Westerners should avoid drinking tap water in India. Only bottled or purified water should be drunk. While many hotels and restaurants have reverse osmosis water dispensers that provide purified water, a very small amount of bacteria can still sicken you and potentially ruin a trip. Bring water purification tablets, available at camping stores and pharmacies. You can also purchase 2 percent tincture of iodine at pharmacies and use four drops of iodine per liter of water.
Women and men dress conservatively in Delhi. Women should not expose their shoulders or wear shorts, especially in religious buildings and sites. A long-sleeve, loose, light-weight cover-up, such as a sarong, should be at hand. Pants or long, light-weight skirts should be worn. Men should also not wear shorts at religious sites.
All women should bring adequate amounts of tampons. Finding tampons in Delhi can be difficult, and often the only tampons available are those without an applicator. Other items that can be more difficult to find in Delhi are high SPF sun block, hair conditioner, and body care products.
All Americans entering India, for business or tourism, must obtain a visa before entering the country. A valid U.S. passport that is not going to expire within the next six months is needed for entry and exit of the country. A tourist visa is good for six months of travel upon entering the country. It is not possible to switch from a tourist to work visa once admitted.
