Key travel destinations. Ten reasons to visit India

India is one of the most underrated regions for emigration. A huge country of contrasts with a billion population can show a migrant both Goa’s magnificent beaches and cultural monuments, and slums near major cities. At the same time, even several tourist trips cannot always help create the right impression - too much is hidden “behind the screen”, far from standard routes.

The country is located in the Southeast Asia region, almost entirely located on the Hindustan Peninsula and washed by the Indian Ocean.

A huge territory of 3.28 million square kilometers (the seventh largest country in the world) is located in the tropical zone, due to which the year is divided into three seasons:

Cool and dry, with north-east wind (November to February);
Dry transition period lasting three months starting in March;
The hot and humid season runs from June to October.

In summer, the country turns into an “oven”, so it is not recommended to visit it in the third season. The most favorable time for the first visit is mid-April and New Year's holidays.

Goa, India

The level of industry and infrastructure varies greatly from region to region. It is important to realize right away that in Goa, Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai it will be very difficult to find work, while industrial areas will not be able to boast of beautiful views and cleanliness. Migration to Goa will be a good option in case of remote work, business or other source of income not related to your place of residence.

India is an agricultural country, with more than half the population employed in the sector, which contributes about 20% of GDP. The country's food insecurity has persisted throughout its history, and today food self-sufficiency is still a key goal of every Indian government.

The main grain crops are wheat, rice, corn. The following are grown for sale abroad:

Coffee;
Sugar cane;
Tobacco;
Cotton;
Rape.

Spices bring significant income - a third of all world production is located in Hindustan. Livestock farming is poorly developed due to cultural characteristics: a cow is sacred to Hindus, while a pig is considered an unclean animal by most of the country's population. Cattle used, as thousands of years ago, for transporting goods.

Standards of living range from abject poverty with cardboard houses to magnificent palaces, while both worlds can be separated from each other wooden fence. The average price of essential products is even higher than in Russia, which is why there are many poor people living in the country.

The labor market is very overloaded, especially for migrants - due to government regulations, only locals are hired for low-paid jobs; on labor exchanges, the number of vacancies for foreigners is close to zero. For qualified foreign employees by invitation, everything is a little simpler, although here the quota is 1% of the number of Indian employees.

Immigration to India

Active migration is slowed down by the Hindu government - if it is incredibly easy to obtain a visa for long-term residence in the country, then the next step of obtaining citizenship will be noticeably more difficult. This policy towards migrants is associated with the overpopulation of the country - official statistics state that in 2019 there are 1. 2 billion people.

Indians have no problem with cheap labor force or mid-level specialists, they need investments and highly qualified professionals. Bureaucracy only creates additional difficulties.

Many people who moved for the first time live on a so-called “religious” visa. Indian law is much more tolerant of those who come to the country to study religious practices or practice one of the many beliefs.

To see the sights of one of the oldest countries in the world, it is enough to obtain a temporary two-month visa, which is activated upon entering the country.

Those who want to go to Goa and other warm places to live for the winter can apply for a tourist visa for six months.

In general, those moving should understand that they are moving to an overpopulated country with a fairly low average income per person. Expats to India are welcomed with open arms only if they have unique skills or a good bank account.

How to move to India for permanent residence from Russia

So, after several visits to India, the enthusiastic tourist realizes that this is his country, and he is ready to grow old in it. Where to begin?

You should start by obtaining a residence permit. There are two types of Indian residence permit:

Temporary;
Constant.

A residence permit is a transitional option between a tourist visa and citizenship. Temporary is valid for up to a year, permanent - indefinite with confirmations every five years.

To obtain a residence permit you will need the following set of documents:

International passport (+ copy of each page);
Four standard color photos;
Certificate of no outstanding criminal record in the previous country;
Valid Indian visa;
Housing lease agreement or document confirming ownership of living space;
An account statement containing at least $2,500. The bank must be a resident of India. In case of family emigration, an additional amount of $1200 must be provided for each member;
Description of purposes and intentions of living in India.

You can obtain a residence permit and citizenship in a simplified way by fulfilling one or more requirements:

Own business providing jobs to local residents. The possibility of organizing such a business will be carefully considered by Indian officials; the business plan will need to be approved by the representative office of the Indian Ministry of Economy. If the plan is successfully completed, the residence permit will be extended to an indefinite period or converted into citizenship with minimal red tape.
Investments. As in almost any country, large investments can become a step towards obtaining a residence permit and citizenship. In India, you will need to invest an amount of one and a half million dollars for a period of at least five years.
Marriage with a citizen of the country. A relatively quick and easy way, if you do not take into account the cultural characteristics of the Hindus. Men reproductive age There are fewer women in the country, and compatibility issues with caste and social status make marriage a non-trivial task. You will have to live in marriage for at least three years: in the first year the foreigner will receive temporary resident status, and for another two years before obtaining citizenship you will have to be content with a residence permit. The Indian authorities have a very bad attitude towards fictitious marriages, so you should not resort to this method.
Official work. For specialists high level most questions are taken over by the receiving party. In this case, the migrant must have a contract with the terms of work and the duration of the agreement. The downside of this option is the inability to change jobs without losing a visa until the migrant receives a full-fledged residence permit.
Foreign training. If the desire to stay in India appeared from a young age, it is enough in a simple way You can obtain citizenship by studying at one of the accredited universities. The student automatically receives a residence permit based on a certificate from the university confirming that he has passed exams and has not missed classes. If a specialist remains in India after studying and gets a job, all the time spent at the university is counted towards the period of permanent residence.
Moving to family. Emigration to close relatives is possible - for example, parents who left earlier. In this case, relatives must have confirmed citizenship for a period of more than five years, they must provide guarantees for material and moral support for repatriates.

In other cases, full citizenship can only be achieved after ten years of residence. Dual citizenship is impossible under Indian law, so Russian citizenship will have to be abandoned.

To obtain Indian citizenship you must:

Be “clean” before law enforcement agencies;
Have a constant source of income;
Use the official languages of the country - English and Hindi;
Know the culture and customs of India.

The decision itself will take a very long time to make - the Indian bureaucracy and corruption at the lower levels reaches unimaginable proportions. You should be patient and persistently deal with the issue, not letting it drift.

Life of Russians in India after moving

Let's start with the good news - there is a relatively large Russian diaspora in India. The country is home to both the “first wave” of descendants of the 1917 migrants who fled the chaos of the civil wave, and modern migrants who moved to India due to the relative cheapness of life and globalization.

In India, I was amazed by the attitude towards family, friends, and neighbors. In addition to huge family trees down to fourth cousins, Indians usually have a lot of friends and acquaintances. And if something happens, the whole street will come to the rescue. Incredible feeling.
Ivan, four years on an Indian residence permit.

Modern “new Indians” most often live in the status of delayed tourists or with a residence permit, with no intention of acquiring full citizenship. The country is most popular with people with remote jobs or regular incomes - prices outside the tourist areas are amazingly low, and most of the population survives on between 50 cents and two dollars a day.

Things are cheap. Too cheap, I mean. At first, it was even embarrassing to pay such pennies for the manual labor of the person opposite.
Svetlana, tourist, third visit to the country.

The middle class is quite saturated - about 200 million people, but compared to the rest of the population this is practically a drop in the ocean. It’s worth living either in large resort towns or on the coast: although prices are higher there, it will be much easier to meet a compatriot and find a relatively well-paid job.

For the first couple of months after moving, I was simply in shock. There are no normal shops, no roads, and only a couple of good buildings in the whole “city”! Over time you get used to it, but beginners should know that outside of big cities and resorts everything looks different than on tourist brochures.
Alena, citizen of India.

A significant portion of Russians who decided to move to the country either studied at a local university or married a local resident. There are international training programs based on the ITEC cooperation program. Often Russians can be found on the staff of transcontinental companies and large corporations.

I heard a lot from friends about poverty, poverty, garbage... well, and many more terrible words. I don’t know, maybe in the suburbs everything is really like that. But I myself have never seen anything like this, although I have been living in Delhi for five years. There are cultural characteristics, laziness, unbearable summer heat and a lot of other things, but the country as a whole is great. Not once in three years have I regretted accepting the job offer.
Sergey, database architect.

Conclusion

Having overcome a number of bureaucratic, cultural and social barriers, many migrants look around and instead of the golden beaches of Goa they see poverty and devastation in the central regions of the country. India cannot be called an ideal or even a good country to live in - the gaps in society are too great, the caste past puts too much pressure on Hindus today.

Before choosing India as a place for permanent residence, you should weigh all the possible pros and cons. At the same time, it is imperative to have a stable outside income or unique skills - without this, surviving in a country that is already overcrowded will be incredibly difficult.

I moved to India in early 2010 and live here to this day. Of course, you have to come to Russia periodically due to the limited time spent on a visa. At first the visa was issued for one year, but now for some reason they are issued only for eight months. I’ll tell you in more detail about the beginning of my journey.

Around 2005, I became passionate about yoga, and as you yourself understand, from yoga to India and its culture, it’s just a couple of steps. About a year after my all-consuming penetration into Indian culture, I met a girl who was a fan of yoga and meditation like me.

A year later we got married and in December 2010 we left for India together. We had a very small reserve of funds, I would even say, most likely modest. It was decided to earn a living by freelancing, because working with the official wages Almost impossible to find in India. In general, after some time of living in India, this system began to bear fruit, and now I can say with confidence that this is the absolute truth - in India you can live on 50 dollars a day.

But it's better to start in order. There were a lot of people on the plane on the way here, and needless to say, it was packed to capacity. Although such a crowd of people at this time of year is not at all surprising, because during the Russian winter in India it is the warmest time, and, therefore, the most touristic. On the plane we were fed buns and coffee, which in itself was very pleasant. So, we arrived comfortably. At that time, I was an ardent supporter of everything Indian, so neither I nor my wife had any vaccinations before the flight, and let me tell you, it was completely in vain. But more on that later.

It should also be mentioned that before traveling to India you should take a large, or better yet, a huge first aid kit from home. Many medicines familiar to Russian people are simply not available in India, for example good antibiotics, enterosorbents, no-shpa and citramon.

So, we ended up in India. And this country met us...mmm...specifically. Having immediately arrived in Goa, we went towards the ocean. It’s 6 am, the whole village is sitting on the beach... why do you think? I don’t even know how to say this literary, I’ll probably say this: “all the local residents, or almost all, sit out of great need right on the ocean shore. But then I didn’t care at all, I was at the height of bliss from the mere thought that I was in India.

Naturally, we first had to look for housing. Of course, I wanted something completely inexpensive and preferably close to the ocean. And here it is - a house in Bramakan... It was just a miracle - 10 minutes walk from the sea, behind the mountain, an empty hut, standing alone in the jungle. We found the owner who lived in the city, he arrived on a moped, gave him the key and said - live, don’t worry... so we did...

Cashew trees twist intricately, and the flowers exude a delicate aroma! Nothing disturbs the peace and gives complete freedom for meditation. Only a lonely, silent neighbor passes by a couple of times a day to let an artificial river flow onto his property. The sacred lake was very close to our new home, and the underwear with powder in it is washed simultaneously with the ritual ablution.

And again, at that moment it didn’t seem strange to me at all. Everything is fine, everything is as it should be, I am in nirvana. Something like these thoughts lived in my head at the time. I smiled constantly and was absolutely happy. But it didn't last long. Literally before the first food poisoning, which occurred a few hours after the first meal in India.

At first I felt as if piranhas had taken up residence in my stomach. Then, within five days, I had to use all the anti-diarrhea medications brought from Russia. An unforgettable sight, I tell you. And this despite the fact that with such total dehydration it was necessary to naturally drink water only from a bottle. I’ll tell you right away about Indian water. I would not advise anyone to drink it raw, rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth, or even just wash your face. All of the above should be done with bottled water. Fortunately, it is sold everywhere, but I want to warn you, be sure to pay attention to the fact that the bottle is tightly closed, and the local seller does not open it, even in your presence. Otherwise, you will not be able to avoid poisoning. It’s me who is so smart now, but then I was completely not so knowledgeable about what seemed to me little things.

I'll tell you about our hut. As you can see in the photo, this is a structure consisting of walls and a roof, the floor in our house was stone, there was no door. True, there was only jungle around, so it did not cause any inconvenience. Naturally, there were no facilities for a toilet or shower. And if we managed without the latter quite simply, then without a sanitary facility, especially during the period of illness, it was, to put it mildly, uncomfortable. In general, except for the above, we were satisfied with everything. Every day at dawn we chanted mantras, meditated almost constantly and ate mangoes and coconuts. Speaking of coconuts. These are the only fruits in India that are safe for Russians to eat, especially during the adaptation period.

We lived in such a hut for about three to four weeks, and then we went to visit Russian friends and lived with them for a whole month. The whole family spent the winter in India. Since they lived with children, it is natural that living conditions they were top notch. Food and water were also radically different from what we had in the first weeks of our stay in India.

There, both my wife and I got stronger and almost completely adapted to life in India, or rather, I’ll say so, it seemed so to us at that time. We ate mostly rice vegetable stew and flatbreads. We only drank boiled water. On the advice of new acquaintances, fruits began to be soaked in laundry soap, and before eating, peel and pour boiling water over it. There was never any poisoning during the period the Russian family lived in the house.

Every morning we started with yoga. Then after a small breakfast we usually played the violin or surfed the Internet. Our new friends even had it in their house; there was no need to go to an Internet cafe.

I would also like to say to all those who are planning to move to India, remember that I only came across an ATM there once, and even that one did not work, so I advise you to arm yourself with cash. I would also like to warn newcomers against stealing from local residents. Everyone steals here, and not only people, but also monkeys. And monkeys in India are considered sacred animals, just like cows and snakes. Monkeys are not punished for stealing. If a person is bitten by a snake, then it is sent to prison. This is the paradox of India. And by the way, the deceased after being bitten by a poisonous snake is not burned, but simply put on a raft and sent sailing, most often to the Ganges. This is done because it is believed that this person did not die, but simply fell asleep in a very deep sleep. Let me tell you that it is an extremely unpleasant sight to see bloated corpses next to a crowd of people bathing or washing clothes. But this is the whole of India - a country of absolute paradoxes. The Ganges River is considered sacred among them, and many pilgrims come to it specifically to perform ritual ablutions. As for me, despite all my immersion in the world of India at that time, I could not bring myself to dip even one toe into this, to put it mildly, not very clean water. Although this water actually disinfects a lot of things, and there is a completely normal explanation for this - under the depths of the water there are huge deposits of silver, and it is this that contributes to at least some cleansing of the local reservoir.

India is a country that loves children very much. Here they touch them on the cheeks, it’s something like our Russian “pat on the head.”

During the entire time I lived in India, I was able to see little girls running to school barefoot, and adult students studying right on the ground.

India still never ceases to amaze me. Everything is somehow wrong here, the slow and very measured flow of life, the constant laziness of the locals, dirt and feces on every corner, snakes and monkeys, creepy insects and very well-mannered dogs. Well-mannered, they never bark and lie very neatly everywhere. Hungry, skinny, but with some kind of proud expression on their faces. I once gave a treat to one dog, and with such an arrogant look he took a piece of pie from me, no wagging of his tail, nothing like that is observed in local dogs.

After staying with Russian friends, my wife and I decided to live closer to the mountains. The beauty there, of course, is indescribable, although no, just completely described, however, not only described, but also... Then I think you guessed what I want to say. This is the case here almost everywhere, it happens, and there is nowhere to step. Full public toilet.

And on the mountain next to the cave convent. There was a heavy downpour and we asked an old nun to wait it out.

She happily checked us in, fed us and put us to bed... and in general she did everything somehow joyfully, constantly chanting mantras and saying nothing else. So we lived in this monastery for some time. I couldn't learn the names. Drinking water had to be extracted from a closed well through a narrow hole. Although I skipped a bit. The difficulty of obtaining water had to be faced a little later. In the monastery they eat right on the floor from some plates that look more like pieces of cardboard.

Everyone is fed here, or maybe we’re just so lucky. I was never able to find out this, and maybe I didn’t try very hard. There is a constant smile on the nuns’ faces, often toothless, but certainly very joyful and open. Every morning there was a service in the monastery, the nuns sang beautifully and looked at us cheerfully.

I would like to clarify that throughout the time described above, we lived on money from freelancing and on the small financial savings we had accumulated in Russia.

After the monastery, for some time we rented a room for 100 rupees. When leaving the house, the ocean was visible. In the heat it's just bliss. True, local residents there constantly asked us to photograph them.

But this, however, did not bother us in any way and we enjoyed photographing the children and, in general, everything we saw around us. Nowadays we are so used to everything that we don’t carry a camera with us all the time, but back then everything was a novelty and we wanted to capture everything.

Now I will tell you about how we moved in India at first. Life in India is the absence of any rules traffic. And the longer I live here, the more I am convinced of this. There is practically no oncoming traffic; whoever has the bigger car is in charge. Drivers constantly press the horn. The noise is such that there is probably nothing to compare it with. Once, during our next move from the northern part of India to the southern part, we noticed that the pass was closed and there were no cars. And then a jeep full of people and knapsacks drives along. He drives by, then backs up, the driver shouts - get in! Where??? It’s okay, let’s get compacted! And in fact, in some way still unknown to me, we were able to not only get into this generally not very large car, but also get there calmly. As calm as it can be in a country like India. I even remember an incident when we spent the night in almost the same conditions that I just described. It was something...Local residents are sexually dissatisfied and this affects everything. Every now and then they try to touch or stroke your woman. It was for this reason that the night for me that time passed completely without sleep.

Public transport in India is also packed to capacity, although it is somewhat similar to Russian buses at rush hour. Nobody ever pays for a ticket, at least we never paid, and we never saw any locals do it. There is also dirt everywhere in transport. It is better for women to try not to travel on public transport at all for the same reason as described above. One day we ended up in some kind of baggage car, where Indians were packed in three layers! I found myself between the shelves...more precisely, between the butts...The girls were sitting upstairs, sandwiched between the men, who were devouring them with passionate glances!

So you can only drive in India with extreme sports and nothing else. We lived in northern India for quite a long time; we also rented a small house without amenities for little money. Everything suited us there, only the view was sometimes blocked by a strange shadow. I didn’t immediately realize that a monkey had come to visit us.

We ate there, mainly fried bananas, which we happily prepared ourselves.

Now I hate bananas, especially fried ones, but back then they seemed like the food of the gods. Bananas in India are not at all the same as in Russia, there are many different varieties, and the ones we are used to in our homeland are not eaten in India even by sacred animals, cows.

Now I’ll tell you about our living in India at the moment. I received a rather lucrative contract and now live in India on a work visa with my wife, of course. We live in big city, in comfortable conditions, but I’m still under constant fear of being poisoned or catching something infectious. And we don’t even think about children until the contract ends. After all Small child He always puts his hands in his mouth, and in India this can even be deadly.

Even in the city, seemingly among luxury and wealth, every morning I see beggars or people from the lowest caste on the side of the roads. Some are just lying on the ground, others are sleeping in houses built from cardboard and tarpaulin.

And the children, according to my initial observations, are now very happy here in India.

They absolutely do not care about the concerns of adults. By the way, young children here are not only given dots on their foreheads to protect them from the evil eye, but also have their eyes rimmed. How they manage to do this still remains a mystery to me.

In cities, as in villages, all locals love to be photographed, as I mentioned above. And they even ask for it themselves. Agree that it is difficult to imagine Russian people, for example on a bus, who would come up to you and ask you to take a photograph of them as a souvenir.

Now I will summarize a little my chaotic story about India. If you decide to move here, then be prepared for constant poisoning and fear of becoming infected with something. Living in India requires you to get all the necessary vaccinations before moving. A lot of them, full list Any infectious disease specialist at the clinic will give you one. For the first time, stock up on antibiotics; there are few of them in India. It also doesn’t hurt to take so-called “homeless bags” from home. They will help you survive in the extreme conditions of India. Remember that you may have to live in huts or just in the open air, and theft in India is very rampant, so carry documents and money on you at all times. Beware of snakes and monkeys. The latter, too, like people, engage in theft. They very cleverly confiscate all your things, and then take them to the market and exchange them for food. And don’t be surprised, this is exactly what happens. Do not drink freshly squeezed juices in India, although this is a great temptation, you should not do this, otherwise there may be unpleasant consequences for your health. One more piece of advice: never drink tap water, even in five-star hotels, or even rinse your mouth with it. Buy drinking water only in bottles. In restaurants and cafes, never order dishes made from raw vegetables and do not eat if your order is served slightly warm. Food in India should be hot, preferably scalding. Believe me, I’m already an experienced person in this matter and I won’t give bad advice. Another wish from an experienced resident of India - be sure to carry a flask of alcohol with you everywhere, the stronger the better. I'm not advocating binge drinking, I'm just saying that if you take a sip before and after every meal, you'll be less likely to spend the next day cuddling with your white friend. And of course, when moving to India, take as many anti-diarrheal medications as possible.

India has attracted the attention of mankind since ancient times. People came here to search for the meaning of life, for wealth and in search of adventure. All this remains now, but still more people they come here to relax. It amazes with its mystery, majestic elephants and predatory tigers, legendary palaces and temples, and unique sculptures. Mesmerizing music and fiery dancing. The national currency is the Indian rupee. 1 rupee = 100 paise. Banknotes: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 rupees. Indian rupees cannot be brought in or out of the country. India has 2 official languages - Hindi and English. In 18 states official languages are local languages. Widespread in Goa Portuguese. At the same time, perhaps no other country in the world has so many dialects - 1652. Religions are slightly less variegated. Among the most common are Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Islam. The place and role of religions varies greatly from state to state. Islam predominates in the north of the country, and in Bombay - Jainism. Goa is divided between Hindus and Catholics.

What is the climate in India?

There is not even relatively uniformity. There are 4 climatic zones: dry tropical, humid tropical, subtropical monsoon and subtropical alpine. In India there are 3 seasons: very hot and dry transitional (March - May); hot and humid with the dominance of the southwest monsoon (June - October); relatively cool and dry with a predominance of northeast trade winds (November - February). India is a country where luxurious palaces coexist with shacks, women are not allowed to let their hair down, and where the Kama Sutra was born. Its capital is New Delhi. And by holiday in India we always mean Goa. The most populous city is Mumbai (Bombay). In addition to it and the capital, tourists visit Calcutta, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Agra, Amritsar, Bangalore, Udaipur and Jaipur.

What should a tourist remember?

Not all of India's contrasts are attractive. First of all, you should think about the safety of your health. To do this, you need to be vaccinated against malaria, hepatitis and cholera. Under no circumstances should you drink tap water or eat unwashed fruit if you don’t want to suffer from dysentery throughout your vacation.

You should not pay attention to the fact that India is very dirty. Therefore, you should always pay attention to the cleanliness of the dishes. In this regard, you should only eat in cafes and restaurants and under no circumstances should you be tempted by the aromas of eateries. In the same way, you cannot buy fruits from hand on the street. In India, the habit of throwing garbage out of windows continues to exist. To do this, they even dig a small ditch, in which the garbage is burned as it fills.

Women, especially those traveling without companions, should take closed items with them. They are immediately showered with compliments, addressed as “ladies” and tried to set up a date. Shorts and tank tops can only be worn in Goa. Elsewhere you are in best case scenario may be booed.

Here, in the market and with taxi drivers, you should definitely bargain, and the louder and longer, the better. Don’t agree to buy until you reduce the price by 3 times. If you don’t know how to bargain, then make the seller do it: raise your head proudly and leave. The seller himself will run after you and lower the price as he goes. Stop only when it decreases by 2 times from the original, and pretend that you agree only out of pity.

Don't be alarmed if Indians around you eat with their hands. This is how it is done in India. It's as much an art as eating with chopsticks, but it can be learned quickly. Moreover, they eat with their hands more accurately and cleaner than with a fork and spoon; there is no need to talk about the taste effect.

Why is it worth visiting India?

Arriving in India, you plunge into another world, and the everyday chores left at home seem so distant and unreal. All vegetarians will once again be convinced of the correctness of the diet they have chosen for themselves: most Indians are vegetarians. Their diet includes cereals, vegetables, grains, fruits, eggs, chicken and dairy products. A variety of exquisite spices and seasonings add flavor to food. You will be pleasantly surprised by the absence of obese people on the streets. Only in India are impenetrable jungles, majestic palaces, dizzying waterfalls with clear water. Here you will find 3 of the world's most famous attractions: the Taj Mahal, the Ganges and the Himalayas. Only in India can you beneficially combine relaxation with body shaping, and yoga classes will strengthen your mind and body. Ayurvedic massage will return the former velvety to your skin and increase muscle tone. Vegetarian food will burn your fats and tighten your figure.

What should you be prepared for?

Even with 200 dollars in your wallet, you can count on normal food, a good massage and purchase silver jewelry and silk shawls. Tourists for Indians are a source of income and this determines their attitude towards visiting foreigners. They will try to shake hands with you, without looking away from you, they will try to touch you, smacking their lips, they will stroke you. At the same time, they will immediately offer to buy something.

So what is Indian cuisine like?

The overall assessment comes down to a few words: tasty, cheap and plentiful. But Indians don’t eat pork and beef, so you’ll have to give them up for a while. But this is compensated by chicken dishes, especially the famous Tikka Kebab. Tourists could never even dream of such tender meat. The fact is that India is a poor country and can afford various supplements and hormones for rapid growth Indian birds cannot. Likewise, mayonnaise is not used here. The main dressing is sauces or vegetable oils. Very high quality here dairy products. Hotels always serve milk and it is always fresh milk.

For tourists, they prepare all kinds of salads with tuna, pancakes with shrimp and baked shark meat. Here, your daily food will be what you considered a delicacy in your own country. All this is quite accessible even for budget holiday.

Onions, peppers and cabbage are used in great abundance in food. There are almost no potato dishes - only chips. However, such a variety and richness of fruits cannot be found anywhere else. Papayas, watermelons, mangoes, bananas, oranges, pineapples...but you should definitely try cashew nuts. Naturally, you cannot leave India without tasting amazingly delicious real Indian tea. Since they do not tolerate any additives to tea, there are not many varieties of it: black, green and yellow. There is only one known tea with spices - Masala.

Taking into account the unfamiliarity of foreigners’ stomachs with local spices, they are served separately so that everyone can choose for themselves what and how much they like. But if you say “no spicy,” the spices will be removed from the table. But even without them, be prepared for the fact that the dishes will still be spicy from onions and peppers.

At a dinner table, Indians may ask various questions about your status and income. You can also ask them a lot of questions, this will be regarded as the fact that the owners are not indifferent to you. At the end of lunch, if you are full, leave some food on your plate. If the plate is empty, the owner will think that you are not full.

What language will make your vacation comfortable?

Without in English it will be quite difficult. Only in luxury hotels the staff speaks several dozen of the most common phrases in Russian. Therefore, before traveling to India, you should brush up on your school knowledge.

What should tourists not do in India?

You cannot wear shoes to temples, mosques and gudwaras (Sikh temples); leave them at the entrance. You will be warned separately about socks. Sometimes, for an additional fee, they allow you to put covers on your shoes. You cannot carry leather goods with you when visiting temples - this will be perceived as an insult. Before visiting temples, you should ask if it is possible to take photographs there. Likewise, you cannot photograph Indians on the streets without first obtaining their consent. You should enter Sikh temples with your head covered. Don't skimp and put a few coins in the donation box.

Indians greet guests with a bowed head and folded palms at the chest. If you do the same, it will be gratefully received. But in cities, especially men, make do with a handshake, which is regarded as a gesture of friendliness. You can only shake a woman’s hand if she offers it first by extending hers. You cannot take liberties in communicating with women, even by placing your hand on her shoulder in a friendly manner. During a conversation, try not to raise your voice or wave your arms, much less touch your interlocutor with your left hand. Do not take the helpfulness of local residents for granted - it is worth the money they will ask you to pay.

How safe is your holiday?

In 4 and 5 star hotels there is almost no theft, but it is still better to keep money and valuables in a safe. But if things are missing in your room, the administration will not be held responsible for it. Thick wads of money should not be displayed. Divide them first into several parts based on tips and small purchases.

If you carelessly give alms to one of the many beggars on the street, run away from there as fast as you can. Otherwise, you will be surrounded by a huge crowd of beggars and you will become their victim. Even if you manage to escape from the encirclement, you will be reported to another group, which will immediately surround you again.

If you are planning to buy your favorite item or souvenir in a shop, do it through a guide. The seller will charge you a huge price, taking advantage of your ignorance. Do not buy food or drinks on your face. You can't swim where there is no one. Most likely, in this place there is a strong current or a mass of marine poisonous inhabitants.

Under no circumstances should one attempt to import or export Indian currency. If, upon arrival in India, you have an amount exceeding 2,500 US dollars, and you also took a laptop with you, then you should definitely declare them. Goods worth up to 750 rupees, 0.95 liters of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, a camera, and personal items are not subject to duty. You cannot export the skins of wild animals, bird plumage, reptile skin products, live plants, gold and silver items, antiques and antiques, as well as jewelry whose value exceeds 2 thousand rupees.

Do you need a visa to India?

There are several types of visas for traveling to India: tourist, business, transit, student or to study the culture of the country. To fill out a form, present a foreign passport, the validity of which must expire six months after returning to Russia, and a copy of your general passport. 2 photographs 3.5x4.0. For children under 18 years of age - a copy of the birth certificate.

An average two-week stay for two will cost 90 thousand rubles. This amount includes flights, accommodation, meals, souvenirs and some entertainment. If you are tempted by cheap tours for $60, you will incur much higher expenses and get much less pleasure. Therefore, it is better to pay 90 thousand for two and have a guaranteed good vacation in the most legendary place on the planet. If you buy a tour from an agency, you will be accommodated on south Goa, while the whole party settles in the north. Only here you can see the real Goa. Therefore, if you are flying on a tour, then under no circumstances choose Calangute, Candolim or Baga. You only need to travel with cash dollars or a plastic card. There are no problems with ATMs here.

When is the best time to go to India?

The best holiday time in India is November-December. The tourist season lasts from October to March. It's very hot in summer. At this time, they visit the high mountainous regions - Kashmir and Sikkim. In Goa, you will find snow-white beaches, evergreen jungles and complete harmony with nature.

Goa, India (video)

Many people dream of going to India on their own, but not everyone knows how to make it a reality. But you are lucky, you yourself will be able to visit this multifaceted country, see how Indians live, enjoy the beautiful landscapes, understand a little of the national flavor, and you can simply relax here.

An independent trip to India can be quite inexpensive compared to offers from travel agencies, and this type of vacation will bring many times more positive emotions and interesting acquaintances. In addition, “package trips” do not offer anything new, all their ideas are worn out to nothing: lie on the beach, visit one or two attractions, go to the most expensive market. A vacation “being your own boss” gives you much more freedom of action; it is a real adventure that will be remembered for a lifetime.

The territory of India is huge, each part is different climatic conditions, infrastructure development, population density. An important fact is that some states of the country have limited access for foreigners; in order to enter them, they must obtain additional permits. But even without these places there are places to go and things to see. For example, the most popular state among travelers and tourists, the best way suitable for a “European” type holiday, there is a huge amount of entertainment, hotels, beaches; Goa has long been accustomed to foreigners (after all, it is also a former colony of Portugal) and their behavior and customs; here no one will pay much attention to short shorts and bikinis, unlike residents of other states; clothes that cover most of the body are held in high esteem there. bodies. But in order to see the “real” India, with all its wealth and beauty, you just need to go to other states of the country. And now to the specifics of how to organize your own trip.

Flights

It is faster and more comfortable to get to India by plane. Of course, you can go by car or go by train, but this is for real daredevils who have a lot of free time and nerves of steel. For those who have a short vacation, this is not at all suitable. Therefore, it is better to fly rather than drive.

There are quite a lot of flights to India. Most of them depart from Moscow and St. Petersburg (for Russia), Kyiv and Lvov (for Ukraine), Minsk (for Belarus), but there are also flights from some large provincial cities to India, just not so many of them. Tickets to India cost from 300 € (flights with transfers, round trip), but, as a rule, cheap flights involve a longer flight. If you want to get to your holiday destination quickly, then take a direct flight; ticket prices start from 330 €.

The best way to buy tickets to India is on the website. This is a search engine that finds and compares tickets from different airlines and offers to purchase the most profitable one. Thanks to him, you will save a huge amount of time and money too. It will only take a few minutes to get your coveted ticket.

Calendar low prices for air tickets

Check airfare prices:

Housing

Hotels in India most often do not differ in luxury, although there are exceptions. To find the hotel that suits you, you need to search for it on. Thanks to the advanced search with many criteria, you will quickly and easily select the right option. Each hotel has a description, a list of what is in the room, and most importantly, there are truthful reviews written by tourists and travelers who have already lived in this place. This service saved a lot of money and nerves, because... All the accommodations I have booked through Roomguru have been quality and as described.

If you have questions regarding the booking process itself, then read, thanks to which you can book your own accommodation in any country in the world, including India.

There is also the opportunity to rent an apartment or house, but this is not for everyone. There are both pros and cons to this method of living in a foreign country, and the cons will outweigh the pros for most travelers. But if you are still not afraid of the difficulties that often arise if you rent a house from a private owner in another country, then you can read, which says what renting a house abroad is.

Find a cheap hotel from Roomguru right now:

Documentation

To travel around India, you will need a visa and a passport; it is advisable (but not necessary) to apply for one; it can save you several tens of thousands of dollars in case of health problems. If you go to India without insurance, and something happens on the spot, then you will have to pay exorbitant prices for treatment, so it is better to purchase insurance yourself; besides, it is very inexpensive.

You can apply for a visa either at the Indian Visa Center (there are ones in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Vladivostok) or via the Internet. Typically, the processing time for an application is 4 days. You will have to pay $60 for a visa.

Here is the list of documents required to obtain a visa:

A passport valid for more than 6 months at the time of visa application
A completed application form
Hotel reservation confirmation
Copy of round trip air tickets
Copy of internal passport

You can find out the latest information on the website of the Indian Embassy.

Attractions

There are a lot of attractions in India. Let's not forget that this is a huge country with a rich history. In order to create a route for visiting attractions, you must first decide in which part of India you are going to vacation. You will always find where to go and what to see. I will list only the most popular places among travelers:

Taj Mahal
Bollywood
Fort Aguada
Mahabodhi Temple
Stupa in Sanchi
National Museum of Delhi
Hampi
Qutub Minar
Dudhsagar

Getting to attractions in different parts countries conveniently by car. A trip from one part of India to another will take several days, but the impressions will be enormous. You can rent a car at.

If your travel budget allows, you can use the services of domestic air carriers. The cheapest way would be to fly somewhere on a low-cost airline, of which there are quite a few in India.

Travel cost

An independent holiday in India can cost either 700 € or 70,000 €. It all depends on you, as you wish, so it will be. This is what’s good about “being your own boss” travel; you decide what is best to spend your money on, where to fly and what to do. Let me give you an example of spending on an average holiday for two people (10 days, departure from Moscow, Goa resort):

Round trip flights = 900 €
Accommodation in a 3* hotel = 500 €
Food = 200 €
Transport = 50 €
Attractions = 50 €
Shopping = 250 €
Visa = 60 €
Insurance = 20 €

Total price: 1980 €. You can holiday in India and much cheaper. But some people prefer not to deny themselves anything and spend many times more. If you want to visit India for little money, then read the guide, which tells you how to travel around the world cheaply; these tips and recommendations also apply to India. Budget holidays are a reality.

How to save on travel

How to inexpensively relax on your own in India and not go wrong in comfort - that’s what this section is about. Knowing some of the features of a budget holiday as a savage, you can significantly reduce your costs.

You have learned how to relax in India on your own. Put your knowledge into practice, book a hotel and buy air tickets right now. Best wishes to you!

Of all the countries in the world, most likely, it is India that is capable of turning a person’s worldview around, forever changing his idea of life, death, and happiness. Traveling through this large and colorful country, you can see so much that the trip can replace a trip around the world for a tourist.

To the traveler who is about to travel independent travel to the land of a thousand secrets and a million riddles, it’s worth a little preparation for the trip. Many Europeans, arriving in India unprepared, experience severe culture shock, which spoils all impressions of this country. It's all about the attitude of Indians to the material world: they do not consider it worthy of attention. Therefore, many Europeans, upon arrival in the country, are struck by dirty streets, littered water bodies, and the abundance of beggars and homeless people on the streets. The main thing here is to be able to discern all the treasures of a rich culture so different from ours. Be able to see stars reflected in a puddle. However, soon the shock passes, and the person begins to see, think, and feel differently. And all the treasures of Indian history and modernity will be left exclusively positive impressions: the taste of masala tea, the aroma of temple incense, the Taj Mahal shimmering in the pink haze and a smiling street preacher...

Although accommodation and food are very cheap in India, you must come to terms with high travel costs as well as a US$60 visa fee.

Visa

The Indian Republic has made an attempt to save tourists from many countries, including Russia, from communicating with bureaucrats or smiling and money-loving employees of travel agencies and visa centers when obtaining a regular tourist visa. An entry permit for a period of no more than 30 days can be obtained online by filling out a form on the website https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html.

To obtain permission, you will need to upload your photo to the site, as well as a scan of your passport in pdf format. This must be done at least 5 days before the trip, but it is better to do it earlier, since the system does not always work flawlessly. Here you can pay the consular fee - $60. You can pay for the service with VISA or Master Card.

A visa can also be obtained in the usual way: at consulates, visa centers or through the mediation of travel companies. All of these methods will result in higher costs.

Road

You can fly from Moscow to the Indian capital of Delhi by Aeroflot ships, as well as on planes of ETIHAD and TURKISH AIRLINES. The last two offer travel with a transfer, but are cheaper. The leading domestic carrier guarantees direct and non-stop flights, but charges a little more for speed.

Direct flight (6 hours in the sky) - from 322 euros round trip, with a transfer to Abu Dhabi (ETIHAD) - from 290 euros, but the journey takes 12 hours or more (waiting at the airport - 3 hours or more).

Turkish airlines also offer inexpensive tickets, but political motives, as well as the unstable situation in Istanbul, may scare away domestic tourists from the services of this, by the way, very good airline.

Housing

Even in the capital of a fairy-tale country you can find a double room in a hotel with all amenities - from 4 euros per night. Of course, you shouldn’t expect a European level from an establishment, but it’s quite suitable for a tourist who can do without breakfast in the room and a safe.

The hotel, offering double rooms from 15 to 20 euros, provides clients with quite European comfort and amenities.

In principle, there are thousands of excellent hotels in India that do not have their own website, are not in the database of hotel reservation systems, but offer good conditions accommodation. Many experienced tourists do not reserve rooms in advance and travel at random, which allows them to save even more. But for those traveling to India for the first time, it is still better to reserve accommodation in advance.

Apartments in Delhi or Mumbai can be found for 15-17 euros/day. Living with a Hindu family can be an unforgettable cultural experience. This service costs from 16 euros per day, including breakfast. In addition to all the usual amenities, this type of accommodation will provide you with good advisers and even guides through the most interesting places cities of India.

Nutrition

Indian cuisine consists of rice, vegetables, dairy products, nuts and honey. Not everyone in the country eats meat, but in many restaurants you can see dishes made from lamb, goat, and poultry (chicken, goose, duck, turkey) on the menu. The abundance of fruit is simply magnificent, and you can get freshly squeezed juices everywhere.

And now about the main thing: the amount of spices in Indian dishes is simply unimaginable for a European person. When ordering any dish except dessert and water, you must add magic words: “But spice, please!” (no spices please). This does not mean at all that the served dish will be bland, far from it. It’s just that in this case they will bring you food that you can eat and admire a completely unique flavor bouquet.

Absolutely everything is delicious in India. Many Europeans are discovering vegetarianism, amazed by the abundance of delicious dishes made from fruits, nuts, vegetables and dairy products. Oriental sweets and spices with a unique “ensemble” of aromas are so different from the usual and familiar ones that a culinary adventure will be almost as vivid as an acquaintance with ancient culture.

If you eat in cafes, snack bars and small restaurants for local residents, then you won’t have to spend more than 5-6 euros per person per day.

Having chosen establishments for tourists, add 3-4 euros to the indicated amount, and if you want to indulge in local whiskey or rum for dinner, then add a couple more euros to the amount. As a result, we get that, even without denying yourself anything, you won’t have to spend more than 10-12 euros a day on food.

What to try?

To list all the famous Indian dishes, you will need several dozen pages of text, but you can highlight the “magnificent ten” dishes that you simply must try:

Dal is a lentil stew richly flavored with spices. The basis of the diet of more than half of the vast country. The most inexpensive and accessible dish. Among the main advantages: satisfying, healthy and inexpensive;
Palak Paneer is the most delicate cheese in spinach sauce, there are many varieties of this dish, but only one thing remains the same - excellent taste;
Sabji - unusually common vegetable stew with rice and flatbreads. A vegetarian masterpiece;
Tandoori chicken is marinated chicken baked in a special oven. The dish is spicy, but unleavened rice and flatbreads “even out” the situation. Tasty!
Chapati is the most common type of bread. It looks like a flatbread that reveals all its flavor characteristics along with any sauce;
Thali - it’s difficult to call it a dish. When you order a Thali, you get a plate with flatbreads, rice, vegetables, sauces - a great lunch;
Gajar Ka - halwa made from ordinary carrots and almonds, a favorite delicacy in the north of the country;
Samosa - fried pies with vegetable or curd filling;
Raita is a cold vegetable soup prepared on the basis of yogurt; the exotic okroshka is especially good in hot weather, especially in summer.

When traveling around India, you can eat in European restaurants, where the dishes will be familiar. But it is better to order fish delicacies if the restaurant is located by the sea. In this case, the freshness of fish products is guaranteed. Experienced travelers do not recommend eating fish in India from May to August, when the weather is very hot.

Dal - lentil stew

Main attractions

Agree that in a country where there are about hundreds of thousands of ancient temples, palaces, monuments, and sanctuaries, it is difficult to determine what to visit first. Tourist guides offer many sites and routes to suit every taste, but they all include several sites in the list that are simply impossible to miss:

Delhi - you can spend two days in the capital, or you can explore it for several weeks. You should definitely visit Lal Qila or the red fort - the citadel-palace, the imperial residence of the rulers, the main historical building of the city (entrance - 2 euros, evening light and sound show - additional 0.67 euros); Qut Minar is an ancient mosque, of which only the minaret remains. The main object is a mysterious iron column, which has not corroded at all in 1,500 years (entrance: 3.30 euros); Lakshmi Narayan is a modern Hindu temple, opened in the mid-twentieth century;
Agra (2 hours from the capital by train, ticket - 9.40 euros one way) - the main thing here is the tomb of the wife of Shah Jihan (Taj Mahal). Entrance fee - 10 euros;
Ajanta is a cave temple complex, a place to find the path to liberation from suffering: ancient paintings, Buddha statues, huge halls and narrow cells (entrance - 3.30 euros, from Mumbai to Aurangabad by train, 4.5 hours, 3.50 euros one way; then to bus - 0.20 euros, 20 minutes);
Mumbai is a city of museums and markets, a vibrant and vibrant nightlife, one of the most modern cities in the country, Indian Hollywood, there is a lot of interesting things, but it is difficult to see the real India here;
Varanasi is the city of the dead, a place of funeral pyres, cleansing from all sins and mourning ceremonies. The spectacle is quite specific, as are the aromas that reign in the city. But you cannot know India without visiting Varanasi. From Delhi by train it takes 11 hours, a ticket starts from 4 euros one way;
Kolkata - here it’s simply pleasant to walk along the central streets of the old city, look into the temple of the goddess Kali, visit the Kumar Tuli artisans quarter, buy a small figurine of one of the many gods here, and relax in the Maidan Park. The city has a reputation as the cultural capital of India, although it makes a depressing impression on many Europeans, but after a few days of stay, the huge slum areas no longer seem so scary, and numerous museums and exhibition halls will help fill your stay bright emotions and pleasant memories.

The list is far from complete. In all major cities of India you can find an experienced and knowledgeable guide from local residents who, for a nominal fee of 3-5 euros, will show you hometown from the most unexpected side, they will help you bypass queues at museums and palaces, and provide a comfortable place in the temple during services.

Important!

When traveling to a country of magnificent temples and palaces, we must not forget that there are some peculiarities of hygiene and behavior in India. Take simple but useful things with you:

Wet disinfectant wipes;
Activated carbon and antiacid (Gastal type);
Hydrogen peroxide tablets;
Patch.

Do not drink water from the tap or from waterpots. Only in store bought bottles.

Have an unforgettable experience!