Ive Lived in India for 30 Years. Dont Make These Common Tourist Mistakes

First time or tenth, anyone can make these mistakes.I have lived in India for three decades. It’s one of the most exciting and confusing countries to travel. It’s so rewarding to explore it, and see all its facets, but travelers who come with preconceived notions often fall into common traps. Don’t be that tourist. Be careful, as you would in any other nation, and give yourself time to adjust to the customs. There is no doubt that you will have culture shock, so ease into the experience. No one can emulate the same India experience, so make yours uniquely yours without judgements. These are the common mistakes that tourists often make, and if you want to have a wholesome experience, you’ve been warned. 1 OF 10 Generalizing and Believing Stereotypes India is one-third the size of the U.S. It is a big country and you’d be remiss to homogenize it. Each region has its own culture, food, language, or dialect. Like the U.S., some areas are flourishing and rich, while some are impoverished. You will find skyscrapers in metropolises like Mumbai and Bengaluru, while there are also slums. Around 25% of the population is bilingual and more than 10%—that’s 150 million people—speak English to some degree.Before and during your visit, do not mistake all of India for poor or uneducated. The obsolete tropes of India being a land of snake charmers are not only racist, but also wrong. You would also benefit from being mindful about visiting slums or orphanages. Don’t indulge in poverty porn, and try to understand the nuances of life in the country. 2 OF 10 Sticking to the Golden Triangle Yes, the Taj Mahal is beautiful and Jaipur is accessible from Delhi, but there’s a lot more to see in the country. Depending on the season, you can explore Ladakh, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, and the Andamans. Closer to Delhi, you have beautiful hill stations and mountain towns, while in the south you can discover places other than Goa and Kerala (check out Gokarna). You will see different architectural styles as you move from north to south and west to east—from Mughal influences to Dravidian style. Then there are historic palaces by former royalty, temple complexes (Khajuraho is a must-see), and sprawling nature reserves with jungle lodges. 3 OF 10 Doing Too Much, Too Soon The opposite is also a mistake. Don’t pack too much into your itinerary. You’ll exhaust yourself just trying to get to places. Pick one region, and explore it slowly within whatever time you have. You can always decide to come back. 4 OF 10 Underestimating the Traffic and Overestimating the Roads I lived in Gurgaon for two decades, and now when I go back, I always underestimate the time it would take me to go from one place to the next. I also try to walk distances where sometimes there are no pedestrian paths. Don’t be me. An eight-hour drive can easily stretch to 10 due to traffic or road conditions; even weather is sometimes an impediment. Apart from Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai are also notorious for their road traffic, and you’ll also often face delays in the hills.Pack your patience if you’re covering long distances on four-wheelers. 5 OF 10 Not Getting on Board India’s Tech Revolution The first thing you should do when you arrive is get a SIM card. Everything in India is easier digitally. You can connect to airport Wi-Fi, order food on apps such as Swiggy and Zomato and groceries on BlinkIt, pay using UPI apps, and book train tickets on the IRCTC website. There’s an app for everything and data is cheap. Not feeling well? You can even find a doctor on Practo and get an appointment. The digital ecosystem in the country—while criticized for being exploitative—is really convenient. 6 OF 10 Dressing Without Care In Hindi, we have a saying, “Jaisa desh, waisa bhesh.” Literally, it translates to as the country, so the dress. It basically means that you need to adapt to the country, do as the Romans do in Rome. In places of worship, like temples, gurudwaras, and mosques, Indians cover up as a matter of respect. Same goes for smaller towns and villages, where anyone (no matter Indian or not) will attract attention if they’re not dressed modestly. 7 OF 10 Not Trying Local Cuisines It’s understandable that foreigners are careful with food because of the possibility of upset stomachs. But you can still try local cuisines at restaurants and eateries, or even hotels that have local delicacies on their menu. It’s a misconception that Indian food is too spicy—it really depends on where you are and what you’re eating. The cuisine changes every 30 kilometers, so you will have so many varieties that you can eat a different dish (or a different version of a dish) for each meal. Don’t miss out on it—there is more to the cuisine than butter chicken and naan, though they’re lovely, too. 8 OF 10 Not Shopping for Local Crafts India is a goldmine of handicrafts. Every region has beautiful textiles, pottery, accessories, furnishings, and homeware. Don’t get the regular magnet of an autorickshaw, and find something more meaningful to bring home as a souvenir. Pashmina scarf, banarasi saree, jutti, madhubani painting, silver jewelry, glass bangles, and embroidery are all something you’d cherish. For foodies, there are chutneys, ingredients like saffron, sweets, achaar (pickles), and namkeen (snacks) that will make your pantry more colorful and food more flavorful. 9 OF 10 Haggling Like a Local It may be on your India travel bingo card to haggle with shopkeepers, but it’s not a good look for foreigners. Your dollar converts to almost Rs 100. When your currency and buying power is that strong, it makes haggling for a few rupees unnecessary. They will most likely charge you an inflated price because you’re a tourist, but if you can afford to, why not just pay? If you’re unhappy with the price, walk away—not as a tactic. Related: Stop Haggling on Vacation — It’s Unethical and Tacky 10 OF 10 Driving When You Don't Need To I also recommend people to only drive (cars or bikes) if they’re sure and confident that they can handle the stress. Many find roads to be chaotic, especially in the bigger cities, and it is. Taking the wheel can be nerve-racking because you’re fighting for space with trucks, buses, auto-rickshaws, bikes, SUVs, and cyclists. Keep that international driving license handy, but try it on less busy roads.