Recent content by AlapanB

The roadblocks have been lifted and the situation is fast returning to normalcy. But I'd wait for a couple of months more before undertaking a journey to the country, because jusdjing from the state the country is in, new problems can erupt at any moment. Because all that has normalised is the...

Thank you for pointing me at the right direction. The help is so much appreciated!:)

It really depends on the type of train you're boarding. If your train is an Express train, it'll only stop at the major stations and it'll also have its own police crew to make sure everyone is okay. On the other hand, boarding a train that'll stop at any and every station is not really a great...

Monsoon season is a big no no for travellers, especially those coming to get a glimpse of Urban and suburban India. Not only is this the breeding season of the deadly critters like mosquitoes and flies, but on days with particularly heavy rainfall, the suburbs look like rivers due to water...

Both rickshaws (traditional and auto-rickshaws, and more recently, electric powered 'totos') are the kings of urban public transport in Indian cities, Not only are they cheaper than cabs, (and more expensive than buses or metro railway) the drivers know the routes like the back of their hands...

Trains are one of the safest modes of travelling long distances in India. Especially on ones which are labelled 'Superfast' or 'Express' (These guys make very little stops along the way. A prime example would be the famed Rajdhani Express and Darjeeling Mail.) These trains have their own...

Usually, the drivers in charge of the bus are experts of their craft (if their salary is anything to judge them by). Not only that, most of the time, the routes that these overnight journey buses follow are the longer ones (Through one-way laned National Highways) with very little traffic.

If you're carrying heavy luggage, the safest place to put them is under the lower berth. As @bholaenath said, at least converse a bit with your cabin mates. That creates a bond between you and them and that way everyone cooperates and watches the other's luggage. For important documents and...

IRCTC is the official online portal of Indian Railways. It's as safe as it gets with respect to online railway ticket booking and payment. It has strict protocols in place, especially in the payment department. So feel free to use your credit cards without fear of getting cheated, as is the case...

Well, driving in crowded settlements and well-used roads is certainly dangerous, especially if you're following US driving rules. But if you commute through the National Highways, I don't think there'll be any problems. They're well-maintained, monitored by the local police, clearly divided into...

Public transport is always the best option, mostly because they operate on a fixed route and there are always local people around who, more often than not, will happily give you precise directions to the place you want to go to. I personally don't recommend a cab until you're well versed in the...

A very informative and very useful thread! Thank you guys for putting this up! I agree with others that the First class AC in Rajdhani Express is in some respects better than flights, particularly in the comfort and the food departments. For long distance journeys, it's one of the best options...

Nah, most of the geckoes that reside in the houses are non-poisonous. Their poop is another matter though, so make sure those things don't find their way into your food or water, or you'll get very sick. The major player in the 'dangerous insects in India' business are surely the mosquitoes...

In my experience, mosquitoes are an ever-present entity in India. They are more prevalent in humid weather conditions and less in the winters, but they're there. Except maybe in the mountainous areas where the climate is unsuitable for their breeding. You should always use a mosquito net while...

It's generally from mid-June to nid-September, give or take a few weeks. But the rainfall varies widely across parts of the country. For example, North-East and South-East India receive the heaviest rainfall while it's pretty dry in the North-Western and Central parts. It's better to consult...