Destination: India
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
Dangers & annoyances
In India, as in any other place in the world, common sense and caution are your best weapons against theft or worse. Chat with other travellers and tourism officials in order to stay abreast of the latest potential hazards. Also see the India branch of Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forum (www.lonelyplanet.com) where travellers often post warnings about problems they've encountered.
Contaminated Food & Drink
In past years, some private medical clinics have provided patients with more treatment than is necessary in order to procure larger medical insurance claims - get several opinions where possible. Worse still, a serious food scare erupted in northern India in 1998, principally in Agra and Varanasi, when numerous travellers became sick and two died after eating at local establishments. This scam has thankfully been quashed, but there's always the chance it could reappear.
Water can also be a potential problem. Always ensure the seal is intact on bought mineral water and check that the bottom of the bottle hasn't been tampered with. Crush plastic bottles after use to prevent them being misused later. Better still, bring along water-purification tablets to avoid adding to India's plastic waste problem.
Festivals
Be extra careful if you're travelling by train during major festivals, as there have been cases of people being crushed to death at stations when boarding trains.
Care is also needed during the Holi festival. Although it is mostly good fun, there have been incidences of people being doused with toxic substances mixed in water, sometimes leaving them with scars. During Holi, there's also a tradition of guzzling alcohol and consuming cannabis-derived bhang in the form of lassis, pakoras and cookies. Female travellers have been groped by spaced-out blokes - particularly in touristy areas. Officials advise women to avoid venturing onto the streets alone during Holi.
Risky Regions
In the Kullu region (Himachal Pradesh) travellers have allegedly been the victims of drug-related set-ups, while others have vanished or been murdered in allegedly drug-related incidents. You're strongly advised to trek in a group (all trekkers should inform someone reliable of where they're going and when they're expected back) and steer clear of drugs. Other areas where foreigners have gone missing include Rishikesh (Uttaranchal) and Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).
Sensitive regions, such as Jammu & Kashmir, are subject to bouts of violent unrest, so although smooth-talking touts (especially in Delhi) may insist these areas are safe, always seek the latest advice from your embassy and other relevant authorities.
Occasionally protests occur (nationwide); it's advisable to stay clear of them and seek travel advice from tourist officials.
Be aware that some Northeast States are subject to sporadic insurgency problems.
Scams
When purchasing goods with a credit card, you may be told that if you buy the goods, the merchant won't forward the credit slip for payment until you have received the goods - don't fall for it. Also beware of any shop that takes your credit card out the back and then asks you to sign the slip. There have been cases where the vendor imprints a few more forms, forges your signature, and bills you for items you haven't purchased. Have the slip filled out in front of you.
Don't fall for schemes involving the purchase of goods in India to sell at a profit elsewhere. Precious stones and carpets are favourites for this con, particularly in touristy areas. Operators who practise such schemes are deceptively friendly and after buttering you up with invitations to their home, free meals etc, they begin pouring out sob stories about an inability to obtain an export licence. Don't be fooled. Merchants will try to convince you that you can sell items abroad for several times the purchase price; some may even show you fake letters from other travellers who have supposedly made profits - it's all a sophisticated scam. The stones or carpets you buy will be worth only a fraction of what you pay (or if you agreed to have them sent, they probably won't even arrive).
While it's only a minority of traders who are involved in dishonest schemes, a growing number are involved in the commission racket, so you always need to shop with care.
Swimming
Beaches can have dangerous rips and currents and there are drowning deaths each year. Always check locally before swimming anywhere in the sea. Note that the Ganges River reportedly has strong currents.
Theft & Druggings
Never leave important valuables (passport, tickets, money) in your room and always keep luggage securely locked. On trains, keep your gear near you; padlock bags to the luggage rack or loops found under some train seats. Thieves tend to target popular tourist train routes, such as Delhi to Agra. There have been reports of backpacks being slashed. Be extra alert during train departure times, when the confusion and crowds are at their worst. Airports are another place to exercise caution, as after a long flight you're unlikely to be at your most alert.
Occasionally tourists (especially those travelling solo) are drugged and robbed during train or bus journeys. Unwary travellers are befriended, offered a spiked drink (to send them to sleep) and their valuables are then stolen. It's wise to politely decline drinks or food offered by relative strangers (use your instincts), particularly if you're alone.
Unfortunately some travellers make their money go further by helping themselves to other peoples - take care. For stolen/lost travellers cheques, contact the Amex or Thomas Cook office in the closest capital city - to locate nationwide branches contact their Delhi offices.
A good travel-insurance policy is essential. Travellers cheques can be replaced if you have records.
Make sure you keep a photocopy or two of your passport including the visa page (keep this separately from your passport) as well as a copy of your airline ticket. Some travellers scan copies of important documents to keep on the Internet as back up.
Touts & Commission Agents
India's tourist centres are a magnet for touts, all vying for your cash. They're particularly prevalent at airport terminals and bus/train stations, waiting to snare the fresh (most vulnerable) arrivals. Often they're rickshaw or taxi-wallahs. Some try to gauge your vulnerability by inquiring whether it's your first trip to India - say it isn't. Their goal is to divert you to a hotel where they earn the highest commission. Some hotels refuse to pay touts and you'll more often than not hear stories about those places being 'full', 'under renovation', 'closed' or whatever. Nine times out of 10 they'll be just that - stories.
Commission agents also receive a fee for carting you to certain dealers, often with spiels about 'my brother's shop' and 'special deal at my friend's place'. If you are taken to a hotel, shop, or even restaurant, the price you pay will be inflated by up to 50% (sometimes more), so try to visit these places independently.
On the flip side, touts can be beneficial if you arrive in a town without a hotel reservation when some big festival is on, or during the peak season - they'll know which places have beds.
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