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Visa |
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Visitors must possess a valid Indian Visa.
Tourist visas are valid for six months, from the date of the
issuance of the visa, not the date you enter India. Tourist
visas are usually multiple entry, but it is worth
specifically requesting this if you intend traveling across
to Nepal. |
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Insurance |
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Travelers should be adequately insured
before commencing their journey to India. |
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Customs |
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The usual duty free regulations apply for
India; i.e. one bottle of whisky and two hundred cigarettes.
You are allowed to bring in all sorts of electronic gadgets,
but big items like video cameras are supposed to be declared
and endorsed on your passport upon arrival. It is not
necessary to declare still cameras even if you have more
than one. |
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Currency &
Exchange Regulations |
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There is no limit on the amount of foreign
currency and Traveler Cheques that can brought into the
country (USD 10,000 and over must be declared at the
airport). The current exchange rate is approximately USD 1 =
Indian Rupees 45 and Euro 1 = Indian Rupees 55. You are not allowed to bring in or take
out Indian currency from the country.
All money is supposed to be changed at official banks or
money- changers, and you are supposed to be given an
encashment- certificate for each transaction. Generally all
good hotels have this facility at their front office.
Hotel bills can be paid with Credit Cards, Traveler
Cheque and Indian Rupees. International credit cards are
widely accepted. |
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How to get to India
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India has six International airports
located at Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Varanasi and
Trivandrum. It is connected by all major international
airlines. Charter flights can land at any major Indian
airport including Goa & Trivandrum with prior permission and
clearances. |
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Airport Tax |
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The Airport Tax upon departure is Rs 500/-
(USD 12) per person.
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Time Difference
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GMT + 5 and half hours |
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Electricity |
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The electric current is 220-240 Volts, 50
Cycles. |
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Language |
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India has 18 National languages. However,
Hindi and English are widely spoken. In Goa, the local
language is Konkani and the elderly also speaks fluent
Portuguese. In Kerala, the local language in Malayalam
though English is spoken & understood widely. |
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Religion |
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There are various religions practiced in
India. Few important ones are Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam,
Christianity and Jainism. |
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Festivals |
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Thousands of festivals fill the Indian
calendar annually. Indians of all creed with equal zeal
celebrate these. Most of these festivals are colourful and
are fascinating spectacle for the overseas traveler. To name
a few important ones; Buddhist festivals in Ladakh, Onam in
Kerala, Cattle fair in Pushkar, Carnivals in Goa, Durga Puja,
Diwali and Holi all over north India.
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Health |
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Visitors coming to India via Africa, South
America and other yellow fever areas must have relevant
vaccination certificates. There are no compulsory
vaccinations for travel to India. |
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Eating & Drinking
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To avoid health problems, which usually
occur simply due to the change of diet, outlined below are a
few basic guidelines:
- Do not launch straight into a hot curry but pace
yourself with milder dishes first.
- Never eat food off the streets, which may have been
sitting there for some time.
- To begin with, avoid eating salads or food that has
been washed in water.
- Avoid eating raw vegetables and fish on any kind
(unless by a coastal area).
- Always peel your fruit.
- Where possible, ensure the food is hot and has been
recently prepared.
- Drink only bottled water and ensure that the seal is
intact before opening it.
- Avoid ice in your drinks (unless the hotel has its
own water purification system).
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Climate |
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India
has three major seasons - winter - summer
and the monsoon. Winter months
(November-March) are bright and pleasant,
with snowfall in the northern hills. Summer
time (April-June) is hot in most parts of
India, and it is then that the numerous hill
resorts provide cool retreat. During the
monsoon, rainfall is heavy along the West
Coast between June and September, and along
the East Coast between mid-October and
December. |
|
Weather Chart For Major Indian Cities
[ R=Rainfall (mm) ] |
|
City |
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Agra |
T. Max |
23 |
26 |
32 |
38 |
42 |
41 |
35 |
33 |
34 |
34 |
29 |
24 |
|
min. |
7 |
10 |
16 |
22 |
27 |
29 |
27 |
26 |
25 |
19 |
12 |
8 |
|
R avg. |
16 |
9 |
11 |
5 |
10 |
60 |
2 |
10 |
26 |
31 |
51 |
23 |
|
Amritsar |
T.max. |
19 |
23 |
28 |
34 |
39 |
40 |
36 |
34 |
34 |
32 |
27 |
21 |
|
min. |
5 |
7 |
12 |
16 |
21 |
25 |
26 |
25 |
23 |
17 |
9 |
5 |
|
R.avg. |
38 |
11 |
26 |
9 |
11 |
32 |
169 |
168 |
106 |
54 |
10 |
15 |
|
Aurangabad |
T. max. |
29 |
32 |
36 |
38 |
40 |
35 |
29 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
30 |
29 |
|
min. |
14 |
16 |
20 |
24 |
25 |
23 |
22 |
21 |
21> |
20 |
16 |
14 |
|
R.avg. |
3 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
17 |
141 |
189 |
146 |
179 |
62 |
32 |
9 |
|
Bangalore |
T. max. |
28 |
31 |
33 |
34 |
33 |
30 |
28 |
29 |
28 |
28 |
27 |
27 |
|
min. |
15 |
16 |
19 |
21 |
21 |
20 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
17 |
15 |
|
R.avg. |
4 |
14 |
63 |
71 |
19 |
65 |
93 |
95 |
129 |
195 |
46 |
16 |
|
Calcutta |
T. max. |
26 |
29 |
34 |
36 |
36 |
34 |
32 |
32 |
32 |
31 |
29 |
27 |
|
min. |
12 |
15 |
20 |
24 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
24 |
18 |
13 |
|
R.avg. |
13 |
22 |
30 |
50 |
135 |
263 |
320 |
318 |
253 |
134 |
29 |
4 |
|
Chennai |
T. max. |
29 |
31 |
33 |
35 |
38 |
37 |
35 |
35 |
34 |
32 |
29 |
28 |
|
min. |
20 |
21 |
23 |
26 |
28 |
28 |
26 |
26 |
25 |
24 |
23 |
21 |
|
R.avg. |
24 |
7 |
15 |
25 |
52 |
53 |
83 |
124 |
118 |
267 |
309 |
139 |
|
Chandigarh |
T. max. |
20 |
23 |
29 |
32 |
38 |
39 |
34 |
33 |
32 |
32 |
31 |
27 |
|
min. |
7 |
8 |
14 |
19 |
23 |
26 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
17 |
10 |
8 |
|
R.avg. |
52 |
9 |
26 |
10 |
11 |
71 |
269 |
253 |
188 |
52 |
8 |
24 |
|
Cochin |
T. max. |
31 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
29 |
28 |
28 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
30 |
|
min. |
23 |
24 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
23 |
|
R.avg. |
9 |
34 |
50 |
139 |
364 |
756 |
572 |
386 |
235 |
333 |
184 |
37 |
|
Darjeeling |
T. max. |
9 |
1 |
15 |
18 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
19 |
15 |
12 |
|
min. |
3 |
4 |
8 |
11 |
13 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
11 |
7 |
4 |
|
R.avg. |
22 |
27 |
52 |
109 |
167 |
522 |
713 |
573 |
419 |
116 |
14 |
5 |
|
Delhi |
T. max. |
21 |
24 |
30 |
36 |
41 |
40 |
35 |
34 |
34 |
35 |
29 |
23 |
|
min. |
7 |
10 |
15 |
21 |
27 |
29 |
27 |
26 |
25 |
19 |
12 |
8 |
|
R.avg. |
25 |
22 |
17 |
7 |
8 |
65 |
211 |
173 |
150 |
31 |
1 |
5 |
|
Gangtok |
T. max. |
14 |
15 |
19 |
22 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
22 |
19 |
15 |
|
min. |
4 |
5 |
9 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
16 |
12 |
9 |
6 |
|
R.avg. |
44 |
56 |
142 |
222 |
493 |
644 |
63 |
588 |
476 |
152 |
35 |
15 |
|
Goa |
T. max. |
31 |
31 |
31 |
32 |
32 |
30 |
28 |
29 |
29 |
31 |
32 |
32 |
|
min. |
19 |
16 |
23 |
25 |
27 |
24 |
23 |
24 |
23 |
24 |
23 |
21 |
|
R.avg. |
2 |
0 |
4 |
11 |
18 |
180 |
190 |
185 |
276 |
122 |
20 |
37 |
|
Gwalior |
T. max. |
23 |
27 |
33 |
39 |
43 |
41 |
34 |
32 |
32 |
33 |
29 |
25 |
|
min. |
7 |
10 |
16 |
22 |
28 |
30 |
27 |
25 |
34 |
18 |
11 |
7 |
|
R.avg. |
18 |
7 |
8 |
3 |
9 |
83 |
274 |
259 |
192 |
35 |
2 |
8 |
|
Hyderabad |
T. max. |
30 |
32 |
36 |
38 |
40 |
35 |
31 |
30 |
3 |
031 |
29 |
29 |
|
min. |
15 |
17 |
20 |
24 |
25 |
24 |
22 |
22 |
22 |
20 |
16 |
14 |
|
R.avg. |
8 |
9 |
12 |
30 |
28 |
112 |
152 |
134 |
164 |
62 |
29 |
8 |
|
Jaipur |
T. max. |
22 |
25 |
31 |
37 |
41 |
39 |
34 |
32 |
33 |
33 |
29 |
24 |
|
min. |
8 |
11 |
15 |
21 |
26 |
27 |
26 |
24 |
23 |
18 |
12 |
9 |
|
R.avg. |
14 |
8 |
9 |
4 |
10 |
54 |
193 |
239 |
90 |
19 |
3 |
4 |
|
Jaisalmer |
T. max. |
24 |
28 |
33 |
38 |
42 |
41 |
38 |
36 |
36 |
36 |
31 |
25 |
|
min. |
8 |
11 |
17 |
21 |
25 |
27 |
27 |
25 |
25 |
20 |
13 |
9 |
|
R.avg. |
2 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
7 |
89 |
86 |
14 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
|
Jodhpur |
T. max. |
25 |
28 |
33 |
38 |
42 |
40 |
36 |
33 |
35 |
36 |
31 |
27 |
|
min. |
9 |
12 |
17 |
22 |
27 |
29 |
27 |
25 |
24 |
20 |
14 |
11 |
|
R.avg. |
7 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
31 |
122 |
145 |
47 |
7 |
3 |
1 |
|
Lucknow |
T. max. |
23 |
22 |
33 |
39 |
41 |
38 |
34 |
32 |
33 |
33 |
29 |
24 |
|
min. |
8 |
11 |
16 |
22 |
26 |
28 |
26 |
25 |
25 |
19 |
12 |
8 |
|
R.avg. |
19 |
19 |
19 |
6 |
20 |
113 |
305 |
292 |
185 |
32 |
6 |
8 |
|
Madurai |
T. max. |
30 |
32 |
35 |
36 |
37 |
37 |
36 |
35 |
35 |
33 |
31 |
30 |
|
min. |
21 |
22 |
23 |
25 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
25 |
25 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
|
R.avg. |
26 |
16 |
21 |
81 |
59 |
31 |
48 |
117 |
123 |
179 |
161 |
43 |
|
Mumbai |
T. max. |
31 |
32 |
33 |
33 |
33 |
32 |
30 |
29 |
30 |
32 |
33 |
32 |
|
min. |
16 |
17 |
20 |
24 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
24 |
18 |
13 |
|
R.avg. |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
647 |
945 |
660 |
309 |
117 |
7 |
1 |
|
Patna |
T. max. |
24 |
26 |
33 |
38 |
39 |
37 |
33 |
32 |
32 |
32 |
29 |
25 |
|
min. |
11 |
13 |
19 |
23 |
26 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
26 |
23 |
16 |
12 |
|
R.avg. |
2 |
20 |
7 |
8 |
28 |
139 |
266 |
307 |
243 |
63 |
6 |
2 |
|
Srinagar |
T. max. |
5 |
7 |
14 |
19 |
25 |
30 |
31 |
30 |
29 |
23 |
17 |
9 |
|
min. |
4 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
10 |
14 |
18 |
17 |
12 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
|
R.avg. |
74 |
72 |
93 |
92 |
16 |
36 |
59 |
61 |
39 |
30 |
11 |
33 |
|
Trivandrum |
T. max. |
31 |
32 |
33 |
32 |
31 |
29 |
29 |
29 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
31 |
|
min. |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
|
R.avg. |
20 |
20 |
33 |
122 |
249 |
331 |
215 |
164 |
123 |
271 |
207 |
73 |
|
Udaipur |
T. max. |
24 |
28 |
32 |
36 |
38 |
36 |
31 |
29 |
31 |
32 |
29 |
26 |
|
min. |
8 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
25 |
25 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
19 |
11 |
8 |
|
R.avg. |
9 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
87 |
197 |
207 |
120 |
16 |
6 |
3 |
|
Varanasi |
T. max. |
23 |
27 |
33 |
39 |
41 |
39 |
33 |
32 |
32 |
32 |
29 |
25 |
|
min. |
9 |
11 |
17 |
22 |
27 |
28 |
26 |
26 |
25 |
21 |
13 |
9 |
|
R.avg. |
23 |
8 |
14 |
1 |
8 |
102 |
346 |
240 |
261 |
38 |
15 |
2 |
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Clothing |
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October to March – Light Woolens in north
Indian plains like Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi and heavy
woolens in the Himalayan hills.
April to Sept. – Cotton in plains of north and south
India, and light woolens in the hills. |
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Traveling in India
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By Road
Travel by motor car in the subcontinent is an experience
that no amount of European motoring can prepare you for and
which may at first seem dangerous. The quality of the roads
varies enormously and they are of no comparison to roads in
Europe. For most journeys we engage the Indian Ambassador
for our clients, owing to their reliability, high ground
clearance and widespread availability of spare parts across
the country.
When travelling as part of a group, wherever possible we
shall use air-conditioned coaches. This will almost be the
case when travelling in Northern India but in the south,
they are not in great supply and you may be obliged to
travel by non-air conditioned coach in some areas. All
coaches that we use will be of the highest standard
available and although maintained to local standards, they
bear no comparison to the touring coaches found in Europe.
By Train
Travelling by train in India is a fascinating and
rewarding way to see the country and there are now many good
trains in operation. However, they can not be compared with
trains in the West. They will be simple, with modest
standards of comforts and, wherever possible, we shall try
to reserve first-class or air-conditioned seats but these
can not be guaranteed and do not exist on all routes.
By Air
India has reasonably good network of domestic air
routes, serviced by several airlines mainly using Airbus and
Boeing aircraft.
Tipping
Is acceptable and expected by waiters, bellboys,
drivers, guides, escorts etc.
General Travel Tips
- Export of antiques and animal products is banned.
- Photography is prohibited at airports.
- Permission is needed to use Movie cameras except for
8 mm. Video film is widely available in India, bring
batteries and cleaning equipment.
- Bring sunglasses, sun cream and a hat.
- Remove footwear when entering places of worship.
- Useful things to bring: Medicines, flashlights,
money belts, baggage locks, insect repellents, universal
electric adapter, alarm clock, sewing kit, earplugs,
penknife, diary, contact lens cleaner, small radio.
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