On my bucket list are countless destinations, but rising to the top is India. Although I have an idea as to the must sees for me an outdoors adventure lover, I wanted to know the basics. That’s why I enlisted the help of peer travel writer, Alex, who has spent numerous years in India.

Take it away Alex with your Five Things to Know Before Traveling to India!India has become an attractive vacation destination, and more and more people are planning their trips there. It is not hard to see why. India has plenty of places to go and things to do. The Taj Mahal is the obvious attraction, but temples all over the country open their gates for tourists. However, before going to India, there are a few things you should know. Naturally, you must do your research before going anywhere, but below you will find a few things that you will surely use.

India has become an attractive vacation destination, and more and more people are planning their trips there. It is not hard to see why. India has plenty of places to go and things to do. The Taj Mahal is the obvious attraction, but temples all over the country open their gates for tourists. However, before going to India, there are a few things you should know. Naturally, you must do your research before going anywhere, but below you will find a few things that you will surely use.

Mind the dressing code

Keep in mind that India is a spiritual country, and you cannot dress the same as you do in the Western civilization. You need to be respectful, and some places will not even have you if you are not dressed appropriately. You need to show respect, and that means you need to cover yourself on the street, but especially when you go and visit temples. You will not be doing something illegal if you do not dress as you should, but the old saying goes ‘When in Rome, do as Romans do!’ It is a sign of respect, and you should act accordingly.

Mind the traffic

No other place in the world has a traffic like India. Drivers have rules, of course, but almost no one seems to follow them. The first impression when you are in traffic is that it is complete chaos. And you would be right. It is chaotic. However, the locals are used to it, and there seems to be some kind of order in that chaos. Believe it or not.

Avoid buying food and water from the streets

This is a sensitive topic, but you must take it into consideration nonetheless. That is because everyone has heard that India is not the best at keeping up with hygiene standards. That is fine for the locals, but when you go from the US to India and try some street food, you may get sick pretty quickly. You must not offend the locals because of it, but avoiding food and water from the streets is the one thing that could save your entire trip.

Bargaining

If you do not know how to bargain, you should. That is because the locals in India will try to take advantage of your lack of knowledge. Often they will try to sell you something at a very high price just because you are a foreigner. Keep in mind that bargaining can be fun, and you can save some money by doing it. There is no shame in it, so do not think that anyone would think less of you. In large marketplaces, bargaining is even expected of you. So, bargain away!

The visa is very easy to obtain

Forget about going to the embassy and wasting any time. You can get an Indian e-visa using an online service that will send the document to your email inbox in three business days tops. It does not cost very much, but it will spare you the hassle. After all, when you think about it, a trip to the embassy is a dull affair, and anything that will save you from that is more than welcome.

It is essential to do your homework when you decide to visit another country. Each state has its habits and rules, and disobeying them may put you in a bad position. Lucky for you, you have the internet for help. All you need is a quick search.

**Post contributed by Alex, a peer travel writer and India expert. He is currently in Europe.**