You can minimize culture shock by getting a good idea of what to expect before you come to India. People who come with-out any idea of what is about to confront them generally have a harder time. But the more you have prepared yourself—by reading, talking to other people who have spent time in India, etc. The easier it will be. By already having an idea of how to deal with situations that may be much different than anything you have ever experienced, you will be much better able to really enjoy India.
When you first arrive you'll inevitably be a bit overwhelmed by the noise, colors, smells and sheer number of people. But don't let yourself be overshadowed by the beggars and the heartbreaking poverty. There is so much beauty in India—and many other wonderful things as well. Make an effort to look for the positive aspects as much as possible. Be happy for or compassionate towards those you meet, according to their circumstances, but don't allow yourself to become caught up in other people's misery.
There's always a danger in generalizing the characteristics of g any group of people, but it is impossible to understand a new culture without doing so. Whatever your expectations, you should try not to be thrown off balance when you meet up with exceptions, as you certainly will. Just keep an open mind and don't let yourself fall into the habit of stereotyping people. When you stereotype someone, you are virtually robbing them of their individuality. A stereotype is simply a rigid and oversimplified preconception. If you consider a person only in terms of what you believe about the group they belong to, you are ignoring that person's individual characteristics and, consequently, doing them a grave injustice. Also Visit - India Luxury Hotels
Judging people on the basis of the prejudices of our parents or our community—especially if we have never personally known any members of the ethnic or religious groups against which we are prejudiced—is the most damaging kind of stereotyping. Inherited prejudices are truly blind because we rarely question them, but they prevent us from seeing people and things as they really are. If you are able to set these prejudices aside, you will soon notice that while some or many individuals in any group may possess the despised characteristics, they are usually not the majority, and virtually never every member of the group. To assume otherwise is a big mistake. Every individual deserves a chance to be appreciated for his or her best qualities. Any one may blow that chance instantly, of course, but that's another matter.
Ask yourself how you feel when other people are judgmental towards you without making any effort to get to know, you as an individual and to understand you, especially if it is because of some totally irrational prejudice. Of course you don't like it, and you're not alone because everyone else feels the same way, too.
Many people make the mistake of lumping different cultures together. Maybe you know someone with an attitude something like this: "Well, all Asians are pretty much the way, I can't tell the difference between a Chinaman and an Indian, so what works in China will surely work just fine in India, too." This kind of bigoted thinking invariably causes problems because it has no basis in reality. In business, such an ignorant attitude spells certain disaster. Cultural differences can't be disregarded.
It's not just that India is different from other Asian nations. Indian culture is not a single homogenous culture. Rather, it is made up of a huge number of extremely diverse subcultures. For this reason, you'll find yourself constantly needing to readjust your thinking as you move around India. The differences between metropolitan and rural India are enormous, and some-times villages just a few miles apart can have radically different cultures. You'll also notice that, in general, southern India tends to be much more relaxed and easy-going than the north.
By consciously avoiding stereotyping, and by making a point of seeing people as individuals, you'll be culturing a greater ability to see things as they are rather than as you would like them to be. It is up to you to adapt to India's unique environment since it's certainly not going to adapt to you! And whenever you meet up with problems resulting from different ways of thinking and acting, try to resolve the differences in a way that is acceptable and beneficial all around.
Try to understand why the people you meet think and act as life they do. Do your best to appreciate what life must be like for the people you meet, what their challenges and needs are, and how they experience the world. Don't rely too much on your imagination, though. Ask people about their lives, and then adjust your ideas accordingly. In fact, you should keep on adjusting your ideas, and with each adjustment, ideally you will come just a little closer to seeing things as they really are. Nevertheless, even if you think you understand why someone is behaving in a particular way, there's always a good chance that you are wrong, so you shouldn't get too attached to your ideas.
In any case, try to refrain from being judgmental and don't try to change the way people think. Don't go around telling people that the way they are doing things is wrong, especially when you don't thoroughly understand the cultural context, which you undoubtedly don't. India's cultures are highly complex, and people here have a different way of doing things. In many cases, the differences are extreme.
Our cultural conditioning gives us a particular view of the world, but this is only one manifestation of reality, and other perspectives are also valid. Do your best to appreciate all that is best in Indian culture and the people you meet.
For more information on travel tips for first time travelers to India and Luxury Tours in India contact Swan Tours one of the leading travel agents in India.