Woodham Lock Loc: Woodham UK

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).

Aaron Braganza Loc: Sydney, Australia

I would be mindful of the grey market on purchases of photo equipment
And the warranty issue as well
Plenty of bottled water. Beware of Delhi belly
Cheers Mate

DP Upadhyay Loc: INDIA

You may like to visit Khajuraho, Mandu, Varanasi, Bodh Gaya also. These are nice places worth seeing. Ladakh, a cold desert, is a must not miss. But roads are closed in winters. Can go by air but road travel is a great experience. Plz do not buy photo equipments in India as these are costlier. Many items or parts may not be available as many are imported. If you must buy, plz purchase from an authorised dealer. Good luck

kaushikuec Loc: Indore, India

Please do not buy photo equipment from Delhi.
These are costly here. I bought my entire gear from USA.
If anybody is offerring low cost gear in Delhi, either he is cutting a shady deal or providing shoddy equipment.

Be safe and secure. Avoid diplsay of expensive camera gear and protect yourself from thieves and thugs.

Don't want to scare you. Just be careful and think one more time before trusting people there, especially people who seem to be "too friendly". If something looks too good to be true it probably is.

There are plenty of good people and places around, enjoy your trip in India.

jscotthinkle

The photo opportunities will be abundant! Recommend using a camera bag that zips from the back so no one can open it without taking it off your back (see Lowe Flipsides - all I use internationally, but they do have bad sternum straps). Of course the Taj in Agra is a must. Have a ball!

krispix Loc: London - UK

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.

Bill MN Loc: Western MN

Be careful. My wife just got back from India. Her and a friend were abducted by the driver of one of those little two person taxis that would not stop at their hotel. Lucky they had more friends behind. That driver caught up to them and held the driver for the police.

Ian21 Loc: Short Hills, NJ

Been there several times. You have little or no chance of photographing tigers: the few there are are in reserves and they are shy, particularly with the ill-organised crowds making lots of noise!
The area offers wonderful scenic/ historic architecture opportunities and the people are fascinating and usually quite willing to be photographed.
I doubt you'll find decent equipment at prices below the US or even Europe.

Woodham Lock Loc: Woodham UK

Many thanks to everyone who responded with advice, hopefully I can post some shots when I get back. I am taking the Palace on Wheels train journey to do the Golden Triangle and a bit more and then going north to Shimla and probably a little higher. I don't have a long lense so even if I do see a tiger it might be a problem but we are visiting a wildlife park where there are supposed to be several.

steve_icbinb Loc: nr. Rochester, UK

SOOO jealous!

been to Shimla - most excellent :thumbup:

wish i'd had a greater interest in photography then - i missed some great possibilities.

here's what i did get, to give you some idea

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16778440@N04/sets/72157624049750647/

please post some of your shots up when you return :-D

DP Upadhyay Loc: INDIA

Dear Woodham,

There are no tigers in Delhi or Agra or Jaipur, the Golden Traingle, except inzoos. (I'm amused by the term golden Triangle for it is referred to the area/countries in south east Asia where opium and drugs smuggling is done). You can see tigers in the Ranthambhor national park/reserve where you can go from Jaipur. Another good reserve is Kanha but it's a bit far. Don't think that you will get to see tigers easily. Tigers are by nature shy, solitary and secretive animals and are so well camouflaged that you won't be able to spot one even if it's nearby. Nonetheless, there are other animals and places to see. Like the asiatic lion found inly in the Gir forest in Gujarat, or asiatic elephant. Or gaur, the big bison, standing 6 feet tall at shoulders and a tonne heavy. There are so many places to see. India a vast and varied country. Enjoy.

Woodham Lock Loc: Woodham UK

Thanks, yes I know where the tigers are and plan to visit the national park. I will let you know if see one in Delhi though!