Traveling to India without experiencing a bit of culture shock is almost impossible, especially if it’s your first time. As an American living in India with my Indian husband and his family, I’ve had plenty of moments where culture shock could have hit me hard, but thanks to some preparation, there weren’t too many surprises. I spent a lot of time learning about India before my first trip, so I knew what I was getting into, which made the transition smoother.
Now, while I haven’t exactly done the touristy thing, living here has taught me a lot about what can catch people off guard when visiting India for the first time. So, if you’re hoping to avoid culture shock and want your trip to India to go smoothly, here are some tips that might just help.
Before I begin, I want to clarify that India is an absolutely beautiful and breathtaking country. It’s easy to find blog posts focusing on the more intense and negative aspects of India, but there’s so much beauty and richness here—both in nature and culture—that it’s a shame when people only experience the more chaotic side. Yes, there’s noise and hustle, but India is so much more than that. I hope this guide helps you see the best of India without feeling too overwhelmed.
Let’s be real—India can be chaotic, especially in big tourist spots. If you find yourself in places like Agra, where everyone flocks to see the Taj Mahal, you’re going to feel the buzz. It’s loud, busy, and sometimes feels like a sensory overload.
But that’s the thing: not all of India is like that! You can totally avoid major chaos by planning ahead. For example, in Jaipur, you could stay on a quiet little street away from the tourist attraction, but still be just an Uber or a quick metro ride away from the center of it all. I recommend hitting those popular spots in the early morning to avoid the crowds and heat. Basically, a little planning can go a long way.
India is a country where you’ll need to be flexible and roll with the unexpected. Things don’t always go according to plan, but that’s part of the adventure, right?
Your travel experience in India is in your own hands. You can make your trip whatever you want it to be. But remember that India runs on its own time and things come up all the time. You just need to learn to be more flexible, patient, and comfortable with unpredictable situations.
Okay, let’s talk about Indian traffic. It can feel like a whole other world! The roads can get wild with cars, bikes, cows, and rickshaws all moving in what looks like complete chaos. If you’re like me and chaotic traffic makes you a little anxious, my best advice is… just close your eyes and trust your driver. Honestly, even though it seems a bit uneasy, drivers here are super aware of their surroundings, and despite the slow pace, they know what they’re doing.
So don’t stress about the traffic. Enjoy the ride (or maybe take a power nap during it) and remind yourself that this is all part of the fun!
It could be extremely spicy in one place and completely mild in another. Some regions have more meat and fish options than others which are more vegetarian. Different tastes and spices are used in not only each state, but also each city. Uttar Pradesh (a state in India) in itself has so many different flavors and styles of making food. Imagine how different it would be eating food in Delhi vs eating food in Chennai. You’re in for a real blend of cultures within India.
Ah, the infamous “Delhi Belly”—it’s no joke. I didn’t believe it was a thing either because I spent so much time in India without any issues. But then, well, I got it. Not only do you want to avoid culture shock on your trip, but you also want to avoid any unexpected stomach troubles. Delhi Belly doesn’t mean the food in Delhi is bad—in fact, Delhi has some of the best food in India—it’s just a reminder to be careful about what you eat, no matter where you are. Be cautious if you don’t know where the food came from. For example, I got Delhi Belly after eating some takeout from someone else’s house, and I learned my lesson the hard way.
If you’re nervous, stick to places where you can see the food being prepared, and always bring meds with you just in case. Also, avoid tap water and stick to filtered water to stay safe.
Tipping culture in India is different. While you might feel like you need to tip your driver or hotel staff, it’s not expected in most cases, and sometimes it can even be seen as offensive. There’s a chance some people might ask you for a tip because they know you’re a foreigner and they want to squeeze a little more money out of you. But you really don’t need to feel pressured. Just pay the set price and that’s it—no extra money needed. This is another small way to avoid culture shock, especially if you’re used to tipping everywhere at home.
Indians are very welcoming to tourists, and they love tourists, but when it comes down to it, the country is not built for tourism. In many places, there may be a requirement for an Indian phone number, an Indian bank card, an Indian ID, or an Indian address. Even upon landing in the airport you cannot access the wifi without an Indian phone number.
On the one side, it means that India is as true as it always is. It doesn’t cater to outsiders. You’re getting the most authentic version of India. So do be aware of these limitations to avoid culture shock, and try not to feel too frustrated when these situations arise.
Okay, let’s talk about something you might not want to think about in terms of planning a perfect trip: toilets… I know, not exactly the most glamorous topic, but trust me—it’s important. In India, you’ll encounter both Western-style toilets and squat toilets, and if you’re not familiar with the latter, it’s definitely an experience! In most places, you’ll find both options available, but there might be the occasional situation where you need to, well, relearn how to use the bathroom. A little preparation goes a long way here, so a quick Google search might save you from some awkward moments and help you avoid a bit of culture shock!
If there’s one thing you’ll quickly realize in India, it’s that pedestrian crosswalks are more of a suggestion than a rule. You need to feel in control of your own safety to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the amount of drivers on the roads.
Learning to cross the street like a local will help you avoid culture shock in India’s cities. At first, the traffic might seem wild and chaotic, but the drivers here are incredibly aware of their surroundings. It may look dangerous, but if you’re cautious and confident, you’ll be just fine. Hold your hand out to signal to drivers, wait for an opening, and just go for it. If cows can navigate the streets, you can too! Plus, you’ll feel like a pro once you get the hang of it.
It’s common knowledge in India on what to do when you encounter an animal, but most tourists come from countries which don’t typically have so many wild animals roaming around city streets. And plenty think it’s cute and quirky to come up to a wild animal to take pictures or to even pet and touch them, which is a big no in India.
Whatever animal you come across in India, you should absolutely avoid them. There are plenty of tourist spots which attract a great amount of monkeys, even then you should try to avoid taking pictures and move on. All animals in India are street smart, so don’t worry. Drivers in India know to avoid them, even on highways they are very good at maneuvering around them, and the animals know where to be as well for their own safety.
While you might see some of the biggest mansions and complexes, the opposite is also true. You will find plenty of beggars wandering in certain areas which you will most likely see around tourist areas. There are also plenty of child beggars which are usually run by a bigger organization, so even if you give money, it won’t go towards anything good. It’s good to be aware of this before your trip to avoid culture shock. The best you can do is carry around biscuits or small treats, so that whenever someone comes up to you, you have something to give them. They will usually keep asking for more, but you need to be firm. Only offer food, never offer money to anyone, especially in a public setting. Indians also offer what they can to beggars, so you alone will not be the solution to all of the poverty in India, though it’s nice to contribute a little.
Like the previous example I mentioned on extremes, you will see this in people’s behavior as well. Compared to where you might come from, you’ll notice that people in India are less inclined to help you genuinely. That does not mean there aren’t people willing to help you, as of course if you’re in a hotel, airport, or any tourist attraction, people are very willing to help you.
But as an American, this is the biggest difference I see in people in India as compared to back home. One key difference to be aware of is that people in India often prioritize their family and close-knit circles. If, for example, you’re in an accident, some people might rush over—not to help, but to see if you dropped anything valuable. While this may sound harsh, it’s a cultural difference to recognize in order to avoid culture shock. Despite this, many kind-hearted people in India will still offer help when you need it, so it’s best to avoid traveling alone and just travel with a support system and stay aware of your surroundings.
Along the lines of kindness, Indians show kindness a little bit differently. You might think that they are rude or careless for reasons such as the fact that they smile less, they stare more, and there’s no small pleasantries like “thank you” or “sorry”. For instance, if you were at a shop, and you paid for whatever you were purchasing, you would simply just leave. There’s no verbal transaction of “thank you, have a nice day”. You paid so you leave. Simple. That doesn’t mean you don’t need to say pleasantries, you just shouldn’t expect them in India.
And as far as smiling goes, most Indians don’t smile at strangers because it’s weird and it may even seem like a flirtatious act. So if you’re a single female traveler wandering around India with all smiles, be more careful. Men will see this as a sign of flirting and you may attract unwanted attention. Like I said earlier, I’m American and I find it very difficult to not smile at strangers especially after years of working in customer service, but you just gotta do it. My Indian husband and his family find the pleasantries I use to be silly and they get a good laugh from them sometimes even, so trust me, it’s not necessary.
This means that some people might want to take your photo, and this is completely up to you, though I believe you should avoid this happening as much as possible. Just kindly say no and move on with your day. The same thing goes with anyone asking if you need a tour guide. If you don’t have a tour guide, there will be plenty of people coming up to you asking to be your guide. It’s a little overwhelming but you just need to be firm and polite.
Don’t mind all the staring. A lot of people in India don’t come across foreigners very often. It really depends on where you’re traveling, as in Delhi, foreigners are very common and no one really bats an eye. However if you’re traveling in other places, you may grab people’s attention more. It’s usually nothing bad, it’s just people being curious, so just ignore the fact and move on.
This means that anyone coming up to you for something will continue to nag and grab your attention as much as possible if you are not firm from the start. Being a firm and confident person is pretty much a requirement for traveling India, as anyone will grab onto your uncertainty and take advantage. Something you’ll need to learn in order to avoid anything of this sort is to simply learn how to say no and to avoid them until they leave you completely.
Some examples of this are beggars, sellers, tour guides, and so on. People will want to come up to you because anyone in India knows that foreigners must have some money on them. To put it simply, people in India know who to target, and you’re it. Just be firm and polite in every situation you encounter in India.
Like anywhere in the world, you’re going to see beautiful neighborhoods and not so beautiful neighborhoods. In India, depending on where you are traveling, you might find piles of trash here and there with cows milling about, while in others it’s completely trash free, almost pristine. Not all of India has litter on the sidewalks, but do be aware that you will see it more than you might in other countries.
Nothing is wasted in India, learn to eat everything that’s on your plate and learn to reuse the water bottles and bags you were planning to throw out. There are no recycling bins in most parts of India, so you have to reuse these yourself. Just minimize the waste here as best you can.
It’s common knowledge here on how to bargain, everyone has to do it, but especially foreigners. For foreigners, people already assume you don’t know the currency or the worth of whatever it is that you are buying, so no matter what, they will always raise the price for you. And it’s not by a little, they can rip you off by 10 times what they would the price of a local.
Know where to bargain, because anything at restaurants or packaged food items will mostly be a set price. If you are buying something from a market or trying to negotiate a price with a rickshaw driver, you’ll most likely want to bring down the price to what you believe is right.
For one, every bathroom in India uses bidets or water buckets for bathroom use. Depending on the bathroom you go in, it could have western or squat toilets. Most public toilets you will find both.
Another thing thing is that most bathrooms do not have toilet paper or paper towels, which is important to note because toilet paper is not at all flushable in any toilet in India. Don’t ever flush toilet paper in any toilet here. That is why it is easier if you just refrain from using toilet paper and just relying on the bidet and water option. Some might still like to have toilet paper to clean the water off. But you still need to carry toilet paper with you throughout your trip and throw it out in a dustbin upon using it.
It’s important to keep an open mind when it comes to bathrooms in India to avoid culture shock. There are plenty of clean public bathrooms in India, especially the rest stops along the highway, as they have the cleanest bathrooms I’ve ever seen. However, most public bathrooms in the city are not going to be very pleasant. And do be aware that some bathrooms you will have to pay a small amount for using.
While a lot of Indians use digital payments, as a foreigner you should rely on cash, unless you can pay digitally. Don’t rely on credit cards, only use cards to get money from atms. Majority of the time you will be handling everything with cash.
Overall, there are plenty more things you should be aware of before traveling to India, but this is your guide for starters. For more information, read our guide on Do’s and Don’ts for a Stress Free Journey.
I would love to hear your thoughts on culture shock in India or culture shock in general! What have been your experiences?
Maeve & Kart
We’re Maeve & Kart – an introverted American girl with a love for letters, flowers, and chai on one side, and an introverted extrovert nature enthusiast Indian boy with a sweet tooth on the other.
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Maeve & Kart
We are Maeve and Kart – a long distance married couple from America and India.
To all kindred spirits out there trying to navigate a multicultural or a long distance relationship, you’re not alone. Learn from our own experiences of how we finally found each other from across the world and remain together living with a blend of both cultures and languages.
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