“Expect the unexpected, because India is just so diverse and a lot of people really get overwhelmed by this. They come to India and expect it to be just one country where everything is standard and where everyone speaks the same language. But what shocks them is that every Indian knows at least five different languages, and it is so cultural. And of course, the north is so very different from the south so even if they have been to another part of India, they will find something very different in the south. And this blows them away. Even for an experienced traveller who has been to India there is always something new for them when they come on one of these volunteering trips. So we recommend two weeks as a minimum, as it gives enough time to understand the cultural differences but also make a substantial contribution to the project.”

“People are scared of India and there is a fear amongst women about safety – it is good to have that fear, but a lot of it is stereotype, because we have such a bad reputation in terms of our corruption levels and so on. But not all parts of India are like that, so if travellers are careful, they will be fine.”

Ridhi Patel, Volunteering Journeys: “Pack light, and cottons, because the weather is always warm, especially in the south. But in the winters it can get very cold in the north, so you need to pack plenty of warm clothes. A lot of people don’t check out the weather properly before they come to India and then pack inappropriately. And remember you can easily buy clothes in India, so don’t overpack. Also, toiletries are readily available in most towns. It is more modern than people think!”