India is a wonderful country that is celebrated by world travellers and you will have to go a long way to find someone who does not have a trip here on their bucket list. As India will probably be quite different to where you are from you should be prepared for a real adventure and to discover new things about the world and yourself.

1. Do your research!

You’ve read this far so you’re already halfway there. When travelling anywhere it is very important to ensure that you fully understand the country that you are travelling to. You should be familiar with the names of the airports, local taxi rates and the sites that you intend to visit during your stay. Failure to do your research will mean that you might miss out on a truly unique experience that was waiting for you just around the corner.

2. Plan what you want to see

Unless you are planning to go to India for months at a time you should pick and choose the things that you want to see and do. You will probably not have the time you need to see everything that you have on your list so you need to prioritize.

3. Don’t rush things

Even though you will probably have a tight itinerary, you should take the time to enjoy every moment. By slowing down and appreciating where you are and how you got there is a great feeling and is what travelling is all about. You may even be able to do some exploring of your own and discover something that is not in all of the guidebooks.

4. Get away from the crowds

Parts of India can be very crowded. Crowded in ways that you have never experienced. This can be a little jarring for some people, especially those who are used to their own personal space! You will probably surprise yourself with how quickly you’re able to adapt and get used to the sheer amount of people that are around you at any given time. It is important that you get out of the big cities to see something other than crowds.

5. Try to avoid getting sick

It is never fun when you get sick on vacation, especially if you are only travelling to India for a short time. No one can guarantee that they won’t get sick, but there are some preventative measures that you can take. You should never drink tap water, and steer clear of any food that may have been washed in it.

To be extra safe you should not have any ice in your drink or salads. Fruit should be avoided as well unless you peeled it yourself. Street food is a real gamble and you should only try this if you are fully aware of the risks involved.

If you like you can consult with your doctor before leaving your home country so that you can be aware of any medications that you should bring with you should you get sick.

6. Take lots of pictures

Not just any pictures, make sure that you’re in the pictures. You want to be able to look at the picture years from now and be able to remember the time in your life. If all you do is take photos of buildings and the scenery, you will have a lot of photos that you could have just found on google.