India Travel

Related India Travel Information

Bargaining in India

Don't worry too much about the first quoted prices. Some guidebooks suggest paying a third of the opening price, but it's a flexible guideline depending on the shop, the goods and the shopkeeper's impression of you. Bargaining is very much a matter of personal style, but should always be lighthearted, never acrimonious. There are no hard and fast rules - it's really a question of how much something is worth to you. . "Green" tourists are easily spotted, so try and look like you know what you are up to, even on your first day, or leave it till later;

Telephones calls from and in India

Telephones in India Calling from hotels is usually more expensive. Both national and international calls are dialled direct. To call abroad, dial the international access code (00), the code for the country you want - 1 for the USA. Privately run phone services with international direct dialling facilities are very widespread. There privately runned phone services are called STD/PCO in locals. You can find many wherever you are in India. They are extremely quick and easy to use; some stay open 24 hours. Prices vary between private places and are slightly cheaper at official telecommunications offices; many have fax machines

How to meet people in India

In India, generally in rural areas, foreigners are represented as the "rich sahib" (a rich and respectable person), whose culture dominates the world. English not being their first lan¬guage, they may not be familiar with the conventional ways of doing this, and thus their opening line may seem abrupt if at the same time very formal. "Excuse me good gentleman, what is your mother country?" On the other hand, Even if you are of Indian origin, you may be considered to suffer from Western cor¬ruption, and people may test you out on that score. You may find it odd