Safe travelling in India, useful tips for taking a trip

If you are travelling to countries outside the European Community, there are certain rules to follow. In particular, in India you need to have your passport valid for at least six months after its expiry date when you enter the country. You also need an Indian visa for entry called eVisa valid for short stays, which is required through a form to be filled out conveniently online, exclusively on the government website that we indicate in the article just linked, because it is easy to make a mistake and register by mistake on other unofficial sites. You will get your visa when you enter one of the entry points into the country, but remember that when you go through customs you will have to show your return ticket and proof that you have sufficient funds to stay for the duration of your visit. Details can be found in the article mentioned above.

Also remember that if you are only going to India for a stopover and your destination is Sri Lanka, the Maldives or Nepal, you will also need a transit visa, as otherwise you will not be allowed to leave the airport circuit.

Like all countries where there is poverty and poor hygiene due to inadequate health control regulations, India also has some critical issues that should be kept in mind to prevent problems during the trip.
In order to travel safely in India, there are some endemic diseases from which it is necessary to protect oneself before departure, such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya, those diseases transmitted by mosquito bites, especially in the south and east of India, which intensify both during the monsoon season and immediately afterwards.

In order to avoid the risk of malaria caused by mosquito bites, you can protect yourself with a targeted prophylaxis or use repellents often, either in the form of a lotion (there are many on the market) or as a diffuser in the environment where you are staying, for example in hotel rooms. It is best to pack these products in your suitcase but, in any case, do not worry because you will find a wide range of them in the various supermarkets.
It should also be remembered that there is a high probability of incurring gastroenteritis, salmonellosis, and there are some areas where there have been recrudescences of cholera, meningitis and cases of typhoid.

Do not be impressed by this information. All you need to do is apply a few common sense rules and take a few precautions, such as washing your hands carefully and often, carrying a small bottle of disinfectant in your bag (the classic Amuchina will be fine) and making sure that you only drink any beverage, including water, from sealed bottles, without adding ice.

Please note that it is also important to pay attention to the possibility of AIDS infections, which can occur during unprotected sexual relations or through blood in cases of contact or transfusion: therefore avoid risky situations.

In order to travel safely in India, therefore, it is also a good idea to consider taking out health insurance that can cover both medical treatment and a possible return trip by air flight.

RECOMMENDED VACCINATIONS FOR SAFE TRAVELLING IN INDIA

Check whether you need to be vaccinated to enter India from your own country. If, on the other hand, you have travelled in recent months to countries considered to be at risk for yellow fever, such as Africa, Latin American countries or Papua and New Guinea, you are obliged to be vaccinated against this disease.

Apart from these specifics, if you want to travel safely in India, even in this respect, the suggestion is to contact your local ASL (Local Health Authority) to check whether your vaccination coverage is active or whether you need a booster shot.

Consult your doctor, who may suggest vaccination for certain diseases such as those listed below:

• Typhus Tifo
• Rabies (there are many stray dogs in India)Rabbia (in India vi sono molti cani randagi)
• Hepatitis A and B Epatite A e B
• Tetanus Tetano
• Cholera Colera
• Meningitis (vaccination recommended only if staying for long periods in rural areas during the monsoon period, both before and after the arrival of rain)Meningite (consigliato il vaccino solo se si soggiorna per lunghi periodi in zone rurali nel periodo dei monsoni, sia prima che dopo l’arrivo delle piogge)
• Poliomyelitis Poliomielite
• Japanese encephalitis (for those travelling and staying in rural areas and in the hot months from May to September).

As far as vaccinations are concerned, it will be up to your doctor to decide which ones you may need, depending on the assessment of your condition. Be sure to visit your local ASL (Local Health Authority) at least two months before your trip, so that you have plenty of time for both vaccinations and booster shots so that you do not concentrate everything in the days leading up to your departure.

As in any country that has to deal with poverty and unemployment, petty crime can occur quite frequently in India. In December of last year, Parliament passed security measures, which led to some protests from the citizens, and it is possible that they may be repeated. It is therefore recommended to be careful and to stay away from situations where gatherings are being created, following the instructions of the local authorities.
Women tourists travelling alone are advised to be careful, to avoid going to isolated places and to keep an eye on what is happening around them, especially on transport or on the beach.
The potential risk of terrorist attacks deserves a special mention. The most at-risk destinations are, of course, places where there is a large concentration of people, such as shopping malls or crowded places of worship. In any case, the authorities have organised an extensive control network and security has been raised to the highest level. These events, however, were most concentrated in the Kashmir region. Travellers are advised to be vigilant during their travels.

SOME ADVICE ON SECURITY:

• take care to contact the Embassy or Consulate of reference, and to gather further information, give your details and report your arrival in the country, specifying the dates of your stay and your contact details;
• avoid taking satellite phones with you for the reasons described above;
• avoid passing near places where political protests or demonstrations are taking place;
• formally ask the drivers of taxis or other vehicles you use to travel to be careful when driving. The country’s roads are in precarious conditions. Remember to take out an insurance policy to cover any inconveniences, including medical ones;
• Try to avoid night-time journeys by car or bus to avoid accidents, which are very frequent due to animals wandering at night and/or various obstacles on the road. For longer journeys, take the train or plane;
• make sure that you have already booked your hotel in India before you leave;
• avoid accepting car rides offered by strangers;
• book the transfers you will make after landing in India through your agency. There have been reports of taxi drivers picking up travellers at the airport and diverting them to destinations other than their own hotel, saying that it is full or that there are dangerous riots in the city. This trick is aimed at taking tourists to much more expensive establishments. The advice is to have a mobile phone with active international roaming service to call the hotel you have booked in order to check availability;
• carefully avoid hitchhiking;
• be careful and always use reliable and experienced agencies that offer certified guides;
• also be careful when shopping. In many cases tourists have found themselves being scammed by unfair traders, and have reported this to the Embassy;
• be respectful of the religious traditions of the place you are visiting by adopting clothing that is appropriate for places of worship and respect the culture in general of the host country;
• take care to be respectful of the customs of the place, especially if there are restrictions on the entrance of tourists to particular sacred places (Hindu temples or mosques), honouring the rules for visiting statues or animals considered sacred. The population may not appreciate any lack of respect on the part of the tourist and may even react aggressively;
• Absolutely avoid taking drugs or coming into contact with drug dealers. Do not allow anyone to involve you in illegal activities;
• if for some reason you are the victim of an assault, contact the local police immediately to report it by dialling ‘100’ (‘112’ from a mobile phone);
• for couples: avoid public displays of affection;
• be careful in the south-eastern coastal area of India, especially in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, because the presence of the saltwater crocodile has been detected there;
• as a good rule, avoid photographing airports, military barracks, bridges or sites of strategic interest as this is prohibited by law.

It has been reported that the Internet connection in some parts of the country, specifically in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is rather poor, both in terms of WI-FI and 3G or 4G networks.

Finally, we recommend that you do not bring valuables or large amounts of cash with you on your trip.

Another tip for clothing, specifically for women, is to always cover your shoulders when visiting places of worship and generally preferably wear long trousers and a shawl. Avoid low-cut clothes and try to be careful while travelling. It is better if you are accompanied by a man to avoid being pestered in the street. Do not return insistent glances, as this can lead to misunderstandings.

Finally, try to drink constantly to avoid dehydration, and keep an eye on your rucksack in areas with a high concentration of people, avoiding markets, places where pickpockets may abound and people who tend to harass.

Finally, don’t forget to pack a bottle of high-protection sunscreen.