonderful place where you can spend your time pleasantly and cheaply. I already wrote about it earlier. Short. This is a Mini-town with everything you need on the territory of the complex. You can live from 20-50 rupees per day and an unlimited amount of time.

- Munnar - tea plantations - cozy and quiet regions, fresh air and it's just a pleasure to be there. True, I mean the plantation areas themselves, and not the town, which has already become very touristy and the prices there are already very high. You can spend the night in Munnar only starting from 500 rupees and above.

- Gokkarna. Greater and nice beach... A very calm and cozy place to relax with your family or even alone, if you get distracted from everything.

While the list of places and cities is as follows.

All of India, all the cities by the end began to appear to me as one big market. Wherever you go - the market. Absolutely everywhere. It doesn't matter how modern the city is.

India independent travel: transportation

Traveling in India on your own: what else you need to know. India has a great variety of different Vehicle- from bicycles to large trucks. Nobody follows the rules. The roads are always noisy due to constant signals from all drivers. Thus, they warn so. Like, "I'm going after you, don't make any sudden movements." Almost all cars are scratched and broken, many buses are old. It was even, I helped to start one from the pusher and then left on it. But despite the movement and non-observance of the rules, everything is cut quite normally. It is worth noting that Indian bus drivers are probably some of the most skilled.

Sometimes you follow - you can't get through, but no. Pass and without scratching and touching each other. The roads are very narrow in most cases. Public transport cheap, which allows you to save money not badly.

Trains and railways are a separate world. Prices are also affordable. To visit India and not ride in a General class carriage means to miss a lot. You can practically live at train stations. There are all conditions. In the waiting rooms you can find sockets and a shower room and a toilet. Also on the platforms there are cranes where you can dial drinking water, in some cases it is possible to find a cooler with cold water. True, the guys who are too fixated on hygiene will say, but for nothing in the world they will not drink such water, only in a bottle. Well, it's up to you to decide.

People

That’s what, but people are more attracted to me. It doesn't matter which state you find yourself in - everywhere I met wonderful, kind and interesting people. Yes. They differ from region to region. But everywhere they are ready to help you, treat you, and sometimes invite you to visit.

I don’t know why, the Sikhs - the people living in the Punjab state, left some of the best memories. I have met with them more than once in other regions. They are just as open. I won't write much about people anymore, there are more emotions and feelings inside, which are difficult for me to express in words.

Yes, it's worth saying that the Indians amazed me that it doesn't matter what position they are in, whether they have money or not, etc. - they always smile and feel that they are happy with what they have. This is definitely worth it for them to succeed. Even a disabled person without arms or legs will always greet you with a smile and a satisfied face, despite their condition and difficult conditions.

I found many similarities between India and Russia. Salaries (at the time of my stay there) were roughly similar. The vegetables and fruits grown in the fields are much the same, with the exception of more southerly crops and varieties. Roads as well.

Food in India

Mostly spicy. But you can find and not very much. Lots of rice. In the south and north, the food is different. Also from state to state. But everywhere you can find something for yourself, from which you will not be able to refuse later. And sweets are often very sweet. Many different fruits to enjoy while in India.

India is a center for meditation and yoga. No wonder people come from all over the world. I must say right away that I have not been to Rishikesh. Everyone goes there. It so happened that for the first time in my life it was in India that I tried yoga and went through meditation. Great stuff to take advantage of.

Perhaps you wanted to hear a different result, but it turned out just like that. I will only say the following, I will definitely return to India. She really hooked me (even while in Thailand - now I'm lying in a tent at a huge gas station on the way towards Phuket - I constantly remember India and already miss those times).

However, when I find myself there, it is a matter of time.

My dear friend, if YOU have not yet been in this amazing country- India, be sure to do so to be there. And, yes, it's better not as a tourist, but as a traveler, to see the real India. Travel friends and expand your horizons!

It was Denis Bashmakov's story about Author: Denis Bashmakov, blog

Many people dream of going to India on their own, but not everyone knows how to make it happen. But you are lucky, you yourself will be able to visit this multifaceted country, see how Indians live, enjoy the beautiful landscapes, understand the national flavor a little, but you can relax here just fine.

Independent travel to India can be quite inexpensive compared to the offers of travel agencies, and this type of vacation will bring many times more positive emotions and interesting acquaintances. In addition, “package tours” do not offer anything new, all their ideas have been crumbled to holes: lie on the beach, visit one or two attractions, go to the most expensive market. Rest "being your own boss" gives you much more freedom of action, this is a real adventure that will be remembered for a lifetime.

The territory of India is huge, each part is different climatic conditions, infrastructure development, population density. An important fact is that in some states of the country access to foreigners is limited; in order to get there, you need to obtain additional permits. But even without these places there is where to go and what to see. For example, the most popular state among travelers and tourists, it is best suited for a "European" type of vacation, there is a huge amount of entertainment, hotels, beaches; in Goa, they have long been accustomed to foreigners (after all, this is also a former colony of Portugal) and their demeanors and customs, here no one will pay special attention to short shorts and bikinis, unlike residents of other states, clothes that cover most of body. But in order to see the "real" India, with all its wealth and beauty, you just need to go to other states of the country. And now to the specifics of how to organize your own trip.

Flights

It is faster and more comfortable to get to India by plane. Of course, you can go by car or go by train, but this is for real daredevils who have a lot of free time and iron nerves. For those who have a short vacation, this is not at all suitable. Therefore, it is better to fly rather than go.

There are a lot of flights to India. Most of them depart from Moscow and St. Petersburg (for Russia), Kiev and Lvov (for Ukraine), Minsk (for Belarus), but there are flights to India from some large provincial cities, there are just not so many of them. Tickets to India start at € 300 (connecting flights, round trip), but as a rule, cheap flights involve a longer flight. If you want to get to your destination quickly, then fly on a direct flight, ticket prices start from 330 €.

It is most profitable to buy tickets to India on the website. This is a search engine that finds and compares tickets from different airlines and offers to buy the most profitable ones. Thanks to him, you will save a huge amount of time, and money too. It will take just a few minutes to acquire the coveted ticket.

Calendar low prices for air tickets

Check flight prices:

Accommodation

Hotels in India usually do not differ in luxury, although there are exceptions. To find a hotel that suits you, you need to search for it on. Thanks to the advanced search with many criteria, you will quickly and easily find the option you need. Each hotel has a description, a list of what is in the room, and most importantly, there are truthful reviews written by tourists and travelers who have already lived in this place... This service saved a lot of money and nerves, because all of the accommodations I booked through Roomguru were quality and lived up to the description.

If you have questions regarding the booking process itself, then read on, thanks to which you can book your own accommodation in any country in the world, including India.

There is still an opportunity to rent an apartment or a house, but this is not for everybody's business. There are both pros and cons to this way of living in a foreign country, with the cons for most travelers outweighing the pros. But if you are still not afraid of the difficulties that often arise if you rent a house from a private owner in another country, then you can read it, which says what renting a house abroad is.

Find a cheap roomguru hotel right now:

The documents

To travel to India, you will need a visa and a passport, it is advisable (but not necessary) to apply for it, it can save you several tens of thousands of dollars in case of health problems. If you go to India without insurance, and something happens on the spot, then you will have to pay exorbitant prices for the treatment, so it’s better to buy insurance yourself, besides, it’s quite inexpensive.

You can apply for a visa both in Indian visa center(there are such in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Vladivostok) and via the Internet. Usually, the processing time for an application is 4 days. You will have to pay $ 60 for a visa.

Here is a list of documents required to obtain a visa:

• Passport valid for more than 6 months at the time of applying for a visa
• A completed application form
• Confirmation of hotel reservation
• Copy of round-trip air tickets
• Copy of internal passport

You can find up-to-date information on the website of the Embassy of India.

sights

There are a lot of attractions in India. Let's not forget that this is a huge country with rich history... In order to draw up a route for visiting attractions, you must first decide in which part of India you are going to rest. You will always find where to go and what to see. I will list only the most popular places among travelers:

• Taj Mahal
• Bollywood
• Fort Aguada
• Mahabodhi temple
• Stupa in Sanchi
• Delhi National Museum
• Humpy
• Qutub Minar
• Dudhsagar

It is convenient to get to attractions in different parts of the country by car. A trip from one part of India to another will take several days, but there will be a huge amount of impressions. You can rent a car at.

If the travel budget allows, then you can use the services of domestic air carriers. The cheapest option would be to fly somewhere on a low-cost airline, of which there are quite a few in India.

Travel cost

An independent vacation in India can cost both € 700 and € 70,000. It all depends on you, as you wish, it will be so. This is what makes traveling "his own master" so good, you decide what is better to spend your money on, where to fly and what to do. Let me give you an example of spending on an average vacation for two people (10 days, departure from Moscow, Goa resort):

• Round-trip flights = 900 €
• Accommodation at the hotel 3 * = 500 €
• Food = 200 €
• Transport = 50 €
• Attractions = 50 €
• Purchases = 250 €
• Visa = 60 €
• Insurance = 20 €

Total price: 1980 €. You can relax in India and much cheaper. And someone prefers not to deny himself anything and spends many times more. If you want to visit India for little money, then read the guide, which says how to travel around the world cheaply, these tips and tricks also apply to India. A budget vacation is a reality.

How to save money on travel

How to have an inexpensive vacation on your own in India and not lose money in comfort - that's what this section is about. Knowing some of the features budget vacation savage, you can significantly reduce your costs.

You have learned how to relax in India on your own. Put this knowledge into practice, book a hotel and purchase tickets right now. Best wishes to you!

Hello friends!

It's winter outside, right now the snow is falling in flakes. The first wintering at -10 in the last 3.5 years. A bit unusual, but there is an opportunity to gather yourself together and do what there was not enough time on the roads for. With this article, I decided to unpack my Indian experience a little and talk about what is needed in order for an independent trip to India to pass without shock therapy.

with such pictures to write about India is the very thing

I have a total of more than a year under my belt, spent within this wonderful country. Here's a small one. Read it, there are a lot of cross-references to interesting materials :)

India is a land of conquered chaos. Written and unwritten rules work here in completely different planes, and more often they do not work at all. Everything here is ruled by the Gods and the omnipresent mad Heart. There is a lot in common with the Russian mentality. The same belief in one's own exclusivity, ingenuity and omnipresent perhaps.

Chaos and dirt are the main features of any Indian corner. But it's so cozy at the same time

It is very easy here to “erase your personal history” and become “Nobody” (with a capital letter and in the full sense of the word). Get lost, dissolve and be reborn. Among the ancient shitty streets, cows and insane ascetics with red eyes from hashish.

As a good friend of mine once said: they go to India and Nepal to heal souls.

How to start preparing for your trip?

By accepting the fact that most likely, all your planning will go to hell. In India, the very concept of time is very vague. And if the planes fly according to a completely usual schedule, then the trains may be 24 hours late (I am not exaggerating !!!).

Delay of 4-5 hours for railways India is considered normal. Therefore, always have some time to spare.

In a typical Indian slipper

Travel planning

Despite the quite expected destruction of all the plans, it is necessary to prepare for the trip. It's worth starting at least with tickets and visas). And let the reviews of travels in this wonderful country say otherwise)

Visa

It is possible to apply for long-term tourist visas to India, for a period of up to 5 years (formally, the law was adopted, but I have not yet met real precedents). Most often it is possible to obtain a visa for 3 or 6 months. If you ask strongly, they can give a double. The cost is about $ 100.

The main thing is in the column occupation (occupation), do not indicate "photographer" or "journalist". There they are not loved :) For there is nothing to trample the holy land with your vision with a bunch of dirt, shit and crippled beggars.

In addition, Russians, Ukrainians and Kazakhstanis can now receive an electronic visa, with a duration of 1 year with a period of stay in the country without leaving the country = 90 days. The cost is from 80 to 100 bucks.

It is forbidden to work on a tourist visa, so if you suddenly want to get a job, it can be fraught with problems.

Tickets

I recommend buying tickets, especially for trains and buses, in advance. 1-1.5 months before the trip. And if for buses you can at least get tickets even at the last moment, then for trains it often happens that there are no tickets.

I have good friends who are developing routes and buying tickets for Indian trains and buses. Recommend... They have over 10 years of travel experience in India and their approach to business is very professional. They will select tickets, connections and the best route.

Lodging

Despite the huge number of accommodation in popular booking systems, you can get severely burned. In India, the concept of "quality of service" is very lame. Even in 3 * hotels, you may encounter dirty sheets and pubic hair in the pillows. Therefore, it is better to search on the spot, or else to negotiate some already checked by other places.

Cobra charmer

First aid kit

The stomach and immunity of the Russian person is poorly adapted to the conditions of the tropical climate. In India, the phrase "Don't let yourself get sick" should sound like a mantra.

Therefore, the compulsory subjects on your journey should be:

1. Activated carbon
2. Ointment for insect bites (I recommend Rescuer. It helps a lot to relieve itching after any vileness)
3. Pancreatin. Spicy food can hit the pancreas hard. And she, according to doctors, practically does not recover.
4. Furozolidone. A wonderful and cheap remedy for all types of intestinal infections.
5. Sun cream.

It is useless to take any sprays and ointments from mosquitoes from home. They have absolutely no effect on the Indian fauna. India has many grocery stores where such things are easy to buy.

It would be nice to make travel insurance. Only, as elsewhere in Asia, it does not cover possible injuries from movement on scooters and motorcycles. Be vigilant and careful.

It happens that they ask about vaccinations before the trip. I have never done them, but if you are very afraid of malaria or dengue tropical fever, it is better to play it safe. There are a lot of mosquitoes here. I once had a case with a mosquito bite, after which I had a fever for a long time.

Money

If you plan to travel with cash, take dollars or euros. Exchange for rupees can be found in almost any tourist destination: from to Kanyakumari.

There are many "ascetic merchants" here

I prefer to travel savage with bank cards... ATMs can be found even in remote villages, where such technical innovations seem completely surreal against the backdrop of hand mills.

The best way to withdraw money is from SBI (State Bank of India) and Canara bank ATMs. They do not take any cash out fees.

Traditions you need to know to be safe

All India is conservative and traditional. Therefore, in order not to suddenly find yourself in an uncomfortable (and even dangerous) position, you need to be vigilant and know some traditions.

For women

I will highlight this point especially, because spermotoxicosis in men in a society with suppressed sexuality reaches very dangerous forms.

1. Be humble with local men. Polite, but no ingratiating smiles. Otherwise, it can be perceived as a signal of availability.
2. Cover your charms. Tight clothing and flashy makeup also send a “signal”.
3. It is better to respond to attempts to shake your hand with a bow "namete" with folded hands at the chest.
4. It is better to avoid large crowds of people.
5. A selfie with an Indian womanizer often leads to the fact that your photo will be posted on Facebook with the caption "me and my girlfriend." This happens with enviable consistency, regardless of the state. Even more often, 1 selfie turns into a whole selfie session with everyone.

Of course, you shouldn't get paranoid, but being on the alert is useful.

Quieter in this regard are the Buddhist regions of India:, Sikkim.

For everyone else

In India, aggression is perceived as something very out of the ordinary. That is why our not the most prosperous compatriots are so fond of flaunting their "Indian victories". Hindus simply fall into a stupor, which can sometimes lead to very deplorable situations.

Don't let yourself be fooled

India is the land of the victorious heart. Here, from ancient times, they learned to sweeten the outstretched ears of novice simpletons with great speech. (here they are called "fresh chicken": literally "fresh chicken"). Therefore, there will be constant attempts to deceive. The good news is that 99% of such attempts are childishly naive and harmless.

It is better to relax immediately and, even if deception is detected, maintain a cheerful mood. Consider that this is a game, the price of which is 50-100 rubles. Agree, not a high price for a new interesting experience).

Hindus, when you catch them cheating, most often spread into a smile, shake their heads and say "okay." Like, "it didn't work, okay." You can't even take offense at them.

Indian divorce in Varanasi

However, vigilance must not be lost! Perseverance is possible and even necessary. Only, without aggression. The latter is not held in high esteem here. It is offensive and destructive.

The most common divorces are as follows:

1. Taxi in Delhi. "Is this your first time in India?" If you answer in the affirmative, there will be a representation: “oh, your hotel burned down. But I know one thing very, very a good place". In general, they will bring you to the place where the taxi driver will rely on a small magarych. The price will be called 2-3 times higher than the market price.
2. "The roads are blocked and there are no places." Another old-fashioned breeder, found mainly in Delhi. Usually, the same taxi drivers answer that, to whom you inform that you are going somewhere to the north, like.
3. Ear cleaners. Divorce is older than Mahabharata. Sometimes these comrades can, as it were, by chance, "completely free", pull a horse out of your ear and half of the chicken eaten in the morning. When I saw a cleaning cleaner in the ear of a cute white girl, I realized that this divorce would live for sooooo long.
4. Pressure for pity. "I have 5 children, and today I know business ... pliz, give me the tips yourself." In general, the classic story of the service staff: from rickshaw drivers to waiters in a cafe.
5. well, and another +100 of all sorts of small divorces.

Defining a divorce is quite simple: if someone offers you their services "just like that", most likely it is not free. This is very common in tourist spots, like Goa. I have never seen anything like this on the road and in the villages. On the contrary - only a sincere desire to help, of which I was repeatedly convinced during our and after, on the way

How to start developing an itinerary for an independent travel in India
The good news: an unforgettable trip is waiting for you, full of vivid impressions and, possibly, adventure. If you are tired of travel and think that "all European cities are similar" or "all the beaches in South-East Asia the same ”, India is what you need. You will see a completely different country, generally unlike the countries you have visited before. Different colors, different people, different food.
I noticed an amazing feature, characteristic only for India: this country either accepts the traveler, or rejects. In the first case, a person literally dissolves in it, in the second, everything is bad: either solid garbage underfoot, then they carry food for a long time, then beggars around. The only way out is to try to perceive everything that happens as signs, the universe clearly wants to say something. India is one of the main places of power on Earth.

Advice: We recommend that you hire a decent English-speaking driver-guide for your travels in central India. Standard for the Golden Triangle 4-5 days (or 1-2 weeks for difficult routes) are quite inexpensive. Leave a request and, after confirmation, send your route for audit to your driver-guide. According to our statistics, more than half of the routes are being redrawn.

When is the best time to go to India

The climate of India is in a remarkable antiphase with the Russian one. As soon as the "gray autumn" begins in central India, it is not so hot, and the season starts in the seaside resorts of Goa and Kerala. And vice versa, monsoons come in May, Delhi is incredibly hot, and Russia is a wonderful spring and the May holidays... The only peculiarity: if your trip falls in January, in Agra (where the Taj Mahal) there will be a comfortable temperature during the day, 18-20 degrees, but at night the thermometer drops to almost zero, and there is no heating in most hotels. There are only two ways out: take thermal underwear with you (no matter how wild it sounds), or stay in high-class hotels.

Travel to India: Exotic + sea

99% of our readers combine tours in the Golden Triangle, Rajasthan or trips to the Ganges with a seaside vacation. The starting point is Delhi. Usually do first sightseeing trip, then flight to Goa or Kerala, and then back home via Delhi.

Find Flights to Delhi

Domestic flights are quite short, they are made by low-cost airlines, so if you take a ticket as early as possible, the price will be low. The main costs are tickets to Delhi. Here are the price statistics:

Before starting the trip, we make one or two nights in Delhi, this is quite enough. There is one wisdom when choosing a hotel in Delhi. Even if you are traveling on a modest budget, in no case save on a hotel in Delhi, you will understand why on the spot. After all, it's only one night.
Really good options mentioned in ours, you can book using the links in it, or select a hotel on the map. Do you see a circle on the left and rays are emanating from it? Ideally, you go there, and the further from there, the more extreme.

Delhi hotels on the map

So, tickets are bought, the night in Delhi is booked. If you decide to hire a driver for the trip, as the reservation is confirmed, he will help you to correctly plan your trip. Once excursion route ready, you can buy domestic tickets.

Search for flights to Kerala

So everything is ready. We begin to prepare for the trip. India Travel Ideas, ready routes, travel guides, overview Goa beaches and the best hotels Kerala - all this in articles written by professional SmartTrip journalists and verified experts