Electricity, Clothing & Bargaining
Electricity
India uses 230V/50Hz (like Europe). The sockets are mostly three-pin (Type D/M — three round pins), but many also accept European two-pin plugs. To be safe, bring a universal adapter. Power outages are common in rural and small towns — a headlamp or power bank is worth its weight in gold.
Clothing & Dress Code
- Temples: Cover knees and shoulders, remove shoes (often also socks). In some temples, men must wear shirts (no tank tops).
- Mosques: Long pants/skirt, shoulders covered. Women: Headscarf (often distributed at the entrance).
- General: India is more conservative than it sometimes seems. Outside of Goa and Mumbai, shorts and sleeveless tops for women are inappropriate. Light, long cotton clothing is ideal: protects against sun, mosquitoes, and cultural faux pas.
Bargaining & Haggling
Bargaining is done everywhere in India — in markets, in shops without price tags, with rickshaw drivers, even in some hotels. No bargaining in supermarkets, chain restaurants, and shops with fixed prices (Fabindia, Anokhi).
- Start at 40–50% of the quoted price
- Work your way up with a smile — bargaining is a game, not a confrontation
- Walking away is the strongest bargaining weapon — you will often be called back
- If a price is accepted: You MUST buy. Withdrawing an accepted offer is an affront
- For very cheap items (under 50 ₹), haggling over 10 ₹ is inappropriate
Tipping
In restaurants: 10% (if no service charge is applied). Hotel porter: 50–100 ₹ per piece of luggage. Rickshaw driver: Round up. Guide: 200–500 ₹ per day. Hotel staff (room cleaning): 50–100 ₹ per day.
