Practical tips

Here are a couple of handy hints that will help you to get the most out of your trip to India:

Touts

Street vendors, rickshaw drivers, and fake saddhus (holy men) can be very persistent. Responding, even with a curt 'yes' or 'no' can often fuel their determination, so sometimes ignoring them (as uncomfortable as this feels)is the only way to go. People will constantly offer to show you around whichever city you happen to be visiting for free, but they will most certainly ask for a hefty wedge of rupees in return, so don't be fooled. Women may also try to take you hands as you walk and give you a henna marking. However, as soon as the henna hits your hand, you'll be asked for money. It is also often common for beggars posing as holy men to offer a blessing to your family, usually for around several hundred rupees per relative.

Street vendors and market traders often ask high prices, and you need to sharpen your haggling skills to get bargains, and even fair prices. Ignore aggrieved expressions: if they were losing out on the sale they would stop the negotiation completely. Items are often worth around half the price that the vendor originally asks.

Sometimes rickshaw drivers will insist that you take a detour via a shop owned by their brother/cousin/uncle/father. State very firmly that you want to go directly to your destination, and if they stop outside the shop anyway, don't feel pressured into taking a look.

You can find a barrage of useful advice by following this link: http://wikitravel.org/en/India#Buy

Beggars

It’s often very difficult to make the right decision about giving money to people on the street, and the cities in India are jam-packed with beggars. Giving money (or toys, sweets and school pens) to children and adult beggars can lead to a further dependence on begging, which is a negative impression to give the kids, and, if you do give money to one child, you'll be quickly mobbed by a whole crowd expecting similar favour. However, these beggars are genuinely very poor indeed, so if you feel like being generous you should go ahead. It's best to take it on a case-by-case basis.

Drinking water

The water from the tap must not be drunk anywhere in India. Bottles of water are sold everywhere. But make sure that the top is still sealed, otherwise ask for a new one.

Alcohol

Alcohol is theoretically forbidden in many places in India, especially cities with any kind of religious significance. In practice, though, almost every restaurant supplies beer and they do so in subtle, and often inventive ways. Don't be surprise if you find yourself drinking beer from a teapot! Spirits are sold from state-licensed shops, most of which are aptly called The English Wine and Beer Shop.

What to take...

* A sleeping bag liner will be handy, especially aboard the night trains.
* A mosquito net could also be useful, particularly if you have pre-treated it with an insect repellant that contains at least 50% DEET.
* Padlocks are useful for locking up your bag when you are in transit.
* Universal sink plugs always come in handy, as well as plastic sandwich bags to pack toiletries and medicines.