Everything you should know for your trip to India. And a little bit more.
Devcon lands in Mumbai, and a lot of people are about to visit India for the
first time. I’m excited for you all to get to experience the country I grew up in, so I wrote down handy information I’ve shared with friends in the past!
India can be a challenging visit as a first timer, and preparing helps - but I genuinely think framing the experience the right way in your mind helps even more. You’ll see extremes of all kinds, and you’ll be pushed to your limits at times. Just take a breath and go with the flow. You’ll be met by a country that’s amazingly friendly, one that can reshape how you see the world.
Please note I’ve only been to Mumbai once, so my Mumbai recommendations are few and far apart. But I’ve tried my best to prepare you for India. I’ve also used AI to fill in some blanks around my own notes, fact check things and rely on multiple sources to get your data! Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or want help planning your trip!
The guide lives at /devcon-india/, where every chapter carries
a switcher and prev/next steppers. Read it in order if you’re planning from
scratch, or jump straight to whatever you’re stuck on:
- Before You Go — Visa, money, SIM, weather, safety, what to pack.
- Arriving in Mumbai — The airport, getting into town, and which neighborhood to sleep in.
- Mumbai — Trains, sights worth your time, the ones worth skipping, vada pav.
- Eating in India — The cuisines, how to order, and the one food-safety rule.
- Goa — Portuguese-Konkani coast, 1h from Mumbai. Plan 3-4 days.
- Ajanta & Ellora — Rock-cut caves near Aurangabad. Mind the closing days.
- Hampi — Vijayanagara ruins in a boulder field. Plan 2-3 days.
- Kerala — Backwaters, tea hills and the best breakfasts. 5+ days.
- Everyday Practicalities — Tipping, bargaining, scams, what to expect, the app list.
- Watchlist — Films, books and music to prime you before you fly.