Never leave an unlocked suitcase in a hotel room. Never leave suitcases unattended on airports or train stations.
Women traveling alone should never get into a taxi or rickshaw if there's a second man accompanying the driver. Women should also chain lock their door when they are in their hotel room.
Be sure to cover your head when you enter a Sikh gurudwara or mosque. When you enter a mosque, you are supposed to step right foot first into the courtyard.
Passport, Money and Credit Cards:
Never let go off these most valuable possessions. Make sure that you have
photocopies of the front and last pages of your passport, visas and air
ticket. Imagine being lost in a strange land, clueless about your passport
number, TC number and with no friends to take you home. Whatever
Travellers Cheques you may opt for, make sure you take down the emergency
call numbers to report a loss. This will help you process your claim much
faster, you will also have to give details such as the place from where
you purchased your Card and the date on which it was done. So make sure
you record all these details in a book. In that same place you should keep
a record of the cheque serial numbers, proof of purchase slips and your
passport number (and don't keep it in the same bag with your TCs). Foreign
nationals are required to carry their passports with them at all times
while in India.
Banking:
It is a good idea to check the local bank and shop opening times for your
destination, and ensure that you do have enough local currency to tide you
through when you arrive. Your local bank will be able to order currency
for you and larger airports have a cash desk. You must retain the
encashment certificate given to you when changing foreign exchange at your
hotel or a bank. You will need to present this while making any payments
in Indian Rupees, or while re-converting unused Rupees into foreign
exchange at the airport before your international departure. Only 1/3 of
the value of the encashment certificate will be re-converted into foreign
exchange.
