Planning your trip to India

When you are planning a trip to Inida, there are many things you should get prepared to. It will not be a smooth journey but I know that you will think it was worth every hassle.

Visa

The visa requirements of India are clearly displayed at http://www.worldtravelguide.net/india/passport-visa. There are also government sites in India such as the online form you need to fill in on the government's website.  However, it is advisable that you still need an appointment with the authorities at the Embassy of your country after sending the application for a visa over. My experience is that it is better to pay a professional company to get it all sorted. Unfortunately, some companies are not reliable, therefore, always check the reviews before you do make a commitment and try to call them to find out more about their work ethics. The one company that did our visa urgently after being let down by another agency is Visa Express in London. If you are a woman, it is said that many officials in the Embassy would just ignore you or feel uncomfortable speaking to you, so let one experienced company handle it and save yourself time and hassle. The visa is stuck in your passport, valid for 6 months. If you are planning to re-enter the country (this is valid for Nepal trips, too) you should apply for a multiple entry visa.

Vaccinations

Depending on the country and surgery, you will need to start the vaccination process about 6 weeks before the travel. Make a note of the itinerary or print it off for the nurse, so they can check the recommendations online. Some surgeries have 3 in 1 vaccinations, others ask you to come back after a week. The most important vaccinations you will need are Yellow Fever and Malaria. You might also get Typhoid and Hepatitis vaccinations and Rabies as well as Cholera. The nurse will ask you whether you are going to visit rural places and meet wild animals. The better the accommodation you stay at is the fewer times they will stab you. 

Research

Nobody can plan your Indian trip for you better than yourself. Therefore, checking the Internet and reading guides is important. You just have to remember that there are huge distances in India, and you don't want to spend days traveling. As trains are slow and roads are not the best at least, you have to consider staying in 1-3 provinces (still around 700 miles across) if you are going for 2-4 weeks. Travel agents will recommend trains when the roads are unsafe or underdeveloped. Pick a few places, towns and attractions within a 300 mile radius and build up your trip.

Travel Inquiry

A couple of weeks before the travel, I have sent some enquiries to travel agents in India with the list of things we would like to see. Comparing the options, prices and mostly the attitude of the agency is important to make an informed decision. We were lucky by choosing MerryGo Travels in Delhi for our trip to India, as they were very helpful, took into consideration our budget and we felt safe all the way through. They also reply to emails fast, unlike some other companies that took weeks to get back to me. Remember that if there is something you would like to change/amend or add to the trip you have the right to do it, as you are the customer.

Udaipur, North India

Further information about safety and getting around: MerryGo Travels