We travel with the mind. Do I need a visa to travel to India? Time to fall? All about immigration. About household chores

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

Independent travel to India can be quite inexpensive, compared to the offers of travel agencies, and positive emotions and interesting acquaintances this type of vacation will bring many times more. In addition, "package tours" do not offer anything new, all their ideas are worn out to holes: lie on the beach, visit one or two attractions, go to the most expensive market. Recreation "one's own boss" gives a lot 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 access to foreigners is limited in some states of the country; in order to get into them, 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 have long been accustomed to foreigners (after all, it is also former colony Portugal) and their manners and customs, no one here will turn special attention to short shorts and bikinis, unlike residents of other states, clothes that cover most of the body are held in high esteem. 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

The fastest and most comfortable way to get to India is 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. Who has a short vacation, this is not at all suitable. Therefore, it is better to fly, and not to 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 cost from 300 € (flights with transfers, round trip), but, as a rule, cheap flights involve a longer flight. If you want to get to your holiday destination quickly, then fly with a direct flight, ticket prices start at 330 €.

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

Calendar low prices for air tickets

Check airfare prices:

Housing

Hotels in India most often do not differ in luxury, although there are exceptions. To find the right hotel for you, you need to search for it on. Thanks to an advanced search with many criteria, you will quickly and easily select the right option. A description has been added to each hotel, a list of what is in the room, and most importantly, there is true reviews, written by tourists and travelers who have already lived in this place. This service saved a lot of money and nerves. all the accommodations I booked through Roomguru were of good quality and matched the description.

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

There is still an opportunity to rent an apartment or a house, but this is an amateur 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 what it says about renting a house abroad.

find inexpensive hotel from Roomguru right now:

Documentation

To travel in India, you will need a visa and a passport, it is desirable (but not necessary) to apply, 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 already on the spot, then you will have to pay exorbitant prices for treatment, so it’s better to buy insurance yourself, besides, it costs very little.

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

Here is the list of documents required for obtaining a visa:

Passport valid for more than 6 months at the time of visa application
A completed application form
Hotel booking confirmation
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.

Attractions

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

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

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

If the budget of the trip allows, then you can use the services of domestic air carriers. The cheapest way is to fly somewhere on a low-cost airline (low-cost airline), of which there are quite a lot in India.

Travel cost

An independent holiday in India can cost both 700 € and 70,000 €. It all depends on you, as you wish, so be it. This is what makes travel "one's own boss" good, you decide what is better to spend 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 airfare = 900 €
Hotel accommodation 3* = 500 €
Food = 200 €
Transport = 50 €
Attractions = 50 €
Purchases = 250 €
Visa = 60 €
Insurance = 20 €

Final price: 1980 €. You can relax in India and much cheaper. And someone prefers not to refuse 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 recommendations also apply to India. Budget travel is a reality.

How to save money on travel

How to inexpensively relax on your own in India and not lose in comfort - that's what this section is about. Knowing some features budget holiday savage, you can significantly reduce your costs.

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

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT GO TO INDIA ekspatru wrote on March 23rd, 2015

India is not the country that everyone imagines from Hollywood films and not those snow-white beaches that tour agents willingly draw in their booklets. Therefore, if you have never been here before, then you will immediately be disappointed.

Where there is beautiful scenery- there is no beautiful work where there is good work - there are no landscapes at all. A harsh Indian industrial awaits you!

And if you think you can be a yoga teacher or enlighten yourself in some godforsaken heavenly place, then leave these delusional thoughts in the past. There are enough of these turned ones, all the places are already occupied and they often live not the way you imagine. And there are a lot of stories about how our citizens came to cleanse their souls and minds, and then were left without money, housing, hungry and with an expired visa.

Also, GOA is not India, and India is not GOA. GOA is a tourist place, with a relaxed atmosphere, highs, a gray beach, rum and other gifts for an unspoiled traveler. Due to the growth of the dollar, the outflow of tourists was global, there were the same number of people who wanted to illegally earn money from visitors, which is why there were many hungry people this season. Yes, and from April to November it rains there, almost every day, everything is closed, charters do not fly.

Life in India is no longer worth a penny. Whatever you think that you can show off here, then no, some products and things will be more expensive than Russian ones. Bread 60 rubles, eggs from 48 rubles to 110 rubles for 6 pieces, crab sticks 150 rubles, fresh fish 500 rubles a piece, shrimps from 300 rubles per kg, Lintd chocolate 350-550 rubles per bar, good packaged juice 150 rubles, Barilla pasta 250 rub pack, Heinz mayonnaise 450 rub bank, etc. I think you understand.

WITH good shopping there are big problems here. The assortment is the same everywhere, the maximum that you can find something else in 4 online stores and that. Want a new TV or microwave? Be prepared to pay twice the amount than in Moscow. Do you like new technology and electronics? Wait a month, another, third, year .... not everything at once and far, not everything is there. Think you can buy it on the black market? It wasn’t there, there was only what was officially delivered to India, without exception. Is it in the catalog? No? Goodbye. Therefore, bring everything from home, it is better to pay for the excess than to find something that cannot be found.

I don't know if you will ever get used to the situation on the roads, but I assure you that at first you will ride in a taxi with your eyes closed. Even after such a long time being here, every time I emotionally swear at them, honk and have a great desire to just blow off their brainless heads. If you don't believe me, there are enough videos on YouTube showing the real situation.

You will have to overcome the good desire to teach the Indians the rules of etiquette, and what is there, ordinary politeness. No, they will climb out of turn, pretending that they don’t notice you, step on your feet and see you off with their empty eyes.

If you can't watch how half the people in the cafe around you eat with their hands appetizingly stuffing half of the brush into their mouths, then you will have to cook at home. Always.

Oh yes. Another reason may be that the local cuisine is specific and 90% of expats living here do not visit any establishments, but eat only what they are used to in their homeland.

Forget fancy clothes. It's +40 outside, and you will have to wear something more decent, but what else would cover what you need. Do not forget that the level of rape here is very high and even local girls prefer not to walk alone.

If you think you know English, then in India you will realize that you don't know it at all. For the first month I did not understand anything they were saying. Quickly, indistinctly, as if typing some crap in his mouth. You can only call an Indian on the speakerphone, with patience and with the hope that he will say at least something articulate.

Do you want silence? Do not forget about their number - it is never quiet here! Is that from 3-4 nights and that's enough. My windows overlook the street, where after 30 meters the road and 23 hours a day in the room the noise of cars and constantly beeping all and sundry.

It's the same on the streets: noise and chaos. Walking is sometimes impossible and I never do it. Dirt, stench, crowds of Indians, motorcyclists, rickshaws, cyclists, cows, dogs - kneading is impossible.

And yes, in the car the air intake from the outside is closed forever.

90% of expats who were in at least some normal countries before India consider life here a real moral hell. Listen to this.

If you still want to go to India, but have not been here yet, then go for reconnaissance. Otherwise, you may find yourself in an awkward situation upon arrival with things and a sold apartment in Russia.

This post is written only for those who legally and seriously want the court to move to permanent residence. All those who dream of marrying a Hindu after watching Bollywood films, or a new friend calls to visit their homeland, those who are enlightened and dream of becoming even better - this post does not apply. These people, no offense, are a different category with a biased view of reality. Here, some may and will be better, until they really open their eyes and see what they are in. Well, quarrel.

ps foreshadowing the questions of those who climbed into my livejournal, blog, other social networks and saw beautiful photos from India - it's only because I'm always trying to find at least something beautiful here, I can't shoot shit and I try in every possible way to put rose-colored glasses on my camera. The real India is shown and told in this post.

pps If you work well, then on weekends you can afford such a rest. Nirvana compared to reality. Whatever you think, the cost of rest per day is from $ 100 for breakfast.

India is one of the most underrated regions for emigration. A vast country of contrasts with a population of one billion can show a migrant how magnificent beaches Goa and cultural monuments, as well as slums nearby major cities. However, even a few tourist trips can not always help to make the right impression - too much is hidden "behind the screen", away from standard routes.

The country is located in the Southeast Asian region ( Southeast Asia), located almost entirely on the Indian subcontinent and washed by the Indian Ocean.

A huge area of 3.28 million square kilometers (the seventh largest country in the world) is located in the tropical zone, due to which the year is divided into three seasons:

Cool and dry, with northeasterly winds (November to February);
Dry transition period lasting three months starting in March;
Hot and humid season running from June to October.

In the summer, the country turns into a "wind oven", so it is not recommended to visit it in the third season. The most favorable time for the first visit is mid-April and the New Year holidays.

Goa, India

The level of industry and infrastructure varies greatly from region to region. It is important to realize right away that it will be very difficult to find a job in Goa, Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, while industrial areas cannot boast of beautiful views and cleanliness. Migration to Goa will be a good option in case of remote work, business or other source of income that is not related to the place of residence.

India is an agricultural country, the sector employs more than half of the population, which provides about 20% of GDP. Food problems in the country have lasted throughout its history, so today self-sufficiency in food is still a key goal of every government in India.

The main crops are wheat, rice, corn. For sale abroad are grown:

Coffee;
Sugar cane;
Tobacco;
Cotton;
Rape.

Spices bring a significant income - a third of the world's production is located in Hindustan. Animal husbandry is poorly developed due to cultural characteristics: the cow is sacred for the Hindus, while the pig is considered an unclean animal by most of the country's population. Cattle are used, as they have been for thousands of years, to transport goods.

The standard of living ranges from dire poverty with cardboard houses to magnificent palaces, both worlds can be separated from each other by a wooden fence. The average price for basic necessities is even higher than in Russia, so many beggars live in the country.

The labor market is very congested, especially for migrants - due to government regulations, only locals are hired for low-paid jobs, and the number of vacancies for foreigners on labor exchanges is close to zero. For qualified foreign employees by invitation, things are a bit easier, although here again the quota is 1% of the number of Indian employees.

Immigration to India

Active migration is slowed down by the Hindu government - if it is incredibly easy to get a visa for long-term residence in the country, then the next step in obtaining citizenship will be noticeably more difficult. 2 billion people.

Indians do not have problems with cheap labor or mid-level specialists, they need investments and high-class professionals. Bureaucracy only creates additional complications.

Many who have moved for the first time live on the so-called "religious" visa. Indian law is much more tolerant of those who come to the country to study religious practices or profess one of the many beliefs.

To see the sights of one of the oldest countries in the world, it is enough to get a temporary two-month visa, which is activated upon entering the country.

Those who want to leave to live in Goa and other warm places for the winter can apply for a tourist visa for six months.

In general, relocators should understand that they are moving to an overpopulated country with a fairly low average income per person. Emigrants to India are welcomed with open arms only if they have unique skills or a good bank account.

How to move to India for permanent residence from Russia

So, after several visits to India, an enthusiastic tourist understands that this is his country, and he is ready to meet his old age in it. Where to begin?

You should start with obtaining a residence permit. There are two types of Indian residence permit:

Temporary;
Constant.

A residence permit is a transitional option between tourist visa and citizenship. Temporary is valid for up to a year, permanent - indefinite with confirmations every five years.

To apply for a residence permit, you will need the following set of documents:

Passport (+ copy of each page);
Four color photographs of a standard sample;
Certificate of no outstanding criminal record in the previous country;
Valid visa to India;
A rental agreement or a document confirming the ownership of housing;
An account statement with at least $2,500. The bank must be a resident of India. In the case of family emigration, each member must have an additional amount of $1200;
Description of the purposes and intentions of living in India.

You can obtain a residence permit and citizenship in a simplified way by fulfilling one or more requirements:

Own business providing jobs to local residents. The possibility of organizing such a business will be carefully considered by Indian officials, and the business plan will need to be coordinated with the representative office of the Ministry of Economy of India. In case of successful implementation of the plan, the residence permit will be extended to an indefinite period or converted into citizenship with minimal red tape.
Investments. As in almost any country, large investments can become a step towards obtaining a residence permit and citizenship. In India, you will need to invest an amount of one and a half million dollars for a period of at least five years.
Marriage with a citizen of the country. A relatively quick and easy way, if you do not take into account the cultural characteristics of the Hindus. There are fewer men of reproductive age in the country than women, and compatibility issues with caste and social status make marriage a non-trivial task. You will have to live in marriage for at least three years: in the first year, a foreigner will receive the status of a temporary resident, for another two years before obtaining citizenship, he will have to be content with a residence permit. The Indian authorities have a very bad attitude towards fictitious marriages, so you should not resort to this method.
Official work. For high-level specialists, most of the issues are handled by the host. In this case, the migrant must have a contract with working conditions and the duration of the agreement. The downside of the option is the inability to change jobs without losing a visa until the migrant receives a full-fledged residence permit.
Foreign education. If the desire to stay in India appeared from a young age, it is enough in a simple way obtaining citizenship will be training in one of the accredited universities. The student automatically receives a residence permit on the basis of a certificate from the university on passing exams and the absence of absences from classes. If a specialist stays in India after training and gets a job, all the time spent at the university is counted towards the period of permanent residence.
Moving to family. Emigration to close relatives is possible - for example, to parents who left earlier. In this case, relatives must have confirmed citizenship for a period of more than five years, they must give guarantees for material and moral support for repatriates.

In other cases, full citizenship can be counted on only after ten years of residence. Double citizenship according to Indian laws it is impossible, so the Russian one will have to be abandoned.

To obtain Indian citizenship, you must:

To be "clean" in front of law enforcement agencies;
Have a regular source of income;
Use official languages countries - English and Hindi;
Know the culture and customs of India.

The decision itself will take a very long time - the Indian bureaucracy and corruption at the lower levels reaches unthinkable proportions. You should be patient and persistently deal with the issue, not letting it take its course.

Life of Russians in India after moving

Let's start with the good news - there is a relatively large Russian diaspora in India. The country is home to both the “first wave” of the descendants of 1917 migrants who fled the chaos of the civil wave, and modern migrants who moved to India due to the relative cheapness of life and globalization.

In India, I was struck by the attitude towards family, friends, neighbors. In addition to huge family trees up to fourth cousins, Hindus usually have a lot of friends and acquaintances. And if something happens, the whole street will come to the rescue. Incredible feeling.
Ivan, four years on an Indian residence permit.

Modern "new Indians" most often live in the status of delayed tourists or with a residence permit, not intending to acquire full-fledged citizenship. The country is most popular with people with remote work or regular income - prices are out tourist areas here are strikingly low, and most of The population survives on between 50 cents and two dollars a day.

Things are cheap. Too cheap, I mean. At first, it was even a shame to give such a penny for the manual labor of a person opposite.
Svetlana, tourist, third visit to the country.

The middle class is quite saturated - about 200 million people, but compared to the rest of the population, this is practically a drop in the ocean. It is worth living either in large resort towns, or on the coast: although prices are higher there, it will be much easier to meet a compatriot and find a relatively well-paid job.

After the move, the first couple of months I was just in shock. There are no normal shops, no roads, and only a couple of good buildings for the entire “city”! You get used to it over time, but beginners should know - beyond big cities and resorts, everything looks different than on tourist booklets.
Alena is an Indian citizen.

A significant part of the Russians who decided to move to the country either studied at a local university or married a local resident. There are international training programs based on the ITEC collaboration program. Often Russians can be found on the staff of transcontinental companies and large corporations.

I heard from friends about poverty, poverty, garbage ... well, and many more terrible words. I don’t know, maybe in the suburbs everything is really like that. But I myself have not seen anything like this, although I have been living in Delhi for the fifth year. There are cultural peculiarities, laziness, unbearable summer heat and many other things, but the country as a whole is excellent. Not once in three years did he regret accepting an invitation to work.
Sergey, database architect.

Conclusion

Having overcome a number of bureaucratic, cultural and social barriers, many migrants look around and instead of golden Goa beaches see the poverty and devastation of the central regions of the country. India cannot be called an ideal or even a good country to live in - the gaps in society are too great, the caste past is too pressing on the Hindus today.

Before choosing India as a permanent residence, you should weigh all the possible pros and cons. At the same time, it is imperative to have a stable third-party income or unique skills - without this, it will be incredibly difficult to survive in a country that is already overcrowded.

Traveling and vacationing in India is always a huge explosion of emotions. India is a country of tea and cinema, elephants and tigers, ancient temples and picturesque resorts. Perhaps, with each new trip, it opens up in a new way, endless amazing finds are discovered. We bring to your attention all the most important things about India for tourists planning to visit this bewitching country.

Ancient culture and exotic nature

Unique culture, architectural monuments, incomparable cuisine, outlandish nature, traditions and rituals, a stunning combination of unhurried monks and energetic business centers - all this attracts tourists from all over the world to India every year.

Where is

Exoticism in this ancient country begins with its geographical location. It is located in South Asia and is the most major state by territory and population in this region. India is often referred to as the "country-continent". This is due to the fact that it almost completely occupies the spacious Indian subcontinent, as well as the nearest territories, up to the Himalayas and Kashmir. It is washed by vast expanses of water indian ocean. The capital of this country is the city of New Delhi.

How to get from Moscow

It is more comfortable and easier to get first on a direct flight to New Delhi, and then to carry out domestic flights around the country. Direct flights are operated by Aeroflot, AirIndia and other airlines.

There are also flight options with transfers: flights to Jaipur, Mumbai, Goa and others big cities. There are an order of magnitude more flights with transfers.

Note also that there is no railway communication at all. Traveling by land (by car or bus) is theoretically possible, but very difficult.

Where to go: popular destinations

India has many interesting and popular places to visit. However, if you do not organize your trip in advance, the trip can be tiring. In addition, you risk experiencing a real culture shock from this "land of contrasts". Therefore, if you are just starting to get acquainted with this country, the right decision would be to choose one or a maximum of two popular destinations for the trip. We list the most famous tourist routes:

New Delhi;
Mumbai;
Kerala;
Himalayas (Rishikesh, Darmsala, Manali, Rewalsar, Manikaran);
Northern India (Delhi, Agra);
Bodhgaya;
Calcutta.

Having made your choice, focus on the features of a particular region. Fortunately, in every state of India there is a huge list of attractions.

Weather and climatic conditions

The usual four seasons in India do not exist. Indians live in three seasons: hot, humid and cool.

Water temperature

At the most popular resorts in India (Goa and Kerala), the season for relaxing by the sea lasts all year round. The prevailing water temperature here is +28…+29 °С. The maximum water temperature falls on the month of May and is 30 degrees with a plus sign.

Air temperature

The change of seasons in India is determined by the monsoons (steady winds). The climate in India as a whole can be called tropical, that is, mild weather prevails. The average air temperature throughout the year is +25…+27 °C. Temperature in summer season is + 24 ... + 33 ° С, and in winter - + 21 ... + 32 ° С with a plus sign.

The wet season here falls on June - October; relatively cold and dry weather occurs in November - February; and from March to May the climate tends to be very hot and dry. Therefore, if you are wondering when is the best time to go on vacation to India, give preference to the period from November to March. The air temperature at this time does not fall below +20 °C (even at night). In April comes hellish heat, and in the summer comes the season of rains and showers. However, in this conditional "off season" you can significantly save money on flights.

Did you know? A small town in India, Cherrapunji, is the rainiest place on Earth, and the Thar Desert in the North-West of the country, on the contrary, is one of the hottest and driest places on the planet. This fact once again confirms that India is a country of contrasts.

Where to go for beach lovers

For those who go to India for a relaxing beach holiday, we present an overview of the most popular resorts.

The main international Indian resort and the real pearl of the country is Goa. The resort is rich in golden beaches, magnificent nature, palm forests, charming old alleys. Tour to Goa - this is, among other things, an ideal option for those wishing to combine an inert holiday with the study of local color. This state combines local exoticism and Western European traditions.

Another beautiful place on our planet, which is definitely worth a visit, is Kerala. This is a green region stretching
along southeast coast countries. locals called this state "God's country". Here you will discover an abundance of vegetation, azure beaches, gorgeous rivers and lakes, as well as bright green mountains.

For relaxing by the sea in the summer season, as an alternative popular resorts India, you can come to Tamil Nadu. Here you will be met picturesque beaches washed by warm waters Bay of Bengal.

Also pay attention to the almost deserted Andaman and Nicobar Islands. After traveling through the archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, vacationers are provided with vivid impressions of a lifetime.

Another wonderful place for beach lovers is the quiet shores of the Lakshadweep Islands, whose beaches are strewn with white sand, fabulous corals and clear water.

Leisure

Those who want to add a little to their schedule active rest, can visit mountainous areas India. The mysterious Indian mountains are often referred to as "the abode of the gods."

Take a short trip to Himachal Pradesh, where the Himalayas are covered in snow. Traveling through this state, it will be difficult for you to get used to the idea that you are still in India.

The state of Sikkim is surrounded by the wonderful Himalayas and keeps the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. From here you will discover the most nice review to the Himalayan mountain range and the majestic Mount Kanchenjunga.

Also don't forget the Kashmir Valley, famous for its fabulous beauty. Here, the magical Dal Lake reflects the slopes of the mountains in its waters.

Sacred places of India

To feel the spirit and history of India, go to religious capital countries - The "immortal city" of Varanasi. It is also the oldest inhabited city in the world. In Varanasi are the waters of the legendary Ganges River, which for more than two thousand years have served as a place of ritual ablutions. The most important historical and architectural monuments are located not far from the city.

Ladakh - high mountain region of the Himalayas, called Little Tibet. In India, there is no better place than Ladakh, where you can relax your body and soul. Ladakh preserves the unchanging traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. The area is rich in secluded monasteries and shrines, prayer wheels and divine chkhortens.

The cities of Rishikesh and Haridwar stand on the banks of the sacred Ganges and have been awarded the title of world capitals of yoga practice. Yoga tour in India - a wonderful method of replenishing the reserve of vitality.

Nightlife lovers

Consider also where in India it is better for fans of nightlife to relax. In all major cities And resort areas India has various clubs and bars. Numerous night bars with live music, excellent cocktails, delicious fish and seafood dishes will not leave you indifferent. Much attention is paid to the interior design. Toilets in institutions are not just clean, but artistically decorated.

Most of the clubs and bars in Delhi are located in luxury hotels. Single men are prohibited from entering these establishments, making them quite secure for single women. Club life comes alive on weekends.

The famous Buddha-bars (B-Bar) are named so because of the predominance of religious themes there.

Club "Capitol" was created for connoisseurs of Bollywood music.

Did you know? You will not find alcoholic beverages in the free sale in India. Alcohol is not banned in the country, but it is not particularly welcome. Findit is possible only in specially designated places. In most cafes, it is also not officially available (sometimes it is sold illegally), it is only available in restaurants.

Today, one of the most popular nightlife venues is Hauz Khas Village (in Delhi). In the evenings, local golden youth gather here. There are restaurants in the Mediterranean style.

Accommodation features

India is considered inexpensive country for tourism: housing, food, transportation can cost you the minimum amount. Although, of course, it all depends on your appetites.

Transport

Taxis and auto rickshaws (motorcycle taxis) operate in major cities. In the data vehicles counters are not always available. If there is a counter, make sure that it is reset for you. In addition, taxis come with or without air conditioning.

Taxi fares change from time to time, so the price doesn't always match the meter reading. Nevertheless, the driver must certainly have a copy of the current fare.

A three-wheeled rickshaw fare is about half the price of a taxi.

IN tourist centers A large number of cars with drivers are at your service. The approved price list of their services is slightly higher than that of ordinary taxis. Renting a car without a driver is not popular, but you can rent a motorbike or scooter.

Nutrition

Recovering to any country, it is important to have an idea about its culinary traditions.

The majority of the inhabitants of India religious reasons do not consume the meat of cows and other cattle. People prefer fish and seafood. The basis of Indian nutrition is plant foods: various legumes, vegetables, chapati cakes (low-grade flour). Hot tea with milk is very popular among Indians.

IN national dishes cooks use a lot of hot peppers and garlic. Everyone knows the famous Indian curry!

It is strictly undesirable to drink raw water from the tap. Also remember to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water. Wash vegetables and fruits using mineral water and soap. For the rest period, it is better to exclude dishes from fresh vegetables from your diet. Always carry sanitary napkins with you on the road.

Housing

India is one of the most available countries on Earth in terms of living. Several types of housing are available:

Ashrams (spiritual communities where pilgrims come from all over the world) and monasteries.
Guesthouses (small private hotels) and standard hotels.
Private houses.
Bamboo-huts (modest temporary huts in the coastal zone).

Accommodation can be rented in advance or on the spot (upon arrival at the place of rest). If you rent housing for a long period (3 or more months), the cost is significantly reduced.

Important! Do not leave valuables and money in plain sight. In hotels, it is advisable to use a safe, as there are cases of theft.

Utilities are often billed separately. The price of prestigious housing involves the provision additional services(e.g. breakfast order, bartender service).

Go shopping!

When planning a trip to India, be prepared for the fact that your friends will make you a lot of orders for souvenirs. In order not to get lost in the market in the variety of choices, be sure to familiarize yourself with the list of everything you need in advance.

In addition, be wary of any recommendations from sellers. It is always necessary to be ready for an “attack” by very obsessive implementers of any small things. Whatever you end up purchasing, you will remember the aroma of incense in the malls for a long time.

It is customary to bargain in shops and markets, but in shopping malls prices are fixed.

Here is a short list of what to buy in India:

tea (black or expensive green);
various fabrics, carpets;
wood crafts;
jewelry (bracelets, necklaces);
traditional musical instruments;
leather products;
cosmetics and perfumes.

Important!When purchasing jewelry (for example, silver), ask for a quality certificate. Only if you have this document, you can, if necessary, return or exchange the goods.

Features of Indian culture: rules of conduct on vacation

In India, it will not be superfluous to adhere to certain rules of conduct in order to avoid possible problems.

It is advisable for women to wear closed clothes before leaving the hotel. Bare-shouldered, short dresses, skirts, or shorts are not allowed into most shrines. Therefore, when going on a trip, women should take with them a scarf that hides their shoulders. Male tourists are advised to wear trousers. At the entrance to a sanctuary or monastery, shoes are required to be taken off, although it is sometimes permissible to enter in socks.

In the interior of the country, natives can show a lively and disinterested curiosity towards travelers. Do not be surprised or react abruptly if you are stared at or asked to shake hands.

Today, holidays in India are considered the main competitor to traveling to any other country in the world. We hope that our little guide will be useful to you on the way to explore this ancient country, on the path of spiritual enlightenment, in search of an active or relaxing beach holiday.

Hello friends!

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

writing about India with such pictures is the very thing

I have a total of more than a year behind me, spent within this wonderful country. Here is a small one. Read, there are many cross-references to interesting materials:)

India is a country of victorious chaos. Written and unwritten rules here work 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 much in common with the Russian mentality. The same faith in one's own exclusivity, ingenuity and the ubiquitous maybe.

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

Here it is very easy 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 filthy streets, cows and crazy ascetics with eyes red from hashish.

As my good friend once said: people go to India and Nepal to treat souls.

How to start preparing for the trip?

With the acceptance of 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 familiar schedule, then the trains can be late for a day (I'm not exaggerating !!!).

A delay of 4-5 hours on Indian railways is considered normal. Therefore, always have a margin of time.

In a typical Indian slipper

Travel planning

Despite the quite expected destruction of all the plans built, it is necessary to prepare for the trip. You should start at least with tickets and visas). And let travel reviews on this wonderful country say otherwise)

Visa

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

The main thing - in the occupation column (type of activity), do not indicate "photographer" or "journalist". They don’t like them there :) For there is nothing to trample on the holy land with your vision with a bunch of dirt, shit and crippled beggars.

In addition, Russians can obtain an electronic visa for a period of 2 months.

It is forbidden to work on a tourist visa, so if you suddenly want to get a job, this 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 at the very least you can get tickets for buses even at the last moment, then for trains it often happens that there are no tickets.

I have Good friends who develop routes and buy tickets for Indian trains and buses. I recommend. Their experience is more than 10 years of traveling around India and their approach to business is very professional. They will select tickets, connections and the best route.

Housing

Despite the huge number of accommodations in popular booking systems, you can get burned badly. 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 to agree on some already verified other places.

cobra caster

first aid kit

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

Therefore, the must-have items on your trip should be:

Activated carbon
Ointment for insect bites (I recommend "Rescuer". It helps very well to relieve itching after any infamy)
Pancreatin. Spicy food can hit the pancreas hard. And she, according to doctors, practically does not recover.
Furozolidone. miraculous and cheap remedy for any kind intestinal infections.
Sun cream.

It is useless to take any sprays and ointments from mosquitoes from home. They have absolutely no effect on the Indian fauna. In India, there are many grocers where you can easily buy such things.

It would be nice to have travel insurance. Only, as elsewhere in Asia, it does not cover possible injuries from riding 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 fever, it is better to play it safe. There are a lot of mosquitoes here. I once had a case of 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 place: from to Kanyakumari.

There are many "ascetic merchants" here

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

It is best to withdraw money from SBI (State Bank of India) and Canara bank ATMs. They don't charge cash out fees.

Traditions you need to know to be safe

The whole of 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 single out this point especially, because spermotoxicosis in men in a society with repressed sexuality reaches very dangerous forms.

Be modest with local men. Polite, but without ingratiating smiles. Otherwise, it may be taken as an availability signal.
Close your charms. Tight clothes and flashy makeup also send a “signal”.
It is better to respond to attempts to shake your hand with a “nameste” bow with arms folded at the chest.
Large gatherings of people are best avoided.
A selfie with an Indian ladies' man often results in your photo being posted on Facebook with the caption "me and my girlfriend." This happens with enviable constancy, regardless of the state. Even more often, 1 selfie turns into a whole selfie session with everyone.

Of course, you should not fall into paranoia, but being on the alert is useful.

More calm 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 love to flaunt their "Indian victories" so much. 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, since ancient times, they have learned to sweeten the outstretched ears of novice simpletons with eloquence. (here they are called “fresh chicken”: literally “fresh chicken”). Therefore, attempts to deceive here will be constantly. The good news is that 99% of such attempts are childishly naive and harmless.

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

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

Indian Divorce in Varanasi

However, vigilance must not be lost! Persistence is possible and even necessary. Only, without aggression. The latter is completely out of favor here. She is offensive and destructive.

The most common divorces are as follows:

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

Determining 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 places like Goa. On the road and in the villages, I have not seen this. On the contrary, only a sincere desire to help, which I was repeatedly convinced of during our and after, on the way