Safety & Security
Safety

• Prior to any trip consult the British foreign office to ensure that you are not entering areas which they do not recommend. Their advice generally tends to be sound and not alarmistic.
• Do not go to Kashmir. We have been telling people not to go to Kashmir since 1990.
• If you are going beyond Darjeeling in the eastern part of India such as Nagaland, you may need a special permit. Hence, please recheck this at the time of obtaining the visa.
• In the current climate, terrorism exists in virtually every part of the world. It could be outside your own house (who knows?). We advise people to travel as normal but exercise caution whereever you go (be it India/Nepal or anywhere else in the world). Generally our advice is to exercise more caution at focal points in big cities (eg: London, UK: Trafalgar square could be classified as a focal point. Delhi: Houses of Parliament could be focal point. Bombay: Stock exchange could be a focal point. Kathmandu: Durbar Square could be a focal point.). Generally, terrorists are interested in publicity.

Security
A lot of the items listed below are common sense (such as counting your money in public is not recommended in any part of the world).

• Money belts are essential for valuables (money, credit cards, travellers cheques, rail passes, air tickets, passports). This should be concealed on the inside of your clothing (not worn on the outside as it tempts opportunistic crime). Take out the amount of money you require for that day when you go to the bathroom. If you were to loose your luggage chances are that they are replacable at a very small cost in India or Nepal. But loosing of the money belt is a different proposition.
• Luggage: This can be chained to the trains for any overnight travel for peace of mind. However, if you are paranoid this does not help.
• Generally, luggage security is safe on the trains, unless you are travelling in lower classes such as 2nd class basic or sleeper class basic. This is largely because people who are not travellers are able to get into train carriages. In AC Class, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier etc people without confirmed reservations are not allowed inside. In these classes, the only possibility is an opportunistic crime such as cameras. Hence, use appropriate casings for such items.
• You have to be more careful with camera items in railway stations (not trains) and monuments.