Health is an important part of traveling. No one wants to be sick for even a couple of days on vacation let alone the whole trip. As a foreigner from the US, if you travel to India you will be sick at least once while traveling in the country. The key is figuring out a way to limit the time you are sick and ideally prevent it from happening over and over again.
India is a beautiful country. It spans an area of 3,287,263 sq. km. That’s a little over ⅓ of the US. There are roughly 1, 281, 935, 911 people living in India, according to the CIA World Factbook, and the population is still growing. India is filled with rich culture, ancient religion, and incredible history. The country is known for its delicious food and its unique talent for overwhelming all your senses. The challenge with India, however, is figuring out how to stay healthy while abroad in the country.
As a westerner traveling in India, there are some necessary precautions that you have to take or at least be aware of before visiting. India is filled with very different food and germs compared to the United States of America and Europe. Being aware of how to prepare your body ahead of time and protect it while visiting is essential to having a positive experience
10 Important Things to Know as a Nomad in India
1. Hospitals and Medical Facilities are Cheap and Affordable. So use them!
Hospitals and Medical facilities are very affordable in India. While I was there I visited the private and public hospitals as well as had a family doctor make a house call and went to a general practitioner’s office. I think I paid a total of 500 US for everything. It is very cheap to go to the doctor in India but I would still recommend getting it especially if you are prone to getting sick abroad. Having travel insurance will reimburse you for all your medical expenses.
Nowadays, as a digital nomad, I use safetywing.com for all my travel insurance needs.
2. Street is fantastic but risky for vulnerable stomachs
The street food in India is AMAZING. Everyone who visits has to try it but it is important to take your time. The food is spicy and there are health concerns for travelers because you never know if the food is clean and or properly cooked. If you choose to eat street food understand that you will probably get sick at least once. Try to choose things that are super hot and avoid oil that looks like it has been sitting there for days.
3. Spice is everywhere
Most of the meals have some sort of spice in them. As a foreigner, that spice feels 10x as much as it does for a local. Even if you like spicy food sooner or later your stomach will start to hate you. Curd, yogurt in India, with rice is a great way to tame the spice. You can have it with every curry and meal and it can be a great way to cool your mouth down in between bites.
4. Different Religions Have Different Food Rules.
In India, there are roughly 7 major practiced religions. Each religion has different rules around what they can and cannot eat. Research this before going to India. It is also incredibly unhygienic and disrespectful to eat with your left hand. In the Indian culture, your left hand is used for bodily functions so using it to eat is seen as gross. If you want the full experience I recommend trying to eat with your hand (right only). It will be messy at the start but you will pick it up in no time.
5. Try to stay clean.
Because there are so many people in India, hygiene can be challenging. I don’t mind being a little stinky every once in a while but you have to clean any cuts immediately.
During one of my first weeks in Chennai I had to go to the doctor because a mosquito bite had gotten infected and my whole foot had swelled up. The pain was so intense that I couldn’t step on the foot and it was very difficult to walk. At the hospital, the doctor immediately sent me into another room to be dealt with by someone else. To stop the infection from spreading, the wound had to be cleaned.
The nurse dug into the wound and ripped it open, then dug some more and whipped away the blood and pus until all that was left was a proper hole in my foot. An actual hole! And that was just one of my many sick experiences.
6. DO NOT DRINK THE WATER
The water in India is not clean. Never, under any circumstances, drink water that you don’t know where it came from. Watch out for bottled water being sold that is repackaged. Sometimes people will fill old bottles with unclean water and resell them.
- Remember to wash your fruits and veggies with CLEAN water.
- Don’t forget to use bottled water to brush your teeth and…
- Be aware of water dripping into your mouth while you take a shower.
If you want to see a doctor either ask your hostel/hotel about where you can go or you can go online and search Practo for nearby doctors and book an appointment online. You can also go straight to a pharmacy and explain to them what you are feeling and the problem, then they will do their best to give you something that will help. They usually give you such a small quantity that you can tell if it is working or not by the time it is gone so you don’t spend as much money.
Steps to help prepare your body for the worse:
- Take probiotics before and during your trip
Probiotics are a great way to give your stomach and immune system a fighting chance when traveling around India. Take them starting two months before your trip to strengthen your gut.
2. Antacids are your best friends, especially if you aren’t good with spicy food.
Take one before each meal for the first couple of weeks you are there or for the first couple of days depending on how long you are there. The antacids will help your body not freak out as much from the spicy food, cus trust me even if you like spicy and think you are good at handling spice EVERYTHING will still be spicy!
3. Every once in a while take a break from Indian food and eat something from home.
If you have access to a kitchen take some time to make yourself a homemade meal. You can find any grocery store and buy some pasta and sauce or soup. Basically, the idea is to give your stomach a break from the spic.
4. CONTINUOUSLY DRINK LOADS OF WATER!
The weather is HOT in India. You will probably get dehydrated at least once on your trip and it is important that you do everything in your power to minimize dehydration.
5. Lastly, get your vaccinations.
Check out the Center for Disease Control. They have a section on Health in India that suggests different things for travelers to bring with them to keep themselves healthy.
- Depending on your trip you won’t need to bring everything on the list but it still gives you a good idea of what to pack in your first aid kit:
- They also have a spot for recommended vaccinations.
If you do get sick, make sure to stay hydrated and try to avoid things that could make it worse like alcohol and caffeine. You can also find natural remedies in India, which are great if you are into that type of medicine. Home remedies are always nice to try first before taking a bunch of western medicine even though sometimes, that is all that will actually help. Best of Luck!
A version of this article is featured on Chubby Diaries.com. That version talks specifically about maintaining your recovery while traveling in India. As well as what to do if you get sick. LINK
Citation: “Health Information for Travelers to India.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/.
