Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Don't drink the tap water. Ever. This includes ice cubes. (Seriously, don't!)
Make sure your bottled water is sealed before you open it.
Avoid street food that nobody else is eating; and don't eat anything that hasn't been cooked.
Minimize the amount of meat you eat.
Start taking probiotics two weeks before you travel to India. Take them every day before
your trip and then every day throughout your trip as well. This significantly reduces any
chance whatsoever of getting Delhi belly. (If probiotics are expensive in your home country,
buy only enough for the two weeks before your trip as you can buy a week's worth at any
pharmacy in India once you arrive for about $1 USD.)
Just like in Southeast Asia, common sense with street food goes a long way. Derek advises: “If a restaur-
ant looks sketchy and has no Indian customers, it's a good idea to avoid it. But if a local hole-in-the-wall
restaurant is full of local customers, you can try it out as well. Local people do not want to eat bad, non-fresh
food either! So if it's a popular place with locals, it's popular for a reason—good, fresh food is being served
and as a result it would be safe for you to eat there too.”
Eat where others are eating to minimize your risks!
TRANSPORTATION
Let's get it out of the way now: transportation in India is slow. Departure and arrival times are often mere
suggestions. You aren't going anywhere fast unless you fly! Any overland travel will take time. And even
when trains and buses stick to their schedule, the great distance involved combined with the slow speeds
means it still takes a while.
Trains
Around 14 million passengers travel by train in India every day and Indian Railways is one of the largest
employers in the world, with a staggering 1.6 million workers.
Train journeys in India are more than the means to get from point A to point B—they are an adventure
in themselves and an incredible way to meet and chat with locals.
“Train travel in India should not be viewed as a dreaded necessity. While it might not be the most com-
fortable or luxurious train system, you are bound to meet endless people on every journey, have some in-
teresting conversations, see some beautiful countryside and in the end, have some of the most memorable
experiences of your entire trip,” says Derek.
Service on the trains can range from rough, crowded, and smelly to relaxing and comfortable.
For the cheapest travel, go third class. In third class, there are no assigned seats, it's unbelievably
crowded, with people sleeping on the floor (and even on the luggage racks!), and there's poor ventilation.
It's uncomfortable, rough, and tight, but tickets are dirt cheap—costing around $1 USD for most journeys,
such as from Delhi to Varanasi or Goa to Kochi. If you're traveling on a tight budget, there's no better way
to get around!
The next class up is the second-class sleeper, which comes with assigned seats, beds, and a lot less
people. It is more private and comfortable and prices are around $6 USD for a typical twelve-hour journey.
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