toilet advice

forest

Sorry to bring up the nitty gritty, but Its my first trip to india - just not sure what to expect when it comes to doing your business!
Are most of the toilets (like turkish ones) squat-down holes in the floor?
How do you clean your... well... you know?
Is there paper or water? if so how do you dry? How do you apply the water?
What are toilets like on trains?
Any tips or advice welcome!
OK, we all want to know what time of day to get the best shot of the Taj, but I feel this a more pressing priority!

Steve

Hello forest,

Guess, you´re not the first one being nervous about this topic.

When it actually comes ´round to you needing one the way you sometimes do when you are in India, you´ll be glad to have any odd hole in the ground close by, worrying about the rest afterwards!

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traceyam

Squat toilets, no toilet paper. If you want to use toilet paper, you'll have to carry it with you. Please do not put toilet paper into a squat toilet. Squat toilets were not designed for toilet paper and it clogs them. Throw the toilet paper into a trash can if there is one (rare) or carry ziplock baggies with you to deposit the used toilet paper in and throw it away as soon as you find a trash can. There is usually a tap with a bucket by the toilet. You can use that water to clean yourself, then you just air dry. Trains usually have Western toilets which empty straight onto the tracks. Many mid- to upper-range class homes/hotels/hostels have Western toilets, too.

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steven_ber

Indiamikers just pee in hotel sinks.

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Train information.

Idli

Here is my advice.. Use your left hand, wet it before you go about cleaning, wash your hand thoroughly after cleaning, Use paper towel to dry.

I some how don't like the idea of carrying around the paper towels in zipper bag

This link should be very helpful. Very funny too.

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Steve

Thanks steven,

that thread goes down well!

torryquine

...ehem, not all of us....

In big public buildings like airports, you may be directed by the attendant to a 'western' toilet. These may/may not have a seat, but often have plumbing problems or overflow due to people flushing paper down them.

The bigger and more expensve hotels tend to have western toilets as standard, but these may suffer from the same problem. Always use the bucket if provided and if you use paper

...it's a 'sticky' subject........groan

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lotus blossom

i think the squat method is preferable for better elimination, but i do like my western toilet and toilet paper. it's funny how we think it barbaric to use one's hand for both cleaning oneself after going to the loo and for eating, yet we westerners are considered so for wiping with toilet paper and using metal utensils.

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ruins_explorer

I don't want to be too graphic, but I'd love some more details on how this works.

Explain the tap and the bucket thing. Is the bucket meant to help "flush" the toilet? Do you just put your hand under the tap and then put your hand on your hoohah, or do you try to put yourself under the tap?

lotus blossom

i think the fench got it right with the bidet...a nice warm stream of water...

pezworld

I haven't been to India yet, but in Thailand, the squat toilets (same style) were pretty fascinating to my untrained eyes. The porcelain bowl was toilet like, but it was filled with a bit of water. When I was done (using toilet paper deposited into nearby bucket), I'd use a scoop in the bucket to put some more water into the toilet, which physically flushes the refuse down the toilet with a bubbling sound. Gravity!

I did have an embarrrassing balance problem on the squat toilet a time or two!

seventies'hippy

Left hand is for one, right hand the other

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Nick-H

Oh, ruins_explorer... the idea of you trying to up-end yourself under the tap. Wonderful

Best of both worlds: a western toilet with a hand-held spray to squirt yourself clean.

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MeCasa

I'm gonna bookmark this sucker and add into a retrievable 'good to know' file

But I don't have the heart to read it now

Merchant

Western commode-style toilets are becoming more and more common. They are prevalent in three-star hotels and up, and are often in some of the shops frequented by tourists.

One good argument for not dressing like a ragamuffin in India (besides the fact that the locals will treat you better) is that you can breeze into any five-star hotel and use the loo. Nothing like the cool procelain and marble of the Taj Hotel after a day of knocking about Mumbai. If you have to go, at least go in style . . .