India is one of the most popular places to visit if you’re travelling on a budget. With so many great attractions in addition to a vibrant culture, you won’t have to spend a lot of money to be immersed in the wonderful country. If you’re planning to explore the beaches of Goa, the Delhi street scene and the wonderful Taj Mahal, there are some important considerations to make before setting off on a journey that will no doubt change your life.
Firstly, it’s important to remember that India is a vast place and if you’re planning on a budget holiday you won’t be able to fit everything in one trip. It is far better to choose a few specific places to visit and immerse yourself in the culture at these spots than try to do too much on your getaway. If you take the latter option you could simply find yourself spending an enormous amount of time travelling, spending money and missing out on one of India’s largest attractions; it’s vibrant daily life.
As costs are low in India it isn’t necessarily the case that you need to book everything in advance. Like other holidays, research is of course vital if you don’t want to waste time and money, but if you have an idea of places you want to go and manage to organise your accommodation and travel for the first few days, you’ll find it easy to take advantage of the low prices once you there. However, scouring the Internet for coupons to large attractions or even train fares is a good idea, and you may discover a valuable offer that could save your large amounts of cash.
Another tip when you’re in India is to hire a guide or tout. You’ll find that, being a westerner; you will be the centre of attention wherever you go. If you’re plagued by touts, a good idea is to actually hire on. If he comes with a rickshaw then even better, and you’ll not only be left alone by other touts but you’ll be able to gain a unique look at India from your tout’s perspective whilst not spending a lot of money.
India has an enormous variety of attractions, but if you want to see the Taj Mahal, then a trip to Agra is paramount. It is located close to New Delhi so that you can explore the sights of the city, whilst Rajasthan is also close by so that princely and desert towns of Udaipur and Jaipur can be toured. If you want mountains, then Ladakh is a beautiful spot after the June snowmelt has disappeared. Close by is Dharamsala, home to the Dalai Lame, whilst the old British hill town of Shimla is accessible by a narrow-gauge railway. And if you want beautiful beaches, then Goa in Southern India is the idea place.
A budget holiday to India can easily be achieved, and the country is one of the most remarkable places in the world. And by doing a careful mix of prior researching and taking advantage of cheap prices in the country, you’ll have an experience, which will likely change your life.
