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.

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.