Life in India. Language in India. Incredible amount of people

Crazy, confusing, dirty, poor, sultry, unbearable, noisy, frightening. All this India is one of the most ancient and colorful countries in the world. What to expect from her? What to prepare for? How to choose a resort? For those who just have to plunge into this bright fairy-tale world - 5 short and useful tips. Welcome!

Seriously think about what you are more interested in - snow-white beaches or mysterious temples; What would you like to do - elephant trekking or shopping. Read all the most useful information about the regions of the country and start creating your own itinerary through the beautiful mesmerizing India.

The most popular tour in the country is the classic "Golden Triangle". Yes, beaten up. Yes, traveled and yes, crowded. But it is he who, in just a few days, is able to give the most complete picture of India, its culture and sights. Starting in Delhi, it will take tourists to the beautiful Taj Mahal in Agra, show the temples of Fathipur Sikri and pink city Jaipur to return to the capital again for an amazing day in the Delhi markets.

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Looking for something special? Please:

• best shopping: Delhi
• beaches: Goa
• Tiger Watching: Madhya Pradesh
• trekking: Himachal Pradesh
• religious shrines: Varanasi
• Relaxation and Ayurveda: Kerala
• diving: Nicobar
• parties: Mumbai and North Goa

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So many travelers try to cram all of India's beauties, monuments, museums, regions and beaches into one trip to India... don't be one of them. Visiting one place at a calm, relaxed pace will bring much more pleasant impressions than visiting 10-15 cities in a hurry. Less stress - more understanding, as well as time to communicate with the locals.

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Avoid tap water and fruits and vegetables washed in tap water. No ice, salads, fruits that have not been cooked, washed or cleaned by you yourself.

Some tourists become vegetarians while traveling in India - and this is not a bad idea. A questionable piece of meat can do more harm than lightly cooked vegetables. Also, many Indians are vegetarians, so here huge selection"green" foods. But if you can't refuse meat, make sure it's well cooked. There are doubts - go to a restaurant at a good hotel, you definitely won’t lose.

Toilets in India, of course, can easily compete with their counterparts at provincial Russian bus stations, but they are unlikely to cause harm to health. In any case, you should always carry soap or wet bactericidal wipes with you.

One billion and another 100,000+ inhabitants... that might be too much for some travelers. However, in India you can always find cozy desert corners. If you get tired of noisy big cities or crowded resorts, head south to

Have you decided on your first trip to India? To a country that seems to be frozen in eternity, which breaks all our well-established stereotypes of modern life into pieces, into smithereens. The customs and traditions of this country have hardly changed over the centuries.

- this is a great idea for those who are ready for their own internal changes, who are ready to say goodbye to illusions and understand themselves for who they really are. And this does not require any teachers and gurus. Enough travel to India! 🙂

Now let's leave the romance aside and turn to practice. Where to begin?

How to organize your trip to India?

1. .

If you are going to India for a period of not more than 30 days, now there is an opportunity for citizens of Russia and Ukraine to get it online. How to get a similar type of visa, we wrote in our article:.

2. Choosing a route for traveling to India

This is probably the most important thing you need to decide. First you need to understand exactly how you would like to experience India, what exactly to see and learn. India is a very large country and has many interesting places which are quite far apart from each other.

If you have enough time to travel, you can only mark points on the map, and India itself will draw up its own individual route for you. And we want to warn you that it is not advisable to rush and rush in India 🙂

Climate and seasonality are important. For example, in the beloved south of India, it rains heavily in summer. In central India, it is very hot in summer. And in the magical north - quite cold in winter. In what months you decide to go to India, it greatly affects the choice of route.

south of india

It has a tropical climate, with even warm weather all year round. The main season is from October to May, a pronounced monsoon from June to August (rains are heavy, torrential). In Kerala, there is another monsoon - October-December.

• (season October - April)- a state on the west coast of India, a former Portuguese colony. Airport in Dabolim. Goa is divided into north goa(more budgetary coast, suitable for independent tourists) and South Goa (less budget, many hotels). The total length of the beaches is over 100 km.
• Kerala (season December-April)- a state in southwestern India, bordering the Lakshadweep Sea. Airport in and Cochin. Most popular beaches Kovalam and. Kerala is famous for its Ayurvedic clinics.
• Karnataka(season October - May) -
• Tamil Nadu(season December - July) - a state in southern India, from the east coast. Airport in Chennai. The main beaches are Pondicherry and Mamallapuram. The state is known for its eco-village.

Useful articles about Goa:

Karnataka, Gokarna

North of India

North India is a magical land where you find yourself in a fairy tale. Himalayan mountains, peaceful atmosphere, beauty. All this you will find here. Most best time to visit North India from April to October.

• Ladakh— Leh, Kashmir. (season from April to October)
• Himachal Pradesh - Dharmasala (McLeod Ganj, Bagsu, Daramkot), Manali (Kula Valley, Vashisht, Naggar) (season from April to October)
• Rishikesh, Haridwar- the source of the Ganges (from April to October)
• Darjeeling, Sikkim

Dharamsala - Indian Tibet

Rishikesh - the capital of yoga

3. Tickets to India

Many airlines fly to India. The most popular flight from Russia to India is an air flight. The main air carriers on the Moscow-Delhi route:

• Aerofolot, non-stop flight Moscow-Delhi, travel time 6 hours 10 minutes;
• Etihad Airways, flight Moscow-Delhi with a change in travel time 10 hours 20 minutes;
• Turkish Airlines, flight Moscow-Delhi with a transfer in Istanbul
• travel time 10 hours 15 minutes;
• Uzbekistan Airways, Moscow-Delhi flight with transfer in Tashkent, travel time 11 hours 25 minutes;
• Emirates, flight Moscow-Delhi with a transfer in Dubai, travel time 12 hours 10 minutes

Search flights from Moscow to Delhi

4.How to book a hotel in India

When traveling in India, it is more appropriate to find accommodation on the spot, having prepared in advance and writing out the names and addresses of the proposed places to stop for the night. In India, many hotels are not included in any booking system. And if they are included, then the prices will immediately be from 1000 rupees per day and higher, but there may be a guest house around the corner, where even with the best conditions you will be offered accommodation 2 times cheaper.

The average cost of hotels and guest houses in India is from 500-1000 rupees per day, depending on the state and city. Check out at 12 noon. Hot water is not always there.

If you are traveling to India on your own for the first time, then in major cities, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai - it is better to book a hotel in advance, even order a transfer from the airport from the hotel itself, or use a pre-paid (prepaid) taxi from the airport directly to the hotel.

To book a hotel for a trip to India, we recommend using the following services:

• Room Guru is our most recommended hotel search engine, which combines most of the well-known international booking systems.
• - a platform for renting rooms, apartments and houses from the owner.
• www.couchsurfing.org is an international free lodging club.

5. Nutrition. Indian food.

Here you can please everyone, Indian cuisine is incredibly tasty, and as a rule, everyone likes it. Of course, your body must get used to the spiciness of Indian dishes and the new structure of the water. In your early Indian days, start with more "diet" meals. We recommend - spinach with Indian paneer cheese, naans (oven-baked cakes), Alo Gobi (potatoes with cauliflower), thali - a large iron dish with cells where a little of everything will lie.

Traditional thali on a banana leaf

Complement vegetable dishes with rice. From drinks we recommend drinking (tea with milk and spices), ginger tea, Kurd (local kefir). These dishes will help your body gently and gently enter the world of Indian cuisine.

And further! Do not be afraid of unsanitary conditions. The most popular question that we are asked in letters is: “Where to eat in this India, there are solid germs, unsanitary conditions, famine and plague?” Well guys, I don't know who told you that? Tell me, do bears walk around Moscow in Russia? Do Russian people take off their earflaps even in summer? and sleep in them, right? Laughter, and more! These are all obsolete or, rather, out of mind stereotypes. 🙂

Well, of course, in India, perfect cleanliness is far from everywhere. Are we better in Russia? Think about the quality of products in Russia, because everything they sell there is solid E, chemistry (!).

And in India, the food is fresher, it didn’t lie in warehouses for six months, there were no “Es”. A lot of spices are added so that the digestion process works well, and it is also a disinfectant.

The body must adapt to a different water structure. And on the streets, if you are afraid, just do not eat. And by the way, in India, street muffins are not particularly developed at all. In general, go to Indian cafes adapted for tourists, and everyone will be happy. 🙂

Oh, by the way, in some cities in India (in religiously significant ones) - only vegetarian food. Be prepared for this. =)

Indian cuisine, for the most part, was based on plant products, in which the climate of the country played the main role (in some territories, up to 3 crops of vegetables can be harvested in one year). Beef meat is banned in most states, as the cow is a sacred animal in India.

Indian dish - thali

6. Language in India.

The language in India is Hindi and English. And also in the constitution of India, 21 official languages ​​are defined, which are spoken by a significant part of the population or which have a classical status. There are 1652 dialects in India. Hindi is the official language of India. English language In India, it is considered the second official language.

You can easily communicate with the inhabitants of India in simple English, as it is called "Hindish". It's a funny mixture of Hindi and English. Also, in India, no one has canceled the language of facial expressions, gestures and smiles. Smile and shake your head from side to side. And you will be completely native to the Indians! 🙂

7. Indian currency

The national currency in India is Indian rupee (INR). On price tags, before the number, they usually write Rs. The Indian rupee is a limited convertible currency, the import and export of rupees is prohibited. The exception is passengers traveling to Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The exchange of money can take place in strange, suspicious shops, and if you're lucky, in banks. Try to have a good grasp of the situation with the exchange rate, it is better to find out in advance the exchange rate of the ruble against the dollar on the Internet.

There are ATMs in India. The peculiarity of most Indian ATMs is that they do not swallow a whole bank card, and the card can only be inserted by two or three. In this case, the reader does not work the first time, in order for the card to be read, you need to remove it and insert it again.

The average withdrawal limit is 10 thousand rupees, sometimes less. If you need a large amount, you will have to make several transactions, which naturally entails the payment of an additional commission. ATM withdrawal fees in India are generally Rs 200 from the Indian side.

IN tourist areas street agencies can offer services for cashing money from bank card, but it is better not to use these services, because you trust your pin code to complete strangers.

8. Mobile communication, Internet in India.

The main mobile companies in India are Airtel, Vodafone, Idea. In order to buy an Indian SIM card, you need to have two photographs and a copy of your passport with you. You can replenish the balance by buying an extension card or, again, in a suspicious shop where the owner takes cash from you and, through long magical manipulations with his mobile phone, sends it to your account for money.

The usual rules allow a foreigner to buy a SIM card that will be valid for 3 months. After that, some cards can be renewed at the company's office, and some are not subject to renewal, the details of each card must be found out when purchasing.

When traveling outside the state in which the SIM card was purchased, roaming takes effect. And one more important point If you buy a SIM card in one state, then you cannot top up your balance with a card from another state.

Internet

If you are moving around the country, then you can use a 3G modem, the speed is quite acceptable (from 1000 rupees). Different companies have their own tariffs, there are no unlimited ones. A good price for 5 gigabytes of traffic, which can be used for 90 days at voodafon (800 rupees).

In India, you can use the Internet cafe (40-80 rupees per hour). It is better to test the speed of the Internet first, and only after paying for it. It happens that in the Yandex browser it takes 10-15 minutes to load, and why such an Internet cafe is needed, probably only Indians know. The price per hour may vary depending on what you use. For example, if you want to connect your computer or chat via Skype, the price may increase.

9. Transport in India

In India, you will have to use public transport such as: buses, trains, taxis, auto rickshaws, and sometimes cycle rickshaws.

Buses: can be local - for short distances, regular (night) for long distances, two classes, seated - with ordinary folding chairs or recumbent - shelves for two people, where you can spend the night more comfortably.

Trains: you will have to travel on general class trips - similar to our trains, a slipper class, like our reserved seat, only in a compartment with 3 shelves and do not provide bed linen, there are no windows in these classes, so night crossings can be quite cool, it is better to have sleeping bags. The slipper class is recommended by us for moving short distances from 2 to 6 hours, during the daytime. Higher classes 3AC, 2AC are more comfortable carriages, for which we recommend that you buy tickets for all night journeys, they have windows and provide bed linen.

Real prices for all directions and train schedules can be found on the website makemytrip.com and www.cleartrip.com. In the same place, if you have an Indian telephone number, you can buy tickets for buses, trains and planes in India.

Taxi: in large cities it is better to ask to go by the meter, and in small settlements one must always bargain well so as not to pay more.

Rickshaw: a fairly common transport in the cities of India, for the most part, rickshawists take advantage of ignorance of prices by tourists and call very high prices, bargain.

On a note:

1. It is better to buy tickets in advance (3-4 weeks is ideal), if the destination is popular, tickets sell out very quickly. Only the Sleeper class will remain, which is inconvenient for long distances, even for adventure lovers!
2. To buy a ticket at the box office of the station, you need to fill out a form where you need to indicate the desired city, train number (if you want a specific one), carriage class, expected date and shelf, full name, gender, year of birth, address, signature and

LB = Lower Berth - lower shelf, MB = Middle Berth - middle shelf, UB = Upper Berth - upper shelf, SLB = Side Lower Berth - side lower shelf, SUB = Side Upper Berth - side upper shelf.

1. If it so happened that you bought tickets for a class that you do not like at all, you can change tickets for best class. Go to your guide or staff officer and agree on an "upgrade" - it's possible!
2. What is WL - “wait list”, “Waiting list”? If the tickets are all over, then you can be put on a waiting list. Moreover, you pay the full cost of the ticket. Further, it all depends on the location of your lucky star in the sky. 🙂

If someone rents tickets or cancels a reservation, then they are sold just to those on the waiting list from the “Waiting list”. At some point, it's your turn to come. At the station, you can check your turn in the lists posted on the platform or check in the information window. If you continue to hang on the "waiting list" - get on the train and wait for someone to get off. Or, you can return your ticket from the “Waiting list”, with a full material refund minus 20 rupees commission.

1. What is Tatkal? 2 days before the departure of any train, in the morning, all unredeemed reservations are removed and sold. Everything happens very quickly and imperceptibly. Here was Tatkal, and now he is gone. Tatkal tickets are nominal, sold with an extra charge of up to 250 rupees, and are non-refundable.
2. Trains in India are almost always late. For 1-2-3 hours. To find out your station, ask the locals or the conductor (if there is one).

Useful sites where you can pick up air and railway tickets:

• makemytrip.com (Detailed info on trains and planes)
• irctc.co.in (Indian Railway website, but very difficult to buy tickets)
• trainticketsindia.com
• cleartrip.com (it is possible to buy tickets with a Visa card)
• indianrail.gov.in (Indian Railway website)
• com/India.htm (about Indian railway)
• newdelhiairport.in (Delhi Airport website)

Indian Bus Tickets (Online Booking)

• indiatransit.com
• redbus.in
• paulotravels.com

10. Miscellaneous utility

How to call from India to Russia

• From a landline phone + (international access code) - 7 (Russian code) - code of the desired city - phone number (to mobile - without city code);
• From a cell phone +7 (Russian code) - (area code) - phone number (to a mobile phone - without a city code);

How to call from Russia to India

• From the city: 8 - beep - 10 - 91 ( telephone code India) - (city code of India) - phone number (to mobile - without area code);
• From mobile: +91 – phone number;

Address and phone number of the Russian Embassy in India (Delhi)

Address: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, India 110021
Phone: +(91-11) 268-737-99, +(91-11) 2467-85-64 (consular department)
Fax: +(91-11) 268-768-23
www.rusembassy.in

10. Popular questions about India

Popular questions we get asked about India. We are not Indians, but we can answer many of the questions we are asked about India. This is our opinion on this moment and it can change... 🙂

Divorce in Indian, what is it?

Arriving for the first time in India, many tourists fall for very banal divorces. First, always remember about "helpers" - these are people who are in any Indian city. They will smile radiantly at you and insistently find out where you are going and why. After that, tell terrible (and not so) stories that you can’t go there, a brick will fall there (!), And you can only go with him, because he will help in everything, tell you, tell you, quite simply, from the bottom of his heart.

Such helpers are the scourge of India. It’s better to ignore them right away, or you won’t get where you wanted, but you will arrive at a restaurant, hotel, helper’s relative’s store, where he will happily receive his percentage, and you will lose a lot of time, money, and even be completely confused and your own. own route.

For example, you go to buy tickets to the station, a local resident comes up to you and says that the ticket office is closed and there are no tickets, and only he knows how to buy tickets, taking tourists to his brother, matchmaker, uncle to a travel agency.

Or, even better, they tell you that the ticket offices do not work, and the city is now hosting a big festival for 3-4 days, you can’t go anywhere by train, buses don’t go either, and you can fly away only by plane, which are not cheap, well, In extreme cases, you need to take a taxi. All this will be told to you with very convincing faces. Keep in mind that the ultimate goal of speeches like this is for you to buy plane tickets, and even better, that you rent a taxi.

This is how our sincere compatriots come across, paying huge sums of money for a taxi to another city, because supposedly there are no train tickets (for 500-800 rupees) or a bus. Don't believe! Go to the ticket office for foreigners and find the right ticket for you.

The next popular type of Indian divorce can be called "Indefatigable Rickshaws". Rickshawists are generally very inventive in their inventions and ideas on how to get more money out of this pretty white wallet. For example, you ask to be taken to a famous attraction, and you are taken to a gift shop, where the “helper” will receive his fee for the customers he brought, and you will lose your time. Of course, you can certainly agree to this arrangement and agree to go to the sights cheaper than usual, that is, to take compensation for your loss of time and shopping. The helper gets paid money for bringing you and also gets paid a percentage if you buy something.

It also happens that, for example, you arrived in Agra, a crowd of rickshaws attacks you at the station, everyone wants to take you somewhere, and especially bring you and put you in a very good hotel. You agree, and in the end, you will pay for a regular room of 300 rupees - 600 rupees, because half of the amount will go to the rickshaw helper. But the main thing is that the hotel will not be as good as the rickshaw promised, it will be very far from all the sights and so on. Therefore, remember an important rule, never go with a rickshaw to any hotel, even if it is standing and silent, it's not worth the risk! 🙂

We also remind you of the concept of "Donation" - this is the amount of money that you donate voluntarily, from the bottom of your heart, if you want it. The amount of the donation is the total amount of your desire and opportunity, that is, "at your discretion." If you don't want to do it, no one is forcing you. You may encounter in some temples or ritual places that you are asked to pay a certain amount in honor of donating to a temple, a deity, clearing your karma, and so on. And they even call it “taxi” – 100, 200 rupees and so on. Smile with it good people and say you can put in just as much as you can. And ignore their angry faces. 🙂

Be careful! Check the information given to you. Be especially careful about information about where you don’t need to go somewhere, because something happened there, or there is a festival, or it’s closed for several days, repairs, reconstruction, sold, and so on. Check it out yourself! 🙂

Is it true, I heard that India is very dirty?

Well, yes, it can be messy, Indians are just too busy watching their favorite cricket or TV series to pay attention to it. It's just garbage, in their opinion. "I'll do it tomorrow" ... Sometimes it's clean, depending on where.

You need to be prepared for all sorts of unpleasant pictures, when the Indians, excuse me, go to the toilet everywhere and everywhere, and do it with the usual grace on the fences. The usual picture is people sitting or sleeping on rugs everywhere, right on the ground, you will also have to get used to this.

In India, really, everyone is very poor and lives in poverty?

We don't know if they are that poor. Often, they are satisfied with the way they live and they are not always able or willing to change something. Sometimes, these are caste troubles, sometimes, ordinary Indian laziness. We think that the way they live is simply enough for them, they are so used to it. And they are, in their own way, happy! 🙂

Is it true that in India there are beggars at every turn?

Not so at every turn, in Moscow we met no less. Beggars in India are a working specialty. When the working day ends, the beggar comes home, changes clothes and becomes just a person - she cooks dinner, watches TV, communicates with neighbors.

Yes, such people are found in India, and it is not worth giving everyone a change, if you really want to help them, share food with them: give an apple, a piece of bread, a glass of water.

A separate direction of poor people is sannyasi. These are wandering monks who have chosen this path for themselves - the path of renunciation of worldly life. You can easily recognize them by their orange clothes. Some of them live in the territory of the ashrams, and some wander and live under open sky. They ask for food only.

As for homeless children, this also exists. We were amazed that such children are not registered anywhere, they are not registered anywhere. The children of homeless children do not have a last name, a first name, or even a year of birth; they do not even have a small piece of paper or a record in a computer that they exist at all.

Do Indians dance and sing in the streets, as is usually the case in Indian cinema?

Never seen. But they love, even in stores, to turn on their TVs and watch their favorite TV shows where they dance and sing! They can sing along! Yes, they love to sing! And they like to listen to emotional Indian songs, through their mobile phones, and at full volume. 🙂

Is it true that Indians are all very spiritual people?

First, all people are different. Indians are also completely different. The spirituality of a person largely depends on the person himself. And the understanding of spirituality can also vary. For me, spirituality is the degree of awareness, openness and freedom of a person, the ability to live according to conscience, to keep one's thoughts, words and deeds pure.

In India, there is nothing special in terms of the development of spirituality. Often, these are very simple people who just live their own lives. everyday life and do not think about any spirituality. But there are other people who observe the wise Vedic traditions, live according to their conscience, and indeed lead a righteous life.

Maybe they have some freedom of their beliefs, they have dozens of gods, they are Hindus, and Muslims, and Sidhas, and Buddhists. Some believe in Shiva, others in Krishna, others in Brahma. Someone has found a guru. But do they believe in themselves? This is a question.

Is it possible to find a teacher in India and where?

There are hundreds of teachers, sects, beliefs and religions in India. Of course, you will find, if you want, a guiding star for yourself. But remember, any teacher or guru is very distracting from knowing yourself and your own path. We wish you not to get lost in the jungle of alien teaching. After all, the best teacher for you is yourself! 🙂

Which temples in India have the best energy ?

Again, twenty-five! 🙂 The best energy is in the temple of your consciousness, if you work on it and keep your thoughts, words, feelings and actions clean. And certainly not somewhere in a certain point, a certain space. Traveling a thousand kilometers to hold a Shiva lingam or knock on a bell in a temple on a mountain is a laugh, and nothing more! No one will do your spiritual work for you. Well, the placebo effect and faith can work, but it's just short-lived and primitive. Believe in your temple, which is inside of you, and everything will be fine! 🙂

Of course, you stopped by Sai Baba's just in case, didn't you? Or to Guruji, or to whom else? Really, did not partake of the high?

We say again and many, many times, we are our own teachers and gurus!) If the above-mentioned personalities themselves came to us for a light, they would be happy to give them tea and talk, but it would be better to be silent together. And in order to join high spirituality, it is enough to develop the purity of your consciousness, and not expect mercy from others 🙂

And by the way, do you want to get enlightenment while in India? 🙂 And do you think that this requires an uncle-guru who will look at you wisely, guide you like a father, give wise thoughts? Relax and don't expect anything like this! India itself will change you, India with its crazy rhythms, with its traditions frozen in eternity, customs that shatter all our stereotypes.

Do all Indians know how to stand on their heads?

The widespread opinion that all Indians practice yoga is wrong 🙂 Someone, of course, does it. But for the majority, this is too hard work, and somehow lazy!

How do Indians treat Europeans?

Indians treat Europeans normally, they like to take pictures together, ask all sorts of questions. In general, it all depends on the city and state. Somewhere Europeans this phenomenon is familiar (Goa, for example), and somewhere rare and unknown, therefore worthy of close attention (especially women). No, they said it wrong, not close attention. It would be more correct to say, the very, very, very close attention =) Which, by the way, not everyone can stand.

By the evening, you will already get tired of brushing off the endless: “Which country are you from?”, “Hello”, “How are you?”, from requests to take a picture together, from “calling a friend”. Yes, Indians love to tell their friends that they have "white" friends. To do this, you may often suddenly be given a mobile phone and asked to say “Hi” to someone and answer the same popular questions. Yes, India loves to test people's patience! 🙂

How to dress in India?

In India, you can dress in any clothes that cover your knees and shoulders. In general, it should be such clothing that blends harmoniously into the local flow and supports the local order of things.

For women. Of course, there is no need to shock Indians with short shorts or skirts, tops that are too open. The usual clothes of the Indian women themselves are saris or salwar kameez (Punjabi), which is very beautiful and comfortable. women's clothing. Looking at bright saris or cozy Punjabis, you want to walk in something like that. And it's possible! Buy yourself a punjabi (salwar kameez) - it is sold in any women's clothing stores and is a long blouse and trousers, there are any bright colors, sewn from different materials. You can buy yourself a pair of complementary Punjabis, and further journey in India will be very comfortable for you, as it is very comfortable clothing on the road. And also you will harmoniously look among the local population.

For men. Men are more fortunate, they can walk in any clothes, in jeans, shorts, shirts, T-shirts. It is difficult to imagine men's clothing that could shock the locals. In general, everything is much easier with men.

If you want to buy local clothes, this is also possible. We recommend buying a knee-length kurta shirt and loose-fitting trousers. And you will look like a local. 🙂

In general, what are they - Indians?

Well, that's a tough question! They, like all people, are different! They are temperamental, love any show. Therefore, if you ordered yourself to eat in a cafe and are sitting hungry, waiting in anticipation of food, and then suddenly there is a procession on the street, a wedding or a funeral, it does not matter. Of course, all the waiters and cooks will forget about your humble expectation and some kind of order, and will be delighted to watch the show in real time!!! 🙂

And if there is something important on TV, then they will not pay much attention to you either. For example, when they broadcast the championship in Indians' favorite sport - cricket ... you can jump, dance, shout in front of them - no one will notice, everyone is watching sacred cricket.

If someone on the street swears with someone, a crowd of grateful onlookers will instantly gather around. Everyone will look with delight at any show that shows them life in real time.

Indians are very sentimental, they believe in friendship, they live by family and friendly ties. The word "Friend" for the Indians is not just. Therefore, you can often see Indians - men walking by the hand or in an embrace, they are just friends! 🙂

Indians, in general, are friendly, curious, and sociable. They like to inflate prices, everywhere you need to bargain, as elsewhere in Asia. They don't like to work. If you work with Indians, then you can learn their favorite word in the work, and this is the word "tomorrow".

What can travel to India give me?

Traveling to India, in itself, is already self-development, in terms of solving various situations that always add up in any independent travel, and even more so, in such an unusual, far from standard country as India. The reality can be completely different, it all depends on the person himself, India responds flexibly to thoughts and desires.

The very journey through India and any country in Asia is “self-development in practice”, therefore you don’t need to look for some kind of guru, but you need and can find it (!) in yourself.

India is huge. Each state has its own mentality, its own troubles. India knocks a person out of stereotypes only because it is so original, colorful, not systemic. A country of chaos, absurdity, contradictions.

But at the same time, there is a huge potential for demolishing unnecessary illusions about yourself and about the world around, because here everything is different, not stereotyped, unusual, and you live in this “other” and begin to see yourself and the world from different angles, this is the main advantage of this country.

Friends, we shared with you how to organize your first trip to India. If you forgot something - ask, we will answer! Happy travels! . Spread your wings and have a good trip!

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

1. 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.
   
   


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


3. 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.
   
   


4. 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.
   
   


5. 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.
   


6. 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.
   
   


7. 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.
   
   


8. 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.
   
   


9. 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.
   


10. 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.
    
    


11. 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 go alone.
    


12. 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.
    
    


13. 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 all and sundry are constantly honking.
    
    


14. 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.
    
    


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


16. 90% of expats who were in at least some normal countries before India consider life here a real moral hell. Listen to this.
    


17. 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 new friend invites to visit his 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.

Airplane is the most real way to get to India from Russia. Most of state borders India passes through the sea, the other - through hard-to-reach mountainous areas. In addition, there is political tension on the borders with China and Bangladesh. By sea to get far and long. Plus, it's not safe at all. So flight. On it we will stop in our choice. The largest number international flights arrive in Delhi and Mumbai, as well as Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore. These airports serve the northwest, West Coast, northeast, southeast coast, central and southern parts of the country, respectively.

The price of air tickets to India depends on the season: the most expensive is from November to March, when in the country « high season”and the weather is most comfortable. Prices decline moderately from April to May and from August to October. Most cheap flights— in June and July. By the way, in October-November, Indians from all over the world flock to their homeland to spend these days of Diwali with their families. That's why ticket prices go up! Business in general.

Tourists heading to Goa or the coast of Kerala are advised to contact a travel agency, where specialists will offer a ready-made tour package, including a charter flight along with accommodation. This is the most best option. But it must be borne in mind that the Indian authorities have set a limit on the stay of tourists who arrived on a charter flight - no more than 28 days. Moreover, the tourist is also obliged to fly by charter.

A flight to India from most cities in Russia is possible only with a transfer, so the average travel time is more than 10 hours. With a direct flight from Moscow, for example, the travel time is reduced by about 2 times, but the cost increases proportionally!

Tourist routes along the "golden triangle" of Delhi - Jaipur - Agra in the north-west of the country begin in Delhi (New Delhi Airport). A round-trip flight from Moscow with a transfer in Astana will cost about 24,000 rubles, the journey will take from 10 to 12 hours. For comparison, Air India performs a direct flight in 6 hours, but the cost of a round-trip ticket is about 36,000 rubles.

Port Blair Airport is located in the Andaman Islands off the east coast of India. From Moscow, you can fly here by Lufthansa together with Air India. With transfers in Frankfurt and Chennai, the flight takes as much as 35 hours, the cost of round-trip air tickets is 45,000 rubles.

Etihad Airways flies to Kolkata, a metropolis in northeastern India. With an intermediate landing in Abu Dhabi, you will spend 18-19 hours in flight, a ticket will cost about 35,000 rubles.

The same Etihad Airways flies to the city of Bangalore in the south of the country. 12-15 hours and you are there. The issue price is 26,000 rubles.

Before leaving for the airport

Don't forget to take your passport (OZP), travel documents and voucher. Your passport must contain an entry visa to India. The visa indicates the time corridor during which you are allowed to enter the country and the number of days of residence. We ask you to check in advance the presence of photographs of children entered in the passport, the presence of appropriate stamps on all photographs. Check-in for the flight begins: in Russia - 2 hours before departure, in India - 4 hours before departure. Considering that often (especially during peak dates) there is a resale of seats, it is best to arrive at the airport before check-in begins. In case of a delay in your flight, in accordance with the rules international transport the air carrier is responsible for the flight delay.

At the airport in India

At the Indian airport, upon arrival, an immigration card is filled out. Remaining after passing passport control part of the card must be kept until the return flight.
During check-in in India (return flight or domestic flights), it is better to keep the amount of hand luggage to a minimum, since the screening of hand luggage in Indian airports done very carefully and at least three times. Items checked in as baggage are checked once (often right at the entrance to the airport building). It should also be taken into account that in hand luggage it is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN to carry items that are considered potentially dangerous, such as: any aerosols, medicines, matches, lighters, metal combs, nail files, manicure scissors, cosmetics (including perfumes), alcoholic beverages , SPICES, etc. Video and photographic equipment may be subjected to a particularly thorough inspection

airport taxes

When departing from Goa on a charter flight, an airport tax of USD 6 is payable

Customs regulations

Customs fees do not apply to personal items, as well as personal jewelry, 0.95 liters of alcohol, 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars.

We inform you that from May 13, 2014, Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 398 of April 29, 2014 "On the invalidation of clause 7 of the Government Decree Russian Federation dated December 31, 2005 No. 866 "On the labeling of alcoholic products with excise stamps". In this regard, the import of any alcoholic products into the territory of the Russian Federation from abroad is prohibited. The exception will be alcoholic beverages purchased at airports in Duty Free shops.

The document on the basis of which your accommodation is carried out is a voucher. If your voucher does not specify a specific category of your room (sea/garden/mountain/main building/bungalow view), the hotel will place you in the currently vacant rooms.
If you find any problems in the room - you must contact the administration to eliminate them.
Documents, money and other valuables are recommended to be deposited in a safe. The safe is usually located at the reception desk, in some hotels - directly in the rooms.
When checking into a hotel, inquire about the payment system for Additional services. You can find out the status of your account for any day at the hotel reception by asking for a computer printout.
The meal option is indicated on your voucher - it can be breakfast BB, half board HB (breakfast and dinner), full board FB (breakfast, lunch and dinner) or all inclusive system (all inclusive) (this is usually breakfast, lunch, dinner + local drinks). In the hotel restaurants for dinner, drinks are always paid separately (except for all-inclusive hotels). You are not allowed to bring your own drinks into the hotel restaurant. It is not allowed to take food taken from the buffet outside the restaurant.
Some hotels do not allow food purchased outside the hotel to be brought into the premises. If you want to bring fruits to the children or drinks bought from the Duty Free store into the room, do it discreetly.

General information

India is a republic with a legislative assembly and a government headed by a prime minister. The head of state is the president. The capital is Delhi. India is located in South Asia and covers an area of ​​​​more than 3 million square kilometers, washed in the west by waters Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal to the east, and bordering Bangladesh, Burma, Bhutan, China, Nepal and Pakistan. The country also owns a number of islands. Two great rivers flow through the country: the Indus and the Ganges.
The nature of India is exotic and diverse. lush green rainforest in combination with a colorful variety of flora and fauna, snow-white and golden beaches, high mountains of the Himalayas and river valleys make a stunning impression on travelers from Europe.
The population is one of the highest in the world - about a billion people, of which 51% are men and 49% are women.

Transport

When using local ground transport(by train or bus), one must be prepared for the fact that there will be people nearby with various skin diseases (not necessarily contagious, but who knows about it). Therefore, this should only be used when absolutely necessary. It is better to order transport from the host company, or call a taxi. Almost every hotel has a taxi rank or you can call one. Taxis are inexpensive: 1 km from 2.3 - 3 rupees in the flat area to 6 rupees in the mountains.

Currency unit- Indian rupee (Rs). 1 rupee = 100 paise. Coins: 5, 10, 20, 25, 50 paise and 1, 2 rupees. Banknotes: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 rupees. Indian rupees cannot be brought into or taken out of the country. The rate of 1 $ = 47 rupees (the real rate at which you can exchange currency is 1 $ = 44-45 rupees). It is better to change currency in banks. Banknotes must be counted immediately, making sure that they are not torn or sealed. Traveler's checks can be cashed for more than favorable exchange rate. Keep receipts confirming the legitimacy of the currency exchange. Many places accept credit cards (Diners, Visa, Master-card/Eurocard, American Express)
!!! When departing from the country in Duty Free, Indian rupees are NOT ACCEPTED. Reverse exchange at the airport is possible, but at a VERY UNFAVORABLE exchange rate.

It is 2.5 hours ahead of Moscow in winter and 1.5 hours in summer.

Due to topographical heterogeneity and the size of the territory, the climate in the country is divided into several natural zones: humid equatorial in the extreme south, continental in the central part of the country and rather cool in the Himalayas. The temperature difference ranges from + 12 + 23% in January-December to + 35 + 45% in June-September, when the summer monsoon prevails, bringing precipitation.

The official languages ​​are Hindi and English. In total, the country has 1652 dialects and languages, of which 18 are state in different states. Portuguese is also widely spoken in Goa.

In India, you can meet representatives of all known religions. Major: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Islam. Religious influence varies from state to state. For example, Islam is especially strong in the northern part of the country, in Bombay there is a huge Jain community, and in Goa the population is divided into Hindus and Catholics, and only 2-3% of the population worship other cults.

Tipping depends on your satisfaction with the service received. It is customary to leave 10% of the bill - in hotels, restaurants. If the bill (usually in large hotels) shows a 10% service surcharge, tips are not required in this case.

Electricity

The mains voltage is 220 volts, a three-pole socket (an adapter is required).

Features of staying in the country

CUSTOMS
Before entering temples, mosques and gudwaras (Sikh temples), you must take off your shoes. In some places, for a small fee, you will be offered special covers for shoes, usually they allow you to pass in socks. Do not take any leather goods with you to the temples, this may be considered an insult. In many cases, photographing inside the temples is prohibited, so ask permission before using your camera. It is also necessary to ask local residents for permission to photograph them. Tourists are usually treated kindly, sometimes they are allowed to attend religious rituals. visiting sacred places, watch your clothes (do not wear short skirts, tops or shorts). In Sik temples, women must cover their heads and shoulders, and in mosques, women must also wear long skirts (or trousers). Traditionally, put some money in the donation box.
Namaste - folded palms in greeting - is a traditional form of Indian greeting, and if you use it, Indians will appreciate it. However, men, especially in cities, will not hesitate to shake your hand if you are a man. A handshake will even be appreciated as a gesture of exceptional friendliness. For most Indian women, the free morals between men and women, adopted in the West, are unacceptable, so physical contact with women should be avoided. Do not shake hands with a woman (unless she is the first to extend it) and do not put your hand on her shoulder.
In private houses, tourists are treated as honored guests, and your ignorance of Indian customs will be treated with understanding and condescension. If you want to try eating with your hands, then remember to use only the fingers of your right hand.
Try not to have the soles of your shoes facing anyone, which could be seen as a sign of disrespect. Do not point with your index finger, use either outstretched hand or chin gestures. When talking, try to never shout or lose your temper, otherwise they will simply not communicate with you.
HEALTH
1.Special vaccinations are not required. in cities and resort areas bites of dangerous insects and animals do not threaten. But, going on an excursion, it is better to take care of repellents in advance. Do not touch anything unnecessarily. It is strictly necessary to follow all the instructions of the guide. A dry knot can turn into a poisonous snake, spider, scorpion, and a beautiful delicate flower can cause severe allergies.
2. The most important thing is the observance of hygiene rules. Remember that this region is the source of most serious gastrointestinal infections. Avoiding these diseases is not difficult, you just need to strictly follow a number of rules:
- never buy food and drinks on the street, and, moreover, do not drink or eat on the street;
- wash hands with disinfectant soap as soon as possible;
- wash fruits thoroughly;
- do not drink tap water, even just rinse your mouth and brush your teeth better with mineral water. This is not due to the fact that tap water contains an infection (water is disinfected in hotels), but because each region has its own mineral composition water and this can adversely affect the stomach. Therefore, Indians who drink tap water at home, when they go to another place, use bottled water. Even in expensive restaurants, water placed on the table in a carafe can be tap water and cause severe intestinal upset. Drink only from bottles.
3. A serious danger in India is the sun. Severe sunburn can occur even on cloudy days, so a high factor sunscreen is recommended.
MEDICAL SERVICE.
There are qualified doctors who speak English in all major cities. A consultation can also be obtained from a doctor in the hotel. Hospitals meet the necessary requirements. All tourists flying to rest abroad have medical insurance. First of all, CAREFULLY read the rules of insurance. In case of applying to medical institution or call a doctor, you must immediately call one of the phones indicated in the insurance policy and warn the insurance company about the use medical services. If the disease is an insured event (see insurance policy), the costs will be compensated in accordance with the presented paid invoices. It should also be taken into account that no insurance company covers the costs of treating sexually transmitted diseases and diseases caused by alcohol poisoning.
SAFETY
India is a safe country, but, nevertheless, in crowded places and especially in large cities: Delhi, Bombay, Agra, etc., where petty theft flourishes, it is necessary to be careful.
In good 4 and 5 star hotels, as a rule, there is no theft, but, nevertheless, it is recommended to keep money only in a safe. In most cases, the hotel administration will not be responsible for the loss of things from the room.
Local banknotes have a low denomination, and therefore you often have to carry thick wads of money with you, which is very inconvenient. It is not recommended, however, if possible, to take all the money with you to avoid loss, it is better to keep them in a safe. If a large amount of cash is still necessary, then you should not show it to others. It is better to divide the pack into several, setting aside separately banknotes for current payments: tips, toilet, etc. All of the above applies to cash, the life of plastic card holders is much simpler.
It should not be served to numerous beggars and beggars, who cannot be counted near the exit from the hotel and in crowded places. Giving anything, even a little, becomes a potential victim of the local community of beggars. Not only will it be extremely difficult to get rid of them, but in addition, the "potential victim" will be passed like a baton from one group of beggars to another.
When buying souvenirs on the street or taking pictures with exotic animals, it is better to conduct all negotiations through a guide. So at least you can count on reasonable price.
NUTRITION.
You can eat without fear of poisoning in restaurants at hotels, or in restaurants recommended by the host. Also an indicator of the quality of food is the presence of tourists in the hall. You have to be careful with spices. It is better not to ask the locals if this dish is spicy or not, try it yourself. Because locals the question “is this food spicy or not” is understood as how spicy the food is, namely, how many types of spices are present in the dish. Therefore, even if the dish consists of hot pepper, but there are no other types of spices, then this dish (according to the Indians) is not spicy or spicy, but neutral.
BTW: Public toilets, as a rule, are paid and are located in the central part of the city, as well as in large hotels and restaurants, but it should be taken into account that not all restaurants have a public toilet, and toilet paper is also not everywhere.

The shops

Opening hours from 10:00 to 19:00. On Sundays, state-owned shops are closed. In resorts, shops are usually open until late in the evening and seven days a week. Bargaining is accepted everywhere, except for government stores (Government Emporium) and shops with the inscription "Fixed prices". Traditional purchases and souvenirs: carpets, products made from precious and semi-precious stones, gold and silver jewelry, textiles (clothing, bed linen, scarves, stoles), leather and wood products, objects made of copper, brass, bronze with embossing, inlays , enamel, etc., miniatures on paper and silk, antiques and of course the famous tea and spices. Don't rush shopping. Consult your guide about customs regulations and take care of the necessary references and certificates.

Car rent

Don't forget that in India traffic is LEFT-HAND. Driving in India is quite difficult and is not recommended for novice drivers and people with weak nerves. Most highways are dangerous areas where you need to be prepared for any surprises, because. many drivers ignore the rules traffic. In addition, the streets are full of pedestrians, cyclists, stray dogs, cows, potholes, carts, cars racing at high speed, or vice versa, parked in the middle of the road. Therefore, if you decide to rent a car, we recommend taking a car with a driver. The cost of such a service is about $ 20 per day. The cost of renting without a driver is about 30% less and ranges from 500 rupees per day + a deposit of 1000 rupees in case of car damage. In all cities there are branches of large international companies (Hertz, Budget Rent-a-Car, Eurocar).

Phones

All types telephone communication paid in India. You can reach Russia by automatic line code 007 + area code + phone number. A call from a telephone booth will cost you much cheaper (2-3 times) than from a hotel.

Information about the time of departure from the hotel to the airport is given by the representative of the host company. If this information is not provided on time, the time of departure must be clarified directly with the host company or with a representative of this company no later than 1 day before departure. This should be done even if there is prior information obtained when purchasing the tour. If your bus is late, don't worry. He may stay at the previous hotel along the way. If for some unknown reason the transfer was not provided and you risk missing the plane, go to the airport by taxi. At the same time, you should take a check for payment from the taxi driver and make sure that it indicates the date and time of boarding the taxi. The amount spent in accordance with the check will be returned to the agency that sold the tour. On the eve of departure, please pay for additional services: telephone conversations, use of a mini-bar, other expenses. Check-out time is usually 12:00 noon. You must vacate your rooms before the specified time. If the time of the return flight was late in the evening, you need to take care of the possible extension of your stay in the room in advance - you can agree on a later check-out for a small fee at the Reception, or you can transfer your luggage to the storage room and spend the rest of the day on the beach, in a restaurant, or walking around the city.