I'm going to India to do yoga in Rishikesh, here are some tips by Patricia Nagelmackers
I had been wanting to go to India for a long time. I took the plunge to celebrate my birthday! After 3 ½ years of intensive work on my e-commerce site Tayrona Yoga, which sells eco-friendly yoga equipment and mats, it was time for me to take a break, a break.
I also decided to take this trip alone to enjoy it, to take an inner journey, to find myself and take stock of my life. And above all, to think about what to do next with the site to better serve my clients. So I responded to the invitation of my yoga teacher Caroline Boulinguez from the Samathiti studio who teaches ashtanga yoga in Paris
I entrusted the organization of the first part of my trip, the visit of Rajasthan to a Bordeaux agency Gobal Travel, due to lack of time. It was they who organized the flights, transfers, visits and hotels for the cities of Rajasthan (Jodhpur, Pushkar, Jaipur and Agra (Taj Mahal) and then, I left alone to Rishikesh to join Caroline.
Here are my comments and my experience that I am happy to share with you to help you prepare your trip if you decide one day to go to India.
What date should I choose to go to North India?
Good times are from January to March and from September to November.
The date of my departure was the month of January (my birthday month). I had chosen January thinking that it would be hot but finally it was not the case in the North of India but I know that in Goa or in Kerala, it is very hot.
In Rajasthan and Rishikesh, the temperature was around 20 degrees during the day and 8 degrees at night. Not hot at all, even cold especially at night.
You should know that in most hotels, there is air conditioning but it is not reversible! That means no heating! So you sleep in a room at 5 degrees :-) So as a good Westerner, it is really very cold.
The first night is really hard. The second, you sleep dressed in your leggings or light pants, a t-shirt, socks and a fleece. You then ask for an extra blanket and if you're lucky a space heater which unfortunately makes a lot of noise. So you turn it off. But in the long run, like everything, you get used to it. Because the sun, the color, and the kindness of people make you forget this cold night.
Do I need to bring an adapter to charge my computer or phone?
Second thing too, the electrical outlets, 220 Volts, no need to necessarily bring an adapter. In any case, I didn't use it. On the other hand, a power strip is welcome. Because very often, only one outlet works in the rooms, the others are there for decoration.
How are the toilets?
As for the bathrooms, I assure you, there is hot water. On the other hand, for most hotels, forget the bathtub, only showers. You will find a bucket and a stool because they wash like the Japanese, and rinse in the shower.
However, do plan on bringing a travel hair dryer and your shampoo and conditioner, because what the hotels offer is a bit light and I'm not even talking about the ashrams.
The additional towel, such as a fouta, is welcome because given the cold, bath towels do not dry.
How many kilos am I allowed for my suitcase if I travel by Air India?
As for the suitcase, Air India accepts 25 kg and domestic flights accept 15 kilos. So there is a surcharge to pay (3800 rupees or 46 euros) unless you take a cabin suitcase and you are also entitled to a small backpack.
My advice, go light because you will be very tempted to bring a lot of things, whether it is scarves, pashminas, kurtas, yoga bags, ... no need to bring your yoga mat either, you can buy one on site or your Manduka Superlite Travel mat. That's what I did.
How do you dress in North India?
For clothes, leggings yes, but with a shirt that covers the buttocks.
Long sleeve T-shirt. It is good to respect local customs which are rather elegant for women.
My ideal suitcase for Rishikesh
So I'm going to share with you my ideal suitcase:
- 1 or two leggings
- bras
- 4 long-sleeved t-shirts and two shirts (I personally prefer white ones)
- 1 pair of jeans
- a light anorak (hat and mittens in January)
- 1 or 2 sweaters
- a fleece
- a pair of sneakers and flip-flops (your Timberlands in January if you are going to the North)
- toiletries (you can find excellent Ayurvedic care products from the Himalaya brand for 3 or 4 euros)
- socks (high and low)
- a good book
- a fouta (or extra towel)
- a headlamp
- a small backpack
- a multi-socket block
- your camera
- your laptop or smartphone (your chargers)
- a good book (but you can find good books on yoga in English at Delhi airport)
- wipes
- hand sanitizer
- a mask for those allergic to dust (Delhi is very polluted)
That's all. No more needed.
Basically, go empty-handed. India is colorful and the markets are rich, so you can quickly fill your suitcase for not very much. I personally fell for the scarves that I wore Indian style :-)
Don't forget your light anorak :-) which I didn't leave with my woolen hat.
In terms of money, what should I take?
Bring cash, euros are accepted everywhere and don't forget to make a copy of all the papers. Also bring an envelope for the "Tips" which range from 10 rupees for "Madame Pipi" to 100 or even 500 rupees depending on the service provided for drivers, guides, ...
When you arrive and leave India you will see that there is a check at every step you take in the airport. I counted 5 passport checks before boarding for Paris. All the luggage is scanned. They are very attentive to security because of Pakistan.
After that it's up to you, it depends on your wallet, your desires. But know that there you can eat for less than 500 rupees (6.33 euros)/day and that yoga classes are 6 euros. So you can quickly make a budget and that a decent hotel with bathroom and window costs 1250 rupees/night (16 euros). At first, I thought it was in euros! Personally I went to the OM SHIVAAY inn hotel in Topovan recommended by my yoga teacher.
Transfers to the hotel from the airport cost 800 rupees plus tip for the driver.
On the other hand, you should know that in Rishikesh, there are few cash machines and that the latter are, let's say, a little capricious. It is therefore better to have cash on you.
How is internet connection in Rishikesh?
As for the internet, there are cafes/restaurants that offer free wifi so it is very easy to manage as well as the 4 ½ hour time difference. Otherwise, the ideal is to buy an Indian subscription including internet from Airtel which will allow you to communicate by Whatsapp with everyone.
How does it work to obtain a tourist visa for India?
As for the visa, an e-visa on the Indian government website is very easy to do. It requires a little rigor and patience because the site often crashes. It is therefore good to note your file number to continue your procedures if they have been interrupted. You just have to scan your passport and your photo in 5X5 format.
Photos that you can take at a professional or if you are good at Photoshop to format it. The answer is given within 3 days. GRANTED – you can go. There are many internet articles that will explain how to do it, including the one from “Petit futé”. Otherwise, there are agencies that offer to do it for you for a quote. It personally cost me $25 for a 30-day visa. Check carefully that the data entered is correct because you may not enter India if there are discrepancies between your passport and your e-visa that you have obviously printed and that you will give to the immigration office upon arrival in India.
Last advice, for those traveling alone in India.
It gets dark early there, if you are traveling alone, avoid going out at night, it is safer. Even more so if you are blonde like me :-)
Return from your yoga class with a group or a rickshaw. (100 rupees or 1.2 euros). All this is negotiated before the race.
Otherwise it's pretty safe and the people are very nice despite some of their approximate English. They do everything to help you.
There you go, I hope this little article has helped you.
Please feel free to contact me at the following address if you have any further questions:
contact@tayronalife.com. I will be happy to answer. Namasté. Patricia
