TRAVELLING TO INDIA | Kuhu & Michi

INDIA

India is a country unlike any other: India offers ancient traditions, stunning temples and palaces, magnificent landscape and great food. But India can also be challenging: It is loud, rough, and dirty. Don't be suprised to see homeless people, aggressive begging, or streets littered with trash.

Before you go to India, make sure if it's the right destination for you. The articles India is not for everyone and 13 Tips to Help Avoid Culture Shock in India might give you a better idea about the country. The lonely planet website India is also a great source of information.

If you can accept India the way it is, you will have an amazing and unique trip.

TRAVELLING TO DELHI AND IMMIGRATION

You will need to bring following items for immigration:

Passport: Bring your passport; if you have multiple passports make sure to travel with the passport that you used for the visa application.
Visa
In case you have an e-visa, make sure that you print out the PDF with the visa information (PDF with one page, Bureau of Immigration as watermark in the background, QR code and your picture top right). You can get the PDF following these steps:
1. Go to the e-visa website https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html and click on Check your Visa Status.
2. Fill out the captcha, enter your application id (you can find it in the mail which confirmed that your e-visa got granted), your passport number, and click on Check Status.
3. On this page click on the orange button Print Status: This will open the PDF you need to print and bring.
You might need the visa while boarding the flight in Germany (if you have a direct flight) and of course for immigration.
Flight ticket: Print out the flight ticket as it will make your life at immigration easier.
Hotel reservation: Print out the hotel reservation.
COVID vacination: Current COVID rules are described in this form. Please have a look at it, but in a nutshell you need to fill out the Air Suvidha form (online portal), a COVID test is not required.
I'd recommended to bring a proof of your vacination status. Either use the yellow vacination book or (probably better idea) create a certificate using the CovPass app ("EU Ausdruck erstellen").
It is mandatory to wear a face mask on the plane, so also bring some spare masks.
Contact information in India: For immigration you have to fill out an additional form that you get on the plane. Most information is standard (your name, passport number, birth date, etc.) but in addition you also need a contact information in India. Make sure you have the contact address available that you also given on your visa application.
Emergency number: Make sure you have the phone number of Kuhu's father available.
I was not able to get WIFI working in Delhi airport. Make sure you have the number of Kuhu's father available in case you have problems during immigration or if you cannot find the driver that is picking you up. Please ask us for the number if you don't have it as we don't want to put the number on this public website.

Some more helpful information:

E-mail with e-visa confirmation: The PDF mentioned above should be sufficient for immigration, but also print out and bring the e-mail that confirmed your e-visa was granted. You probably won't need this, but better safe than sorry.
You are not allowed to bring one-way plastic bottles to India. Water dispenser are available at Delhi airport, do not drink tap water.
Don't expect that WIFI is working at Delhi airport. Make sure that whatever you need is available offline either because you have downloaded it or printed out.
Delhi airport might be slow: Immigration might take some time, I had to wait 25 minutes, the people behind me in the line for sure had to wait longer. Even after that, we had to wait an addition half an hour for our luggage.
It's a 30 minutes car ride from the airport to the hotel where the wedding takes place (Hyatt Centric Janakpuri) without traffic (at night). During day time it will take more time.
It's always good to have some cash in case you want to buy water/food in a small shop: ATMs are available at Delhi airport. Withdraw about 3000 to 5000 rupies (35-60 euros).
If you get picked up by a driver the driver will wait for you on the way out after you got your baggage. You don't have to pay or tip the driver, please don't give money to the driver.

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Check if you need a visa. You can apply for an e-Tourist visa maximum 30 days in advance, but you have to apply at least 4 days prior to your trip. e-Tourist visas are valid for 30 days.

Check if you need vaccination for India. You can check with your family doctor or for those in Munich, the Globetrotter branch at Isartor also provides this consultation. The Tropeninstitut also lists suggested vaccinations for India (German).

Bring medicine, especially diarrhea antibiotic; see also this packing list

As soon as you have your flights, let me know so that I can arrange transfer to hotel from the airport

If you would like to stay in the same hotel as the wedding venue, please let me know the dates so that I can book the room (do not book yourself – that way you lose the discount). Current price is 120€ per double room and night (breakfast and taxes included).

If you would like to stay somewhere cheaper Wood Castle Grand is a great option only a few metro stops away from the wedding venue. Current price is 63€ per double room and night.

The wedding day will be packed, so try to be in Delhi latest by 19th of November. If you want you can also go clothes shopping with us for the wedding on 19th.

WHAT TO EXPECT

To meet many many many people; people might also be curious to see a white person, especially if you travel to the South

Chaos & delays

Lots of talking, shouting, and music – India is a loud country, not only because of traffic

Delicious food and lots of food

A very different culture and style of living

Magnificent landscapes, stunning temples and castles

Hopefully lots of fun and memories to bring back home

PLEASE DO NOT EXPECT

A fixed schedule for events

Alcohol during the wedding dinner (alcohol consumption is perceived indecent in Bengali culture)

Singing and dancing all day long – this won't be a bollywood wedding 😉

Us to accompany you during your holiday outside Delhi

A lot of company from us before the 19th of November

Any kind of animal involvement in the wedding – horses / elephants / camels / cats / dogs, etc.

PLEASE PREPARE MENTALLY

To see a lot of slums and homeless people on the street

To be a part of crazy & loud traffic

To encounter stray dogs and cows on the streets

To be the target of all the beggars who could approach and start touching your feet to ask for money – if you give money to one, suddenly you will be surrounded by 10 and yes, they appear out of thin air!

To get cheated – everyone will tell you a different price based on your skin color

Not to have clean toilets anywhere as soon as you step out of your hotel – always carry tissues and hand sanitizers

In most places it is hard to walk on the street because there is no proper sidewalk – try to get a tuktuk directly from outside the hotel for short distances, if needed

DON'Ts

Eat "street food" directly from the street

Eat salads in roadside restaurants

Order drinks with ice cubes in roadside restaurants

Travel by public buses or taxis – metro and tuktuk are fine

Carry too much cash – you will always need some because most places don't accept cards