Beginner's trip to India
#0yentravelJanuary2025
I went on my first trip to India (Agra, Jaipur, Delhi).
First of all, if you want to go to Varanasi on the Ganges River by sleeper train, it is quite difficult to reserve tickets, so if you are thinking of traveling to India, please make a reservation first. If that is not possible, you can use a local tour or go by plane.
Agra: If you are mainly sightseeing at places like the Taj Mahal, 1 to 1.5 days is more than enough. The townscape is relatively old. There were not many buses or trains, so I recommend taking a taxi to the tourist spots.
There are a lot of stray dogs.
Jaipur: It was a pretty big city and urban. However, it was quite difficult to get around, so I recommend using taxis as much as possible. Amber Fort is the most recommended. Castles on high ground cannot be used with Uber due to radio interference, and you have to negotiate in cash, so it is a little expensive, but you have no choice but to pay. I think you need 2 days.
Delhi: The tourist spots are surprisingly denser than I had seen on the map, and I got the impression that you don't need that many days if you use a taxi. If you're not careful, you can see the famous places in one day.
Taxis were hard to get outside the tourist areas, but many places are within walking distance from the city center.
The Central Bazaar described in the tourist guide was a little far from the actual bustling bazaar. I don't think it's necessary to rent a hotel near New Delhi Station.
Also, they often tell you strange lies, such as that you can't go to the other side of the station, or that stores close in the afternoon on anniversaries. Just ignore them all. There are many mysterious lies that are not related to profit or loss, so it was more efficient to not pay attention to them. Other than the mysterious lies, most people seemed to be relatively gentlemanly.
This can be said about all the tourist spots, but since there are many places where it doesn't take much time to see each facility, I think you can get around more quickly than you might think.
I think you can get around the three cities in at least 3 to 4 full days.
When you go to tourist spots, there are always a lot of guides. They are reasonable (500-1000 yen), so it's okay to hire one, but be careful because the guide will call another guide and you will end up being asked to give a lot of tips or buy souvenirs.
-Souvenirs: Even in World Heritage sites, souvenirs are often not sold very much, and there are no places to buy them in general. There are small stonework and magnets in private shops, but no proper souvenirs in boxes. The only nice souvenirs are at the airport. If there is something you want, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I think it's better to buy it then.
-Things to bring: It's inevitable that you'll get an upset stomach the first time, so it's a good idea to bring medicine and Pocari Sweat. Toilet paper is available almost everywhere.
There are no convenience stores. There are almost no supermarkets. Basically, every town is full of private shops. All you can buy is water and juice.
Even if it's a famous restaurant, be very careful with food from a street stall... There are not many toilets except for proper restaurants.
・Animals: There are many animals everywhere, including wild dogs, monkeys, squirrels, and cows. They are generally docile and tend to avoid people.