Tourist Attractions in India

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It's not a trap but more a usefull tip. When you go to the Amber fort i.e. on the back of an elephant, husslers are walking with you above to the main entrance, trying to sell you all kinds of souvenirs. They are not allowed to go in the Amber Fort it self. So if you want to buy something, wait untill you are allmost upstairs. Prices decreasing drammatically the closer you get to the main entrance. The best price you get just before you enter the Fort

Unique Suggestions: Just laugh at it...

Fun Alternatives: If you don't want to buy and the husslers won't leave you alone...don't talk to them. Just waive them away. We were with a group and husslers constantly kept asking us " were u from, whats ur name, good price for u, only 500 rupees" and the people who talked back to them by saying "no thank you, I already bought them" did not get rid of the husslers. But the ones who said nothing and only waived them away, were not bothered anymore...

Maharaja is the name for a "great king" or a "high king". It is a good reason to be sceptical when a hotel, restaurant, etc.) has the name "Maharaja" in its name. Simply because it can be more expensive than similar places. During my trip in India I saw several places with the name "Maharaja". Common for most of them was a higher price that it was worth.

I like to think of myself as quite an astute traveller and I'd heard that Mumbai was the place to procure spectacles and designer frames. Armed with a specs prescription I went to a Opticians outlet on Colaba Causeway and ordered two pairs of spectacles - one as a pair of sunglasses in a Gucci frame. Both were perefctlt made and the designer tested sunglasses cam in its own Gucci case. Two months later, the "Gucci" label peeled off!

Unique Suggestions: There's no doubt that Mumbai is especially cheap when it comes to spectacles and their frames. Stick to the non-designer frames and they will be worth the money spent but avoid buying anything touted as original designer.

Fun Alternatives: Buy the cheap imitation if necessary but make sure that you pay for an imitation rather than an imitation being passed off as the real thing!

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Diwali is one of the biggest festival of Hindus, celebrated with great enthusiasm and happiness in India.

Different colorful varieties of fireworks are always associated with this festival.On this auspicious day, people light up diyas and candles all around their house.

This festival falls in October and is good time to watch the lights on the streets, houses decorated with lights in the evening, colourful sky with the fire works ;)

Unique Suggestions: Its fun to watch and burn the crakers ;)

Fun Alternatives: You need to be very very safe while burning the crakers ( fire work)

To be honest, riksha drivers were not the big problem I expected them to be in South India. The best way to avoid being ripped off by them is asking your hosts beforehand what a realistic price for an inner-city-ride would be, so you get a feel for the price level. You should then either insist on using the meter or - if the riksha doesn`t have one - agree on a fixed price beforehand. Mostly you can`t go wrong if you deduct 10 Rs. from the sum he initially charges (15 rs. being the basic fee for any inner-city travel). The only place where riksha drivers were a serious problem was in Bangalore, where no driver was willing to use a meter and every driver tried to lure you in some shop instead of just taking you from A to B. If a driver offered you a sensible rate there, you could be sure that at some point he would pull out a business card and insist that he take you to his favourite shop ("just looking"). Most would also claim that they only can offer the good rate because it is a "company car" and belongs to the store owner - nonsense. Insist on being taken directly to your destination and reject every attempt to take you to some store. There were other places were the drivers were perfectly honest, especially in Kerala, Mysore, Pondicherry, Thanjavur, I had no problems with them at all.

Some guides are excellent, and when you have the possibility to hire one (a justified rate would be between 150 and 200 rupies for 1 hour, maybe plus 50 rupies tip if he`s good), take one. The official guides (they usually show some sort of legitimation) are usually good if not very good and speak decent English. I have made good experiences in the Synagogue in Cochi, the Mysore Palace and at the Somnathpur, Chidambaram and Thanjavur temples. Fake guides though can be a nuisance. They have no qualification, speak barely intelligible English and demand outrageous sums for their "services". Always try to talk a little with the guide to get an impression of his qualification and knowledge of English, and agree on a fixed price beforehand.

The worst place considering fake guides is Kanchipuram - I did not meet one legitimate guide, and the ones that offered their services had no clue and mostly demanded "10 Dollars" for a start. In Kanchipuram, reject their services right away, it is not worth it.

At MG road in Bangalore, lots of people try to make use of the gullibility of western tourists. One example: An old guy falls into step with me, asks where I come from, where I`m goint to etc. In all other places in South India this can be a genuine friendly approach, but in Bangalore this is probably something that ends with some business proposal. He also mentions that the runs a n orphanage (alarm bells ringing!!!). The old guy asks where I`m going, I say "Cubbon Park". He says he knows a shortcut, and accidentaly his shop is just around the corner ("just looking"). Of course, the way he pointed out was in the wrong direction (I can read a map), and I declined and told him to get lost. Just ignore anyone that tries to approach you on MG road in Bangalore, they will take a no for a no if you`re answer is not too friendly.

In Madurai, I was on my way to the Sri Menakshi temple. A guy falls into step with me ("welcome to Madurai"), talks to me and as I reveal my nationality, claims that his father once worked as a tailor in Germany (showing me the business card of some obscure German company). He never ever mentions business or shopping, but shortly before the temple he informs me that the temple is open all day, but the museum will close in 15 minutes, so I should have a look. I follow him reluctantly, knowing what will come next. The so-called "museum" is the "Museum Shop Company", just another local crafts-shop around the temple. I decline to visit and return to the temple.