Woodham Lock wrote:
Goint to India with travel in Golden Triangle and then up to Shimla. Does anyone have any experience or suggestions they would like to share? I hear that Delhi is a great place to buy photo equipment. Not sure what to take yet as weight may be an issue particularly if I take a long lense (tigers etc).
Did this a few months ago. I wouldn't worry about long lenses, there's no tigers in the area you're visiting (at least I don't think there's any in Shimla).
The only camera gear I saw for sale was pretty expensive when compared to UK prices (i.e. CF cards about 4 times the price).
I took a 10-20mm, 18-200mm and a nifty-fifty. The 18-200mm never came off the camera!
As others have said, only drink bottled water and make sure you break the seal on the cap yourself. It wouldn't be unknown for bottles to be refilled from the tap and re-sold. Don't eat street food.
Agra: Obviously, the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
Jaipur: Amber Fort, City Palace and gates to the Pink City. The market's quite exciting but very cramped.
Delhi: So much to see. Red Fort, Q'tab Menhir, Lotus Temple, India Gate etc. Get a tourist map and hire a taxi for the day to take you everywhere you want to. Taxis and Tuk-Tuks are fine, but always agree the price before you set off. The new Metro is fantastic; cheap, fast, reliable and clean, and expanding at a fantastic rate.
India is very tourist-friendly and the people are very warm and helpful, but hang-on to your valuables. DO NOT give anything to beggars - Do not even make eye-contact. It's tough, but nothing like as tough as getting away from them once they get their claws in.
Send me a PM if you want any specific advice or more details.