AT:INDIATourism.

1. What is the best time to visit India?
The coolest weather lasts from November to mid-March, with cool, fresh mornings and evenings and dry, sunny days.

2. I hear Indians are a more conservative lot especially compared to people in Western countries. What kind of clothes would be acceptable here?
Shorts, minis and tank tops are unadvisable unless you're on a beach. In small towns and cities especially, people may tend to stare if you expose too much skin. Safe clothing would be trousers, peddle pushers, capris, skirts, tops and shirts. India has some good cottons which are trendy and affordable. Buy yourself some. Women could try wearing a salwar kameez which is very cool and comfortable and could even improve the attitude of people towards them.

3. What is the best thing to do if pestered by beggars and street urchins?
Well, you can start by ignoring them completely and if they get too persistent give them a stern look. If you must give them something, let it not be more than 1 to 2 rupees only.

4. What are the important Hindi words I should know when I'm in India?
Well, there are many phrases and words in Hindi that could come in use. We would advise you to look at our 'Useful Hindi Phrases' page in Useful Stuff.

5. How safe is drinking water in India?
If you are from a foreign country, you may not be used to drinking the water here. Hence we advise that you pick up a bottle of mineral water which is cheap and widely available and usually provided in flasks in hotel rooms. Order the same when you are at a restaurant. As far as possible, avoid drinking any kind of water or juices from roadside carts and vendors.

6. How best can I get the flavour of a particular destination I visit in India?
We would love you to try using the local transport. But this is not advisable in crowded cities like Mumbai. However, do take a ride or two in a state transport bus or tram whenever you have the opportunity. It would be better to take an Indian friend along.
Try and interact more with the locals of the area. There will be a language problem but many people in small towns are quite fluent in English and a few other foreign languages.