At Mystic India we believe that firsthand experience, extensive research and up-to-date information is essential when specialising in an area as complicated as India. We have spent many years exploring India and even the smallest, most obscure village mentioned in this website, has been visited by our team here in the UK or in India.
We travel there regularly in order to keep a constant check on the ever changing hotels that are developing. Our visits are essential to check hotel standards and to keep abreast of any interesting new areas that develop.
Mystic India has worked with our representatives in India for many years; they work on our behalf ensuring that the high standards we have set are consistently adhered to during your tour. They will oversee the smooth running of your holiday ensuring you have nothing to worry about except enjoying all that India has to offer.
We have similar representative offices in Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka who will also see that your holiday proceeds according to plan, that all your needs are catered to and that help is constantly at hand, should you be in need of it.
Most nationalities require a visa to enter India and this must be obtained before departure. The current cost for UK national to obtain an Indian Visa is £42.20 each. For more information about the requirements to obtain a visa please visit the official website of VFS Global. http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/
Mystic India would like to recomend Visa Handling Services Ltd as a cost effective service to lodge and collect your application. Charges start from just £15 per application plus p&p. This saves you valuable time and effort, instead of spending hours waiting to lodge your application and making a second visit to collect your passport when it's done ... they do it all for you and send it back in the post. For more information please visit their website www.visahandlingservices.co.uk
If you are travelling to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, some areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim; you will need to obtain an entry permit when you apply for your Indian Visa. You will be required to complete an additional Restricted Area entry form. There are other areas of India that require permission to enter and these permits are arranged locally.
When travelling to Jammu & Kashmir (not Ladakh). Please check the UK FOC website as to advice for travelling in these areas.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/india/javascript:mctmp(0);
Dress in the hotels is casual. However, in the smarter, city hotels, people do tend to change for dinner. Apart from something tidy to wear for dinner in the larger hotels, no formal clothes are necessary. One need not necessarily be very smart but just a change from day time clothes and into smarter clothes is the norm.
Ladies tend to wear smart trousers or skirts and gentlemen tend to put on a clean shirt, cardigan or jacket. Ties are not necessary. You will never be asked to leave a place and we suggest you wear whatever you feel comfortable in. Take a good pair of trainers for exploring during the day as you tend to cover quite a bit of ground on foot. Please bear in mind that you will often be required to remove your shoes when visiting temples so it is advisable to carry a pair of socks with you, should you not wish to walk barefoot. Sock are also useful for hot marble floors in the temple grounds.
When out sightseeing, it is advisable for ladies to be modestly dressed and for gentlemen to avoid very short shorts. A comfortable pair of shoes for walking and visiting monuments is essential. Please use your discretion when visiting temples - ladies may be asked to cover their heads so a small headscarf carried in your handbag may be useful. Most ladies wear trousers, long shorts or light, floaty skirts when out sightseeing during the day. T-shirts are fine but vests should be avoided.
If you are staying in game reserves, in beach properties or in the hills, dress is very much more casual. When visiting game reserves it is advisable to take warm and waterproof clothing for the early mornings when the dew is still heavy on the trees and it takes a little while for the sun to warm up. Dark and muted clothing is also essential together with a strong pair of shoes.
The monetary unit in India is the Indian Rupee (approximately INR 74 = £1.00) We suggest that you take Sterling travellers cheques for security, which are widely accepted.
However, if staying in the small Heritage Hotels, such as many of those in Rajasthan, please bear in mind that you may not be able to change money, as they do not all have this facility. These small hotels generally do not, accept credit cards and may do not take travellers cheques. It is therefore wise to carry enough cash when in remote regions.
Bearing in mind the 'tipping' culture in India, small notes are vital and you should always ask for plenty of small denomination notes when changing money. Thereafter, whenever you can obtain small notes, it is like gold dust and should be kept for the endless tipping that is accepted, although this is only small amounts.
All of your guides and drivers in India have been fully pre-paid and you are under no obligation to tip them. However, if you feel that they have been particularly helpful, we would suggest around 400 rupees for your driver for each day you are with him and this should be presented to him on his last day with you. For the private guides a tip of around 300 for a half day and 500 rupees for a full day is sufficient. What you give is up to you.
In the hotels you should tip the porters, laundry men, room service about 50-80 rupees. On leaving any hotel at the end of your stay, you may wish to tip the doorman approximately 100 rupees. It is normal to leave a small tip after each meal.
At airports and railway stations, when you are without a Mystic India representative (i.e. after you have checked in or before you meet up with them on disembarkation), should you utilise the services of a porter, they will expect to be tipped and you should tip them approximately 50-80 rupees. Please bear in mind that there is a glut of porters at all transportation hubs that will be extremely keen to carry your bags for you.
This is part of life in India and a certain degree of firmness is required if you do not need the help of porters and a certain degree of vigilance is required if you do as they tend to move extraordinarily quickly through the crowds with your luggage.
When trying to cover a larger area in India in a short space of time, flying is an efficient way of getting around. In instances where we have suggested flights it is because the distance is too long to drive. Train journeys can be an alternative option to flying, please ask our specialists for advice on journey times of trains if this is your preferred mode of transport.
In India it's not as comfortable as in the west apart from when taking a luxury train tour. We always book local rail journeys in the best service available. The system in India is that the reservation system opens a few months in advance. We diarise when you are travelling on your train journey and book seats or berths as soon as reservations systems open, it's a mad scramble as soon as dates open which is why we mention best available service. We do however try to get 1st class if this class of service is operating on that particular journey. 2nd class is more common.
When travelling in India with us you will be driven by a driver who, although he may not speak much English, he will be able to converse with you and will know the area well, thus avoiding the possibility of delays through getting lost. Please bear in mind, however, that driving in India bears no relation to driving in the west. The drivers are much more aggressive and follow a rigid code of conduct which means swerving to avoid cattle, large trucks and buses.
Due to most roads in India being fairly narrow, drivers will often go off the edge of the road when passing oncoming traffic. The highways are all very busy and you will find your driver swerves a great deal and that he breaks hard and fast at, what we would consider to be the last minute, rather than gentle breaking. However, all our drivers are rigorously tested before being hired and they are extremely safe and confident on Indian roads and knowledgeable on Indian conduct on the roads. Please therefore, do not worry about the way you are being driven but if you are nervous or feel he is driving to fast, please do not hesitate to tell him to slow down.
Most cars will have a tape recorder or CD player so you may wish to take some music with you or the driver may have some India music you may like to listen to whilst driving. We try to limit he travel times in our designs to no more than 4-5 hours but in some instances to get from A to B longer times are necessary. Comfort stops en route are recommended to stretch your legs and also for the driver to take a short rest.
The main highways are well maintained but if you are venturing further afield, they can be in a slight state of disrepair. The journey timings described in your itinerary are based on the usual amount of time a particular journey will take. However, please appreciate that not all roads can be checked for their condition throughout the year and most of them contain stretches which are in bad repair and most have potholes in places.
Busy cities in India tend to have a great deal of traffic congestion and, although this is taken into account by our representatives coming to meet you, there can sometimes be serious delays. Our staff will do their utmost to be with you at the appointed time, but please bear with us if they are a few minutes late. You are given our local representatives phone numbers in your documents, you can always ask your hotel to contact them if the appointed time has passed.
India works on a midday check-in with around 10am check out system and, during the season, hotels run at 100% occupancy. In some cases it may be that your flight arrives very early in the morning, before your room has been vacated and it is likely that there will be no rooms available at that time of day. Should this be the case, you shall be taken for breakfast or sightseeing before being shown to your room. We shall try to procure your room for you as soon as possible but ask you to be patient in this regard. Please note that Oberoi and some Taj properties now have a check in time of 1400 hrs. Check out is normally around 10am.
The Sub-continent has a wide range of religions and, as a result, choice of foods. All the major hotels serve both local and continental food and both meat and vegetable dishes are easily obtained. However, in the more rural areas your choice of food may be limited to local dishes only. The food that you are served will be freshly cooked but it would be wise to avoid eating salads (that have been washed in water) and to peel all fruit before eating it. If you are on the coast, fish is delicious, in abundance and quite safe to eat as it is all fresh.
The key thing to remember when eating meat in India is not to rush into it, but take things slowly. However used to curry you are over here, the different spices used in India, tend to create very different dishes which can affect your stomach. Meat is quite safe to eat but 'take it slow' and built up a bit of an immune system. Eating in India is extremely reasonable and the following amounts may be used as a general guideline to help you in planning how much money to take to cover meals whilst in India.
Obviously these prices will vary according to how much you eat and what items you choose on the menu (such items such as lobster, king prawns, pate, caviar and the more rare imported food items are more expensive). However, for an average eater who has neither an enormous nor a tiny appetite, they will be a useful guideline per person. Higher grade hotel will have higher prices.
Continental breakfast £4 - £6
Full breakfast £6 - £10
Lunch (simple lunch at small hotels) £5 - £8
Lunch (at the larger, city hotels, in town) £7 - £15
Dinner (full 3 course, at large, city hotels, without alcohol) £16 - £40
Dinner (full 3 course, at small hotels, restaurants in town, without alcohol) £11 - £20
Depending on your meal basis, any extra food / snacks that you eat will have to be paid for at the end of your stay (if you eat in the hotel) or in local currency if en route somewhere or staying in small forts and palaces.
There is no reason to get ill in this part of the world as long as you are basically sensible. Even if you are used to dining out on the hottest curries that the UK can provide, the cuisine in the Subcontinent will still be vastly different to what you are accustomed to. Purely on account of the different spices, herbs and the difference in the density and composition of water, you may find that there is initially an effect on your stomach. This normally passes within 48 hours as you adjust to the change in diet. Should this not be the case or, if you are suffering from severe loose motions, consult a doctor. Many hotels offer a wide range of local, continental and oriental cuisine and they are keenly aware of Europeans reactions to food so will take great care in the preparation of such.
Smaller hotels will offer only local cuisine but will pay the same heed to the preparation of what they serve you, to the extent that you may end up asking them to 'spice' it up a bit. To avoid health problems, which usually occur simply due to the change of diet, outlined below are a few basic guidelines: May we also recommend that you take a Anti-bacterial hand gel with you to use during the day, as you may well be touching unclean surfaces, then hand to mouth action may cause upset tummies. Do not launch straight into a hot curry but pace yourself with milder dishes to begin with. Never eat food off the street stalls which may have been sitting there for some time. To begin with, avoid eating salads or food that has been washed in water unless you are staying in a luxury hotel and you know it's been washed in purified water.
Avoid eating raw vegetables and fish of any kind (unless by a coastal area or in a larger luxury hotel). Always peel your fruit. Where possible, ensure the food is hot and has been recently prepared. Drink only bottled water and ensure that the seal is intact before opening it. Avoid ice in your drinks (unless the hotel has its own water purification system). Close your mouth when showering when in remote forts & palace in village locations, city hotels should be fine.
There are many excellent restaurants to be found in India. In the larger cities they tend to be located in the 5 star hotels and also in the town centre. In small cities, the best restaurants tend to be found only in the larger hotels. It is quite safe to eat in these restaurants but please bear in mind that it is imperative you make a reservation before setting out as there is now a growing 'restaurant culture' in India and they can often be fully booked, well in advance, by locals and other visiting tourists. Even if staying in the very hotel that you decide to dine in, we suggest you make a booking for dinner that morning as you cannot be guaranteed a table by simply turning up.
Please never drink from the taps whatever category of hotel you are staying in. Drink bottled water and ensure that the lid is properly sealed before drinking. There is no need to take water purification tablets as there are ample supplies of bottled water throughout the Subcontinent. In some hotels, you will often find flasks of purified water in your room. Check this has been either boiled or purified by the hotel before using to clean your teeth and is relatively safe to drink. Do not have ice in your drinks as this is often made from water that has not been purified, but do check first.
However, in the larger hotels where you will find ice of different shapes to the standard square slabs or if your are offered ice cubes with holes in, this indicates that the hotel has its own water purification system and the ice is made from this water which is therefore safe to drink.
Western drinks such as spirits, wine and beer (all from the west) are expensive in India and it is certainly wise to take in your duty free allowance of your preferred drink in order to avoid paying the high prices charged in hotels. Indian beers and whiskey etc are all very cheap and perfectly drinkable. Alcohol can be obtained throughout most parts of India. The local beer is extremely good and a great deal cheaper than drinking western beer. Gujarat is also a 'dry' state although alcohol can be obtained in some hotels and consumed in the privacy of your own room, on production of a liquor permit. Other locations to note that are what we call dry locations are Pushkar & Bundi in Rajasthan and also holy locations like Haridwar in the foothills. The odd hotel may not have a licence, for eg: Windermere in Munnar if this concerns you then please check with us for a more comprehensive list or with our representatives on arrival.
Those taking medicine for certain conditions such as diabetes or heart problems should make sure that they carry these in their hand luggage at all times in case the main luggage should be delayed. If you should suffer from diarrhoea at any time, the local doctors are very good. As a precaution however, you may want to take Immodium (strong) or Diocalm and / or Lomotil (milder) with you.
In case of dehydration, sachets of Dioralyte or Electrolyte can be obtained either in England or India and are an extremely efficient way of restoring the necessary minerals to your system. It would be advisable to travel with either one of these.
No inoculations are compulsory but immunisation against some are recommended. Around 6 weeks before travelling to India we suggest that you seek advice from your doctor as to the most appropriate inoculations to have. Here are a few of the recommended vaccines you should check into before travelling to India.
Japanese encephalitis - Rabies Typhoid - Hepatitis A or Immune Globulin (IG) - Hepatitis B - Yellow Fever - Malaria - Tetanus - diphtheria - measles - polio
There are few more diseases that people should bear in mind before travelling to India and it all depends on the season and what part of the country you are visiting and what standard of travel you have decided on.
More information can be obtained from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/india.aspx
Another useful site is Fit for Travel http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/asia-(east)/india.aspx
Malaria: Malaria the one of the most endemic disease to the rainforest areas, although risk of being exposed to Malaria in short trip is not too high. Risk of being exposed to malaria differs from area to area and from season to season. Check with your doctor for up to date information and advise them when and where you re travelling. Please kindly note that Chloroquine is not an effective in the Indian Subcontinent and should not be taken to prevent malaria in this region.
Altitude Sickness: The primary symptoms of altitude sickness are pounding heart, breathlessness, upset stomach, headache, insomnia. severe altitude sickness is most common with pre-existing heart or lung conditions. Trekking and wildlife enthusiasts like bird watchers are likely to travel some of the higher altitudes in the Himalayas. Please discuss this with your doctor before you travel.
Link to the Government website for advice about travelling in India
Keep a photocopy of your passport, Indian visa and flight ticket separate from the originals when travelling.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/monitor/india/index.html
We also recommend registering with the FCO at LOCATE before you travel, this can be done from the following link.
https://www.locate.fco.gov.uk/locateportal/
LOCATE is a free service provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for British nationals travelling outside of the United Kingdom. The details you provide when you register will help our embassy and crisis staff contact you and give you better assistance in an emergency such as a natural or manmade disaster or civil disturbance.
Fortunately, Indians are very forgiving toward foreigners who aren't always aware of the etiquette of Indian culture. However, to help you avoid embarrassing mistakes, here are five things not to do in India.

Contact our team on
0207 931 8273