The Indian Railway

The Indian Railway is one of the most efficient and effective railway systems in the world. Though it is completely notorious for being late, it is still considered to be fantastic. Not only is it cheap, but what better way to see the country? A first class round trip ticket from Delhi to Agra (Taj Mehal) will cost about $60US. This experience is great! When you board your train there will be a news paper and a mineral water waiting for you. After a short while into your trip, a server will come around and serve both chai (tea) and coffee along with biscuits. Shortly after this, breakfast is served. You will always have the option of Veg or Non-Veg. On top of the service, you also see the most magnificent scenery. Just imagine, it's 6:00am and the morning is still crisp. You are staring out your window viewing the golden plains of India where village women are working in the fields, the smell is foreign and weird, you are having a fascinating conversation with an educated business man who wants to discuss Indian economy and you are sipping away at your hot chai. What not a better experience.

The Indian Railway System strives to create an enjoyable, relaxing journey, especially for those who have money. Like anywhere else in the world, India is driven around a class (cast) system. The trains range from sleeper class to first class, each being VERY different extremes. With the sleeper class, you will find an overwhelming number of Indians’ confined to an overly small space. First class you will find a shockingly small number of people spaciously spread through beautiful rooms stocked with bedding, a table, and electrical plug-in. Let me tell you, this is definitely the way to go.

When planning your trip, you can book all your travel destinations online. This is a great enhancement to India tourism because it attracts people beyond just India. Look at me for example, I have used this service several times now and I even refer it to others.

To book online tickets for the Indian Railway, follow this link: India Railway Reservations

Sikhism

A Sikh warrior on guard at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

While Hinduism accounts for about 80% of India's population, and Islam another 13%, other native religions include Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.

About 75% of the world's Sikhs live in the state of Punjab, where they make up about 60% of the population. Over the last century, Sikh migration has led to the development of a number of significant Sikh communities throughout the rest of the world, and especially areas of Ontario and British Columbia in Canada.

For more information about Sikhism, check out A Brief Sikh History or sikhnet.com.

Bottled Water

Like any developing country, India's drinking water is NOT safe to drink straight from the tap. Finding clean water is no problem though. Bottled water is virtually everywhere in India. People in India may also refer to this as mineral water. Whether you are in rural India or within the city, you will find bottled water in places such as resturants, street vendors, and shopping centers.

How Much Does It Cost?
A 1 litre bottle of water cost about 50 cents US. Typically an average person will go through minimum 2 litres of water each day. Expect to pay $30-$50US/month for each person. Depending on how long you plan on staying in India, it may be worth it to buy a water purifier. These range from around $100US to $200US. This can save a lot of money in the long run. If you have a group of six people traveling for one month, bottled water will cost roughly $180-$300US.


Safety Precussions
There are a few things you can do to limit your chances of getting sick:

1. Check Your Bottles! Always make sure the seal of your bottle has not been opened. After you are finished with your water bottle, always crumple it up before trashing it. If the bottle looks reusable, IT IS. Some places will find used bottles and refill them with unclean water which are then used for resale. So please, ALWAYS make sure your bottle is sealed.
2. Brush! Brushing your teeth can make you sick if you are not careful. It is recommended that you wash your toothbrush with either boiled or mineral water.
3. Shower! This can be hard to do. In most budget hostels, hotels, and guest houses, the shower water has not been purified. You must be careful showering! One drop of water may be just enough to keep you up all night.

Urban Transportation

Hiring a Rickshaw
Hiring a rickshaw for a decent value can take practice and composure. Most rickshaws contain a small meter box that will measure your route in both kilometres and rupees. This is utterly useless. Ninety-nine percent of the time rickshaw drivers will lie, claiming the meter box is broken. This is obviously because they want to charge more than the actual price. Just remember: never offer more than half of the asking price and always negotiate a price before you leave. If you have not negotiated an appropriate price, the rickshaw driver has every right to charge more then he should at the destination.

Here’s a story. . .
“I was hiring a rickshaw driver outside of Vasant Kunj, Delhi and was heading towards New Friends Colony, Delhi. The rickshaw driver had requested a price of 150/-RS (about $4 US). I had taken this route several times and knew that a fair and reasonable price was 70/-RS. The driver was honest and had told me that because I am a foreigner and have more money than he could ever dream of, it was my responsibility and obligation to pay a higher fare. In the end, I ended up paying my 70/-RS.” Just remember – Be Firm!

Hiring a Taxi
When hiring a taxi, usually the best deals are found through the places you are staying such as your hotel, hostel, or guest house. By booking a taxi through your residence, you save the hassle of bartering as well the language barrier. You will be given the option of either hiring a taxi for one way which will cost anywhere from 200/-RS. to 300/-RS. ($5 - $8US) or hire a car and driver for the day. For this particular option, you could expect to pay about $50/day with the car and driver. This option is great because it saves so much hassle.

Mosquito Nets?

Mosquito nets help avoid the risk of infections such as Malaria. While traveling in India it is important to know in which regions you will be at risk. Generally mosquito nets are needed in states below 2000m, and especially in rural areas.

Beyond the risk of infection, India also inhabits an exceptionally large number of insects...

Above: Mosquito, Below: Dung Beetle

On a personal note, I find comfort very important when I sleep. I had an experience on a camel trek through Rajasthan in 2008 that I won't soon forget. To assist our group of four, we hired two porters, whose job is to pack and carry the group's necessary gear. This was to included the basics; a quilt, pillows, blankets, food, and a tent (or so we thought). Having not clarified this prior to entering the desert, our porters did not have a tent. This is when I completely regretted not bringing my mosquito net. The Rajasthani desert is apparently renowned for its DUNG BEETLES! Let me say, I had the worst sleep of my life that night.

Good places to find mosquito nets will include local camping and outdoors supply stores, travel clinics, or you can also find a wide variety of mosquito nets online from stores like the Great Outdoors Depot and Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Power Converters & Outlets

When traveling in India, it is important to note that the electric current is 240 volts alternating at 50 Hertz (cycles per second). If you wish to travel with incompatible electric equipment, you will require a voltage converter. The following three converters will do the job:

1. Resistor-Network Converter
   Pros; lightweight, will support high-wattage devices like irons and blow dryers of approx. 50-1600 Watts
   Cons; should not be used for extended periods of time, not recommended for digital devices
   
   
2. Transformers
   Pros; recommended for low-wattage electronics such as battery chargers, cameras, laptops, mp3 players etc.
   Cons; heavier weight, only supports low-wattage devices of approx. 50-100 Watts
   
   
3. Combination Converters
   These are a combination of a Resistor-Network and a Transformer in one product. Combination converters are easy to switch between the two modes, and are highly recommended for anyone who plans to spend a lot of time traveling in foreign countries.

It is also important to know that India's standard electric socket configuration is the old British plug, "Type D". As shown in the illustration above, the Type D plug uses three pins configured in a triangle.