India Bandh to Affect Tourists on July 5 | all-India strike on July 5 | Bharat Bandh

Monday will be a good day to take some rest at your hotel. From 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Monday, the whole of India will grind to a halt for the Bharat Bandh -- a nationwide strike called by some of India's political parties to protest against the rising cost of fuel.

Some states are likely to be affected more than others, depending on which political parties are in power. These states include Kerala, West Bengal, Tripura (in the north east region), Maharastra, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Gujarat.

The supply of essential services, such as water, milk, electricity, hospital and emergency services will be exempt from the strike. However, schools and businesses will be forced to close. Public transport will also be affected. Those that don't comply with the strike face vandalism and violence from patrolling political party representatives.

Although the Supreme Court declared that this type of strike is "illegal and unconstitutional" over a decade ago in India, the reality is that the desires of political parties continue to dominate. So, do be prepared!