Tipping
๐ฅTipping is expected but modest โ around 10% at restaurants and 50โ100 INR for guides and drivers, but not required at street food stalls.
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Tip 10% at tourist restaurants, 500โ1,000 LKR per day for guides and drivers, and round up for tuk-tuk rides.
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Public Transport
Use Ola or Uber in cities for safe, metered rides, and book train tickets well in advance via IRCTC โ Tatkal quota helps for last-minute travel.
โUnofficial taxis at airports and stations frequently overcharge tourists. Use only prepaid taxi booths inside the terminal or app-based rides.
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PickMe and Uber work in Colombo; tuk-tuks are everywhere; trains are iconic and scenic; buses are cheap but very crowded.
โTuk-tuk drivers who don't use an app will almost always quote inflated fares to tourists. Always agree on the price before boarding and consider using PickMe whenever possible.
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Tourist Healthcare
Travel insurance is critical โ use Apollo, Fortis, or Medanta private hospitals for reliable care, and take malaria and dengue precautions before and during your trip.
โRabies is present in India. Any animal bite โ dog, monkey, or bat โ requires immediate medical attention and a full post-exposure prophylaxis course.
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Good private hospitals exist in Colombo (Nawaloka, Lanka, Asiri); healthcare outside the capital is limited, making travel insurance essential.
โDengue fever is a real risk throughout Sri Lanka. It is spread by daytime-biting mosquitoes and there is no vaccine โ prevention through repellent and covered clothing is the only protection.
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Local Laws
Drug laws are extremely strict with mandatory prison sentences even for small quantities โ never carry any narcotics, and note that beef is restricted or banned in several states.
โDrug possession in India can result in a minimum 10-year prison sentence with no possibility of bail for the first year. This applies equally to tourists.
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LGBTQ relationships are criminalized, posing disrespectfully with Buddha statues can get you arrested, and drugs carry severe penalties.
โLGBTQ relationships are illegal under Section 365 of the Penal Code. Same-sex couples should be discreet in public to avoid legal risk.
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Emergency Numbers
Dress Code
Dress conservatively โ cover shoulders, knees, and midriff, especially women, and always remove shoes before entering any religious site.
โWomen wearing revealing clothing in non-beach public areas may attract unwanted attention, harassment, or difficulty accessing religious sites. Dressing modestly significantly reduces these incidents.
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Cover shoulders and knees at all Buddhist temples, remove shoes and hats at every religious site, and dress modestly in cultural areas.
โSome sites near temples have vendors who will offer sarong rentals as part of a scam โ carry your own and ignore unsolicited 'dress code reminders' from strangers outside the official entrance.
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Alcohol Rules
Alcohol rules vary sharply by state โ Gujarat, Bihar, and Nagaland are completely dry, and many states enforce dry days on elections and national holidays.
โNever consume locally brewed illicit alcohol. Hooch tragedies involving dozens of deaths occur regularly in India due to methanol contamination in unlicensed spirits.
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Alcohol is widely available at licensed venues but is completely banned island-wide on poya (full moon) days each month.
โPoya day alcohol bans are strictly enforced โ even hotel minibars are supposed to be locked. Plan ahead on these days as it affects the entire island, not just specific areas.
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Bargaining Culture
Bargaining is expected and normal at markets, craft stalls, and with auto-rickshaws โ start at roughly half the asking price and negotiate from there.
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Bargaining is expected with tuk-tuks and at markets; use PickMe or Uber for fair app-based prices; fixed prices apply at supermarkets and formal shops.
โThe 'gem scam' is common in Colombo and tourist areas โ a friendly stranger leads you to a gem shop claiming the items are duty-free exports with huge resale value. This is always a scam; do not buy gems from anyone introduced by a stranger.
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Photography Rules
Photography at ASI-protected monuments often requires a paid camera ticket, is prohibited near military or government buildings, and is restricted inside most temple inner sanctums.
โPhotographing military installations, checkpoints, or defense facilities โ even accidentally โ can result in detention and confiscation of equipment. When in doubt, do not shoot.
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Photography is generally free, but posing disrespectfully with Buddha statues is illegal and tourists have been arrested and deported for it.
โTourists have been arrested, held by police, and deported for taking photos deemed disrespectful to the Buddha. This law is enforced. When in doubt, skip the photo.
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Sunday & Holiday Hours
Most businesses open 7 days a week, but government offices close on Sundays, banks close on national holidays, and India's many festivals can cause unexpected local closures.
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Poya (full-moon) days are national holidays with alcohol bans and some closures; cities operate commercially 7 days a week otherwise.
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Taxi & Rideshare
๐ฅUse Ola or Uber for safe, app-metered rides in all major cities, and always use prepaid taxi booths inside airports rather than touts outside.
โUnofficial taxis and 'tourist cabs' at railway stations are common scams. Always book through apps or official counters, and never accept unsolicited ride offers.
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PickMe is the dominant local app; Uber also works in Colombo; tuk-tuks are everywhere but always negotiate the price before boarding.
โStreet-hailed tuk-tuk drivers routinely charge tourists two to three times the fair fare. Use PickMe whenever possible, and always settle the price before starting any unmetered journey.
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Water Safety
๐ฅNever drink tap water in India โ always use sealed bottled water, and be cautious of ice and raw foods washed in local water.
โDrinking unfiltered tap water or consuming ice from unknown sources is the single most common cause of illness for tourists in India โ do not take the risk.
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Never drink tap water anywhere in Sri Lanka โ drink sealed bottled water only and always check the seal before consuming.
โCounterfeit bottled water (tap water in resealed bottles) has been reported at some tourist sites. Always check that the tamper seal is intact and unbroken before drinking.
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ATMs & Cash
Use ATMs from major banks like SBI, HDFC, ICICI, or AXIS โ they reliably accept foreign cards, and always carry cash as many small vendors and rural areas are cash-only.
โAvoid standalone ATMs in isolated locations or those not attached to a bank branch โ skimming devices are occasionally found on these machines.
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Commercial Bank, HNB, and Sampath Bank ATMs are most reliable for foreign cards; carry cash in rural areas as card acceptance is limited.
โATM skimming has been reported in Sri Lanka โ use ATMs attached to bank branches rather than standalone machines in tourist areas, and cover your PIN.
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SIM Card & Internet
๐ฅGet a Jio tourist SIM at the airport on arrival โ it offers the best data value and nationwide coverage, and requires your passport for registration.
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Buy a Dialog SIM at the airport on arrival for the best coverage โ passport required, data packages are cheap and fast.
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Electricity & Plugs
๐ฅIndia uses Type C, D, and M plugs at 230V/50Hz โ carry a Type D adapter (the large 3-pin British-style round pin) as it is the most common standard.
โVoltage fluctuations are common in rural India. Plugging expensive electronics directly into wall sockets without a surge protector risks damage.
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Sri Lanka uses Type D (3-pin round) and Type G (British 3-pin square) sockets at 230V/50Hz โ bring both adapters or a universal adapter.
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Scams to Avoid
India has well-documented tourist scams โ the most common are fake ticket offices near monuments, gem investment traps in Jaipur and Agra, and the 'temple is closed today' redirect.
โThe gem investment scam has cost tourists thousands of dollars. No legitimate business opportunity involves buying gems from a stranger you met today in Jaipur.
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The gem scam and tuk-tuk overcharging are the most common tourist traps โ use PickMe and never buy gems from shop introductions by strangers.
โThe gem scam is sophisticated and long-running in Sri Lanka. Friendly, English-speaking locals who approach you in tourist areas and offer to show you around often receive shop commissions โ this does not mean everyone is dishonest, but be alert.
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Crime & Safety
India is generally safe for tourists at major sites but women should exercise significant caution, especially at night, and petty theft is common in crowded areas.
โWomen traveling alone at night in India face elevated risks. Avoid unlit streets, isolated areas, and accepting drinks from strangers โ incidents of harassment and assault, while not the norm, do occur.
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Sri Lanka is generally safe for tourists; petty theft exists in Colombo and at beaches but violent crime against tourists is rare.
โBag snatching from moving tuk-tuks by motorbike riders does occur in Colombo. Keep bags secured on your body and avoid having phones or cameras visibly accessible while moving through traffic.
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Cultural Etiquette
Remove shoes at all religious sites, greet with Namaste, use your right hand for eating and giving, and never point your feet at people or sacred objects.
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Remove shoes at temples, never touch a monk or turn your back to Buddha, and use the right hand or both hands when giving and receiving.
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Language Basics
English is widely spoken in tourism, business, and educated circles across India, making it one of the more accessible countries for English-speaking visitors.
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English is widely spoken in tourism, hotels, and cities; Sinhala is the majority language with Tamil in the north and east.
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Beach & Swimming
Goa's beaches are world-famous but avoid swimming during monsoon (JuneโSeptember) when red flags indicate dangerous currents โ fatalities occur every year.
โDrowning is a serious risk at Indian beaches during and immediately after monsoon season. Red flags are not advisory โ they indicate life-threatening water conditions.
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Stunning beaches span three coasts with different best seasons โ always swim within flagged areas due to strong rip currents.
โRip currents are a serious hazard at several popular beaches. Drowning incidents involving tourists are reported every year. Never swim at unpatrolled beaches or when red flags are flying.
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Driving Rules
India drives on the LEFT, roads are chaotic and conditions vary dramatically โ hiring a local driver is strongly recommended over self-driving for most tourists.
โIndia has one of the world's highest road accident death tolls. Night driving on non-highway roads is particularly dangerous due to unlit vehicles, animals, and poor road surfaces.
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Drive on the left; an International Driving Permit is required alongside your home licence; hiring a driver is strongly recommended over self-driving.
โDriving standards in Sri Lanka are significantly more chaotic than in Western countries. Overtaking on blind corners, unmarked speed bumps, and unexpected obstructions are common. Self-driving tourists have a higher accident rate than those using local drivers.
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Restaurants & Food
Indian cuisine is extraordinarily diverse and delicious โ start with cooked, hot foods at busy restaurants, avoid raw foods initially, and explore thali meals for outstanding value.
โDelhi Belly (traveler's diarrhea) affects a large proportion of first-time visitors. Carry oral rehydration salts and an antibiotic prescribed by your doctor before departure.
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Rice and curry is the national dish served daily; hoppers, kottu roti, and fresh seafood are must-tries; food is spicy by default so specify mild if needed.
โSri Lankan curries are significantly hotter than Indian curries in many cases. Ordering 'not spicy' or 'very mild' is necessary if you have a low spice tolerance โ 'mild' by local standards can still be quite hot.
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Religious Site Etiquette
Remove shoes before entering all religious sites, dress modestly with covered limbs, and follow specific rules for each faith โ head covering is required in Sikh gurdwaras.
โEntry to some Hindu temple inner sanctums is restricted to Hindus only. Attempting to enter restricted areas can cause significant offense and may result in removal by security.
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Remove shoes and hats at all religious sites, cover shoulders and knees, and never disrespect or touch sacred images or monks.
โThe Temple of the Tooth in Kandy is Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist site โ behaviour considered disrespectful here can cause serious public offence. Observe strict dress code and photography rules without exception.
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Weather & Best Time
October to March is the best time to visit most of India โ cool and dry โ while AprilโMay is extremely hot and JuneโSeptember brings the monsoon.
โHeat stroke is a serious risk in AprilโMay across India's plains, where temperatures routinely exceed 42ยฐC. If visiting during summer, plan all outdoor activities before 10am and after 4pm.
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Two monsoons split the island by coast: west and south are best DecemberโMarch; east coast is best AprilโSeptember; hill country is cooler year-round.
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Money-Saving Tips
Eat at dhabas for exceptional and cheap food, travel by train for long distances, shop at government emporiums for fair-priced crafts, and negotiate hotel rates directly.
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Sri Lanka is extremely affordable โ eat at local restaurants, travel by train and tuk-tuk apps, and stay at guesthouses to keep daily costs very low.
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