While tourism has recently taken off in India, it is still a relatively unexplored nation, especially by Americans. Most of us see the news in this country and see India come up in one of two discussions: acts of terrorism or it's emerging economy. I find it sad that the average view on India has to come from such a narrowly focused source, but such is life in America; the negative news sadly controls a lot of our perceptions. I am happy to say that I have traveled to India and can assure you all with complete honesty that I have not felt safer in any other country, including my own. Natives of India are some of the most curious and genuine people you will ever meet, and I encourage anyone with even a spark of interest in India to go experience it for themselves.
Now, it is easy to say, "I want to go to India and spend as little money as possible while having the best and most fulfilling experience". The difficult part is putting together a general plan for actually getting to and around the country. Sure, guidebooks can be very useful, and I recommend that you buy a positively reviewed guide to India if you wish, but I don't feel it is an absolute necessity. With a little pre-departure research, and a bit of planning, I feel as though India is definitely a place you can (and should) experience "on the fly".
The first step in any trip is document preparation and packing. I am not going to go into great detail of what you should bring in your suitcase; just know that the weather can be quite daunting depending on what time of year you travel, and where you plan on visiting. The southern states tend to be the toughest to bear with regard to heat, which is why many tourists go around December or January. As far as visa's are concerned, it differs from country to country but Americans should visit India Visa Center for more information on the various types of visas offered and there requirements. Tourist visas, good for up to six months, are typically very easy to obtain for Americans, so this should not be a major concern.
Once all of your documents are squared away, you should be prepared to spend the vast majority of your trip funds on a flight. There are web sites that offer discount airfare such as STA Travel, and you will normally find the best rates if you book fairly far in advance. It is hard to give an exact estimate on the cost of airfare to and from India, but I would say that a ballpark figure of about $1,000 per person would be accurate for a roundtrip ticket booked to fly into either Delhi or Mumbai. There are definitely better fares out there, but for the sake of easy math, we will say $1,000 per person.
Upon arrival you will find endless spots to stay throughout the country. There are guesthouses and hostels littered throughout the major cities with prices as low four or five USD per night. While this price might sound too good to be true, I personally wouldn't stay anywhere else, except a budget guesthouse in India. These guesthouses allow you to see India from the ground level, and its an added bonus that you are more likely to meet other foreign travelers at these establishments than at stuffy five star hotels. You can go about finding these places in two ways: explore upon arrival (as you are bound to find affordable open vacancy somewhere) or you can take the more conservative route and research the Internet. You can find prices, reviews and contact information for many of these places on websites such as hostels.com.
After establishing an estimate for the cost of your lodging, you should investigate the various travel options. Buses are plentiful, and a relatively cheap way to get from city to city, although, India is best known for their extensive train routes. Tickets can be bought through a booking agent at any major train station, but I suggest simplifying things by purchasing an Indrail pass. These passes allow you to travel at will for the length of the ticket. Passes can be purchased from one day to ninety days, and depending on how often you plan on city hopping, it can turn out to be a great investment. The price for an Indrail pass differs depending on the type of accommodations you desire and how long you plan to use it. If you opt to stay in a third or second class train car (which, for the experience, I highly recommend doing) then you can get by for ninety days on a pass that only costs a couple of hundred dollars. Again, if you plan on exploring the country by train for a fairly long period of time, this pass will make your life much easier.
As far as getting around cities is concerned, aside from walking or taking a man powered rickshaw, taxis and auto rickshaws are the most convenient and cheapest ways to get around. You can get rides on taxis in India for absolute fractions of the price you would pay in any western country. You can either go by the driver's meter or negotiate a price prior to entering the vehicle; how you choose to pay is completely up to you and the driver.
Many of you may be wondering where to go, and again, I say that it is completely up to you to make the most out of your own Indian vacation. You can travel the hard worn tourist routes of Agra, Mumbai, Goa, Jaipur and Delhi, or you can choose the lesser-known (but still large) cities of Chennai, Kochi, Calcutta, Amritsar, Pune, or Varanasi. Every city offers a very different experience, from language, food and even cultural norms; no two cities are alike. This potential to experience such different and unique culture just adds to the allure of India.
The Internet provides a wealth of information to search as far as attractions go, but my only suggestion is to leave some of your days completely unplanned and walk around the streets and the markets. Branching out and eating at a food stall or stopping at a random mall or movie theatre and catching a local film can provide you with more entertainment than you think.
As far as daily costs go, food is cheap, plain and simple. You can opt to eat at a local food stall (just remember to bring your meds) or you can stop in at a McDonalds in town. The options in India regarding food are absolutely endless. You should however be made aware that most westerners will get sick at some point during their travels; it happened to me, and it will likely happen to you. You will be happy to know that healthcare in India is usually fairly high quality and relatively low cost. Obvious preventative measures should be taken in order to protect yourself against illness. Ask all the questions you can that pertain to vaccines and other health concerns before leaving for India.
I hope this brief intro to traveling India has at least given you an overview or sparked some interest in seeing this fine country. With a little bit of planning and an open mind, India can be a great long-term travel destination due to the low cost of domestic travel and food. Budget travelers who want a nice balance of adventure with low cost comforts should absolutely give India a chance.
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