India. Many faces...

As I was planning my trip to India I often heard "India?! Why would you go to India, to all that dirt and crowds? On top of that it is dangerous!" Among majority of such comments, I've been given few, with which I must agree...

It is needless to say that India is a land, historically saught-for by many, which had a big impact on the Western world.

It indeed strikes with dirt and definitely is crowded (after all it is the homeland of 1/6ths of Earth's population). However, it also is a country of contrasts, which seems to be the source of the whole palette of colours.

India has many faces, and like it usually is in life, in order to experience the magnificence, accepting the flaws is a must...

Nevertheless, it is a very different culture than the one most of us is used to, and so, before going on such trip you have to get prepared.

I am a fan of active, but responsible tourism, and in order to safely grasp the essence of this huge country (3.3MM km2), I decided to travel light and stay on the move - this particularly required preparations as there was no time to waste.

You NEED vaccinations (polio, hepatitis A&B, typhoid fever, tetanus) as much as you need a visa - all info available at the Indian embassy.

But here are some things you won't learn from widely available sources - these basic things is what you will need when travelling across India:

1. Padlocks and bicycle locks:

I was lucky enough to be advised by a friend that handles and locks in Indian doors are not popular, unlike bolts. In basic hotels and hostels you wouldn't just get a key to your room, you would get a padlock with it - it is much safer for your belongings and peace of mind to have one of your own. Take different sizes of padlocks with you, they will be useful when leaving your luggage in front of monuments, temples etc., where entrance with any luggage is forbidden. Bicycle locks will be handy on trains - during long distance travels you might want to get some sleep; attach your luggage with those locks, if anyone would try to steel your stuff, they would have to put some effort and hopefully make enough noise to wake you up.

2. Little purse:

For your passport (don't ever let it out of your hand - you will want to get back home without involving the embassy) and money. You can find those in any sport & travel related shops - you can hang it on your neck or carry it on your stomach (not recommended for ladies - I advise against liftting shirts in public).

3. Gaffer:

Handy when charging equipment with short cables (just stick'em to the wall) or when the windows on trains are a bit drafty.

4. First aid kit:

Disinfectants, plasters, painkillers, cream for allergies, calcium for allergies, pills for stomach illnesses (pills not powder - you might not have clean water to melt the powder in).

5. Wet wipes and tissues:

Tissues are a must - toilet paper is not popular in India, where it is considered more hygenic to wash yourself after using the toilet, it may be difficult to find it also at airports. Wet wipes will help you feel fresh(er), especially when taking a shower will turn out to be challenging.

6. Sleeping bag or fleece:

Depending on the time of the year you will be travelling in - winters are cold in the North, so take a sleeping bag, while summers are hot and steamy, a fleece will do.

7. Flashlight:

Preferably one you can wear on your head - you might need both hands. Stoppage of electricity supplies are common; it can get very dark.

Don't take many cloths with you, buy them locally. No, you will not blend in, but you will support local trade, it is fun not to ware western clothes and you will bring some original souvenirs made of wool, linen, silk, cashmere...