Essential Travel Tips for Canadians Visiting India

I hope that as your travel advisor you will find this information useful in the planning of your trip to India. This beautiful country has a lot to offer and having some level of readiness helps to maximize the fun that is encountered when on a trip. Below are some of the recommendations that can be given to any individual when it comes to traveling, moving around, getting transportation and eating out. We are going to share some travel tips for Canadians visiting India.

Suggested Tour: Golden Triangle Tour of India

Travel Preparations (Travel tips for Canadians)

• Visas and Documentation: Make sure you have the correct tourist Visa before you set out for the trip. The e-Visa for India is as follows: You may apply for an Indian e-Visa if you are a Canadian citizen. It is advisable to always have photocopies of passports, visas, and any other necessary documents.
• Health Precautions: The next thing that a visitor should do is to obtain the right vaccinations by visiting a travel clinic. Some of the popular tours suggest to take Hepatitis A and B vaccines, Typhoid and Tetanus. The patients should carry prescribed medicines and a simple emergency kit for minor emergencies.
• Travel Insurance: The travelers should ensure they take adequate travel insurance that includes health and accident covers, as well as loss of baggage and personal property. It is always wise to be safe than to be sorry!

How to Travel 

• Flights: Most airlines offer cheap fares and this is usually the best time to book your flights. Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore are linked to many international destinations.
• Domestic Travel: India is a large country, so if you are going far, consider the time and include flights whenever possible. Indigo, Vistara and Air India are few of many airlines that have established multiple domestic flight connectivity.
• Train Travel: I can vouch for the Indian Railways and would recommend this as a great way to explore India. Tickets booking can be done through internet booking or through any authorized traveling agents from IRCTC website. Choose the AC classes when it comes to comfort and security.
• Local Transportation: For first and foremost, Uber and Ola are the best applications for availing taxi services. Auto-rickshaws are one of the most popular modes of transport in India but never settle for a fare without bargaining or always demand the use of the meter.

Suggested Tour: Golden Triangle Tour of Shimla

Exploring Places (Travel tips for Canadians)

• Guided Tours: It is sometimes useful to organize tours to popular places yourself, turning to the services of guides. Local guides are key assets that help not to overlook important points and navigate you through unknown territories.
• Cultural Etiquette: Avoid dressing provocatively and be cautious regarding the type of clothes worn in the villages and unpopular tourist attractions, religious institutions. This means that one has to respect the laws of the country, and part and parcel of these laws is to respect the customs and traditions of the local people. It is useful if you learn a few basic words in Hindi or any other local language that you are familiar with.
• Safety: Be careful when in and around the public places, do not walk alone, try to avoid lonely places, and be careful with your personal belongings at crowded places. Keep emergency contacts handy.

Accommodation 

• Hotels and Guesthouses: India houses all sorts of accommodations from high end luxury hotels to basic guest houses for tourists. Read more about it on sites such as TripAdvisor or Booking to determine the particular hotel’s reputation. com before booking.
• Homestays: Since the most popular accommodations type are hostels, for a deeper cultural experience, it is only possible to stay in home-stays. Sure there are many accommodations available on website like Airbnb where you can get Indian ambiance and food as well.

Suggested Tour: Leh Ladakh Tour

Food and Dining (Travel tips for Canadians)

• Eating Safely: Indian food is quite varied and can be very tasty, however it is necessary to eat at a safe place. The first precaution is to only drink bottled or filtered water, steer clear of ice in drinks as well as freshly cooked food where possible.
• Street Food: Taste street foods but do so with utmost precaution. Select more stalls that are crowded and those which food items are sold out quickly. Some of the commonly chosen foods are pani puri, samosas, and dosas.
• Restaurants: Dine at popular, established restaurants to test the local food culture. India has regional specialities – Delhi’s butter chicken, Hyderabad’s biryani, and Kerala’s seafood are all must-tries.

Money Matters 

• Currency: The currency used in India is called Rupee which has the international code symbol INR. Over-the-counter cash can be obtained from ATMs, and inform the bank of your travels to avoid problems with the cards.
• Digital Payments: The world is more and more digital and India is no exception to this evolution. The modern population uses such applications as Paytm and Google Pay, but carrying some cash is still reasonable.
• Tipping: The most popular form of gratuities is a percentage of the bill which is usually around 10-15% in restaurants, hotels and for guides and drivers. Make sure that one of the extra fees mentioned above such as the service charge is not already factored into your bill.

Connectivity (Travel tips for Canadians)

• SIM Cards: Buy a local SIM card upon arrival with the hope of making calls and have Internet access. The service providers such as Airtel and Jio are quite good and there are affordable tariff plans available.
• Internet: Internet connection particularly in hotels, cafes, and restaurants is easily accessible through the Wi-Fi connection. But it is helpful to have mobile data at least for navigation purposes and to stay connected with the rest of the world.

Packing Essentials

• Clothing: Pack casual, comfortable and light wear that is suitable for the weather conditions in India. Carry a scarf or shawl when visiting religious sites or when it is cool and bring a hat to protect yourself from the heat.
• Comfortable Footwear: As the attractions are scattered around the city, it’s a walking tour so wear comfortable shoes.
• Travel Accessories: In addition to packing clothes and toiletries, do not forget to take a power adapter, a bottle for drinking water and a lightweight bag for carrying items for a day tour.

If you follow these tips, you will have no trouble enjoying the beauty and history of India as well as the warm and diverse culture of this wonderful country. Have a good trip and create a lot of wonderful moments!