In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores how to thoughtfully prepare for a first trip to India and how to approach the experience with awareness and respect.

Many people have contacted me saying, “I am going to India. What should I know? What should I do?” The first thing I encourage them to ask themselves is whether they have a good reason for going to India. In my experience, it is usually not a good idea to go simply because you have heard something about India and have an idle interest or curiosity about the place.

You should either have a strong desire, feel that something is genuinely pulling you there, or ideally be invited there by someone. In any case, it should be a thoughtful process. Examine your reasons carefully and plan your trip well.

Do not, under any circumstances, think of going for less than three weeks. It will take at least three weeks to adjust to the experience, no matter how many videos you have watched, how many movies you have seen, or how many Indian friends you may have. As a non-Indian person, you will experience a period of adjustment because India is a place that is profoundly different from many other parts of the world.

Once you decide to go, do your preparation. Do not try to visit too many places. The more you travel, the greater the possibility that you will become unwell. Illness is less common now than it was when I first went there more than 40 years ago, but it is still easy to become sick if you are not careful.

You are more likely to become careless when you are tired, and simply being in India can sometimes be exhausting because of how different it is and because of how many decisions you suddenly have to make that you never realized you would need to make.

If you are coming from North America, you may arrive with 10 or 12 hours of jet lag, and it can take 10 or 12 days to fully recover. Therefore, for the first three or four days, do not go everywhere and try to experience everything immediately.

Find a quiet place near where you arrive, not necessarily in a large city, and spend some time adjusting. Allow yourself to experience India in a smaller, more manageable setting with fewer people and fewer demands.

Remember that there is often very little privacy available, and the number of people you encounter may be far greater than anything you are accustomed to. I remember returning to Manhattan after spending many years in India and thinking how few people there were. If that was my reaction after being away from North America, you can imagine how surprising India may feel when you first arrive.

Do not overstimulate yourself. Do not immediately try to meet everyone, do everything, buy everything, and eat everything. This is a very effective way to become unwell because your body is already using a great deal of energy simply adapting to the change in environment and overcoming jet lag.

When you decide to go to India, speak with people who have been there before. If possible, travel with another person. When you are entering an environment that is completely unfamiliar, two thoughtful people adapting together are often better than one.

When I suggest traveling with someone else, I mean an intelligent person who can genuinely assist you in the process of adjusting to a new environment. Plan ahead, but also understand that your plans will probably change. India has a way of introducing circumstances that you could not have predicted.

However, having a plan makes it much easier to adapt than arriving without preparation and simply thinking, “I will see what India brings me.” India offers a tremendous number of experiences, but you cannot experience everything, and there are many things you do not need to experience.

Do not try to overdo it. Do not go without preparation. Have a clear intention, and respectfully request that providence assist you in having a successful journey.