Travel India the goMowgli way!
Not just another Indian travel guide!
Accommodation in India
India offers a lot of accommodation options. From a conducive environment in backpacker’s hostels to quaint little authentic home stays, from themed resorts & hotels to cribs with plush aquamarine pools, from guest house & shacks to fancy corporate suites & studio apartments, from Jungle lodges & log cabins to luxurious palaces…we have it all!
What must be on your mind while looking for accommodation in India?
- Location – Type of accommodation largely depends on where you are. So it is good to go with what is abundantly available in certain regions.
- Budget – You can shack up in places at a throw away price or move into a plush expensive place. Hence, it is a good idea to weigh your budget while selecting your accommodation.
- Safety – Now this is very important and we can’t stress enough on this! Very low priced accommodation can also mean ‘unsafe or inhabitable’ places. So make sure you choose wisely. If you feel you are not comfortable in a particular place, it is always a wise decision to walk out and look for an alternative safer place to stay, especially for solo travelers. Never hesitate to pay up for safety.
- Amenities – Basic amenities such as clean bedding, hot water, food, Wi-Fi are subject to the price of the accommodation. Do inquire and read some reviews on the internet about a place prior to booking to save yourself from disappointment.
- Check-in – Check-out timings -Inquire about the check-in and check-out timings. Although many places give you a lee way on this and are seldom strict, it is better to know about it in advance.
Accommodations galore in India!
Backpacker's Hostel
Suitable for:
- Budget stay for the backpacking crowd.
- Traditional hostel stay and feel.
- The hustle & bustle of other travelling crowd.
Here are some links to hostels in India.
Zostel, Happy Camper, Sonder Hostels, Stops Hostel, Electric cats Hostel, Moustache Hostels, Jungle hostel, Vedanta Wake Up, Prison Hostel, Old quarter Hostel ,
Luxurious Palace
- For an extravagant stay and leisure at its best.
- For a traditional experience in living life king size.
EXPENSIVE
Heritage Homes and Villa
- To surround yourself with age old renaissance or colonial architecture.
- To experience and soak yourself into the history of age old traditions.
- To try your hand at traditional customs, food, service and hospitality.
EXPENSIVE
Suites to Studio apartments
- For a home away from home feel with all must have material comforts.
- Suited for longer stay and traveling business class.
EXPENSIVE
Home stays & Retreats
- For authentic touch and feel of the local culture.
- To experience tranquility and mingle with local people and indulge in some original flavors of traditional food.
MODERATELY PRICED
Resorts
- For more commercial touristy attractions.
- To laze around in pools, explore gardens, play badminton, snooze away in hammocks, etc.
- To experience special themed resorts. Eg. Eco resorts, Jungle resorts.
MODERATELY PRICED
Shacks, Lodges & Log huts
- For a more fun, close to the nature and hippie feel.
- To explore nature and find solitude amidst nature.
Lodges:
- For a simple ‘Just sleep in’ sort of accommodation
BUDGET
Hack on booking:
Zostel, Hostelworld, Airbnb, booking.com, GoIbibo, Expedia, Trivago
Reviews :
What to pack other than the obvious!
Must haves!
- First aid
- Mosquito repellent
- Torch/Head lamp
- Linen & Pillow
- Scissors
- Folder for carrying tickets & Travel documents
- Rain coat
- Small purse for carrying coins for change
- Sunscreen
- Chapstick/ Moisturizer/ Cold cream
- Thin fleece/jacket
- Dry gear bag
- Zip tags
- 2/3 pin Indian adapter
Hiking/Adventure
- Thick Jacket/ Thermal wear
- Hiking boots
- Sleeping bags
- Medicines for altitude sickness
Beaches
- Trunkinis
- Sarong
Safety in India
That one question which lurks in every mind while planning a travel to India is safety – a big concern that men, women, solo and group travelers generally have. Well! What one should know is that India is a vast country and like any other country in this world it has its own share of nuisance. Come to India with an open mind but ensure that you are safe. We have provided a few tips below to help you.
First of all - No list can state it all. Always trust your instincts.
Ignorance is not always bliss - do your research!
- Know about the place you are about to visit – have some basic idea.
- Do not arrive at a new destination at night – this is something even Indians try to avoid. Moreover, it is easier to locate your hotel/ hostel in broad daylight.
- Prearrange for your airport transfers immediately after arrival and plan your first night.
- Try to have trusted contacts at the place you are visiting (acquaintance/ travel agent/ concierge).
- Respect the culture - Yes! It is a lot more than just ‘Namaste’ and involves appropriate clothes too.
Trust me you wouldn’t do these back home! So don’t do it here. Period.
- Be over friendly with people who approach you at tourist spots.
- Engage in conversation even when you sense negative attraction.
- Accept snacks, beverages, alcoholic drinks, chewing gums or cigarettes from strangers.
- Leave food or drinks unattended or in care of strangers.
- Go out late in the night or to a secluded place or a dark street.
- Hitchhike or accept car rides from strangers.
Ask and you shall receive – never hesitate to seek help!
- Carry a whistle or any other safety device.
- Ask the front desk at your hotel/ hostel if there is any area or particular place in and around that you should avoid altogether or avoid going alone.
- Talk to people and understand what’s happening around. As a bonus, strike up some great friendship along the way.
- Be assertive – say a no when you want to. If you have not understood something, ask again.
- Ask Google for help. The maps come in handy to understand if your taxi is going off route.
Learn to be the observer – be aware of your surroundings!
- Take a picture of your taxi/ tuk-tuk registration/ license – it can really help you at times of need.
- Mind your body language – sometimes it is advisable to be culturally bound in India.
- Take care of your belongings.
- Always get a business card or write down the name and address of wherever you are staying.
Above all – keep an open heart!
- Do not forget the reason why you are here. So let your hair down and have some fun. Enjoy!
- Make friends with other travelers – they tell you a lot.
- Respect local people and local culture.
- Keep in touch with someone back home.
Remember - “No place is ever as bad as they tell you it’s going to be.” – Chuck Thompson.
ETIQUETTES - CULTURAL NORMS TO BE FOLLOWED IN INDIA
We appreciate the following:
Eating & Dining
- Eat with your bare hands (right only) and participate in the local culture.
- No offence will be taken if you use your left while using a spoon.
- When people offer their food to you, accept it and take some with your hand.
- Drinking alcohol at a bar where it is served – OK.
Religious places
- Dress modestly. Cover your heads if you see everyone doing so – especially in Mosques and Gurudwaras.
- Some temples do not allow anyone who is not a Hindu. We do not mean any offence to other religions but it is just a cultural norm – respect it.
General
- Be polite to waiters at the restaurant – they are not careless. They just find it hard to follow your accent.
- Respect our National treasures – do not touch them without being asked to.
- We take pride in our culture and everything around. Respect it.
- We admire you and are curious about you. Hence, we want a photograph with you and want to know more about your ways of life. Be polite with us.
Please do not do these:
Eating and Dining
- Waste food.
- Drink alcohol in buses, trains, places of worship, restaurants where it is not available, at anybody’s house without being offered.
- Smoke at public places and at no smoking zones.
Religious places
- Wear footwear inside religious places, tombs and places alike - cloth slip on shoes or socks are OK.
- Wear off shoulders or clothes above your knee (applicable to both men and women).
- Click pictures inside temples.
General
- Disrespect Indians - not everyone in India is a thief, a cheat or a rapist.
- Try to sneak in your mobile phones and take pictures in places where photography is prohibited.
Food in India
In India we don’t eat to live but we live to eat. And there is no way you can leave this country without trying the best of the food which varies from region to region.
Chai/ Kaapi
Thaali
If small portions have never managed to satiate your hunger, thaali (literally means a plate) is what you must be looking for. Adorned with multiple dishes from a particular region, this takes a priority on the must-eats in India. You can opt for the humble limited thaalis or the much favorite eat-all-you –can unlimited ones. In Southern India, don’t be surprised if your thaali is a piece of green leaf.
The Delhi-Belly Conundrum!
Don’t worry about the Delhi belly and savour the roadside chats (Indian quick snack) from a roadside vendor. Ensure you select the vendor receiving maximum crowd to ensure you get the best and the safest.
The south Indian version of Thaali
If thaali is overwhelming, do not worry! Southern India has multiple delicacies on offer. And the idlis (steamed rice cake), vadas (deep fried rice cakes) and dosas (Indian pancakes) win hands-down. It is a must-must try. Period.
Sweets!
This is what we eat when we want to celebrate, gift someone something, welcome someone, or say good bye. You need to get a mouthful here and yes, you will be spoiled for choice.
Other must eats!
Sea food delicacies are a must have when around coastal India.
Momos and Thukpa – give it a shot when you are towards the Himalayan region in India.
Happy Trails to you!
If you have begun your research about India you must have read about how vast and diverse India is as a country. To be precise, India’s road network is the second largest in the world. So if you are planning to come to India and see it all in a month, let me tell you – it is never going to happen.
We have tried to make things easy for you and have laid out destinations on the map of India. You could follow the steps to decide your trail in India:
1. Zero-in on which part of India you want to visit – the North or the South. If you select the North, decide whether you want to go East or West.
2) You heard people talk about the monuments, the temples and the beaches in India and you want to visit exactly those – the popular destinations. Or are you more of an explorer and prefer to go offbeat?
Guide hack: The destinations have been further categorized under popular and offbeat. The popular destinations are picked based on their popularity amongst tourists and the offbeat locations are picked based on personal experiences.
3) Whatever floats your boat! Do you want to experience the culture or are you here for some adventure, wildlife, a particular festival, or do you simply want to soak in the beauty of the nature?
Guide hack: What a particular destination has on offer has been marked against it using these symbols.
Glossary - For your mobiles to go click click!
Handy Websites – For Information & Booking
Domestic Flights:
MakeMyTrip, GoIbibo, Expedia, ClearTrip
Indian Railways:
IRCTC, MakeMyTripTrains, ClearTripTrains
Bus:
RedBus, GoIbiboBus, ClearTripBus
Taxi's
Accomodation & Food
Zostel, Hostelworld, HostelBookers, AiBnB
Others:
MakemytripHotels, Trivago, Tripadvisor, GoIbiboHotels, Oyorooms, Zorooms
Food:
Blog reel – Handpicked and Sautéed!
Reasons why you should go traveling in India
10 books to read before you travel to India
What to wear in India in different place
From the Travel bloggers den:
Backpacking through India Packing list
10 Tips for first time traveling in India
The average daily budget for backpacking in India
Top Female travel bloggers reveal why they love traveling in India
The GoMowgli Single window guide:
That’s all folks!!
So what are you waiting for? Now that you know everything about India and are fairly confident and equipped, go ahead and book your tickets. Remember that the planning has to stop somewhere because over planning may kill the surprises that India has in abundance.
But if you are still not satisfied and too many thoughts are haunting you, don’t worry. Your local friend, goMowgli, is here to help.
Some dope on us!
goMowgli is an offbeat tour bus company offering city tours, hop on hop off and bespoke tours around Kerala, Goa and Karnataka. Our tours include,
Somanathapura and Talakad tour
Badami Pattadakal and Aihole Tour
We promise authentic Indian experiences combined with a high class professional service on all our tours.
"We make travelling in India, safe and memorable. We make backpacking India quite easy. Enough reasons, we believe, for us to exist. "
Write to us at contact@gomowgli.in or reach us at +91-9008730975.