India is one of the most religiously and ethnically diverse nations in the world, with some of the most deeply religious societies and cultures. Religion plays a central and definitive role in the life of many of its people. Although India is a secular Hindu-majority country, it has a large Muslim population. Hindus form the predominant population in all 29 states and 7 union territories.

The real India is hardly the random assortment of the Taj Mahal, call centres, poor people, and veiled women you might expect. The India you’ll encounter is a lot more diverse and complicated than that. Things are changing in India at a frenetic pace, especially in the big cities.

Temple Etiquette
Always take your shoes off before you enter a place of worship in India, and do not wear revealing clothes. Travelers in India are often tempted to wear shorts, but it’s crucial to keep your shoulders and the lower part of your body covered (well below the knee – men included) when visiting a site of religious importance. We recommend ladies bring a scarf that can be draped over your shoulders and men long trekking trousers. As the land where four major religions originated, and many others arrived and never left, many Indian people take their religion very, very seriously.

Hands and Feet
There’s a whole hierarchy of the body parts in Hinduism. The head is superior to the rest of the body, and the feet are lowest on the rung. Feet are considered dirty in India, so take off your shoes before you step into someone’s house. Don’t step on anything important and if you do, immediately express your apologies. It’s a sign of deference to bend down and touch a respected elder’s feet in India. The left hand is customarily used for cleaning oneself after using the washroom, so Indian people never eat with their left hands. Also, remember never to pass anything to an Indian with your left hand. The most conservative Indians might take offense.

Communication
English is widely used throughout the Indian subcontinent and is the “co-official” language of the country. Indian English has a distinct flavour and inflection that differs as you travel around different parts of the country. Official Indian English often uses many phrases that are passé in the West, so don’t be surprised if you’re doing some paperwork and someone asks you to “do the needful”. Reading local newspapers can be very entertaining and easily take you back 50 years.

Hierarchy 
The influences of Hinduism and the tradition of the caste system have created a culture that emphasizes established hierarchical relationships. Indians are always conscious of social order and their status relative to other people, be they family, friends, or strangers. All relationships involve hierarchies. In schools, teachers are called gurus and are viewed as the source of all knowledge. The patriarch, usually the father, is considered the leader of the family. The boss is seen as the source of ultimate responsibility in business. Every relationship has a clear[1]cut hierarchy that must be observed for the social order to be maintained.

The Role of the Family
People typically define themselves by the groups to which they belong rather than by their status as individuals. Someone is deemed to be affiliated to a specific state, region, city, family, career path, religion, etc. This group orientation stems from the close personal ties Indians maintain with their family, including the extended family. The extended family creates a myriad of interrelationships, rules, and structures. Along with these mutual obligations comes a deep-rooted trust among relatives.

Just Can't Say No
Indians do not like to express 'no,' be it verbally or non- verbally. Rather than disappoint you, for example, by saying something isn't available, Indians will offer you the response that they think you want to hear. This behaviour should not be considered dishonest. An Indian would be considered terribly rude if he did not attempt to give a person what had been asked. Since they do not like to give negative answers, Indians may give an affirmative answer but be deliberately vague about any specific details. This will require you to look for non-verbal cues, such as a reluctance to commit to an actual time for a meeting or an enthusiastic response.

Climate
Most people associate India as an unbearably hot destination. Noel Coward sung “...only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun...” In 1931 and the perception is India is despicably hot. Yet travelling at the right time of the year, India’s winter, this is not the case. In fact, some of our tour dates coincide with Delhi’s mid-winter and can get down to 20 C overnight. Indicative Daytime Temperatures

You’re Always on Show
What might be considered intrusive in many Western cultures is only a matter of course in India. Also, people will generally be very curious about foreign visitors, and this can take the form of unabashed staring. There’s a lack of privacy among the teeming millions of India, and the concept of personal space as you know it might not exist. Try not to take it too personally if people on the street seem to be staring at you all the time. Most of the time, it’s just friendly curiosity, and if you smile at a staring stranger, many times you will get an amicable smile back.

General Health Information 
Delhi Belly - A dodgy stomach was once common for travellers in India, but as the country’s infrastructure has been developing at significant levels the risk has greatly reduced. Our experience is that fewer tourists are now affected. By applying some simple rules you can insure you don’t become a statistic. Remember to drink only filtered bottled water (unlimited free supply on all Maharajah Tours) and avoid salads outside of our hotels as they are generally washed in grey water. Bring hand sanitiser, which you should use regularly. Within our hotels ice is filtered so it’s OK to consume, but everywhere else don’t even contemplate it. Eat lots of curd (yogurt), served on all breakfast buffets, to support the good bacteria in your gut (probiotic). Bring Imodium (over the counter pharmacy medicine - also available widely throughout India) to control any stomach/ bowel upsets. While our hotels bathroom water is generally filtered we still advise you brush your teeth with bottled water and don’t ingest water in the shower. 

Money
Cash services are secure, widely available & convenient. We recommend you bring at least one credit card and cash in NZ$100 notes. If you’re a good solid shopper, the more you bring in cash the more you will save in currency conversion. NZ (and AUS, USA, Euro) currency is easily converted at multiple locations and excellent rates - far better than bank currency conversion fees. All established “bricks and mortar” businesses accept credit cards. ATM machines are prevalent in every city, and you can withdraw maximum 10,000 Indian Rupees each transaction. All withdrawals cost NZ$8 whatever amount is withdrawn so it’s important to withdraw the maximum to achieve the best cost ratio benefit. Another reason to bring cash! ALL travel, sightseeing and living costs are included in our tour prices (see inclusions). So, you will only be spending on the multitude of wonderful handcrafts, jewelry, rugs, textiles, spices, scarves, shoes.......and the list goes on.

Insurance
All travellers with Maharajah Tours MUST have suitable travel insurance covering a minimum of medical and dental expenses for injury, sickness, disease, or emergency dental treatment. Plus, additional expenses for accommodation or transport due to medical events. Travel disruption insurance is not compulsory but highly recommended as any event outside of Maharajah Tours control will be at the travellers’ expense. Please familiarise yourself with our terms and conditions on our website.

Hotels
Maharajah Tours hotels are selected to fit the ambiance of the area visited. All hotels are 5 star with en-suite bathrooms and excellent amenities. Strong relationships with staff and management have been developed over many years ensuring excellent service is always delivered. Many hotels have swimming pools, and we recommend you bring your swimsuits if travelling Sep, Oct, Nov, Mar when it’s warm enough to swim.

Tipping
Porters welcome a small reward for carrying your bags to your room and again down to the coach in the morning, and restaurant staff also appreciate a small gratuity for good service. Rs 50/- (rupees) is acceptable in each case (approx. NZ$1). 

All other tipping is made on your behalf by Maharajah Tours. Bus crew, guides, and hotel staff are well taken care of.