Recently, a few people have reached out in asking for advice on how/where/when to travel in India and the answer is simple - just GO. Okay, for sure, I know it actually isn’t so simple for some of us to just pack away our belongings, pay for a sitter to watch the dog, request off from the weekly work schedule, or even find a sublet to rent out the expensive loft in the city, but the truth is - that stuff is all key and instrumental in that dreamy travel you have always imaged anyways. As stressing as it may seem initially, it is often amusing in retrospect. And besides, think about the stories, the music, the experienes you will be creating in the long scheme of things. Are you with me?
If you are considering India as a potential travel destination you may already know most of the tips I am about to elaborate on, but in case you haven’t heard or seen any travel blog about backpacker travel in India, here’s a tiny scope of perspective. India is a country that requires no experience - just simple empathetic passage. I recommend letting the harsh realities, but nonetheless, absolute simplistic beauties and overwhelming humors captivate you, keeping you there for an extended period of travel. Truthfully, travelling for one week, or even two, in India is not sufficient time for exploration. I travelled only the northern part, Rajasthan (or the Golden Triangle some may know), for one month and still left feeling incomplete. Not only is southern India ecologically different, but culturally it differs with great depth. Even the cuisine is distinguishable. Get out there!
Since I have decided that this post will be on low-cost backpacking (my area of expertise) I will try to stay on topic here. First of all, travel in the Golden Triangle will require much movement, especially if you want to see the himalayas, golden deserts, and not miss your chance at videotaping savage monkeys bathing beside themselves in the great water fountain of the Taj Mahal before your return ticket quickly approaches. A word of advice in this area - keep your stuff inside a bag and lock it up. Monkeys love those 2016 trends and shiny things. Which brings me to my next point: travel can be a bit stressing at times. You must know that trains in India haven’t got their reputation for no reason. Travelling economically may have you in a small section of the train with 5 other people, sometimes even more on the grounds of the train. In order to avoid this, buy the more expensive ticket and relax. If you’re like me and would like to save every last rupee you can, suck it up and put your headphones on, and keep them in all the way. And don’t forget to watch your step as you’re rushing for the toilets in the middle of the night - there might be people sleeping on the floors, you never know! Needless to say, locals pay a reduced price for travel and that’s always an option for you. But like I said before, prepare for the worst of realities, come on. Yeah, traveller’s diarrhea is common but on the positive note, it’s also cleansing. You may need to set aside a few days for adaptation to food and water in areas where water isn’t so beneficial (i.e., not the mountain regions). Also, a word of advice on sleeper train travel - arrive 30 minutes early as the train will certainly leave without you. Prepare a sack of food like bananas or chapati to hold you over, depending on how long your train travel will be. Note that trains usually stop at other destinations in route to yours and in doing so this allows for local food sellers to offer snacks for purchase, normally around 10 to 15 rupees a piece. A famous one is the spiced chickpea, cilantro, tomato, and onion horderve. I say that with a hint of elegance because it’s actually amazing, no joke.
India is a thriving country at the moment for many reasons. Among many, you may have heard about the economic boom India has experienced in the last decade. With competitors such as China and the US, more investors are becoming increasingly interested in the prospect of business in India and more Indians are becoming business savvy for that reason. You will face the reality that some local people wish to favor your business and might charge a bit extra for your service as a result. Fear not and put your game face on. Haggling is a skill most will perfect while they travel; some will be the victims, others will simply play the game and win. Doing business in India may be for you, who knows? Which reminds me of my next tip - which is a useful one indeed. Entrepreneurship is in peak times throughout touristy cities, which means finding accommodation might be much easier than you would think. I know what you’re thinking - what do you even mean? Well, once you step off a train or bus or perhaps even a local airline there will be a plethora of local guesthouse owners that would ultimately like to be your first choice in accommodation and often times offer competitive nightly prices as a result. Your best bet it to have a rough idea of accommodation market prices before you arrive so that you can prepare for these offers and perhaps make a deal in the end. Travel blogs, Lonely Planet, Hostel Bookers, and Booking.com are all great resources for updated ball park prices of guesthouses. In the end of my travels, I actually came to rely on these sort of recommendations. Don’t fear them, just hustle, and good luck to you!
I have to end this post in the hopes that you will pack up your things right now, buy that overdue plane ticket to whichever city, and then comment here telling me how my advice actually helped you along the way (I hope it does!). I’ve got to tell you though, in the hopes that you are now seriously mapping out the big travel, a bit about my undoubtedly favorite city in India - Pushkar. Maybe you have heard of it before, but in the event you haven not, you must not miss it. It’s actually a pretty small village but lots of backpackers are there, which makes the general mixture of locals and foreigners cohesively thriving and hip. It’s interesting but you sort of feel outside of India while you’re there. If you are in need of budget accommodation here (< 500 rupee/night), I will tell you about my first choice if I ever make it back. It’s called the White House Hotel. It is a very clean guesthouse with white furnishings and a gorgeous rooftop terrace that is quite social and offers food in their restaurant that chef Hement cooks himself. Hopefully you will have the great pleasure of meeting Hemant, the hip brother of the owners, who welcomes you with smiles and a vibrant spirit. A few amenities that you will be sure to appreciate are the hot showers, private bathrooms, new linen, private balconies, fresh towels, and free wifi (that actually works well). You will be walking distance to the centre, which has bookshops, restaurants, temples, convenience stores, and lots of backpacker hangouts. Pushkar is a city of much colour and beauty, so be sure to take lots of photos while you’re there - especially around sunset, when the cows are grazing in the streets whilst having their afternoon siesta.
Most of all, be sure to write me if you do make it out to Pushkar and feel free to leave a comment with more advice on backpacking in India. I’m sure travellers will be grateful for your contribution to the cult literature that is already out there. Thank you for tuning into my blog. If you want to check out White House Hotel the link is also below along with my email address. All I have to say is many blessings to you and happy travels on your long journey through the unforgettable and undoubtedly prestigious country of India! I hope you kick ass with your backpack. Fill me in if you have the time - I’d love to hear from you. Tiff x
https://www.facebook.com/HotelWhiteHousePushkar/?fref=ts
