There I was working as a production artist for a company that printed promotional products in my hometown of Mobile, AL when I was asked to train some people on how we processed orders in the art department. Those people happened to be from a company in Mumbai, India that the company I worked for would begin an outsourcing partnership with. During that first meeting, one of them asked me if I had ever wanted to go to India. I replied, “I would love to go there one day.” At the time, I had only been outside of the country on a cruise, but I had always dreamed that I would eventually get to explore more of the world. I had no idea that a year later I would be preparing for my first trip to India and get to meet a great group of people that I would come to call my friends.

Three weeks before we were scheduled to leave, I found out that it was approved for me to go to India with a group of coworkers. To say I was excited was an understatement. I couldn’t believe that the company I had worked at for many years was about to take me around the world to India, and it would eventually be something I would get to experience again the following year! 

Through those two trips, I learned so much about traveling and about myself. Here are some of the Do’s and Don’ts I learned along the way about traveling to India.

 

1. Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.

When my coworkers and I were preparing for the first trip, we found an article that was called “101 things to know before you travel to India,” or something like that. It was all about dressing modestly and 100 other things that would scare you. Our friend in India teased us about it, told us not to believe it, and to prepare for the trip just like we would any other trip. He was right. On my first trip, I took so many things that I did not need. I mean, c’mon, 3 packs of toilet seat covers and a GoGirl? Three years later and they’ve still never been used!

 

2. Don’t be afraid to experience a different culture.

I hadn’t been to many places outside of the United States when I visited India, but it is different from anywhere I’ve ever been. Experiencing a different culture is such an amazing thing. People live in so many different ways all over the world, and everyone should experience one that is different from their own at least once. Just go with the flow, and be open to everything. Just remember to always be aware of your surroundings wherever you go.

 

3. Do trust your driver & guides.

Nothing prepares you for the traffic you will experience in India. It is absolutely insane with horns honking, no one staying in specific lanes, and people walking in front of cars to get across the street. Not to mention all of the cars, rickshaws, motorcycles, and big trucks squeezing in wherever they can to get through traffic! At first, you wonder how everyone is not in a massive wreck, but you quickly learn that these drivers know what they’re doing. They’re even better than many American drivers!

 

4. Don’t go all the way to India and only experience one city.

You will want to experience more than one area of India. Even though you’re within one country, there are cultural differences between the different regions including food, attire, and languages. Both times I traveled to India, we landed in Mumbai at 2am from an approximately 18 hour flight. By 12pm, we were on another flight with our hosts/friends to go on the adventure they had planned for us the first few days before we went to work in Mumbai. During our first visit to India, we flew north to New Delhi & Agra. On our second visit, we flew south to Kerala. Explore the markets in New Delhi, the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Gateway of India in Mumbai, and then venture south to the tea plantations in Munnar.

 

5. Do go to the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal, a mausoleum built out of love, is absolutely beautiful inside and out! When I first heard we were going to the Taj Mahal while in India, I thought my friend was joking. I never thought that was somewhere I’d ever actually go. It’s not that I didn’t want to go, but I thought it was unattainable for me. The next thing I know I’m on a four hour road trip from New Delhi to Agra. We pull over on the side of the busy road in Agra, then a guy jumps into the very back of the SUV the second half of our group is in! We had no idea what was happening! Turns out, he was just our tour guide for the Taj Mahal.

 

 

 

6. Don’t be afraid to try the food.

You have to try the local food when you’re in a new country. There was so much delicious food to be tasted & enjoyed in India. I had some of the best seafood I’ve ever had while there. But don’t forget your pepto from home if you have a sensitive stomach!

 

7. Do take your own toilet paper, but at least try the hand shower.

If you’re out on the road in India, you might get lucky and find a western toilet, but you’re probably not going to be provided with toilet paper. A hand shower and a squat toilet is commonly used everywhere in India. 

 

8. Don’t be alarmed by people staring.

If you’re an American in India, it’s pretty obvious that you aren’t from there. People will stare, and you have to just go with it. No harm is meant by it. We always ended up laughing it off. One night, we were standing outside of a candy shop when a guy, riding by on a motorcycle, came to a complete stop in the middle of the road and just stared at us. We all thought it was so crazy, but in some areas in India it is not common to see fair-skinned people.

 

9. Do stay on a houseboat.

You must stay on a houseboat and travel down Kerala’s backwaters while in India! It was such a peaceful and relaxing trip during the day with scenic views of the countryside that ended with a beautiful sunset on the water. 

 

10. Do go to at least one temple.

We went to the Sri Pasmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala, but we were not able to enter it. It is said to be the world’s richest Hindu temple with myths surrounding an unopened vault. Even just seeing it from outside was an absolutely beautiful experience. Once we were back in Mumbai, we got to visit ISKCON Juhu, a Hare Krishna temple. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced before going into a place of worship. You could feel the happiness and the energy radiating through the building. 

 

 

11. Do go to as many markets as you can.

You are not going to want to miss shopping while in any city in India, so make sure you make time for it. Plus, you’ll want to experience a good haggle to get the best price! In the markets, you’ll find everything from clothes, pashminas, art, jewelry, spices, and so many other beautiful handmade items.

 

India is an amazing country that I think everyone should experience. After going there, I really felt like I could travel anywhere in the world and be okay. In India, you’ll find this amazing colorful culture with so many kind people. You will experience a hospitality unlike anywhere else and leave there feeling like you’re leaving a second family. I’m so thankful for the time I got to spend there, and I can’t wait for the next time I plan to visit India!

 

 

Would you ever go to India? Let me know in the comments below. Don’t forget to subscribe!

 

News Minute. (2016, August 17). World’s Richest Hindu Temple and the Myths of the Unopened Vault. The Quint. https://www.thequint.com/news/india/worlds-richest-hindu-temple-and-the-myths-of-the-unopened-vault.

ISKCON. (n.d.) ISKCON Juhu. Retrieved September 29, 2020 from https://www.iskconmumbai.com/iskcon-juhu.