Preparing for Your Trip

• 1). Secure a Visa. Go to an Indian embassy in your present country and request a six-month, five-year or ten-year visa. State whether you want a single or double entry Visa as well. Double entry requires an extra fee, but is recommended if you want to go to Nepal or Sri Lanka. Have a valid passport and up to date passport photos. Find two references in India for the Visa application form. These can be addresses of guest houses from a guide book or the Internet. Wait at least 7-10 days for expedited processing time or longer for standard processing.
  
  
• 2). Create a plan. Buy a guide book for budget traveling with a map included. Decide whether you want to go to the North, the coasts or the West to see the desert and nomadic lifestyle. India is so big that it is very difficult to see the entire country in one trip. Plan according to your budget and what interests you. This includes seeing pilgrimage and temple sites, spiritual retreats, organic farming, famous landmarks and volunteering with an organization. Trace a preliminary route on a map.
  
  
• 3). Book a flight. Choose an international airport such as Kolkata or Delhi that is near your travel route. Buy a one way ticket to save money, particularly if you plan on traveling for a while. Compare and contrast travel rates and fees. The coolest time of the year and peak tourist season is from October to February. The weather in the March to May season gets hotter and from June to September the monsoon season starts. Plan according to your destination and what your body is able to handle.
  
  
• 4). Get vaccinated. Although this is not required to enter the country, it is recommended especially if your vaccinations are not up to date. Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for a list of necessary vaccinations and news.
  
  
• 5). Invest in at least a 40-liter back country backpack. Go to an outdoor sporting goods store and have a backpack fitted for your size and weight. Ask a salesman for assistance. Fill the backpack with bags of weights to test out the comfort. Try all brands that are within your price range. Do not be afraid to ask a salesman for help. This will be your home when traveling and it is imperative to have a strong and comfortable pack. Do not be afraid to spend extra money on a durable pack rather than investing in a cheap bargain brand.
  
  
• 6). Pack your backpack. Have a set of respectable warm and cold clothes, swim suit, sandals, hiking shoes, rechargeable batteries, power plug adapter, books, small flashlight, hand sanitizer, sun block, beanie and a light fleece. Include a mosquito net, bug spray, medical and daily care supplies as well. Pack a universal sink plug to do your laundry in guesthouses and hotels. Do not pack more than a week's worth of clothes because you can have more made in India at an affordable price.
  
  
• 7). Inform your bank and credit card companies. State on the phone or in person that you will be traveling to India; explain that you will be using your debit card or credit card in ATMs or online. Make sure that there is enough money in your checking account for your travels. Set aside at least $300-500 per month of travel. Make sure that all of your credit and debit cards are relatively new and will not expire while traveling.
  
  

Beginning Your Trip

• 1). Find the best exchange rate and change your money at the airport. Locate a taxi or auto-rickshaw and request to be taken to a guest house or specific area you planned in your guidebook. Ask a receptionist at the airport where the cheapest guest houses and tourist areas are if you did not make any prior plans. Bargain and ask several drivers until you get a reasonable price. Ask other tourists and Indians what an acceptable price is for the area you want to go to.
  
  
• 2). Choose a guest house. Ask how much it is for a single or double room. Bargain for a lower price, especially if it is in the off season. If you stay several days or a week your chances of a reduced rate is much higher. Stay only one night and change guesthouses the next day if the price is high and you are too tired to look around for better options. Sometimes guest houses provide a roof top restaurant. Ask the guest house owner if this is available.
  
  
• 3). Orient yourself in the town and surrounding areas. Bring a guidebook and a business card of your guest house if you get lost. Check out local sanitary restaurants and visit popular tourist choices that are listed in your guidebook. Drink bottled water throughout the day to avoid dehydration. Ask if your guest house has a curfew so you return in time.
  
  
• 4). Explore towns and cities outside of your starting point. Go to a bus or train station, depending on where you want to go. Book a ticket at a travel agency if you want ease and don't mind paying extra for commission. Keep your pack beside you at all times when traveling on a bus or train. Choose "AC Sleep Class" if you are traveling by train in the hot months and "Second Class Sleeper" if you are traveling in the cooler months.
  
  
• 5). Set a budget and make your trip last. Ask your guest house if you can cook your own food in their kitchen or stay at an apartment that has a kitchen. Walk rather than taking a rickshaw and avoid buying souvenirs until the end of your trip. This will stretch your money and make your pack lighter. Volunteer at an organization that provides housing to eliminate having to pay money for rent.