In my quest to visit all the world’s top countries, I’m off to India next week (visa permitting). Apart from visiting the Taj Mahal, what should I be doing?
I’m not sure where I’ll be working yet, but it’s either not so far from Chennai or it might be over in Gujarat.
I’m not sure that it matters very much exactly where you go in India. I travelled to India, about 15 years ago, and the main memories I have are of the amazing contrasts that exist there: odors of incense, spice, fruit, and perfume juxtaposed with garbage, sewage, and BO on the streets; enormous mansions adjacent to cardboard huts; ‘wild’ cows walking next to emaciated beggars. Probably if you visit one big city and a small village, you’ll have a sense of the big picture.
Be sure to experience riding on the trains and on the buses and visit some temples. Climb in a banyan tree. Spend a couple of nights in a houseboat in Kashmir.
I was also impressed with the natural beauty. If you have time to pop up to the Himalayas, it’s definitely worth it. You’re unlikely to see such spectacular mountains, valleys, and rivers anywhere else in the world. I took a short trek up to a sacred glacial lake (something like 15,000’ elevation) and went swimming there among 7 mountain peaks, alongside other pilgrims. That was pretty spectacular.
If you like beaches, go to Madras, which they say is the widest in the world after Miami.
Have fun.
I was in New Delhi about three years ago. I agree with the previous poster, it doesn’t matter where you go. It’s foreign in the extreme. You will probably never experience anything like it any where else. It’s not an easy place to be but it’s definitely worth it. Sorry, I know I am being vague.
You should be eating the local food - fantastic and don’t just stay in hotel restaurants.
You should travel on an Indian train - first class of course.
You should take fast film - it’s bright bright bright.
You should not get a cheap suit made up there unless you have time for around three fittings over a week or two.
You should take time over things. India is a country to be savoured. You should travel on a train if you can, but never, ever buy tickets at the last minute if you value your metatarsals.
Never drink the tap water! Never ever ever! And on that note, if you buy bottled water, check the seals. Some unscrupulous dealers will break open the bottles and refill them with tap water.
Ride in a rickshaw. In fact, ride in both kinds of rickshaw, the pedal kind and the auto kind. Get used to lots of noise. If you can, try and visit a hill station. They are all in the north - Shimla is the largest - and they are absolutely beautiful, and a huge contrast to the cities on the plain, which I think where you said you’d be working.
[Pablito, she did say she’s not so far from Chennai, which is the new name for Madras]
Do you know any Hindi? If you want to learn an Indian language (there are 845 to choose from), it’s the one to start with. Have fun and take lots of pictures.
Yes, I am Indian, how on earth did you guess?
Given the current climate of world affairs, what’s in store for an American over there?
An American covered in tattoos sporting a Knicks jersey to be specific. 
I’ve always wanted to go there.
Apart from visiting teh Taj Mahal, you could visit Delhi, whic his the capital, or Mumbai, which is the financial capital (not much tourism there) and also the film capital (if you are lucky, you can also witness one of our gawdy dance routines!!)
And if you are thinking of travelling to Gujarat, you can visit the Gir forests, which house the asiatic lions. Nearby is the city of Junagadh which has a lot of history. And speaking of history, you could head up to North Gujarat and visit the Kutch region, which is a desert, which some beautiful havelis (palaces). Gujarat tourism has offices in every major cities like Ahmedabad, Baroda and Surat, so you can go on one of their guided tours, which are really comfortable and cheap. Restaurant food is good but very spicy, you are warned.
Unlike Loneraven, i advise you against traveling in a rickshaw, however tempting it may be, since you will most certainly get fleeced. Hire a taxi. And Be sure to haggle.
Happy touring!!
Pretty much the same thing you’d have seen with the climate of world affairs ten years ago; you’ll get extra attention from panhandlers, are somewhat more likely to be pickpocketed, but nobody’s going to come up and yell at you for being a Yankee infidel.
Too many people associate India with the Middle East… and too many people lump the M.E. into one big percieved culture.
-To answer the OP… go to Bombay and see the “necklace” along Marine Drive at night- Marine Drive curves around the Bay for several miles and the lights along the seawall make it look like a gigantic pearl necklace. The first time I saw it as a kid, it took my breath away.
-Never never never open the outside door to your train compartment when the train isn’t at a station, no matter how pitiful the poor souls hanging onto the sides sound.
-Get your shots. If I recall rightly, typhus and cholera vaccines are a must. Depending on the area you’re visiting, hepatitis B is probably a good idea too. Ask your doctor, or call the Indian consulate.
-Order a mint paratha. Minty bread might not sound all that good, but it is. It really really is. Avoid most food prepared by street vendors… although boiled peanuts are okay
-Under no circumstances should you attempt to rent a car. A) you’ll hit something (or something will hit you) within the first five miles, and B) auto-rickshaws are cheaper and more fun anyway.
-Visit a tailor. Indian tailors can make pretty much anything your heart desires (although it may be tricky to explain certain western fashions, like really baggy pants) and more importantly can do it extremely cheaply, and well.
Most importantly, be nice to old people.
Tapioca: If you have any specific questions about Gujarat (locations, people, language, customs, food, etc) feel free to email me. I’m from there and might be able to help you out a bit.
(I won’t be accessing the boards over the next few days, so it’ll have to be email. If not, hopefully someone else on the boards will answer all your queries. Good luck and enjoy your stay!)
Hi there Tapioca.Its a great decision to visit India.This is a great time to visit India because the weather is nice and pleasant and you wont be bothered by the heat.
Your plan to visit the Taj Mahal is a good choice.It is located on the northern part of India, and I suggest a nice weeklong trip to different places in the north.You can visit several hill stations like Kulu-Manali,Shimla,Nainital etc to enjoy the pristine scenic beauty.Agra is also not that far from New Delhi.Other good travel destinations would be Kailash Maan-Sarovar and Ladak.Check out the food and cloth places in Delhi if you go there.You can enjoy really nice mughlai and punjabi cuisine in the north.
If you will be working in Chennai,you will be in the southern part of India.South India is a great place to be if you want to see temples and other religious things.Southern cuisine is very good too.Chennai has a chain of restaurants called Sarvanna’s.Do try the Ghee roast masala dosa with a nice big cup of filter coffee.Places to visit in the south would be Ooty(a hill station),Kanyakumari,the southernmost tip of India, a very beautiful place.Goa is a great place to be around during Christmas and New year.
Some tips:
Like specified lots of times earlier be very careful about the water you drink.Avoid buying water in the trains.
Most of the places have cabs and auto-rickshaws which charge you by the meter.Make sure you have a copy of the fare card.
As much as possible try getting your hotel hire tourist cars for you.Less chance of getting fleeced this way.
NEVER give money to beggers or children.No matter how pitiful they might appear.
If you are brave enough do try the local cuisine at the different places you visit.Every place has its own speciality.Street food culture is very unique of India and IMO food tastes best this way.
Get your shots before you come here and also get industrial strength mosquito repellent.
Go street shopping.Make sure you poilish up on your bargaining skills before you arrive here.Do not be afraid to quote half the price the vendor has asked for.Dont pay more than 60% of the original quote.
Have a trusty local with you to help you around.It will be more fun this way.
Hope you enjoy the trip.
As soon as I read the thread title, I thought of linking to that thread!
Tapioca, if you plan on travelling through Pune, email me - I can play a half-decent tourist guide!
New Delhi is a shopper’s paradise. Be sure and visit the underground market and cottage industries shops. There are wonderful bargains on everything including leather coats, etc.
The sights and sounds are enough to amaze you and I would go back today if possible. I never met a rude person there. Everyone you come in contact with tries to make you feel welcome.
I guarantee you will have a wonderful time if you go with an open mind.
Topica, while visiting Agra, be sure to ask to be taken to the local sweet market. Try teh batasha (sugar buscuits, roughly) and the misri (another sweet, i cant translate that). Agra is famous for these as well. And street vendors are quite ok. Just make sure the stuff is prepared before your own eyes. Its the reataurants that you have to be careful of, since they are not in the habit of serving fresh food.
[slight hijack]
I never knew that Indian tailors we so prized in the west 
We, on the other hand, prefer to buy readymade stuff.
[/slight hijack]
There are a few hill resorts in the southern part of India too (which is where Chennai is located). The most popular ones are Ooty and Kodaikannal but I would suggest Munnar which is in Kerala. It’s absolutely captivating.
I wouldn’t encourage you to eat anything from the roadside. It is not true that food tastes best at the roadside. There’s a lot of variety in Indian food and it would be best to get a local (friend or colleague - since you will be working there) to suggest the best place to eat.
The thread mentioned by jjimm provides a wealth of information, people staring at you being one of the oft repeated warnings. It’s true, don’t get offended by curious stares. At the same time, don’t expect people who stare at you to greet you with a smile or greeting like they do here. They might just stare you down or look through you…don’t be offended by that either!