Travelling to India for the first time from Australia

Yes, India is one of the top destinations for Australian tourists. Every year thousands of Australian tourists come to visit India, and the number continues to rise with each passing year.

Australians can apply for an ETV (Electronic Travel Visas). This visa is valid for a period of 60 days with a double-entry permit.

The best time to travel to India is winters – from October to March. As most of India is tropical and during winters the Himalayas stop the cold winds and keep the weather pleasant.

Yes, you can, and as it is offseason, the cities and tourist places are less crowded and there are discounts running at hotels.

The top-5 destinations to visit in India for an Australian tourist would be the iconic TAJ MAHAL, get treated like a royal in the luxurious hotels of Rajasthan, feel the strength of spirituality in Varanasi, bask in the sun of Goa’s pristine beaches and relax in the beautiful backwaters of Kerala.

If you are in India during the summers, you should carry a lot of cotton clothes. For men, wearing shorts, jeans or loose pants and t-shirts along with a hat would be a go-to outfit for any destination. For women, wearing ankle-length dresses is advised mainly at religious places like temples and mosques. You can wear jeans and tops in most of the country. If you are travelling in between Oct to March, carry pullovers and jackets, hats, etc.

For females wear tops with half sleeves and cover head with a scarf, avoid mini-skirts and wear long skirts. For men, wear pants and T-shirts but cover your head while visiting a mosque or a Sikh temple.

It is not advisable to drink tap water from a public place in India, so use bottled water for drinking. However, most Indian hotels and restaurants use filtered water for drinking.

It depends on the hotel where you are staying, most of the 4 star and 5-star hotels in India are able to take care of the dietary requirements of Australians but just to be on a safer side, inform your hotel in advance about it.

Yes, non-spicy food is available. Also, if you are eating in the restaurant at your hotel, give specific instructions to make your food non-spicy.

India offers hotels for every kind of traveler from luxury resorts and hotels of Rajasthan to cheaper guesthouses and hotels if you are on a budget trip. Contact our specialist at https://www.india-tours.com/contact.html to offer you a holiday matching your expectations.

Yes, most of the 4star and 5-star hotels in India maintain a high level of hygiene and are equipped to provide Australians with modern facilities.

India is as safe as any other country, and any solo lady traveller is safe in an Indian hotel. However, just like any other country avoid traveling solo after dark and always have a list of emergency numbers used in India.

Yes, there are handicapped friendly hotels in India for Australians. Most of the 5-star hotels have handicapped-friendly rooms fitted with accessible toilets, but you might find it a challenge while visiting a monument and would have to ask for assistance.

Many Indian travel agencies offer discounts when you book in advance. Also, booking a flight in advance would bring benefits of a cheaper flight rate. The only thing to keep in mind is booking a holiday package with a reputed travel agency.

Yes, Australians can pay at hotels, shops, and restaurants with credit cards.

It depends on the kind of traveller that you are, India is well connected through roads, trains, and air. However, to feel the real essence of India, a road trip is highly recommended.

Yes, it is safe for any Australian to participate in any local fairs and festivals and enjoy warm Indian hospitality. Festivals are a reflection of Indian culture at its best, and you will have an enriching experience that will fill your soul with the vibrant colours of this incredible country.

There are only a few monuments that are handicapped-friendly, and you will need assistance in most of the monuments.

The pollution in big metropolitan cities like Delhi could be bad, especially during winters, and you would require a mask in case of dense smog. The smaller towns and cities are much cleaner and are covered with greenery.

English speaking guides are available in all the touristic cities.

Indian handicrafts should be the first thing in the shopping list of an Australian. The other must-buy items would include Indian spices and tea, silver, gold and semi-precious jewelry, fabric, cotton and silk clothes, carpets, blue pottery, embroidery, and patchwork.

Yes, it is easy to buy a SIM card in India as many telecoms provide this facility.

Tipping always depends on the services rendered to you; however, a decent tip in a restaurant is about 10%. You can tip about 5 to 10 Dollars to your driver and guide.

Yes, both medical and travel insurance should be bought before coming to India.

India is known for its advanced medical treatment at a much lower price than developed countries, and most of the big private hospitals are equipped with world-class facilities for patients.

No vaccinations are not needed for Australians travelling to India.

Carry Antidiarrheal medicines along with medicines for Malaria while travelling to India.

The voltage in India is 220V. Carry a Universal plug as the socket, and power plugs in India are of type C, D, and M.

Some basic words that an Australian traveler can learn before coming to India are:
1) Namaste- Hello
2) Han- Yes
3) Nahi- No
4) Aapkaise ho- How are you?
5) Mai achha/ achhihun- I am fine
6) Kitnepaise- How much are you going to charge?
7) Theekhai- Okay
8) Madat- Help
9) Achahai- It is good
10) AchaNahihai- It is not good

Yes, some travel agencies provide all-inclusive packages, but if you want to experience something beyond a normal tour, we offer special tour packages at competitive rates. Contact us at https://www.india-tours.com/contact.html for a special all-inclusive package.

In case of an emergency, call 112, which is India’s all-in-one emergency helpline number. Other emergency numbers are – POLICE-100, FIRE-101, AMBULANCE-102. You can also call our 24/7 customer service office number – +91 11 41050560 for any emergency.

Metropolitan cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata are famous for the night-life culture, and most of the restaurants are open till late night, but if you are in a semi-urban city, you can expect to find some restaurants open only till 10 pm.

Yes, you can cover main highlights like North India, glimpses of South India and Goa in 15 days with a well-planned itinerary in hand or you can contact us at (https://www.india-tours.com/contact.html ) for a customized travel experience.

Yes, haggling is a very common practice while shopping in local or street markets, and even many of the shops with fixed price tags also allow some bargain. However, you should refrain from bargaining in showrooms and shopping malls.

English is a frequently used language in the metropolitan cities of India, and you will feel a communication gap only while travelling to the rural areas of India. Learning a few Hindi words will make your travelling easier while asking for directions for some specific place from the locals.

No, some places require tourists to deposit their cameras and phones and prohibit photography. Hence, it is advised to ask permission from the concerned authorities every time you are in doubt.

Yes, non-veg options are easily available in India. Dishes made out of Chicken, Lamb, and mutton are commonly found in the entire country except for Gujarat. Beef is banned in India considering the religious beliefs of the Hindus, but you can definitely gorge on everything else available in non-veg options including Seafood.

Indian food is as diverse as the nation, and you can taste different delicacies from the north to the South. The most commonly found food is wheat, rice, pulses, and vegetables cooked with spices.

India is one of the most budget-friendly countries. You can stay at decent hotels starting from 2500 INR onwards. You can contact https://www.india-tours.com/contact.html to arrange a tailor-made package trip matching your budget.