A Travel Guide for India

Before you plan a trip to India, read this to know all the important information about India, such as the best time to visit, weather, travel options, currency, visa, cuisine, and things to carry.

Climate in India

Being a tropical country, India has huge temperature variations from region to region. The coolest weather lasts from November to March. The hot weather lies between March to June when it is dry, dusty & unpleasant. Monsoon season stretches from Mid-June to August in most regions. Instead, there is a list of best places to visit in July in India for a wonderful experience.

In the south & Coastal areas day daytime temperatures even in the cool months can be in the mid-20s centigrade, though the nights are cooler. In central India and hilly areas in the southern part of the country, night temperatures can drop to under 10°C in winter. In the north, winter temperatures can approach 0°C even in the plains, and of course, it drops below freezing in the Himalayan region.

Currency in India

Paper Note denominations: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 Rupees.

In India, no restrictions apply on the importation of foreign currency, provided a Declaration Form is completed upon arrival. Import and export of Rupee is, however, prohibited and may not be spent in Duty Free Shops. Receipts for all currencies must be kept, as it may be reconverted upon departure.

Most of the hotels, restaurants and some shopkeepers accept credit cards such as American Express, Diners Club, Visa and Master card and will usually display signage to that effect.

Language

As India is a hub of many religions and cultures so there is no single language spoken throughout its length & breadth. However, as per the survey done in 2001, there are 1635 rationalised mother tongues, 234 identifiable mother tongues and 22 major languages in India. Due to this, the Constitution of India does not give any language the status of a national language. For the convenience of people, the Constitution of India has recognised 22 languages as the official languages of India. These are known as Scheduled Languages.

Hindi & English are widely spoken languages in India, with accent variations depending upon region to region. Although we always prefer that our clients are paired with guides who can speak their language.

Cuisines:

The traditional food of India has been widely appreciated for its taste and spices. The cooking style varies from region to region, having its own specialities. Indian cuisine is known for its large assortment of dishes and varies with regions. Most dishes with a gravy are normally called curries but are prepared with a different masala (a combination of spices) like coriander, cumin, garlic, onions, ginger, turmeric, chillies, cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, saffron, etc. You will find different food options in different places to visit in India.

• Bengali Food: Bengali food is appreciated for its fabulous use of panchphoron, a term used to refer to the five essential spices- mustard, fenugreek seed, cumin seed, aniseed, and black cumin seed.
• Gujarati Food: Gujarati food is primarily vegetarian and has a high nutritional value. And each dish has a different cooking style.
• Mughlai Cuisine: It's one of the popular cuisines. Mughlai cuisine consists of the dishes that were prepared in the kitchens of the royal Mughal Emperors.
• Punjabi Food: Punjab cuisine has a wide variety of mouth-watering vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes. The spice content ranges from pleasant to high. Punjabi food is usually appreciated by all communities.
• Rajasthani Food: The cuisine of Rajasthan is primarily vegetarian and offers a fabulous variety of mouthwatering dishes. The spice content is quite high in comparison to other Indian cuisines. Rajasthanis use ghee for cooking most of the dishes. Rajasthani food is well known for its spicy curries and delicious sweets.
• South Indian Cuisine: It consists of very light, low-calorie, appetising dishes. The traditional food of South India is based on rice. The cuisine is famous for its wonderful mixing of rice and lentils to prepare yummy dosas, vadas, idlis and uttapams.

In India traditional meal is served in a large metal plate called a ‘Thali’ with some small bowls to keep the gravy dishes. Indian meal is generally served with wheat-based bread or with rice. You can find different dishes during famous Indian festivals.

In most parts of the country, people do not drink alcohol with a meal. More likely, people love to have a glass of salty or sweet or spiced buttermilk, a soft drink, or water. Nowadays, in metro cities, you can find specialised food joints of international cuisines.

Passport & Visa

A valid passport is required from every other national to enter India with a valid Visa from the Indian Embassy. Citizens of Bhutan and Nepal, who do not require a visa and Nationals of the Maldives do not require a visa for visits of up to 90 days. Persons of Indian Origin and Non-Resident Indians who possess either an OCI or a PIO card, which are the equivalent of a long-term India visa. For a fixed departure Motorcycle Trip in India, we suggest making a booking 30 days prior.

Mandatory Equipment to Carry:

There are many popular road trips in India that offer diverse experiences to everyone. Whether you are travelling by road, train or flight, keep these mandatory things with you always.

Personal Hygiene- Vanity Kit, Sunscreen Lotion UVA/UVB – SPF50 or higher, Scissors, Washing Detergent soap or powder (small sachet), Water Bottles

First Aid Kit