Introduction
India is a country full of diversity. You can find everything in India from stunning mughal buildings, beautiful gardens, greenery to chaotic traffic. You can find every kind of people in India from different cultures to different food tastes with different dressing style. But If you are travelling for the first time in India, you have to follow some of the precautionary measures which I have listed below:-
Decide carefully which part of India, you want to explore.
As I have already mentioned above, India is a vast country with 29 states and 7 union territories. Decide carefully, which part of country you want to explore and plan accordingly. Different states have different weather even in the same month itself. If you are planning to travel the India in the month of june and july, keep summer clothes with you, If you are deciding to travel places with hills and mountains such as mussoorie, shimla, manipur or sikkim, weather would be quite cold. Different states have their different dressing styles, wearing exposing clothes in cities like mumbai, Goa is cool but if you are travelling towards North India, avoid wearing exposing clothes.
Try to use public Transports
It is better to use public transports if you are new to a country. Even if you are using any private transport, try to follow google maps. Metros and trains are more safer than cabs and autos. Moreover, in most of the metros and trains in India, there is a reserved coach for woman, so try to travel in woman coach.
Don’t ask for beef
Indian’s have their sacred feelings attached with cow. Even, at some parts of India, cow is also being worshiped on a festival called ‘Govardhan Pooja’. So, if you go to any restaurant or food serving place, avoid asking for beef. However, eating meat, fish and chicken is quite normal in India.
Avoid wearing too much exposing clothes
As I have already mentioned above, wearing exposing outfit in some parts of India is cool, but adjust and wear accordingly to the culture of the state or city. However, If you are going to a bar or beach, its okey to wear exposing outfits
Be ready to get stare
You will sometimes find some men staring you up continuously without any reason. Ignore such kinds of situations and don’t react.
You might be asked by some people to click pictures with them
It sounds weird but yes, its true. You will find some people requesting you to click pictures with you. You might be treated as celebrity by some places in India. You must know carefully how to handle them. If you are being covered by a crowd asking you to take selfie with them, handle them with intelligence, and asked them to take a group picture instead.
Avoid travelling at Night
If you are woman and travelling first time in India from a foreign country, you should avoid travelling at night alone in India. Even, if it is too urgent, try to travel with your trusted male friend. If in case your flight is boarding at night, ask the guest house to send someone from their behalf to pick you up from there.
Always note the cab number or auto number before sitting
It is one among the all time useful trick which usually I also use to save myself from any kind of miss-happening.
Note the cab or auto number and after sitting in car or cab, call your friend and speak loudly “I have already send you the cab or auto number” so cab driver can hear that you have already shared the taxi number with someone.
Avoid buying things from open market.
Being new to the country, woman should avoid buying things from the open market, as there are chances that the vendors might try to rob you by telling you the double cost of the product from the actual price. So, if you are buying things from open market, try to bargain as much as possible.
Be Confident
Try to be confident and bold in every situation. Don’t feel shy in any situation and be courageous.
Save some below listed numbers in your mobile
If you are travelling first time in India, then the below listed numbers must be saved in your phone for emergency purpose:-
Police- 100
Woman helpline number- 181
Ambulance- 102
National Legal Services Authority (Nalsa) Helpline for Free Legal Service- 15100
Conclusion
It’s a well said proverb in India from a time long- “Athithi Devo bavah”,which means guests are considered to be equivalent to God in India. So, came India with a open heart and enjoy the diverse culture, tradition and environment of India. Indians are very kind and helpful also. So, come India and enjoy.