One of the first things you need to take care of when traveling to India (or anywhere else) is to make sure you have all your documentation in order. You’ll need a passport with at least 6 months of validity from the date of return and a visa, which you can apply for online through the Indian government website. The process is simple and will allow you to obtain the visa in a few days. The requirements and visas available might vary depending on your country of citizenship, so it’s recommended to do some research before your trip. We go more in-depth about this in our post “Visa Requirements for India.”

A key tip for India is to dress modestly, especially when visiting temples or religious sites. India is a somewhat conservative country, although younger crowds are more relaxed about this. For the most part, women are encouraged to avoid wearing cleavage-revealing tops, shorts, tank tops, and overly revealing clothes, like see-through fabrics. Dressing modestly can help you avoid unwanted attention and feel more comfortable in public spaces. Unlike in some Muslim countries, crop tops are not as much of an issue in India, as you’ll notice when you see women wearing sarees.

Indian food is flavorful, but it can be a little strong for some stomachs, as they use a lot of spices, and many dishes are spicy. Sanitary conditions might also be challenging. It’s recommended to avoid street food if you’re visiting India for the first time and aren’t familiar with it, and stick to drinking only bottled water. In my case, I also brought a good supply of probiotics, which were extremely helpful. Although I was a bit over the spicy food by the end of my trip, I had no major issues.

One of the most important tips I can give is to be patient and flexible. India is vibrant, busy, and sometimes a little chaotic, but that’s part of its charm. Even though I’m very organized and like to plan things in advance, many things didn’t go as expected. Always have a plan B just in case. Transportation was a major issue for me. I was patiently waiting for a taxi that never arrived due to traffic, so I ended up having to go to the airport in a Tuk Tuk to avoid missing my flight. It all worked out in the end, but it was very stressful. Take it easy, and be prepared to make last-minute changes.

Things in India don’t always work the way they do in other parts of the world. Although it’s a modern country, credit cards are not accepted everywhere. Cash will help you pay for food, transportation, souvenirs, tips, and a bunch of other things. One of my anecdotes is that I was expecting to find an ATM at the airport in Varanasi so I could pay for my taxi, but ATMs were nowhere to be found (it’s the only airport I’ve ever visited that didn’t have an ATM). I had to figure it out on the fly (I ended up in a car with four strangers, and we divided the fee), and although I managed, it was a stressful situation that could’ve been avoided.

Picking up a few words in Hindi or the local language goes a long way. Even just saying “Namaste” (hello) and “Dhanyavaad” (thank you) can earn you big smiles.

India has monkeys everywhere, especially in parks, temples, and in some cities like Varanasi. Please be cautious and ignore them as much as you can. They can be cheeky little thieves, so keep your belongings close and don’t wave food around.