Yuvika and Eric's Wedding in India

Motto: Embrace the Chaos

Frequently Asked Questions:

Which airport should we fly into?

The best airport to fly into would be the Indira Gandhi International Airport (Code: DEL) in New Delhi. You will first clear the customs in Delhi before exiting the airport or catching a domestic flight to Jaipur.

Which airlines do you recommend?

If you are flying with 1 stop (our recommendation) there are many good options: Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, United etc. Pay close attention to layovers. Flights originating in India can have terrible hours but you arrive here at a decent time. You can also fly nonstop, although that can be more exhausting for people not used to long flights.

Do you need a visa for India?

Yes, you will need to apply for a tourist evisa. Make sure to go directly through the Govt. of India website to obtain your visa.

When should I buy my ticket?

I generally buy my tickets 6-8 months in advance. That should be plenty of time.

How will I get to Jaipur?

Getting from Delhi to Jaipur is easy. You can take a shorter than an hour flight. There are many flights each day. You can travel by train–several trains that are around a 4 hour journey or you can hire a taxi from Delhi to Jaipur with a 4 hour car ride. All options are good and it depends on your preference. We can help you with all of those options once you decide.

Would we go directly from Delhi to Jaipur or would we spend an overnight in Delhi?

It depends on your stamina. It may not be a bad option to go straight to Neemrana Alwar or Neemrana Tijara resort from the airport. It will save you packing and unpacking but you know yourself best. Just listen to your needs.

Both these resorts are enroute from New Delhi to Jaipur. You could take a 3 hour taxi ride to the resort and simply rest. They will arrange a pickup from the airport. We’ve stayed at both these places. All food and services are at the resort.

For any stays in a hotel, plan to spend what you would spend in the US on a regular hotel. For that price you will get a luxury experience. My personal experience is that anything under $150 - 200 per night compromises the quality so my recommendation would be to stay in that range.

If you prefer to spend less on lodging, go with Airbnb. However, it may mean food could be an issue. Read the reviews by foreign travelers to know exactly what kind of facility is provided when it comes to breakfast etc. In order to figure out the cost if it is displayed in INR (Indian Rupees), just divide the number by 82 and you’ll get the rough cost.

Where do I stay in Jaipur before the event?

If Diggi house is not “bought out” then you can book your rooms there. Otherwise there are many options.

Taj, Leela and the other regular international chains (Hyatt, Hilton etc) are good options. Take a look at Booking.com and see what you like. Or check out Airbnb for homestays. Just a heads up that the prices that show up on Booking.com or on Google don’t seem to reflect actual prices until you pick out the room.

Where do I eat on days outside of the wedding days?

Good hotels in India (like Taj) will offer full breakfast and dinner service. You will likely be out and about for sightseeing during lunch hours. There are many clean places to eat but whatever you do, don’t eat at food stalls and don’t drink water unless it is right out of a sealed water bottle. We can recommend good restaurants once you have your itinerary.

How do I navigate the city? How do I get around?

We can help arrange for a taxi on per day cost. Folks can carpool. You can use Uber or Ola app to go anywhere. Uber/Ola are cheap and quick. Always travel with a companion. Share your location with someone and avoid late night hours. Once your itinerary is set, we can get in touch with a taxi service and look into the cost of renting transportation. You can decide if that matches your budget or would Ola/Uber work better for you.

Do you tip at restaurants and ubers?

Tip is generally not expected by uber and ola drivers. However, when I go back home, I generally tip a little bit. At the end of a stay at a hotel, I generally leave a tip that is divi-ed up among the staff. If you’re happy with the service, feel free to tip but, unlike in the US, a 20-25% tip is NOT expected after a meal.

What should I wear for the wedding? Where can I get clothes appropriate for the occasions?

Some of the traditional attire for such occasions for men are Kurtas with pajamas or regular suit, and for women are sari, salwar-kurta or lehenga.

I would not buy these online. They seem overpriced. You can buy them the day of the event for a fraction of the price, right there in Jaipur at Patwa & Co. Fabindia is one stop shop for pretty much everything. There are many others and we are happy to come along with you too. Avoid places that thrive on bargaining. You will never win.

You don’t have to wear an Indian outfit. If you feel good about wearing something else, by all mean, wear it.

What should I wear during travel?

You won’t need any winter clothing in October. Light comfortable clothing. Women would be happier if they have less skin showing, so avoid off shoulder dresses, short skirts/shorts, low cut tops, when you are in public.

What is an Indian wedding like?

No two weddings are alike but the general events look like this:
Pre Wedding Day (Oct. 21):

Wedding Day (Oct 22)

What are some Indian culture and traditions that I should try avoiding so I don’t offend anyone?

We generally don’t shake hands. Greet with a Namaste.
We generally don’t take shoes into the home but wear home slippers
You may not always find forks in a home. Spoons do all the work.
We always wash our hands before and after meals.

What are some things to do in India?

Lots! We recommend a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, if you’re interested. There’s also Fatehpur Sikri on the way to Jaipur from Agra. Another place we recommend is lodging on the lake in Udaipur and finally Jaisalmer.

Do you suggest any immunizations before I leave?

The flu vaccine, for sure. We can pay attention to any recommendations based on October this year and circle back.

What are some places to shop for rugs, home furnishings, clothes etc?

We can make recommendations depending on the city you’re in. There are government run shops that have a fixed price. There are also known trustworthy shops where you can trust the quality and cost. We’re happy to guide you when we get there.

Things that might surprise you: Ticket prices for Indians and Foreign Nationals are different, e.g., at the Taj Mahal, the price for an Indian national is Rs. 50 (75 cents) whereas the cost for a foreign nationals is Rs. 1000, which is ~$14).

Currency
1 dollar = 88 Rupees

Places to shop in Jaipur (although local recommendations will be made once we know places people are visiting when we’re there).
Fabindia
Anokhi

What kind of food will be served at the wedding?

For the two days at the wedding, we will serve what is called, Saatvik (purest possible food, meaning no alcohol, no meat). Any hotel you stay at will offer meats and alcohol in general. However, since Yuvika comes from a brahmin family, the elderly members of the family abstain from meat and alcohol.

We will make sure there are gluten free options and take into account any other dietary restrictions.

What can we expect the wedding to be like?

Here is a video of something similar. The two differences I notice right away will be that we won’t have a cocktail party and we won’t have the bangles ceremony with lots of bangles. That is not our family tradition. But other events will feel similar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gII9YfRxVw&t=1s

Should we book a pre-paid sightseeing/guided tours in India?

No! I have heard not such great things about these tours; people generally feel that they lose their autonomy and they feel forced into commission based sales pitches for all kinds of things. It’s better to get to the place and book a taxi as needed and have control over your trip. Use the lonely planet guide and pick out what you want to see and we can help you get to these places in the most comfortable/convenient ways.

Here’s a Lonely Planet Guide to India

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Map below. Distance from Delhi to Jaipur 310 km (192 miles) See Map below

Map