Planning a trip to India soon and wondering what to expect? Here’s a quick list of things to know before hitting up the Subcontinent.
It’s been over 2 months now since I touched down in India, and while I knew I was a fan from my very brief stint here last year, all my feelings for this crazy magical land have been absolutely reaffirmed- I mean, there’s so many reasons to LOVE this country.
BUT I’ve also learned a bunch that I didn’t know before. And even though I thought myself prepared since this was my second visit and all, no amount of reading material or Insta-shots can really prepare you for this place.
From amazing Indian cultural festivals, mouthwatering food, transportation mishaps, a plethora of jaw-dropping landscapes, more cows than you’ve ever seen in your life and oh so much more, India is easily one of the most amazing places on this planet.
But how to prepare? Well as they say, the more you know the better- right? Here are 11 things I wish I knew before traveling to India:
11 Things You Should Know Before Traveling to India
1. Local Buses Are Never Full
Last year, we were on a time crunch and didn’t really take many buses. But now? They’ve been our sole mode of transportation because of how budget-friendly they are- you can easily get yourself across hundreds of kilometers for as little as 150 rupees.
Now when you go ahead and buy a local bus ticket from one city or town to the next, you might think it’s a direct bus.
But even if no other stops are printed on the route… rest assured that direct it will not be (and prepare for a bit of culture shock if it’s your first time).
Local buses stop in various towns along the way for people, and many passengers (sometimes ourselves included) are cast to fates of standing for hours and hours on end.
If you want a seat, try to get to the bus stand early and get on at the beginning if you can. (Avoid the back row like the plague- your neck and back will thank you.)
2. Weed is (kinda) legal in some places
Harsh drug laws and horror stories from other countries in South Asia might lead you to believe that cannabis shouldn’t even be thought of whilst in the Motherland.
But that’s not totally true. And while I don’t condone drug use or anything of the sort, the right information is important to provide!
Cannabis is deeply intertwined with Hinduism, India’s largest religion, and grows wild in many states. Even more amazing is that weed is actually available for sale in certain Government Bhang Shops, which are primarily scattered throughout the north.
And it doesn’t stop there- India’s Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh is world-famous for its ganja plants, and creamy hash is plentiful.
Even outside of the mountains, which often have cafes that hook travelers up, cannabis is often only a request away. Word on the street is that Delhi even has its own makeshift “dispensary.”
But as with smokin’ up anywhere- be smart, safe and informed before you buy and inhale.
3. May and June are peak domestic tourism months
When we visited the Himalayas last July, roads were mostly clear tourists were few. Somehow we thought this would equate to May and June too- it’s all summer right? WRONG.
Due to dizzying heatwaves and school vacations, all hill stations in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, along with religious tourism sites, will be packed during these two months.
The more remote you go, the less you’ll feel these effects, but even Spiti Valley was fairly busy in June.
4. You’re more likely to see fellow travelers in remote places than in big cities
When we arrived in Spiti Valley, a different type of culture shock hit. After weeks of traveling through some of India’s metropolises and packed spiritual hubs like Haridwar and Gangotri- where we had seen not a one foreign tourist- suddenly we were surrounded by them.
Yet in cities like New Delhi (beware of these Delhi scams) and Dehradun- all significantly easier to reach and travel through- we hadn’t encountered any other travelers.
Not surprising since most tourists are seeking India’s mountains, not its chaotic megacities, but notable none the less if you’re seeking to meet other backpackers.
Read More: A Complete Guide to India’s Hippie Paradise- Parvati Valley
5. Comfortable pillows? Yeah not gonna happen. Beds? Sometimes..
Maybe it’s due to my neck issues, or perhaps I’m just a pillow snob, but as much as I love this country, the lack of squishy-ness in its pillows and mattresses is sometimes literally painful.
Story goes that many believe that a hard, flat mattress and pillow are best for the spine. I beg to differ.
But here’s not to say you won’t get lucky sometimes- the most comfortable bed I’ve slept in so far happened to be in remote-af Dhankar in Spiti Valley, of all places.
6. Indian hospitality is out of this world
Indians have a saying that “Guest is God” and this has been CONSTANTLY proven true.
From the sisters we met on a bus ride who ended up inviting us into their home for the night, to the guys who’ve gone out of their way to make sure hotels and autorickshaws gave us a fair price, and those kind enough to give me a seat on a super long and stuffed bus ride in Spiti, Indians are extremely generous.
While I had heard Indians were hospitable, the lengths they’ve gone to help us out has left us completely speechless at time.
Seriously – the selflessness is something I’ve barely seen outside of my own family! And the craziest part? They all absolutely insist on receiving nothing in return.
7. Some hotels don’t accept foreigners
While I’ve heard of this happening in Pakistan due to past security issues, I was surprised to find out that India, too, has many hotels that only accept locals.
Apparently it’s due to some type of registration bureaucracy- and could end up leaving you without a room if you’re not careful.
Popular booking apps like Goibibo will allow foreigners to book without making it explicitly clear on the booking page that the property is restricted.
If you’re booking through Goibibo or another app, ALWAYS check the cancellation policies page- we’ve had some issues with OYO rooms in the past, though other travelers have not.
To be safe, call before showing up. We were almost stranded in Chandigarh due to this issue!
Read More: What to know about Indian culture before you visit
8. The mountains can get expensive- fast
While we were saving money for long-term travel, we knew that India was one of the places we could make our cash last the longest.
And while that was generally the case, we quickly learned that once you leave the cities and head to popular hill/mountain areas, the bills add up quick.
While it’s easy to find a room with an attached bathroom for 400/500 rupees in most places, Spiti Valley and parts of Parvati will be a bit trickier- many “budget” hotels will charge upwards of 600/700 without many amenities.
And food? Sadly the same.
The cute and tasty cafes of Kasol make most meals a 200 rupee setback- a far cry from the 50 rupee thalis that grace India’s less touristy spots.
Read Next: 102 Amazing Indian Street Food Dishes
9. Butter cookies are the best snack you never knew you needed
India is a foodie paradise, but I was completely unprepared for its SNACK GAME.
Masala Crunch Cheetos, sour straws, jeera flavored crackers- and my personal favorite: butter cookies.
The cookies are similar to any type of biscuit, but are sold in dozens of combinations and varieties that make the perfect partner for any cup of chai.
Besides packaged snacks, India is divine at making actual sweets too: if you find yourself in a sweet shop, the bright yellow squares of patissa (soan papdi) are a must!
10. English is written everywhere, but a little bit of Hindi goes a long way
While English is one of India’s official languages and spoken by many, just as many people if not more don’t speak it- or only know a little.
Outside of cities and tourist hubs, you may find yourself in a bit of a language predicament- all the more reason to familiarize yourself with some basic Hindi before hitting the road! (And to have the Google Translate app ready to go)
11. Absolutely ANYTHING is Possible
Maybe this started as a cliché- but it’s really the whole truth.
From elephants meandering through the streets, six people supernaturally squeezing onto a bike meant for 2, to prices being able to be quite literally any range of numbers, this really is a place where anything could happen- nothing is too absurd or beyond imagination.
Just walking outside will bound to give you a scene you never could have thought possible, and more than just one or two crazy coincidences is likely to make you question how on Earth that could have happened?
But trust me- just go with it.
The unpredictability, insanity and lack of impossibilities are what make India so delectably and irresistibly, incredible.
Samantha is the founder of Intentional Detours. Originally from the USA, she’s been backpacking the world since 2017, and is passionate about slow, adventure travel that puts local communities first. She has visited 19 countries and has been living in the Karakoram Mountains of Asia’s Hunza Valley since 2021. She’s super passionate about helping people get off the beaten path anywhere (on a budget of course), and her travel writing has been published in the likes of BBC Travel, CNBC, Business Insider, and more.
Oooh I would never have considered things like uncomfy pillows! How did you get around it, did you bring a blow-up camping pillow? ;) It’s good to mention the oyo thing too. I had never heard of that!!
p.s. It’s pretty interesting that you met more travelers out in the mountains. I mean, I’d loooove to visit the mountains, I just would not have expected that to be where you’d find everyone.
Hi, Thanks for an amazing write up about India. But I guess ” Some hotels don’t accept foreigners- specifically any OYO accommodation” this point is not true as per my knowledge.
Glad you enjoyed Sumit! And really did you encounter one that did? We had two experiences where OYO branded hotels denied us because apparently they don’t have the authorization to register us or something. But perhaps some of them do?
Wow amazing post about India this is an interesting post. This post is very useful for the folks who are traveling for first time.
Thank you so much Nishi! I’m glad you found it interesting and I hope so too. Hope to return to India soon once all this dies down!
Nice information for the travelers you are looking to explore India. Thanks for sharing