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Dry lips
In addition to major festivals, other national holidays such as Republic Day, Independence Day, and Gandhi Jayanti, as well as election days, can result in “dry days.” These are designated days where the sale of alcohol is prohibited not only in liquor stores, but in restaurants, bars, and hotels. These are state, not nationwide, government mandates, so while Holi is no longer a dry day in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh upholds a zero-alcohol policy. For travelers who want to battle their jet lag with a relaxing glass of wine, note that five-star hotels are generally exempt from this rule.
However, some states and union territories enforce a complete or significant prohibition of alcohol year-round, and are referred to as “dry states.” These include Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland, and Mizoram. While travelers can sometimes avail a temporary permit to drink alcohol in states like Gujarat, India’s longest standing dry state, the process is often cumbersome.
Your passport or visa won’t take you everywhere
Make sure to research where you can and can’t travel within India as a foreigner, as there are restricted and protected areas all across the country. For example, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands require foreigners to hold a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) along with a valid passport and visa. And even with those, the North Sentinel Island remains restricted to all. Parts of the Northeast like Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and areas near the Line of Control with Pakistan, particularly along the border of Jammu and Kashmir, require such permits.
Not everything is a bargain—and not everything should be
There’s getting a fair price, and then there is taking advantage of people. In India that is a two-way street. Time and time again, I see travelers pay highly inflated sums for trinkets, but are surprised by how much intricate craft can cost. It’s important to remember India is lined with craft corridors, where centuries-old techniques are upheld by local artisans. These are luxury goods that require meticulous, time-consuming work: authentic Kolhapuri chappals can take months to make, while a handwoven Pashmina scarf can take up to a year. Remember: You’re purchasing an heirloom that is worth its price and deserves to be valued—just like the artist who made it.
