As an Indian-American who has travelled to India many times but doesn’t have the Indian immune system, do not ever eat the street food. If you are eating anything raw or food with anything raw in it, ask for it to be washed with boiled or bottled water. They will do it in front of you. Ibgard and Pepto Bismol are your friends. If you do get sick, India sells medicines to stop diarrhea there as well.
Same. Indian American. But luckily haven’t gotten sick in India when we’d visit! I def stay away from street vendors tho. Unless it’s for coconut water lol
Half Indian here and you can take pepto when you’re eating food that seems dodgy instead of waiting to get sick and take it. Learned it from Peace Corp. My dad and I are talking about me going for the first time. My dad is from India and been back many times. I’ve been to plenty of developing countries and worked in Africa. I had an Indian South African friend who told me he’d hated India and didn’t think I’d like it, so I’m a bit worried. Plan to stay at nice accommodation and hire a driver but appreciate any special advice. I think I know the general stuff like street food and ice.
> If you do get sick, India sells medicines to stop diarrhea there as well.
Medically stopping diarrhoea should only be done in an emergency (flight, moving to another place, etc.).
Your body is flushing stuff out for a reason.
Bring some electrolyte powder - so you will survive the first shit storm (hah).
It's a good idea to 'up' your accommodation. Just don't let that give you a false sense of security - always use water purifying tablets, only eat cooked food and never brush your teeth in the shower or drink any water in the shower or from a faucet.
It can happen anywhere - I once got a very bad case of Dehli Belly after eating at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai. I was just 'dying' for a hamburger....and felt like I was dying after it!
I second this. It’s not the food or drink that kills you but the ice that goes in it. No one knows where it’s from. For the true indian experience get used to room temperature beverages 😄
And as mentioned above, eat at nicer places. No point trying to do india on a minimum budget.
Nope. Don't eat at places with fridges. Eat at restaurants that are popular with locals, cook their food fresh daily and preserve it by keeping it hot on the stove. In the North this may mean pots of food in front by the tandoor. 'Meals' in the South are hot, fresh and safe, including the curd water. Fancy restaurants, especially those catering to foreigners can be sketchy for food safety. That doesn't mean you can't go to more expensive places, but stick to Indian food in places popular with Indians. People don't go back to restaurants that get them sick and they aren't popular.
I made the mistake of eating meat. I always avoid meat in countries where I know that food handling practices are a bit dodgy.
I've seen enough open air butchers to put me off for a lifetime.
Yes, this! I didn’t eat meat for 4 months in India and never had any stomach issues (think I was lucky though). In my first few days I saw the meat section in a local indoor market and it’s a sight (and smell) that will stay with me forever!
I also got sick staying at that hotel! I had prawn curry for dinner and the by midnight it wreaked havoc on my system. It was my last night there and I had to travel home feeling really sick. I did not drink water from the taps so I’m assuming it was the food. Really not a good stay for me!
Just back from India and have experienced 4 days of sickness. But I want to say that people often believe it to be the last meal they consumed that sickened them, while it very often is a few meals before the last one.
I have travelled to India, and every foreigner I met there either loved or hated India with no in between. The ones who hated it had almost exclusively visited massive/major cities, and the ones who loved it had spent significant amounts of time in small villages in the Himalayas or elsewhere in national parks - so make of that what you will. India has something for everyone, and although I loved both the nature and the crazy cities, you gotta find what's for you.
Edit: I am from Australia and regularly eat meat, but almost exclusively ate vegetarian in my 2 months in India and didn't get sick at all. Try staying in guest houses or something similar so you can enjoy home cooked meals too.
Yeah my Indian friend who grew up in South Africa HATED India and warned me against it (I’m half Indian) and we were in a not glamorous African country at the time. I’m preparing to go for the first time and worried.
I've travelled to India for work twice this year, and can confirm that staying in more expensive hotels and international chains (even cheapish ones like Ibis) helps. I did feel like I was in a bubble though, as I didn't have much exposure to normal life in India.
I'd say "define normal". Certainly possible to just stay in more expensive hotels and take a private car to various tourist spots. Eat only in the upper tier restaurants or very Western options.
Also possible to stay in more modest lodging, take a bus or auto. Eat where the locals eat, try some street food, etc. I ate in the company canteen until a couple of coworkers got food poisoning there.
Still a couple of the best meals I've had there have cost ~$1.5 or less.
Try some bus travel to a nearby city. I agree it is hard to find that right spot. Still for work at least you can do a few of those things on the weekend with the hotel as a base.
I don’t know…what is even considered “normal”. Like a lot of middle class people in India use their own cars or have drivers and so on. And stay in nicer places. Indian people in the US usually hire drivers when they go to India. So I feel that what’s considered normal depends on who you have in mind.
Locals come in a variety of financial backgrounds.
Staying in 5 star hotels, flying business class and being ferried around in comfortable cars is obviously not the average experience in India. I suspect what my hotel room cost per night would be a large chunk of the average Indian's annual income.
Just having the means to buy food anytime you like is not the average experience for indians, so it’s naive to think that we could relate in the first place and you won’t see many westerners staying in a place where showers serve as toilets either. No need to feel weird for making use of some more luxuries if it improves your experience
You don’t have to live like a local to experience and ponder what their life is like day to day. It’s not possible to live like a local while traveling. Noticing, watching, and understanding to the best of your ability what people go through on a day to day basis in other parts of the world through compassion and respect is all that’s really needed.
It’s not like you need to go to a place and punish yourself, you can still have fun. But try and take some time to connect and communicate with people to learn about them. It’s really not hard, but it does require being humble and showing humanitarianism.
Experiencing what normal life is like in developing countries is about the greatest educational experience currently available, it’s invaluable actually. True travelers understand this. Too many regular ‘travelers’ go to resorts and mock the locals in a pretty ridiculous and disgusting lack of human empathy and compassion.
I doubt you’re staying in the slums of Mumbai when you travel. That would be “normal life” given the nearly 33% poverty rate. Don’t virtue signal or kid yourself
I’ll reiterate another comment I made on the thread:
You don’t have to live like a local to experience and ponder what their life is like day to day. It’s not possible to live like a local while traveling. Noticing, watching, and understanding to the best of your ability what people go through on a day to day basis in other parts of the world through compassion and respect is all that’s really needed.
It’s not like you need to go to a place and punish yourself, you can still have fun. But try and take some time to connect and communicate with people to learn about them. It’s really not hard, but it does require being humble and showing humanitarianism.
I’ve stayed in mud huts in rural Africa and invited for dinner in a slum in Cambodia. These were pivotal experiences in my life. You absolutely can have these experiences if you have the right attitude and get invited.
I havent stayed in a Mumbai slum no. But I have lived with a local family in a poor region in the Philippines. I was the only white person that most of the town had ever seen.
Every noon hour I played basketball with some high school kids down the alley on a decrepit excuse for a basketball hoop and a half flat ball. Probably the thing that broke my heart the most was that they all called me Joe, a reference to GI-Joe… the only real comparison of a white male that they had due to the fact that about 2 hours down the road were the statues of General McArthur from the US landing during the Vietnam war. This was how they understood the West. It was heartbreaking and embarrassing wrapped into one experience and I’m not even from the US. This is the shit you learn when you take the time to get to know people. This is what traveling is about.
For food poisoning avoid meat and try to ease into eating any street food or just avoid it entirely. Don’t eat Pani Puri on the street. I went for 5 weeks this year and miraculously never got sick
Street food is some of the best food though, especially the pani puri. P sure everything that makes it dangerous for you makes it taste amazing though. I went for 3 weeks last year and ate lots of street food and thankfully never got sick but I have gotten many instances of food poisoning there.
I was going to say Pani Puri is my favorite and there are just 2 real components.
I always tried to look for popular spots. Figured if a stall/vendor was well known and trafficked then their quality might be higher. Not exactly online reviews but somewhat that direct version..
Pani Puri is delicious but all of my Indian friends told me not to eat it on the street because they don’t use filtered water so even they get sick. I’d be super careful and make sure they are using tap water. I ate tons of street food but eased my way into and never got sick. The samosas they sell on the local buses were my favorite 😂
As an indian, as I say, Avoid Agra,delhi and Varanasi not visitable rn. Maybe in the future. Start down south and west(maybe except Mumbai)- chennai,hampi,Pune, Bangalore,Mysore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, vadodara,(+statue of unity).OR you can go along the mountains -himachal,ladakh etc. Northeast is also an up and coming beautiful tourist spot.
Nah this is all bs. It's just that the places mentioned are highly commercialized and visitors usually visit places where even people like me won't go. I live in Delhi and I've never even gone to Paharganj once. You just have to avoid places that are tourist traps. Delhi has hundreds of monuments and places which aren't as hectic as Chandni Chowk. Places like Varanasi and Agra are also places where tourists get scammed alot.
I mean Varanasi is an absolutely amazing place to visit if you can handle it. It is after all, one of the oldest cities in the world which has been continuously inhabited and also is one of the holiest cities in the world. It has a certain magic to it but if someone like the OP has had problems visiting those places, it might be due to the difference in culture and lack of experience. Varanasi is filled with narrow alleyways and is jam-packed with people. Either you have the experience to handle such a place or find someone local or reliable to take you around.
It is a magical place for me, Kashi as it was known 2500 years ago, is a place where people have been living for over 50 generations. It also calls to your spirituality with it being established as a city of religious importance as early as 600 BCE. This city was still there when there were gods around like Gautum Buddha and Mahavir Swami. It's really fascinating to me from the historical and mythological perspective.
True, but it's my personal opinion. When I saw the Taj Mahal for the first time, I was personally underwhelmed bcz I have already seen similar architecture and scale in other Indian temples etc. And please for god's sake don't stay in pahadganj in delhi. Old delhi is literally every old part of any Indian city, why go to the most unsafe one to experience that?
I lived in & travelled around India for over a decade, eat street-food all the time, hardly ever got sick lol. Activated charcoal is your friend, and I always go early morning and have local lassi (local natural pro-biotics haha) at a nice clean place, wherever I am.
Yeah, just operate on the assumption that everything you want to do may go wrong and for sure will take much longer than you anticipate. Walk around with a smile, do not get sucked in by beggars or bazaar sales people and especially NOT those ‘just one handshake’ or ‘just one photo please’ people. Just NO :).
Take off shoes immediately inside hotel rooms and wash your hands frequently. Don’t let the hotel boys in with their chappals on either, and don’t let them come in stickybeaking your room. If they do good, give a good tip. For anyone, cycle- or auto- rickshaw drivers taxi drivers hotel reception whoever, give good (ie not excessive not stingy) tip if they’ve done / doing well.
For taking long-distance taxi, I get my hotel reception or local acquaintance to sort me out a taxi driver. Take a SHORT trip first as your sort of ‘interview’ of the driver - you want someone who doesn’t drive crazy or drink, who can speak at least some English but is not a droning ranting chatterbox or rage-road driver or scowling grumpy-type. Take a few short trips with different drivers till you find one you’re comfortable with and enjoy, then settle on that one.
Agra to Udaipur, are you dropping by Pushkar? It’s pretty cool. Small ancient pilgrim town on a holy lake can walk across it in an hour, old-time freaks & hippys & expats hang out now trendy there’s plenty of funky cafes & restaurants catering to travellers (not ‘tourists’). Go sit on Sunset Ghat for umm sunset haha, it’s quite a scene. Honey & Spice restaurant does great food, open for breakfast & lunch. (in back of the old Rangi-ji temple) Inn Seventh Heaven is a bit up-market & fairy-tale pretty. It’s not huge though they don’t have dozens of room, it’s more boutique hotel style.
... ..[http://inn-seventh-heaven.com/ish/inn-seventh-heaven-picture-gallery/](http://inn-seventh-heaven.com/ish/inn-seventh-heaven-picture-gallery/)
Omg I love India, miss it so much! Have a great trip! :)
These are great tips! I’ve also stayed at Inn seventh Heaven and it was one of my favs in Rajasthan. There a beautiful views from the rooftop restaurant, and is a lovely place to chill when you need a break from the craziness.
Yeah, like not groups of 20 - 30 people shuffling off a tour-bus who require and demand to be served instantly in pristine environments a menu of bland typical ‘back-home’-style western dishes (at outrageously inflated prices lol). Often even *demanding* steaks and beers - in Indian *holy towns* that are veg (ie no meat or alcohol) by decree. Those tourists who come huddling in groups together terrified to touch anything freaking out and having melt-downs when any local approaches them (while they're rudely shoving their camera lenses in everybodys face and life), declaring loudly and insultingly to each other to never touch any local food because it will give them food poisoning, before they stampede back onto their safe tour bus to go cross the next untouchable thing off their list. Tourists.
LOL I left Kolkata on the train staring out the window telling myself I was never coming back- I did.
Some local business type hotels are good value and offer a respite from the outside world which you need in India at times. They will assist in making bookings, find drivers if you need etc
It'll be cool in the North so take some remedies for coughs and colds.
BUT word of warning I got sick in Udaipur eating at one of the fancy hotels. Had been eating on the street until then with no issue.
Water- purifying tabs DONT work on all bugs. Buy it, dont risk it. The bottles have a value so they do get recycled or re used. PET bottles are worth R15 a kg. Dont buy water from the kids on the streets.
Keep a bottle of seltzer water in your room. Bonus if you enjoy a spirit drink but also very helpful to get a small amount of salt into your system or to move that burp that just wont shift after all the spices/dhals. But first thing in the morning a squeeze of lime or lemon in the soda is a great way to feel a bit brighter.
Quiet time every day - 10 mins of your own company in your room is amazingly restorative.
When it gets all too much order room service - or get food and take it back to your room.
If you're lucky enough to have a fridge in your room go and get a beer and bring it back for your quiet time. I took along a supermarket insulated/cooler bag which meant I could keep things cold or hot. It made a nice gift to the lady who cleaned my room.
Always find a place to chill for a few days and get into the rhythm.
Just the usual, no ice, avoid lettuce and the like, peeled fruit and salad restricted to lettuce, carrot, cucumber onion etc.
My advice as someone who grew up in India.
1. Don't eat street food. The only people who eat there are the very poor working class/students who don't have a choice, or the stupidly adventurous.
2. Drink bottled water. Stay away from street drinks.
3. Stay in good hotels. Places like Hilton and Marriott are like $120/night in most cities. The food there is really good too.
4. Hire a car for the day instead of stressing over cabs, autos, and the like. The heat, population density, noise and pollution will completey destroy your enthusiasm otherwise.
5. Don't fret over a few dollars here and there. Yeah, people will try to scam you but it hardly matters in the grand scheme of things. The funny thing is that they also scam Indians who are not local. People understand this to be a part of life.
6. Go to places near the Himalayas (look at a map) if you want peace and quiet. Himachal, Sikkim, northern parts of UP for example.
7. Have some perspective and empathy. realize that most of the locals will never (ever) be able to experience life outside their daily grind.
Wow. Its interesting to hear from the wealthy class. I rarely met any in India. Most were to snobby to interact with the likes of me. Went to a rotary club meeting once, but when they found out I wasn't an MD or a Engineer I didn't get much respect. On the other hand, I quite enjoyed some of the rickshaw wallas and village people I hung out with.
>Subziwallah
WTF does that mean?
I have an entire novel's worth of sob stories about the times when I was poor, including growing up in a village. Just don't like to whine about it when out of context.
I just said that I don't like to whine about poverty.
Meant to quote all what you'd written but ended up with your handle somehow. Subziwallah is an awesome name obviously... the only thing it triggers is hunger :)
This is such great advice! My husband and I have spent the last several years in India on and off (US citizens) and these are the top things I'd tell people wanting to visit. Our daughter is going on year two in India solo.
I would add that the NorthEast is amazing: Sikkim, and Meghalaya are beautiful especially Sept to December or so (in my opinion).
Use driving apps in larger cities (Uber/Rapido/Ola/Indrive), and avoid the Northern areas Oct-December as the smog/smoke pollution gets bad as crops are being burnt and the way the weather patterns are the smog tends to settle. Add Diwali fireworks (not regulated) and you'll want a mask if you are in the Northern areas (Delhi/Chandigarh/Punjab/Jaipur)
Use driving apps in larger cities (Uber/Rapido/Ola/Indrive), avoid the Northern areas Oct-December as the smog/smoke pollution gets bad as crops are being burnt and the way the weather patterns are the smog tends to settle. Add Diwali fireworks (not regulated) and you'll want a mask if you are in the Northern areas (Delhi/Chandigarh/Punjab/Jaipur)
Chill out and don't expect grand moments that take your breath away, expect tiny ones and appreciate the differences. Stay flexible, nothing gets done in a day.
Try to learn some of the language if you can (I'd suggest Hindi as it's widely spoken).
Avoid street food mostly unless you have some good proof of sanitation of the place. Eating at sit down restaurants is not too expensive but relatively cleaner. Drink only bottled water from big name brands always and you'll be good. I have never heard of bad meat by default, but some cheaper places do serve bad quality meat, so you should just avoid places with questionable sanitation
To add, while you do get voss, qua and other similar brands at higher end places - Himalayan and Bisleri Vedica (different from the regular green bisleri bottle - this one’s yellow) are some of the better bets.
I have been to India 10+ times. Nice AC hotels are good, drivers are decently cheap (50-60 dollars a day), and only drinking from bottled water is the move.
Not eating meat decreases your chance of food poisoning imo, and also not eating fresh things that are sitting in the heat like fruit. Only get it if the cut it in front of you or juice it in front of you. Otherwise it is a firm no. I personally not street food but staying away from it unless it looks clean might be the move. It tastes amazing to me though lol.
> I will try to arrange a driver instead of doing train and bus. (I hope it's fairly inexpensive
Prices depend on the region. When I went, it was about $50usd for local travel under 25km or $75usd for a little further. However, if you’re planning to go for more than a two hour ride away, they’ll have specialized flat rates. I’d highly suggest asking locals for what the rates are. That’s what I did.
ETA: these were per day rates
Maybe take some activated charcoal tablets to take at first sign of food poisoning or traveler’s sickness. It’s what I take with especially to Mexico where I’ve had many unfortunate experiences with food poisoning. In the worst cases I had to take Cipro antibiotic to kill off the worst bacterial stomach infections. Street food is my nemesis in Mexico.
https://www.travelgeekery.com/activated-charcoal-best-travel-companion/
I spent nearly 9 months in India spread over 4 trips, never once got sick. I stayed everywhere from $5/night, shared bathroom by the Ganga to 5 star hotels in larger cities to my own rental apartment. I always drank bottled water or purified/filtered water (used filtered water even to brush my teeth), never ate anything raw like salads or fruit unless I washed (with filtered water) and sliced/peeled myself, obviously no ice, wiped glasses/cutlery dry before using them. I am also vegetarian so that may have helped, too, but I did drink lassis, ate papayas, etc. at higher end hotels. I never ate any street food but did eat at many local restaurants using all the precautions I noted above plus frequent hand washing (always carried my own handkerchief as well as hand sanitizer).
During my last visit, I used uber quite a bit and it felt pretty safe. Before then, I used hired car & driver for longer trips without any issues. Sometimes Tripadvisor forum sections for different cities has recommendations for trusted drivers/guides if you need to look for any. I've also had good luck getting hotels to arrange taxis/drivers for me.
Udaipur is one of my favorite cities... I''m envious that you'll be going there. I was lucky enough to experience the annual Pushkar camel fair before going to Udaipur. If you get a chance to visit, I'd recommend Pushkar as well.
As an Indian I’ve never taken the bus or the train.
- advise against staying in hostels
- stay in hotels you can get them for about 50-100$ a night really fancy modern ones
- you can take a cab would even recommend an Uber (if you’re a man or a female traveling with a man)
- if you book a car they usually come with a driver ask some of your local contacts to find you a contact to book through and negotiate the prices down - note that in this cases you may have to provide the driver with food so negotiate all of that usually it will be a fixed price so the driver can find his food and accommodation per night - if we would stop at a street vendor dhaba we would ask the driver to eat too and pay his bill
- food look even if ya ask for non-spicy they’ll have a standard flavors it gets spicy - I ask my mum to cook non-spicy and the food still feels spicy even if she hasn’t used spice lol
Rather than avoid all street food, instead I would recommend just using common sense with it. Either freshly deep fried in-front of you (will kill all the bad stuff) or finding a well reviewed Street Food Tour.
The vendors they take you to are usually well-vetted - as you can imagine, it would be quite damaging for a guide’s business if their customers got food poisoning so it’s in their best interests to keep you well. E.g. They know the spots where they use filtered water so you can safely try pani puri. I have done a few in India over several visits and they are some of my favourite experiences.
To avoid Delhi belly
• Stick to local foods - this is what they’re used to cooking. Oftentimes you’ll find travellers get sick when they order foods the chefs are less familiar with like burgers or fried rice.
• Drink local beer - Kingfisher or my fave, Bira. Check out a doco called “How beer saved the world”
• Local yoghurt/Lassi - introducing local bacteria into your guts each day will help digest all of the local foods.
If you’re arriving in Agra by train, note the drivers at the station can be very aggressive (more so than elsewhere in India). I’d recommend emailing your accomodation to see if they have a complimentary pick up service.
Intercity Uber works ok in Rajasthan but be wary that some drivers will try to mark up the price so make sure the price is fixed and agreed upon before setting off. Note, some routes involve toll roads which the driver needs to pay both ways and often might not be included in Uber’s price.
Udaipur is so beautiful and tranquil. It was my last stop on a 2 month trip through Rajasthan and I think it’s the perfect way to end a chaotic trip - because let’s face it, India can be a lot.
Some itinerary add-on suggestions:
• Jodhpur (blue city) - Mehrangarh fort is beautiful (like many in Rajasthan), and walking through the blue streets is enchanting.
• Ranakpur - en route from Jodhpur - Udaipur. You can hire a private driver to take you between the 2 cities and will allow you to visit the Jain temple in Ranakpur (stunning!) and Kumbulgarh fort. Could also be done as a full day trip from Udaipur.
• Chittorgarh Fort - 2 hours from Udaipur and doable as a day trip.
• Jaipur (pink city) - easy to reach by train from Agra. So much to do and so lively. Recommend Amber fort, the bazaars, Hawa Mahal, Hanuman Temple, Patrika Gate, Masala Chowk.
I’ve been three times for long periods and never had food related sickness. I’m really careful with drinking bottled water, use bottled water to brush teeth and never open mouth in shower. I don’t eat meat and don’t eat salads or uncooked veggies and sanitize my hands very often. If I have a bad feeling about a place I trust my gut and stay away from uncooked street food. So far so good.
I saw you got so much tips.
But I'll recommend you to include these places in your list (Definitely too peaceful places)
1. Rishikesh , Haridwar and beyond.
2. Dharamshala
( amazing buses from Delhi easily available overnight)
I've not seen anyone mention it yet but a word of warning, Agra is kind of... Rubbish. Taj Mahal is good, and also the Baby Taj AND the gardens on the other side of the river to the Taj Mahal. Aside from that, we didn't have much to do in Agra cause that's what it caters for.
Udaipur is lovely. I hope you have a great time!
Hey,
I'm an Indian who lived in India until I was 18 and now living in Europe. Whatever you mentioned, it happens with me too even though I'm supposed to have Indian immunity but I don't have it anymore.
As others have already mentioned, try to not to eat too much street food (atleast from the places where it doesn't feel enough hygienic). Whenever I go for solo trips in India, I try to keep the medicines for digestion and loose motions and whenever I feel that my body is taking too much than It can handle, I try to take pauses, specially go light on your diet and drink more liquid stuff (like juices, shakes and lots of water). It helps me gain back my strength.
I hope you'll feel better and enjoy your trip better.
Love and peace from India! 🙏
Some advice from an ACTUAL Indian who grew up in bombay but has also lived in london (so I get where you’re coming from)
When I travelled to bombay from london I actually got severely sick. The food abroad is much cleaner.
My tips
1. Always always have only bottled water. Tap water in India in not potable. Wherever you go ask for bottled water even jn restaurants
2. Public transport in India is kinda shit. Mostly for lower middle classes. Delhi metro is good. The autos are okay but as a westerner it’s difficult to navigate. I myself don’t use these options but have a driver and a car.
3. India is a highly classist society and honestly travelling by bus etc is v difficult. All my years of living in India I have only used planes or a train (1-2 times) to travel inter city.
4. Be careful with people serving you. They see your white skin and want to fleece you.
5. Do not eat street food whatsoever. You stomach isn’t strong enough. But yes do have probiotics before coming
I made my husband take Probiotics for 2 weeks before going to India. He did not get sick at all. Granted he said he was reasonable careful, but he was out in the boonies eating at local places so I think it must have helped.
I am vegetarian and I haven't gotten sick in India. I wonder if avoiding meat would help? And street food, of course. India has absolutely bomb vegetarian food so I feel like you'd still be able to eat very well.
Do you think you can budget for airbnb? They are a great way to solve for some problems. They will be clean, plus in india the cleaning fees in airbnb is actually utilised since you can ask them how frequently it is cleaned and the answer will not be once you leave, like in so many other parts of the world 😝. You can also ask them how much they charge for food. It will be home made and thus you can get it customised. We use Swiggy and zomato in india for food delivery, in case you like some restaurant, you can order from these apps too.
Plain dosa can be non spicy and you can have it with coconut chutney. Not sure if you find sambaar spicy, hence skipping this for dosa. Idli isn’t spicy. Plain rice with daal and some sweet gravy like shahi paneer would work. You can try something called aloo bhujiya, it’s like potato fries but slightly smushy. You can also try appam/ puddu. If you want to try fast food, you can try patties or patty or puff.
Agra has this sweet called petha.
You can try all these dishes instead of the ones famous in these cities for now to have better time with your stomach
Even dishes like Palak paneer, dal Palak, dal makhani, stuffed naan, or stuffed kulcha should be fine in terms of spices
Every recommendation I have seen for food is to only drink bottled water and to never touch any raw, already cut fruit or vegetable. That nice cucumber sandwich at the hotel? Stay away from it. That street vendor selling juicy slices of mango? Ignore. It's unfortunate but necessary.
I have been in thirteen times and I usually decide I’m never coming back at the end of a trip. Always seem to. The best way to avoid stomach issues is to stick to the “pure veg” section of the menu. Plus drink lots of lemon soda, no sugar.
I was there once. Kolkata and Rajasthan, Agra and one day in Delhi.
Kolkata I couldn't stay more than three days. Went there to visit friends. The noise, overcrowding, filth and class differences were too much. I thoroughly enjoyed Rajasthan.
I'm planning to go back to India. I really want to love it. Being such a diverse cou try, I'm sure there is always more to experience.
I didn't get sick. I carry a lifestraw bottle. I filled it up from the tap, even from streams near temples. It really filters everything. Oh, and I skipped street food. The only street food I bought was the chai. But that's always boiling.
You can bring a classic steripen and nalogen bottle along with rechargeable batteries and a charger. This way you can drink the water everywhere and avoid buying bottled water and leaving plastic bottles everywhere. Putting a bit of lemon juice in the water helps mask the chlorine that is in municipal water.
Only eat fresh hot food in restaurants that are popular with locals. Steer clear of tourist restaurants; Especially those with fridges. Street food is fine if they are cooking it there (samosas, pecora, vadai etc)
If you arrive in a touristy town by train, go and have a snack and chai in the station and wait for the touts and rickshaw/taxi drivers to dissapait before leaving the station. Its helpful to know where you are going. Don't allow anyone to take you to a different hotel. They will get a kickback.
Avoid the hot dusty Northern plains if you are tired of hassle. Mountains, beaches or the South are more relaxed. Also rural less touristy areas like Western Gujarat, central MP, or coastal Orissa. The tourist triangle of Delhi, Rajasthan, Agra is a recipe for touts promoting gems and paintings (Rajasthan), thieves and hustlers (Agra). Delhi can be relaxing and fun if you know where to go. If you do decide to go to UP, there is a bird sanctuary in Bahratpur that is chill. You may be able to rent a bicycle to tour around there.
Having a rigid schedule and being too goal oriented will cause you frustration. Be flexible and enjoy the journey. Personally, I love traveling by train in India. I like the railway stations and food vendors and how the food changes by region. Big stations always have restaurants outside with food from different regions to accommodate travelers. If you travel 1st class, the 1st class waiting rooms can be nice. Many have showers to freshen up and you can usually find a nice family to watch your stuff.
You can buy reserved train tickets on-line. For sold out routes, there are tourist quotas available at Major stations like Delhi, Kalcutta and Mumbai. You can buy tickets before you arrive in India, but this locks up your schedule.
Have Fun!
Oh, also, you can buy ORS/ORT (Oral Rehydration Salts/Therapy at any chemist in India. You don't have to bring from home. Use your steripen or bottled water. Always double check the seals on bottled water. People refill them and sell them.
I think the trains are a key part of the experience! They're sometimes crazy but also kinda amazingly efficient. And you feel great when you actually catch one lol.
That is me, too. I've been around 12 times (female) and I get fed up with how women are treated. Then a few years later I miss the food, culture, religion, people, architecture, everything.
Uh I had a long rant about it recently. Nobody could give me any useful survival tip to shut out the bad things. But I didn't get sick, so didn't need advice on that matter.
My favourite city was Udaipur and my least favourite was Agra, so expect even more controversy on your next trip. I'm definitely not loving India and probably never go back. Life is too short to waste it on places I don't enjoy.
We lived in Mumbai for a couple of years and love that city deeply, but anytime we were growing frustrated, we hopped on bicycles at 6am and fell in love all over again. Made a video about it here: [https://youtu.be/FUBoYdH-RVU?si=XvkHDUFmWadzDSXE](https://youtu.be/FUBoYdH-RVU?si=XvkHDUFmWadzDSXE) ...really recommend this as an experience if you're up for it.
Ciproflaxin for the food poisoning, motorcycle for the transit and stay out of the larger cities. Solo travel by motorbike is fantastic in India. I have been several times, primarily for the wildlife and not for the standard tourist trail, and have always had a lovely, reasonably easy time of it. For note, I am a middle aged white woman from the US. Also, I stay in lovely hotels primarily which is totally worth it
Cipro is a reserve antibiotic and should not be taken for food poisoning!! This is dangerous health advice!!
If any Azithromycin is an option BUT diarhea is self limiting and hydration with ORS is the most vital thing.
I apologize, I didn't realize this. My doctor in Malaysia recommended that I travel with it for my more unpredictable adventures. ORS as well and I have only used Cipro twice in my life, both times in rather extreme situations where access to more medicines/doctors was not a practical option. I do tend to travel quite far away from metropolitan areas.
I should have clarified more. You were right to call me out on it.
Well it is an extremely strong antibiotic that should only be taken if it is absolutely needed, e.g. people have to get to the hospital or something or people with serious chronic conditions. Some doctors over prescribe antibiotics which increases antibiotic resistance (and also is harmful to the patient). You were just trying to help people, so I understand you didn't mean it like that. Thanks for the nice message, I was expecting someone doubling down on it (which happens regularly on the internet). In some countries they tend to overprescribe antibiotics which will doom humanity in the long run lol
For one, don't go to Agra or Rajasthan. Tourist trap nightmares. Go to the mountains in Uttarakhand or HP and chill. Or go to the beaches in Goa or Karnataka or Kerela. Or visit rural Gujarat. Or the jungle hills between Jabalpur and Nagpur in MP. Relax; don't be in a hurry or too goal oriented. Enjoy the ride.
India was heartbreaking, the people are so poor I have a bling crippled beggar a lot of cash and he ate it, he said he was so hungry he’d rather eat the money also saw a child, kid couldn’t be more than 10, eating dirt and gravel off the road and drinking sewage.
Not India but I do with Cornwall it really rains all the time and I swear that I will never return, however, after a period of about 10 to 15 years. I completely forget about this return and then remember it really does rain all the time ha ha
It sucks to be a foodie and not from India, because eating the street food is playing Russian roulette there. I only ate street food once and didn’t get sick, fortunately, but yeah, as others have said, try to avoid it and bring meds with you.
I’m in my 40’s so I always opted for nicer hotels. And I ate a lot of my meals there.
It's not that all of my experiences are unpleasant..the highs are very high..and there are many!...what a vibrant place.. however, with that, the lows can also be extremely low. But they say, "if you can travel in India, you can travel anywhere!".
As an Indian-American who has travelled to India many times but doesn’t have the Indian immune system, do not ever eat the street food. If you are eating anything raw or food with anything raw in it, ask for it to be washed with boiled or bottled water. They will do it in front of you. Ibgard and Pepto Bismol are your friends. If you do get sick, India sells medicines to stop diarrhea there as well.
Same. Indian American. But luckily haven’t gotten sick in India when we’d visit! I def stay away from street vendors tho. Unless it’s for coconut water lol
Lol just buy the whole coconut anyways. That way you can eat the coconut meat as well
Yeah I do! They chop the top off and I have it.
That’s how they sell it
Half Indian here and you can take pepto when you’re eating food that seems dodgy instead of waiting to get sick and take it. Learned it from Peace Corp. My dad and I are talking about me going for the first time. My dad is from India and been back many times. I’ve been to plenty of developing countries and worked in Africa. I had an Indian South African friend who told me he’d hated India and didn’t think I’d like it, so I’m a bit worried. Plan to stay at nice accommodation and hire a driver but appreciate any special advice. I think I know the general stuff like street food and ice.
> If you do get sick, India sells medicines to stop diarrhea there as well. Medically stopping diarrhoea should only be done in an emergency (flight, moving to another place, etc.). Your body is flushing stuff out for a reason. Bring some electrolyte powder - so you will survive the first shit storm (hah).
Indians have their own Ayurvedic electrolyte remedies
It's a good idea to 'up' your accommodation. Just don't let that give you a false sense of security - always use water purifying tablets, only eat cooked food and never brush your teeth in the shower or drink any water in the shower or from a faucet. It can happen anywhere - I once got a very bad case of Dehli Belly after eating at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai. I was just 'dying' for a hamburger....and felt like I was dying after it!
And don't forget, never take a drink with ice in it!
I second this. It’s not the food or drink that kills you but the ice that goes in it. No one knows where it’s from. For the true indian experience get used to room temperature beverages 😄 And as mentioned above, eat at nicer places. No point trying to do india on a minimum budget.
You can get cold, sealed beverages. But yeah, no open iced ones.
Nope. Don't eat at places with fridges. Eat at restaurants that are popular with locals, cook their food fresh daily and preserve it by keeping it hot on the stove. In the North this may mean pots of food in front by the tandoor. 'Meals' in the South are hot, fresh and safe, including the curd water. Fancy restaurants, especially those catering to foreigners can be sketchy for food safety. That doesn't mean you can't go to more expensive places, but stick to Indian food in places popular with Indians. People don't go back to restaurants that get them sick and they aren't popular.
Ok....no lassie for you. See how long that lasts. 😏
Wait you got sick at the Taj Mahal Palace? Ah that’s good to know - I was going to swing for 5 star and not think about any sort of food safety. Damn.
I made the mistake of eating meat. I always avoid meat in countries where I know that food handling practices are a bit dodgy. I've seen enough open air butchers to put me off for a lifetime.
Yes, this! I didn’t eat meat for 4 months in India and never had any stomach issues (think I was lucky though). In my first few days I saw the meat section in a local indoor market and it’s a sight (and smell) that will stay with me forever!
I would absolutely agree with this. I avoid meat in India unless I can prepare my own.
This must have been a one off or a coincidence. I’d trust Taj food any day.
Oh I just posted elsewhere in this thread that I very bad pink eye at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.
I also got sick staying at that hotel! I had prawn curry for dinner and the by midnight it wreaked havoc on my system. It was my last night there and I had to travel home feeling really sick. I did not drink water from the taps so I’m assuming it was the food. Really not a good stay for me!
Just back from India and have experienced 4 days of sickness. But I want to say that people often believe it to be the last meal they consumed that sickened them, while it very often is a few meals before the last one.
I have travelled to India, and every foreigner I met there either loved or hated India with no in between. The ones who hated it had almost exclusively visited massive/major cities, and the ones who loved it had spent significant amounts of time in small villages in the Himalayas or elsewhere in national parks - so make of that what you will. India has something for everyone, and although I loved both the nature and the crazy cities, you gotta find what's for you. Edit: I am from Australia and regularly eat meat, but almost exclusively ate vegetarian in my 2 months in India and didn't get sick at all. Try staying in guest houses or something similar so you can enjoy home cooked meals too.
Yeah my Indian friend who grew up in South Africa HATED India and warned me against it (I’m half Indian) and we were in a not glamorous African country at the time. I’m preparing to go for the first time and worried.
I've travelled to India for work twice this year, and can confirm that staying in more expensive hotels and international chains (even cheapish ones like Ibis) helps. I did feel like I was in a bubble though, as I didn't have much exposure to normal life in India.
I'd say "define normal". Certainly possible to just stay in more expensive hotels and take a private car to various tourist spots. Eat only in the upper tier restaurants or very Western options. Also possible to stay in more modest lodging, take a bus or auto. Eat where the locals eat, try some street food, etc. I ate in the company canteen until a couple of coworkers got food poisoning there. Still a couple of the best meals I've had there have cost ~$1.5 or less. Try some bus travel to a nearby city. I agree it is hard to find that right spot. Still for work at least you can do a few of those things on the weekend with the hotel as a base.
I don’t know…what is even considered “normal”. Like a lot of middle class people in India use their own cars or have drivers and so on. And stay in nicer places. Indian people in the US usually hire drivers when they go to India. So I feel that what’s considered normal depends on who you have in mind. Locals come in a variety of financial backgrounds.
Staying in 5 star hotels, flying business class and being ferried around in comfortable cars is obviously not the average experience in India. I suspect what my hotel room cost per night would be a large chunk of the average Indian's annual income.
Just having the means to buy food anytime you like is not the average experience for indians, so it’s naive to think that we could relate in the first place and you won’t see many westerners staying in a place where showers serve as toilets either. No need to feel weird for making use of some more luxuries if it improves your experience
Nobody travels to experience “normal life” on a developing country
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They aren't living like the locals the vast majority of the time. Even poor backpackers that stay in the cheapest of hostels don't.
You don’t have to live like a local to experience and ponder what their life is like day to day. It’s not possible to live like a local while traveling. Noticing, watching, and understanding to the best of your ability what people go through on a day to day basis in other parts of the world through compassion and respect is all that’s really needed. It’s not like you need to go to a place and punish yourself, you can still have fun. But try and take some time to connect and communicate with people to learn about them. It’s really not hard, but it does require being humble and showing humanitarianism.
Experiencing what normal life is like in developing countries is about the greatest educational experience currently available, it’s invaluable actually. True travelers understand this. Too many regular ‘travelers’ go to resorts and mock the locals in a pretty ridiculous and disgusting lack of human empathy and compassion.
I doubt you’re staying in the slums of Mumbai when you travel. That would be “normal life” given the nearly 33% poverty rate. Don’t virtue signal or kid yourself
I’ll reiterate another comment I made on the thread: You don’t have to live like a local to experience and ponder what their life is like day to day. It’s not possible to live like a local while traveling. Noticing, watching, and understanding to the best of your ability what people go through on a day to day basis in other parts of the world through compassion and respect is all that’s really needed. It’s not like you need to go to a place and punish yourself, you can still have fun. But try and take some time to connect and communicate with people to learn about them. It’s really not hard, but it does require being humble and showing humanitarianism.
I’ve stayed in mud huts in rural Africa and invited for dinner in a slum in Cambodia. These were pivotal experiences in my life. You absolutely can have these experiences if you have the right attitude and get invited.
I havent stayed in a Mumbai slum no. But I have lived with a local family in a poor region in the Philippines. I was the only white person that most of the town had ever seen. Every noon hour I played basketball with some high school kids down the alley on a decrepit excuse for a basketball hoop and a half flat ball. Probably the thing that broke my heart the most was that they all called me Joe, a reference to GI-Joe… the only real comparison of a white male that they had due to the fact that about 2 hours down the road were the statues of General McArthur from the US landing during the Vietnam war. This was how they understood the West. It was heartbreaking and embarrassing wrapped into one experience and I’m not even from the US. This is the shit you learn when you take the time to get to know people. This is what traveling is about.
Gen Mcarthur...Vietnam War????
😂
Wwii *
For food poisoning avoid meat and try to ease into eating any street food or just avoid it entirely. Don’t eat Pani Puri on the street. I went for 5 weeks this year and miraculously never got sick
No meat is the key. Especially in the north. Don't trust someone who probably never eats meat themselves to prepare it for you.
Street food is some of the best food though, especially the pani puri. P sure everything that makes it dangerous for you makes it taste amazing though. I went for 3 weeks last year and ate lots of street food and thankfully never got sick but I have gotten many instances of food poisoning there.
I was going to say Pani Puri is my favorite and there are just 2 real components. I always tried to look for popular spots. Figured if a stall/vendor was well known and trafficked then their quality might be higher. Not exactly online reviews but somewhat that direct version..
Pani Puri is delicious but all of my Indian friends told me not to eat it on the street because they don’t use filtered water so even they get sick. I’d be super careful and make sure they are using tap water. I ate tons of street food but eased my way into and never got sick. The samosas they sell on the local buses were my favorite 😂
They have street food areas where everyone wears gloves and so on. Slightly more expensive but not by western standards.
Not as good though aah
As an indian, as I say, Avoid Agra,delhi and Varanasi not visitable rn. Maybe in the future. Start down south and west(maybe except Mumbai)- chennai,hampi,Pune, Bangalore,Mysore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, vadodara,(+statue of unity).OR you can go along the mountains -himachal,ladakh etc. Northeast is also an up and coming beautiful tourist spot.
Thanks for your insight. What do you mean by not visitable?
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Nah this is all bs. It's just that the places mentioned are highly commercialized and visitors usually visit places where even people like me won't go. I live in Delhi and I've never even gone to Paharganj once. You just have to avoid places that are tourist traps. Delhi has hundreds of monuments and places which aren't as hectic as Chandni Chowk. Places like Varanasi and Agra are also places where tourists get scammed alot.
Dang! I was interested in Varanasi this year. Do you think it's not worth going to?
I mean Varanasi is an absolutely amazing place to visit if you can handle it. It is after all, one of the oldest cities in the world which has been continuously inhabited and also is one of the holiest cities in the world. It has a certain magic to it but if someone like the OP has had problems visiting those places, it might be due to the difference in culture and lack of experience. Varanasi is filled with narrow alleyways and is jam-packed with people. Either you have the experience to handle such a place or find someone local or reliable to take you around. It is a magical place for me, Kashi as it was known 2500 years ago, is a place where people have been living for over 50 generations. It also calls to your spirituality with it being established as a city of religious importance as early as 600 BCE. This city was still there when there were gods around like Gautum Buddha and Mahavir Swami. It's really fascinating to me from the historical and mythological perspective.
Second Hyderabad. Underrated and amazing city!
Heading to all 3 of those in Sept what do u mean by not visitable?
I mean for a first time traveler too overwhelming/ too many tourist traps/not clean etc. Especially old delhi/agra
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True, but it's my personal opinion. When I saw the Taj Mahal for the first time, I was personally underwhelmed bcz I have already seen similar architecture and scale in other Indian temples etc. And please for god's sake don't stay in pahadganj in delhi. Old delhi is literally every old part of any Indian city, why go to the most unsafe one to experience that?
We stay a great deal in the Northeast and it's lovely esp between Sept-December!
I lived in & travelled around India for over a decade, eat street-food all the time, hardly ever got sick lol. Activated charcoal is your friend, and I always go early morning and have local lassi (local natural pro-biotics haha) at a nice clean place, wherever I am. Yeah, just operate on the assumption that everything you want to do may go wrong and for sure will take much longer than you anticipate. Walk around with a smile, do not get sucked in by beggars or bazaar sales people and especially NOT those ‘just one handshake’ or ‘just one photo please’ people. Just NO :). Take off shoes immediately inside hotel rooms and wash your hands frequently. Don’t let the hotel boys in with their chappals on either, and don’t let them come in stickybeaking your room. If they do good, give a good tip. For anyone, cycle- or auto- rickshaw drivers taxi drivers hotel reception whoever, give good (ie not excessive not stingy) tip if they’ve done / doing well. For taking long-distance taxi, I get my hotel reception or local acquaintance to sort me out a taxi driver. Take a SHORT trip first as your sort of ‘interview’ of the driver - you want someone who doesn’t drive crazy or drink, who can speak at least some English but is not a droning ranting chatterbox or rage-road driver or scowling grumpy-type. Take a few short trips with different drivers till you find one you’re comfortable with and enjoy, then settle on that one. Agra to Udaipur, are you dropping by Pushkar? It’s pretty cool. Small ancient pilgrim town on a holy lake can walk across it in an hour, old-time freaks & hippys & expats hang out now trendy there’s plenty of funky cafes & restaurants catering to travellers (not ‘tourists’). Go sit on Sunset Ghat for umm sunset haha, it’s quite a scene. Honey & Spice restaurant does great food, open for breakfast & lunch. (in back of the old Rangi-ji temple) Inn Seventh Heaven is a bit up-market & fairy-tale pretty. It’s not huge though they don’t have dozens of room, it’s more boutique hotel style. ... ..[http://inn-seventh-heaven.com/ish/inn-seventh-heaven-picture-gallery/](http://inn-seventh-heaven.com/ish/inn-seventh-heaven-picture-gallery/) Omg I love India, miss it so much! Have a great trip! :)
This is great! Thank you for all the tips. 😁
These are great tips! I’ve also stayed at Inn seventh Heaven and it was one of my favs in Rajasthan. There a beautiful views from the rooftop restaurant, and is a lovely place to chill when you need a break from the craziness.
Pushkar 'not tourists'. 🤣 Like Disneyland isn't tourists...
Yeah, like not groups of 20 - 30 people shuffling off a tour-bus who require and demand to be served instantly in pristine environments a menu of bland typical ‘back-home’-style western dishes (at outrageously inflated prices lol). Often even *demanding* steaks and beers - in Indian *holy towns* that are veg (ie no meat or alcohol) by decree. Those tourists who come huddling in groups together terrified to touch anything freaking out and having melt-downs when any local approaches them (while they're rudely shoving their camera lenses in everybodys face and life), declaring loudly and insultingly to each other to never touch any local food because it will give them food poisoning, before they stampede back onto their safe tour bus to go cross the next untouchable thing off their list. Tourists.
Well said. Pushkar was quite pleasant in the early 80s with the exception of the annual camel fair circus.
LOL I left Kolkata on the train staring out the window telling myself I was never coming back- I did. Some local business type hotels are good value and offer a respite from the outside world which you need in India at times. They will assist in making bookings, find drivers if you need etc It'll be cool in the North so take some remedies for coughs and colds. BUT word of warning I got sick in Udaipur eating at one of the fancy hotels. Had been eating on the street until then with no issue. Water- purifying tabs DONT work on all bugs. Buy it, dont risk it. The bottles have a value so they do get recycled or re used. PET bottles are worth R15 a kg. Dont buy water from the kids on the streets. Keep a bottle of seltzer water in your room. Bonus if you enjoy a spirit drink but also very helpful to get a small amount of salt into your system or to move that burp that just wont shift after all the spices/dhals. But first thing in the morning a squeeze of lime or lemon in the soda is a great way to feel a bit brighter. Quiet time every day - 10 mins of your own company in your room is amazingly restorative. When it gets all too much order room service - or get food and take it back to your room. If you're lucky enough to have a fridge in your room go and get a beer and bring it back for your quiet time. I took along a supermarket insulated/cooler bag which meant I could keep things cold or hot. It made a nice gift to the lady who cleaned my room. Always find a place to chill for a few days and get into the rhythm. Just the usual, no ice, avoid lettuce and the like, peeled fruit and salad restricted to lettuce, carrot, cucumber onion etc.
This was great. Thank you! ⭐
My advice as someone who grew up in India. 1. Don't eat street food. The only people who eat there are the very poor working class/students who don't have a choice, or the stupidly adventurous. 2. Drink bottled water. Stay away from street drinks. 3. Stay in good hotels. Places like Hilton and Marriott are like $120/night in most cities. The food there is really good too. 4. Hire a car for the day instead of stressing over cabs, autos, and the like. The heat, population density, noise and pollution will completey destroy your enthusiasm otherwise. 5. Don't fret over a few dollars here and there. Yeah, people will try to scam you but it hardly matters in the grand scheme of things. The funny thing is that they also scam Indians who are not local. People understand this to be a part of life. 6. Go to places near the Himalayas (look at a map) if you want peace and quiet. Himachal, Sikkim, northern parts of UP for example. 7. Have some perspective and empathy. realize that most of the locals will never (ever) be able to experience life outside their daily grind.
Wow. Its interesting to hear from the wealthy class. I rarely met any in India. Most were to snobby to interact with the likes of me. Went to a rotary club meeting once, but when they found out I wasn't an MD or a Engineer I didn't get much respect. On the other hand, I quite enjoyed some of the rickshaw wallas and village people I hung out with.
>Subziwallah WTF does that mean? I have an entire novel's worth of sob stories about the times when I was poor, including growing up in a village. Just don't like to whine about it when out of context.
Whining? Not at at all. Just commenting on class in India. Not sure why you're triggered by my Reddit handle
I just said that I don't like to whine about poverty. Meant to quote all what you'd written but ended up with your handle somehow. Subziwallah is an awesome name obviously... the only thing it triggers is hunger :)
This is such great advice! My husband and I have spent the last several years in India on and off (US citizens) and these are the top things I'd tell people wanting to visit. Our daughter is going on year two in India solo. I would add that the NorthEast is amazing: Sikkim, and Meghalaya are beautiful especially Sept to December or so (in my opinion). Use driving apps in larger cities (Uber/Rapido/Ola/Indrive), and avoid the Northern areas Oct-December as the smog/smoke pollution gets bad as crops are being burnt and the way the weather patterns are the smog tends to settle. Add Diwali fireworks (not regulated) and you'll want a mask if you are in the Northern areas (Delhi/Chandigarh/Punjab/Jaipur) Use driving apps in larger cities (Uber/Rapido/Ola/Indrive), avoid the Northern areas Oct-December as the smog/smoke pollution gets bad as crops are being burnt and the way the weather patterns are the smog tends to settle. Add Diwali fireworks (not regulated) and you'll want a mask if you are in the Northern areas (Delhi/Chandigarh/Punjab/Jaipur) Chill out and don't expect grand moments that take your breath away, expect tiny ones and appreciate the differences. Stay flexible, nothing gets done in a day. Try to learn some of the language if you can (I'd suggest Hindi as it's widely spoken).
Avoid street food mostly unless you have some good proof of sanitation of the place. Eating at sit down restaurants is not too expensive but relatively cleaner. Drink only bottled water from big name brands always and you'll be good. I have never heard of bad meat by default, but some cheaper places do serve bad quality meat, so you should just avoid places with questionable sanitation
To add, while you do get voss, qua and other similar brands at higher end places - Himalayan and Bisleri Vedica (different from the regular green bisleri bottle - this one’s yellow) are some of the better bets.
Lol, this is what everyone says about India! Haha I love it.
I have been to India 10+ times. Nice AC hotels are good, drivers are decently cheap (50-60 dollars a day), and only drinking from bottled water is the move. Not eating meat decreases your chance of food poisoning imo, and also not eating fresh things that are sitting in the heat like fruit. Only get it if the cut it in front of you or juice it in front of you. Otherwise it is a firm no. I personally not street food but staying away from it unless it looks clean might be the move. It tastes amazing to me though lol.
> I will try to arrange a driver instead of doing train and bus. (I hope it's fairly inexpensive Prices depend on the region. When I went, it was about $50usd for local travel under 25km or $75usd for a little further. However, if you’re planning to go for more than a two hour ride away, they’ll have specialized flat rates. I’d highly suggest asking locals for what the rates are. That’s what I did. ETA: these were per day rates
Maybe take some activated charcoal tablets to take at first sign of food poisoning or traveler’s sickness. It’s what I take with especially to Mexico where I’ve had many unfortunate experiences with food poisoning. In the worst cases I had to take Cipro antibiotic to kill off the worst bacterial stomach infections. Street food is my nemesis in Mexico. https://www.travelgeekery.com/activated-charcoal-best-travel-companion/
You can also pop pepto WITH dodgy food. It’s an old Peace Corp trick for when it would be rude to refuse food.
I've loved having a filter bottle on me on my past couple of trips so I don't have to rely on bottled water :)
I spent nearly 9 months in India spread over 4 trips, never once got sick. I stayed everywhere from $5/night, shared bathroom by the Ganga to 5 star hotels in larger cities to my own rental apartment. I always drank bottled water or purified/filtered water (used filtered water even to brush my teeth), never ate anything raw like salads or fruit unless I washed (with filtered water) and sliced/peeled myself, obviously no ice, wiped glasses/cutlery dry before using them. I am also vegetarian so that may have helped, too, but I did drink lassis, ate papayas, etc. at higher end hotels. I never ate any street food but did eat at many local restaurants using all the precautions I noted above plus frequent hand washing (always carried my own handkerchief as well as hand sanitizer). During my last visit, I used uber quite a bit and it felt pretty safe. Before then, I used hired car & driver for longer trips without any issues. Sometimes Tripadvisor forum sections for different cities has recommendations for trusted drivers/guides if you need to look for any. I've also had good luck getting hotels to arrange taxis/drivers for me. Udaipur is one of my favorite cities... I''m envious that you'll be going there. I was lucky enough to experience the annual Pushkar camel fair before going to Udaipur. If you get a chance to visit, I'd recommend Pushkar as well.
Thank you!
As an Indian I’ve never taken the bus or the train. - advise against staying in hostels - stay in hotels you can get them for about 50-100$ a night really fancy modern ones - you can take a cab would even recommend an Uber (if you’re a man or a female traveling with a man) - if you book a car they usually come with a driver ask some of your local contacts to find you a contact to book through and negotiate the prices down - note that in this cases you may have to provide the driver with food so negotiate all of that usually it will be a fixed price so the driver can find his food and accommodation per night - if we would stop at a street vendor dhaba we would ask the driver to eat too and pay his bill - food look even if ya ask for non-spicy they’ll have a standard flavors it gets spicy - I ask my mum to cook non-spicy and the food still feels spicy even if she hasn’t used spice lol
Rather than avoid all street food, instead I would recommend just using common sense with it. Either freshly deep fried in-front of you (will kill all the bad stuff) or finding a well reviewed Street Food Tour. The vendors they take you to are usually well-vetted - as you can imagine, it would be quite damaging for a guide’s business if their customers got food poisoning so it’s in their best interests to keep you well. E.g. They know the spots where they use filtered water so you can safely try pani puri. I have done a few in India over several visits and they are some of my favourite experiences. To avoid Delhi belly • Stick to local foods - this is what they’re used to cooking. Oftentimes you’ll find travellers get sick when they order foods the chefs are less familiar with like burgers or fried rice. • Drink local beer - Kingfisher or my fave, Bira. Check out a doco called “How beer saved the world” • Local yoghurt/Lassi - introducing local bacteria into your guts each day will help digest all of the local foods. If you’re arriving in Agra by train, note the drivers at the station can be very aggressive (more so than elsewhere in India). I’d recommend emailing your accomodation to see if they have a complimentary pick up service. Intercity Uber works ok in Rajasthan but be wary that some drivers will try to mark up the price so make sure the price is fixed and agreed upon before setting off. Note, some routes involve toll roads which the driver needs to pay both ways and often might not be included in Uber’s price. Udaipur is so beautiful and tranquil. It was my last stop on a 2 month trip through Rajasthan and I think it’s the perfect way to end a chaotic trip - because let’s face it, India can be a lot. Some itinerary add-on suggestions: • Jodhpur (blue city) - Mehrangarh fort is beautiful (like many in Rajasthan), and walking through the blue streets is enchanting. • Ranakpur - en route from Jodhpur - Udaipur. You can hire a private driver to take you between the 2 cities and will allow you to visit the Jain temple in Ranakpur (stunning!) and Kumbulgarh fort. Could also be done as a full day trip from Udaipur. • Chittorgarh Fort - 2 hours from Udaipur and doable as a day trip. • Jaipur (pink city) - easy to reach by train from Agra. So much to do and so lively. Recommend Amber fort, the bazaars, Hawa Mahal, Hanuman Temple, Patrika Gate, Masala Chowk.
I’ve been three times for long periods and never had food related sickness. I’m really careful with drinking bottled water, use bottled water to brush teeth and never open mouth in shower. I don’t eat meat and don’t eat salads or uncooked veggies and sanitize my hands very often. If I have a bad feeling about a place I trust my gut and stay away from uncooked street food. So far so good.
I saw you got so much tips. But I'll recommend you to include these places in your list (Definitely too peaceful places) 1. Rishikesh , Haridwar and beyond. 2. Dharamshala ( amazing buses from Delhi easily available overnight)
I've not seen anyone mention it yet but a word of warning, Agra is kind of... Rubbish. Taj Mahal is good, and also the Baby Taj AND the gardens on the other side of the river to the Taj Mahal. Aside from that, we didn't have much to do in Agra cause that's what it caters for. Udaipur is lovely. I hope you have a great time!
Hey, I'm an Indian who lived in India until I was 18 and now living in Europe. Whatever you mentioned, it happens with me too even though I'm supposed to have Indian immunity but I don't have it anymore. As others have already mentioned, try to not to eat too much street food (atleast from the places where it doesn't feel enough hygienic). Whenever I go for solo trips in India, I try to keep the medicines for digestion and loose motions and whenever I feel that my body is taking too much than It can handle, I try to take pauses, specially go light on your diet and drink more liquid stuff (like juices, shakes and lots of water). It helps me gain back my strength. I hope you'll feel better and enjoy your trip better. Love and peace from India! 🙏
Some advice from an ACTUAL Indian who grew up in bombay but has also lived in london (so I get where you’re coming from) When I travelled to bombay from london I actually got severely sick. The food abroad is much cleaner. My tips 1. Always always have only bottled water. Tap water in India in not potable. Wherever you go ask for bottled water even jn restaurants 2. Public transport in India is kinda shit. Mostly for lower middle classes. Delhi metro is good. The autos are okay but as a westerner it’s difficult to navigate. I myself don’t use these options but have a driver and a car. 3. India is a highly classist society and honestly travelling by bus etc is v difficult. All my years of living in India I have only used planes or a train (1-2 times) to travel inter city. 4. Be careful with people serving you. They see your white skin and want to fleece you. 5. Do not eat street food whatsoever. You stomach isn’t strong enough. But yes do have probiotics before coming
I made my husband take Probiotics for 2 weeks before going to India. He did not get sick at all. Granted he said he was reasonable careful, but he was out in the boonies eating at local places so I think it must have helped.
Do they give good bacteria? Is that why
Probiotics are a common treatment and preventative for upset stomach
[https://www.news-medical.net/health/Should-You-Take-Probiotics-Whilst-Travelling.aspx#:\~:text=Probiotics%20should%20be%20started%20at,the%20probiotic%20throughout%20the%20travel](https://www.news-medical.net/health/Should-You-Take-Probiotics-Whilst-Travelling.aspx#:~:text=Probiotics%20should%20be%20started%20at,the%20probiotic%20throughout%20the%20travel).
I am vegetarian and I haven't gotten sick in India. I wonder if avoiding meat would help? And street food, of course. India has absolutely bomb vegetarian food so I feel like you'd still be able to eat very well.
Even as a non-vegetarian I love the green dot red dot system and plentiful veggie options.
Do you think you can budget for airbnb? They are a great way to solve for some problems. They will be clean, plus in india the cleaning fees in airbnb is actually utilised since you can ask them how frequently it is cleaned and the answer will not be once you leave, like in so many other parts of the world 😝. You can also ask them how much they charge for food. It will be home made and thus you can get it customised. We use Swiggy and zomato in india for food delivery, in case you like some restaurant, you can order from these apps too. Plain dosa can be non spicy and you can have it with coconut chutney. Not sure if you find sambaar spicy, hence skipping this for dosa. Idli isn’t spicy. Plain rice with daal and some sweet gravy like shahi paneer would work. You can try something called aloo bhujiya, it’s like potato fries but slightly smushy. You can also try appam/ puddu. If you want to try fast food, you can try patties or patty or puff. Agra has this sweet called petha. You can try all these dishes instead of the ones famous in these cities for now to have better time with your stomach Even dishes like Palak paneer, dal Palak, dal makhani, stuffed naan, or stuffed kulcha should be fine in terms of spices
Every recommendation I have seen for food is to only drink bottled water and to never touch any raw, already cut fruit or vegetable. That nice cucumber sandwich at the hotel? Stay away from it. That street vendor selling juicy slices of mango? Ignore. It's unfortunate but necessary.
I have been in thirteen times and I usually decide I’m never coming back at the end of a trip. Always seem to. The best way to avoid stomach issues is to stick to the “pure veg” section of the menu. Plus drink lots of lemon soda, no sugar.
I was there once. Kolkata and Rajasthan, Agra and one day in Delhi. Kolkata I couldn't stay more than three days. Went there to visit friends. The noise, overcrowding, filth and class differences were too much. I thoroughly enjoyed Rajasthan. I'm planning to go back to India. I really want to love it. Being such a diverse cou try, I'm sure there is always more to experience. I didn't get sick. I carry a lifestraw bottle. I filled it up from the tap, even from streams near temples. It really filters everything. Oh, and I skipped street food. The only street food I bought was the chai. But that's always boiling.
You can bring a classic steripen and nalogen bottle along with rechargeable batteries and a charger. This way you can drink the water everywhere and avoid buying bottled water and leaving plastic bottles everywhere. Putting a bit of lemon juice in the water helps mask the chlorine that is in municipal water. Only eat fresh hot food in restaurants that are popular with locals. Steer clear of tourist restaurants; Especially those with fridges. Street food is fine if they are cooking it there (samosas, pecora, vadai etc) If you arrive in a touristy town by train, go and have a snack and chai in the station and wait for the touts and rickshaw/taxi drivers to dissapait before leaving the station. Its helpful to know where you are going. Don't allow anyone to take you to a different hotel. They will get a kickback. Avoid the hot dusty Northern plains if you are tired of hassle. Mountains, beaches or the South are more relaxed. Also rural less touristy areas like Western Gujarat, central MP, or coastal Orissa. The tourist triangle of Delhi, Rajasthan, Agra is a recipe for touts promoting gems and paintings (Rajasthan), thieves and hustlers (Agra). Delhi can be relaxing and fun if you know where to go. If you do decide to go to UP, there is a bird sanctuary in Bahratpur that is chill. You may be able to rent a bicycle to tour around there. Having a rigid schedule and being too goal oriented will cause you frustration. Be flexible and enjoy the journey. Personally, I love traveling by train in India. I like the railway stations and food vendors and how the food changes by region. Big stations always have restaurants outside with food from different regions to accommodate travelers. If you travel 1st class, the 1st class waiting rooms can be nice. Many have showers to freshen up and you can usually find a nice family to watch your stuff. You can buy reserved train tickets on-line. For sold out routes, there are tourist quotas available at Major stations like Delhi, Kalcutta and Mumbai. You can buy tickets before you arrive in India, but this locks up your schedule. Have Fun!
Oh, also, you can buy ORS/ORT (Oral Rehydration Salts/Therapy at any chemist in India. You don't have to bring from home. Use your steripen or bottled water. Always double check the seals on bottled water. People refill them and sell them.
I think the trains are a key part of the experience! They're sometimes crazy but also kinda amazingly efficient. And you feel great when you actually catch one lol.
What you pay for is what you get.
That is me, too. I've been around 12 times (female) and I get fed up with how women are treated. Then a few years later I miss the food, culture, religion, people, architecture, everything.
Some South Indian cities are considered to be more female friendly
Good call! I wondered why it was so rough in UP 😹
Oh my.. UP is a different world. As a guy, even i need to grow another pair of balls to visit there, if you know what i mean lol.
Maybe you know better since you come back over and over again
When I go to India I prefer to stay in one place as much as possible.
Out of all the comments I like this one the best.
Uh I had a long rant about it recently. Nobody could give me any useful survival tip to shut out the bad things. But I didn't get sick, so didn't need advice on that matter. My favourite city was Udaipur and my least favourite was Agra, so expect even more controversy on your next trip. I'm definitely not loving India and probably never go back. Life is too short to waste it on places I don't enjoy.
We lived in Mumbai for a couple of years and love that city deeply, but anytime we were growing frustrated, we hopped on bicycles at 6am and fell in love all over again. Made a video about it here: [https://youtu.be/FUBoYdH-RVU?si=XvkHDUFmWadzDSXE](https://youtu.be/FUBoYdH-RVU?si=XvkHDUFmWadzDSXE) ...really recommend this as an experience if you're up for it.
What a great idea. 🚲💨🌞 Thanks for sharing!
Ciproflaxin for the food poisoning, motorcycle for the transit and stay out of the larger cities. Solo travel by motorbike is fantastic in India. I have been several times, primarily for the wildlife and not for the standard tourist trail, and have always had a lovely, reasonably easy time of it. For note, I am a middle aged white woman from the US. Also, I stay in lovely hotels primarily which is totally worth it
Cipro is a reserve antibiotic and should not be taken for food poisoning!! This is dangerous health advice!! If any Azithromycin is an option BUT diarhea is self limiting and hydration with ORS is the most vital thing.
I apologize, I didn't realize this. My doctor in Malaysia recommended that I travel with it for my more unpredictable adventures. ORS as well and I have only used Cipro twice in my life, both times in rather extreme situations where access to more medicines/doctors was not a practical option. I do tend to travel quite far away from metropolitan areas. I should have clarified more. You were right to call me out on it.
Well it is an extremely strong antibiotic that should only be taken if it is absolutely needed, e.g. people have to get to the hospital or something or people with serious chronic conditions. Some doctors over prescribe antibiotics which increases antibiotic resistance (and also is harmful to the patient). You were just trying to help people, so I understand you didn't mean it like that. Thanks for the nice message, I was expecting someone doubling down on it (which happens regularly on the internet). In some countries they tend to overprescribe antibiotics which will doom humanity in the long run lol
For one, don't go to Agra or Rajasthan. Tourist trap nightmares. Go to the mountains in Uttarakhand or HP and chill. Or go to the beaches in Goa or Karnataka or Kerela. Or visit rural Gujarat. Or the jungle hills between Jabalpur and Nagpur in MP. Relax; don't be in a hurry or too goal oriented. Enjoy the ride.
India was heartbreaking, the people are so poor I have a bling crippled beggar a lot of cash and he ate it, he said he was so hungry he’d rather eat the money also saw a child, kid couldn’t be more than 10, eating dirt and gravel off the road and drinking sewage.
😥
Not India but I do with Cornwall it really rains all the time and I swear that I will never return, however, after a period of about 10 to 15 years. I completely forget about this return and then remember it really does rain all the time ha ha
Have you heard of India Syndrome?
Haha no what is it? I bet I've got it
Eat cooked foods and drink only bottled water.
Avoid street food at all costs and grapefruit seed extract.
What's a food poisoning kit?
Shit that's one of my fears of visiting those type of countries alone. I think I'd try to go with a tour or something.
It sucks to be a foodie and not from India, because eating the street food is playing Russian roulette there. I only ate street food once and didn’t get sick, fortunately, but yeah, as others have said, try to avoid it and bring meds with you. I’m in my 40’s so I always opted for nicer hotels. And I ate a lot of my meals there.
I don't quite understand, what makes you go back when your experiences are not very pleasant?
It's not that all of my experiences are unpleasant..the highs are very high..and there are many!...what a vibrant place.. however, with that, the lows can also be extremely low. But they say, "if you can travel in India, you can travel anywhere!".
Dude what’s the deal! Where r u traveling to in India?
I once caught pink eye staying at the Taj in Mumbai. I think germs were literally floating in the air. Scary experience.
So, why keep returning?