History

India is a land steeped in history and tradition. Its earliest known civilisation dates back to 2,500 BC. Here, a nascent Hindu culture flourished for a thousand years until the arrival of the Aryan invaders from central Asia. For the Indian peoples, this was just the first in a series of major invasions that would successively shape Indian culture and traditions, yet remarkably never substitute them. It is through this process of cultural assimilation and revisionism that the great Indian religions of Hinduism and Buddhism were born. Of the major invaders, the echoes of the Mughal and the British Empires sound loudest.

Religion & Culture

Religion permeates every aspect of Indian life and should be understood and respected by visitors. For thousands of years the Indians have observed Hindu traditions and held onto their beliefs despite invasion, persecution, European colonialism and modernisation. So steadfast is the adherence to ancient social and religious doctrine that India has managed to absorb or ignore all erstwhile attempts at change. The central unifying institution of Hinduism is the regulations of the caste system which in ancient times divided society according to professional capability, affording the priests or Brahmans greatest respect, followed by warriors, agriculturalists and traders, and lastly servants. This caste hierarchy remains largely intact today, though it has been diluted somewhat, and there are currently calls to fight against it.

Bargaining

Bargaining is an accepted practice all over India except in department stores and major shopping complexes (unless you are buying in bulk). Hotels have fixed prices, although you can negotiate the price of some services such as getting your holiday film developed in-house. In street markets, bazaars and roadside shops, especially those near popular tourist destinations, bargaining is rigueur. In most places, tourist prices are inflated by between four and eight times the "local" price, and you find that the price becomes cheaper the more disinterested you appear, the longer negotiations take and the further you or your bus move away from the stand. You will have a whale of a time bargaining with the wily shopkeepers. That said, try not to get carried away or be too stubborn. If you don't like the fuss of bargaining, try shopping at the large number of government stores which stock beautiful handicrafts from all over India at reasonable prices.
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What to Wear

If you want to get into the "real feel" of India it is best to dress Indian style - that is long cotton trousers and long sleeved, light weight cotton shorts for day, and a woollen jumper for any cool nights. Leave mini-skirts, singlet tops, crop tops, brief shorts and anything with obvious designer logos at home as this will only bring unwanted attention. You will find that by blending into the Indian streetscape you will be able to experience and appreciate a lot more of the Indian culture. By dressing less western you may also find that you end up saving a considerable amount of rupee!

Food & Water

Authentic Indian food is delicious and surpasses anything you've had at the local take-away or restaurant in Australia. If you are staying at any of India's 5-star hotels then you are in for a real treat with glorious banquets of Indian curries, dahls, rices, naan breads, pappadums and delicious desserts laid out for you to eat to your heart's content. The menus change each day and far from losing weight in India, you may find that you come home a few kilos heavier than you left! If you have a fragile stomach it's best to stick to plain rices and breads or western-style food for the first couple of days - then gradually introduce some spicy delights. The food in the 5-star hotels is prepared to the highest standards but this doesn't mean that the spices won't cause an upset. Unless you are a diehard adventurer, avoid street food completely. To be 100 percent safe drink only bottled water or aerated soft drinks that have the seal intact, and never take ice in your drinks. As a general rule, avoid any food that requires handling or washing unless it has been thoroughly cooked or boiled. If you are going on long day trips or a rail journey ask your hotel to pack some appropriate snacks so that you can avoid having to buy en-route.

Visas

All foreigners including citizens of Commonwealth countries need visas to enter India. Tourist visas are valid for a maximum stay of 6 months. You must complete an application form and attach one passport size photgraph. These are submitted along with your passport which must be valid for at least 6 months. We are happy to arrange visas for clients travelling to India on a San Michele package or they can be arranged through the Consulate-General of India in Sydney, the High Commission of India in Canberra or the Honorary Consuls in Melbourne and Perth.