India is a vast and beautiful country, and there are many ways to explore it, from trains to buses to yachts, and more. Given how expansive the nation and all its diverse regions are, it’s also well worth outlining all your ideal activities and experiences well before you book your travel tickets. For instance, you might want to go on a spiritual journey to its historic temples and religious buildings, or your trip might centre around the cuisine of the region you’re visiting. Or, you might simply want to see some of the country’s world-famous tourist sites like the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort. 

Yes, the prospect of visiting a country as large and culturally diverse as India can be daunting, especially if you’re on your own and haven’t been before. Luckily, there are plenty of friendly tour guides available nationwide who would be thrilled to take you around to see the sights and provide you with some local knowledge. 

Read on to learn about how hiring a local guide can truly elevate your experience as you explore all that India has to offer. 

1. Easily Document Your Trip

During your travels to India, you’ll naturally want to shoot plenty of footage. While it’s possible to do this on your phone, the quality won’t be the best. Plus, keeping your smartphone in hand all the time can limit your ability to experience India authentically. A tour guide can help by snapping pictures of you while you travel, and put you front and centre in your photographs. 

After all, if you’re visiting the Taj Mahal, for example, it would be a travesty to come home without a clear picture of you standing next to it. While selfies are an option, they don’t always give you the best angles, particularly if you’re travelling with a large group of people. It’s also not always safe to hand your phone to a stranger and ask them to take pictures of you. With a professional tour guide, you won’t have to worry about any of these issues. 

Once you get home, you can then edit videos online and turn your pics and clips into Instagram-worthy collages and reels documenting your experience – with you in front of as well as just behind the camera!  

2. Discover Hidden Gems

A quick Google search will show you some of India’s more famous attractions, like the Red Fort, the Mysore Palace and the aforementioned Taj Mahal. While you shouldn’t miss the chance to visit such iconic sights, a tour guide can help you get off the beaten path and discover hidden gems you wouldn’t have found otherwise. 

When visiting a specific region, it’s important to work with a guide who is deeply familiar with the area. You don’t want someone who’ll just drive you to the standard tourist attractions and call it a day. This is especially true if you find yourself in a less commonly visited part of India. For example, when visiting Ladakh, we strongly suggest enlisting the help of a local guide if you truly want to explore the area’s hidden gems like Kiagar Tso and the Suru Valley. 

A good tour guide will show you more than tourist sites. They’ll also have an intimate knowledge of everyday spots like restaurants and boutiques. To get a truly authentic experience, travelling with a local guide is always best. 

3. Gain An Understanding of the Local Culture

Visiting India isn’t simply about seeing the stunning architecture and natural beauty. Not only is the country incredibly rich in culture and history, but each region also has distinct customs, cuisine and rituals. While it’s possible to get a cursory understanding through research, you need to be with a tour guide for true immersion. 

This is due in large part to how unique India’s cultures are. Viewing them as a foreigner or even as a visitor from another region gives you a surface-level understanding, but a local can help bridge the cultural gap. This is especially valuable when visiting cultural or religious sites like the Jagannath Temple in Puri. 

Professional guides don’t just reel off facts about the places you’re visiting. They can also tell you about them from the point of view of a local. They might have personal stories and anecdotes to share, which present a much more authentic perspective than anything you can find on the Internet. 

4 Local Language Support

Lastly, another major benefit of hiring a tour guide is that they can provide linguistic support. While English is one of India’s two official languages (the other being Hindi), locals often use other languages for day-to-day conversation. What’s more, the language you’ll hear will differ from region to region. For instance, most people in Assam will speak Assamese as a first language, while Bengali is prominent in West Bengal and surrounding areas. 

Having someone who can speak the local language(s) can also help you get better deals. Market sellers and street vendors may charge a premium if they see that you’re a foreigner. A local guide can help you haggle and get your money’s worth. To communicate authentically with the locals and pay the best prices when shopping, hiring a local guide is the way to go. 

Explore India’s Hidden Gems with a Quality Local Tour Guide

Visiting India is a truly unique experience. The country is among the most diverse when it comes to history, religion, food and natural beauty. Because of this diversity, and because of how unique India’s various cultures are, working with a tour guide can be tremendously helpful. 

We’ve just covered some of the top benefits of travelling in India with a tour guide. Hire a guide or book a tour now, and get excited for a truly memorable experience. We offer packages for destinations around the country, so we can promise you the greatest adventures and experiences in India with all the pros of a tour guide along the way.