India is a multifaceted, multilingual and multi-ethnic land. To explore this huge, vibrant nation one must be prepared diligently for all odds and evens. Undoubtedly, adding humanitarian work to your travel is one of the best ways to have a wonderful time. But as they say, “With big roles, comes big responsibilities”. And when it is in a big country like India, the responsibilities multiply. Volunteering India, thus, present you with a list of 10 important things to keep in mind when volunteer traveling in India. Take a look, and make a note of them:
1. Prepare your itinerary for traveling in India
With an area close to 33 lacs sq. kms, covered by 29 states and 7 UTs, having close to 8000 cities and towns, even a local Indian resident might take more than twice a trip to cover all. Choose your destinations – to – explore wisely. Look out for the best excursion spots near the destination of your chosen project.
2. When they say it’s spicy, trust them!
Indian food is known for its massive usage of spices for flavor and color. A typical Indian palate is accustomed to a smoking hot barbequed chicken. Make sure you either customize your order or be bold and take your chances. The chance is worth taking by the way!
3. Local transport is your best guide to explore the cities
Most of the volunteer projects in India are located close to the accommodation setup provided to the volunteers; making it a walkable distance to cover. However, when it comes to exploring the market and other areas, always prefer taking a local transport rather than a hired taxi.
4. Learning a few words in Hindi(Local Language) can make a huge impact
Namaste (“Hello” in Hindi) is probably the one word that every foreigner know or learn about Indian dialect. However, there are many more such easy to learn words that can help you gel quickly with local people and bond well.
5. Dressing conservatively is in their culture…
… And what’s in their culture must be abided-by religiously by you as well. Also, it is always in a volunteer traveler’s interest to follow the dress code of the native people get the feeling of being a part of them.
6. If you can manage to travel solo in India, you can travel solo anywhere in this world
India can be full of surprises at every corner. And if you can handle the cultural shocks on your own, travel distances by yourself, understand the ethics and prove yourself to be a successful solo traveler in India, you can solo travel on any soil on this earth.
7. Make sure you have all your immigration documents
One of the most important things to tick off from your packing list are the documents you’d require for your travel as well your project placement. If in case, you have any kind of confusion, always get in touch with the help desk of Volunteering India.
8. It’s mostly hot out there, carry your sunscreen along
India experience summers for most parts of the year. And because of its geographical location, it can get really hot during peak summer seasons.
9. Cleanliness is an issue, deal with it
Let’s be frank here! India is a country of 1.25 billion people, which counts for a huge amount of population. Being a developing nation, there is a slight scarcity of resources to keep all areas clean. You may come across few places that are not as clean as you may have expected. But that does not mean India is unhygienic; not at all!
10. If not sure of anything, ask someone!
The best way to avoid getting confused or calling for unintended trouble, is to consult your local coordinator. They know everything you must know and do to have a happy and memorable sojourn.
Volunteering in India keeps getting interesting every day, given that you know how to handle or react to a situation. The above mentioned advises are the key for a successful volunteering travel to India. For more clarity on how to join a volunteer project in India, speak to our program advisor at [email protected].
