India is an often misunderstood country, mostly because facts have always been distorted or misrepresented by armchair travelers, who don’t really visit any country, but advise other travelers based on what they think they know, or more often heard from others like themselves.
As a tourist, it is better not to rely on borrowed opinion from people who know little themselves. You’ll enjoy your visit to India a lot more if you come with an open mind, than with a pre-conceived distorted image of this country.
Don’t expect western standards here unless you’re a well heeled luxury traveler. You will have nearly all the facilities you have back home sans the frills. As an example, India offers some excellent shopping but may not be New York’s fifth avenue or a cobbled street in Paris.
Similarly all cities, towns and villages in India are well connected by an extensive rail and road network. But there is no automated payment system like you know it in your country.
All facilities do exist, but don’t look for your standards. Some of them may not even be practical here.
Some common myths about India:
Myth - If you are navigating streets by map, be aware that reading or understanding street signs in India can be difficult
Fact - Tourists in India rarely use maps to navigate streets as most of them walk around or use public/ private transport and prefer to ask people on the streets for directions. Maps are used by tourists to find places and calculate distances.
Traffic signs in India are the same as elsewhere in the world. A sign that says – LEFT - in the US, does the same here too. Yes, traffic is chaotic and driving yourself inside cities is not advised as road conditions in many cities leave a lot to be desired, and drivers seldom follow traffic rules unless forced to.
Traffic policemen are a friendly lot. and if you do decide to drive, they will let you off for minor offences, and unless you're involved in a major mishap, you should have no problem.
Myth - There are many third world disadvantages and visitors generally come back with at least a tummy bug during their holiday.
Fact - Firstly, India is not a third world country anymore. It is the fastest growing economy in the world along with China and the fourth largest in Asia. Yes infrastructure (mostly the quality of roads across the country) is an area the government is seriously looking at from many years and is continually improving, albeit slowly.
But tourist facilities are well developed and India caters to all categories of tourists from the budget traveler to the luxury seeker.
Indian cuisine is very popular abroad and is on the menu of some of the most exclusive hotels and resorts in the world. Your system needs to get accustomed to your changed eating habits and you should be okay in a couple of days.
That has more to do with your anatomy than Indian food. As a tourist you may also enjoy road side eateries especially at beaches. Everyone does and its perfectly fine. There are restaurants everywhere that cater to all budgets.
Myth - Carry some rolls of toilet paper with you as there is no guarantee they will be available in India.
Fact - Yes, It is advisable to carry toilet paper and napkins while you travel, but you don’t need to carry them with you. Stuff like these are commonly used by many Indian households too and are available everywhere except in very small villages and remote towns
Myth - Tipping is uncommon in India except in upmarket hotels.
Fact - On the contrary, tipping is customary but optional in smaller hotels and restaurants where staff come from largely uneducated and economically weaker sections of society. Upmarket hotels and restaurants are governed by rules prohibiting staff from accepting tips unless its voluntary.
Tips are usually a very small amount. Its not 5% of the bill like in your country just a small amount should be okay depending on how many people are served. For instance if your bill is rs 200 you may tip rs 10 and if its rs 500, you may still tip rs 10 and its perfectly acceptable.
Myth - People in Indian society won’t lift a finger to help you and will not stop nagging unless you pay a baksheesh (inverse tipping)
Fact - Remember that people connected with the tourism industry anywhere in the world wont offer you any free services in just as much the same way as you wouldn't offer your services free to anyone. Its their business, but the above statement is a gross exaggeration and an uncalled for comment on Indian society in general.
The common man on the street loves and respects the foreign tourist and is always eager to help without expecting anything in return. As a tip we would suggest you approach students and youngsters on the streets for help. They are very smart and know every nook and cranny in a city and will go out of their way to help you. Students are easy to spot with their colorful college attire and are usually found in groups.
More importantly, all of them speak good English. Remember many Indian families have children, relatives and friends working in the US and other countries and will always treat you with respect
Myth - Be careful as street demonstrations and protests are common in India
Fact - India is a democratic country and Indians consider holding demonstrations as their constitutional right though it’s wrong to say it’s common. There may be a few in a year but mostly small and non violent. These things never involve or bother foreign tourists and are never a security risk.
Of late India has been experiencing what has been described as "rape culture" and to some extent it is true and foreign tourists have been victims of sexual assault. Please go through our other sections on keeping yourself safe in India, especially for women.
MYTH - India is a poor country and most Indians live in abject poverty earning rs.20 or less than 40 cents a day. Also cited is that 86% of the Indian working population lives in deplorable conditions
Fact - This is more of a joke and not really worthy of comment. Every country has a labor class and their living conditions cannot be used as a yardstick for an entire country. Indians are today among the richest in the world and many are listed on the Forbes list of billionaires.
Though that cannot be used as a yardstick either, the facts are as follows :
The average wage for an unskilled daily wage laborer is about $ 6 a day, and in most cases the spouse also works taking that to a total family income of $ 10 a day, which is considered sufficient for that class of society. It’s a different matter that habits like alcohol abuse, gambling etc ensure that they save nothing thereby reducing chances of improving their circumstances.
Myth - Tipping is uncommon in India except in upmarket hotels.
Fact - On the contrary, tipping is customary but optional in smaller hotels and restaurants where staff come from largely uneducated and economically weaker sections of society. Upmarket hotels and restaurants are governed by rules prohibiting staff from accepting tips unless its voluntary.
Tips are usually a very small amount. Its not 5% of the bill like in your country just a small amount should be okay depending on how many people are served. For instance if your bill is rs 200 you may tip rs 10 and if its rs 500, you may still tip rs 10 and its perfectly acceptable.
Myth - People in Indian society won’t lift a finger to help you and will not stop nagging unless you pay a baksheesh (inverse tipping)
Fact - Remember that people connected with the tourism industry anywhere in the world wont offer you any free services in just as much the same way as you wouldn't offer your services free to anyone. Its their business, but the above statement is a gross exaggeration and an uncalled for comment on Indian society in general.
The common man on the street loves and respects the foreign tourist and is always eager to help without expecting anything in return. As a tip we would suggest you approach students and youngsters on the streets for help. They are very smart and know every nook and cranny in a city and will go out of their way to help you. Students are easy to spot with their colorful college attire and are usually found in groups.
More importantly, all of them speak good English. Remember many Indian families have children, relatives and friends working in the US and other countries and will always treat you with respect
Myth - Be careful as street demonstrations and protests are common in India
Fact - India is a democratic country and Indians consider holding demonstrations as their constitutional right though it’s wrong to say it’s common. There may be a few in a year but mostly small and non violent. These things never involve or bother foreign tourists and are never a security risk.
Of late India has been experiencing what has been described as "rape culture" and to some extent it is true and foreign tourists have been victims of sexual assault. Please go through our other sections on keeping yourself safe in India, especially for women.
MYTH - India is a poor country and most Indians live in abject poverty earning rs.20 or less than 40 cents a day. Also cited is that 86% of the Indian working population lives in deplorable conditions
Fact - This is more of a joke and not really worthy of comment. Every country has a labor class and their living conditions cannot be used as a yardstick for an entire country. Indians are today among the richest in the world and many are listed on the Forbes list of billionaires.
Though that cannot be used as a yardstick either, the facts are as follows :
The average wage for an unskilled daily wage laborer is about $ 6 a day, and in most cases the spouse also works taking that to a total family income of $ 10 a day, which is considered sufficient for that class of society. It’s a different matter that habits like alcohol abuse, gambling etc ensure that they save nothing thereby reducing chances of improving their circumstances.
India adds more millionaires to it’s list every year than most countries in the world
Almost every luxury brand in the world has a presence in India . These brands would never invest in a country if people couldn't afford them.
Yes, disparity does exist and benefits take a lot of time to percolate down to the masses. Unlike the west, most people from the lower classes are uneducated and not aware of even their basic rights. But things are changing with the government offering incentives like free meals to students in state run schools and free education for girls up to the 12th grade. There is no social security in India like in the west.
India follows the reservation system for education and government jobs and people from the lower/ backward castes/ classes in India today are far better off than those from the upper classes.
Myth - Majority of tourists fall victim to con during their travel through India.
Fact - This is true if you are ill informed and completely ignorant about any country you visit, including India. Though the best of facilities are available here, tourism in India is largely an unregulated sector and depends heavily on touts and agents for business.
Remember that they are not criminals and don’t intend to physically harm you. Yes, they will make money out of you if you’re not careful. If you do your bookings in advance, and opt for guided tours, you shouldn't have a problem. If you’re on your own, ask people around you, like we told you – students - and tell the touts and agents you don’t need them.
If you do manage to get conned, put the incident quickly behind you. Con stories are part of travel folklore and someone who tells you he’s always got it right needs closer inspection. People seldom remember pleasant experiences and never forget the nasty ones. Someday, you could be narrating those very same unpleasant experiences to your grandchildren and saying - oh what a fool I've been.
Myth - Toss in some anti diarrhoea, antiseptic cream, sunscreen and basic antibiotics before you come to India
Fact - This is recommended as change in eating habits often takes a few days of getting used to but additional reports of cholera and other disease are completely unfounded. India has eradicated cholera and hospitals are required to report any new cases to the authorities. You don’t have to bother about disease at all unless there is outbreak of a epidemic.
Also bring along your regular medication. Private hospitals in India offer excellent medical facilities should you ever need them. India is in fact a destination for medical tourism.
Myth - Hotels in India are dirt cheap and cost from under $10 to $200 but be prepared to sleep with rats and cockroaches.
FACT - This is a highly exaggerated statement and does not, in any way do justice to the sheer variety of accommodation available in India for every traveler. What you would get for $10 is a bed in a room or a small room in a crowded and often lesser recommended shady locality of the city. These are generally called lodges and very often not maintained well or can be outright dirty.
While you may stumble upon reasonably good accommodation at this price point in very small cities and towns, those may not necessarily be tourist destinations. Hotels in India don’t stop at $200 and can go well over $2000 for one night in some luxury hotels.
Myth - Shops in India will quote twice the price to foreign tourists
Fact - This is true. Most general shops in India are closed on Sundays with the exception of supermarkets and larger stores and shops located in busy tourist areas, so you could use Sundays exclusively for sightseeing
Myth - Cabbies and auto rickshaws will take you for a ride
Fact - This is true. Insist on a meter or else ask people the average fare to your destination and fix it with the driver in advance. It will save you a lot of headache later.
Myth - Beggars are a common sight everywhere in India
Fact - Beggars can be found at certain places but not everywhere and they will try their luck with you. You are most likely to encounter many of them at places of tourist interest like parks, monuments, museums etc. and street urchins will sometimes tug at your clothes, but you can always chase them away.
Think of it as another experience and don’t make much of it. Keep some loose change handy, so that you can hand it over to them if you wish to. The police now deal strictly with them following complaints from tourists and the problem has reduced considerably compared to what it was before.
Just want to add here that most shops will not oblige you with change unless you buy something from them, so when you shop and pay your restaurant bills, pay with bigger denomination notes. That is the easiest way to get change. If you need coins, ask them. When you buy something from them, they gladly oblige you. This is not just with you, they don’t give us change for free either.
Myth - Banks in India are slow and you could end up waiting in long queues
Fact - Not true. India has one of the best banking systems anywhere with bank deposits in India accounting for more than half the country’s GDP which is one of the highest in the world.
All banks with the exception of branches at very small and remote locations (and you wont need those anyway) are computerized and very quick. If you’re a foreigner, you will be given preference over local customers.
Try to avoid Mondays, as being the first day of the week most banks are crowded. Many foreign banks operate in India.
Myth - Post offices in India are primitive and painstakingly slow, so if you want to send a parcel, it could take ages
Fact - The Indian postal service is one of the oldest in the world and has always been known for excellent and prompt service. The margin of error is one of the lowest in the world despite the sheer magnitude of operations.
The postal department also runs a courier service – SPEEDPOST that is equally efficient. Many private couriers also operate in the country. DHL and BLUEDART have been in India for a long time and have offices in major cities. You will find courier company franchisees in shops on the street.
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