Planning a trip to India can be pretty exciting but tiring. The culture and diversity remain a deep mystery yet somehow draw travelers into this beautiful country. A lot of visitors are taken aback by India’s “chaos” which is why it’s always better to plan ahead of time. If you’re traveling for the first time, then below are our list of things to do before you go to India.

Requirements regarding health

In order to know about health risks abroad, traveler can visit travelhealthpro.org.uk or NATHNAC. You must have the latest boosters for polio, tetanus, and diphtheria or 10 years to visit India. The risk of typhoid and malaria varies with the season as it can be low during winters or you can have an antidote before visiting certain states in India like Orissa, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh, etc.

In order to stay well in India, you are advised to wash your hands properly with anti-viral hand foam of some standard company. It is important to keep yourself hydrated by drinking at least 2 liters of water or liquid per day. You can also take some rehydration supplement available with the chemists to keep you hydrated in India. According to experts, you should stick to a diet plan of yogurt and plain rice with a lot of fluids, if you succumb to a dose of Delhi Belly.

Films, apps, and books

If you are fond of reading books then you are advised to read several handbooks on India to get information about restaurants and hotels along with maps to go anywhere in India.

You can get books to get basic information about the sculpture and architecture of the Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu temples as well as the prose versions of Ramayana and Mahabharata before visiting India.

You can find several books written by Indian as well as British writers to know about all the aspects of the early history of India as well as modern India along with past and present life of Indians in a very interesting manner.

Television and films

If it is your first visit to India then you should watch certain interesting films like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel I and II before visiting Rajasthan, Slumdog Millionaire, Monsoon Wedding, Gandhi and Heat and Dust, etc. made by some British filmmakers. There are a lot of Bollywood movies which you must see while visiting India to know more about its culture and lifestyle like Lagaan, Jodha Akbar on the life of mogul and Rajput courtiers and East-meets-West based on cricket matches.

Some of the era films like the Eighties Raj and the documentary series, The Story of India by Michael Wood showing the historical background of India are still worth seeing to know more about India. You can see both of these films through amazon in the form of boxed sets.

Apps and web

You can also visit IncredibleIndia.org, the official website of India Tourism, to know about India and its culture. You can find hundreds of apps on India in App Store but most of them have no commentary except a collection of photographs of India. If you want to uncover some of the recommended apps then Google can be the right place for it. Thus, Birds of India made by mydigitalearth can be an excellent app on India.

Getting a visa to India

All people traveling to India have to apply in advance for a visa. The Indian high commission has introduced an e-tourist visa if they want to stay for less than 30 days. They have to apply for e-visa minimum 4 days before entering India and have to travel to India within 120 days of its issuance. One can apply for an e-visa twice a year for 7 pounds or 75 USD per e-visa.

To apply for e-visa you can visit this web page: India Tourist Visa. You will have to scan and upload the information page of your passport and a square photograph instead of a usual portrait photo, as per the pixel size prescribed in the form.

While applying for the Indian visa, you will have to submit the following documents:

Properly completed application form for e-visa
A copy of a colored scanned copy of the first and last page of your passport, valid for at least 6 months, in PDF format
A passport size photo with white background in JPEG file and dimensions between 350 x 350 and 1,000 x 1,000 pixels

The e-visa granted will be valid only to stay up to 180 days in India.

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