Essentials.

• Visas: All British nationals require a visa for visiting India & Nepal. For India, you have to obtain the visa prior to arrival in India from the country of departure. In addition to this you may require special permits for visiting certain parts of country classified as restricted areas. In the UK you have to contact the Indian High Commission at India House, Aldwych. website address: www.hcilondon.net. Current cost of an Indian tourist visa is £ 40 for 6 months. Make sure you obtain a multiple entry visa. This allows you to go into Nepal or any other country and return to India within the period without having to obtain a visa again. For Nepal, you can obtain the visa at the Nepalese High Commission, Kathmandu airport or the border crossing between India & Nepal. Please check visa fee. This does vary.
• Health (Injections & Jabs): There is no specific legal requirements for British nationals to visit India or Nepal. However, typhoid, cholera & anti malarial precautions are recommended. Please consult your doctor pertaining to your requirements.

Items to Take.

• Toilet rolls. Indians use water for cleaning not toilet rolls. Note: These can also be purchased in India at most cities. Worth carrying one toilet roll from country of departure especially if you are going straight from plane to train etc.
• A First Aid Kit: pain killers, malaria tablets (applicable to some), anti-malarial repellent cream, imodium, water purification tablets, salt tablets etc. These are just some suggestions. You may have other ideas on what to carry pertaining to yourself.
• Clothing: Unless you are heading to mountainous areas, India is hot in many parts. Weather is T-shirt weather for popular times (Oct - Apr) in most destinations. Long cotton type clothing is most suitable. For girls, it is advisable best to cover the legs and arms (Indian Kurutha & pyjamans). There is no such strict requirement. However, short pants tend to attract unnecessary staring by the locals. We feel an ideal traveller is the one who gets unnoticed and blends into the crowd as a local. The other thing is that local transporters such as taxis and rickshaw-wallahs assume you have lived in India for a while. This is pure mind-set and thus, the tariff tends to be more reasonable.
• Guide Books. These are essential part of any trip. There are many good guide books such as Lonely Planet & Rough Guides; India Handbook by Robert Bradnock, India By Rail by Royston Ellis. Each person has a personal preference.
• Money Belts: Essential for keeping valuables such as money, credit cards. air tickets, rail passes & passports.
• Hindi/English Dictionary of words if you are travelling extensivley in North India.
• Luggage: Make sure the luggage item is lockable. Many travellers tend to use rucksacks. It is advisable to rig up a method of locking the item (eg: through chains, padlocks etc).