India Travel Tips

On Arrival in the Country you will have to complete immigration/customs formalities at every airport. Airport departure taxes apply at different levels for neighbouring countries and may not be included in the cost of your tour. On Indian Airlines flights checked-in baggage allowance in economy class is 20kg per person and in business class it is 30kg per person. Kindly ensure that any knives, scissors, sharp implements, canned food and batteries including camera batteries are carried in your checked in baggage. Request the security officer to have your camera and film carried around the X-ray machine as these can damage undeveloped film.

Airport Tax Passengers embarking on journey to any place outside India will have to pay an airport tax of Rs. 300. For journey to Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives = Rs. 150.

Custom Regulations All personal objects which are required in India are free from duty. Under this heading fall personal jewellery, presents up to a value of Rs. 600, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 0.95 l alcoholic beverages. Professional material and articles which have a high value can only be imported duty free if the traveller gives a written undertaking that these articles will be re-exported. Those without any dutiable goods or high value articles or foreign exchange more than US$2,500 or unaccompanied baggage which needs to be declared, can walk through Green Channel at the airport on arrival. All others need to pass through the Red Channel. Goods up to Rs 750 (Rs. 12,000 for persons of Indian origin) for personal use or as gifts are exempt from duty. Beyond the free baggage limit, the duty rate is 52% plus 2% special duty.

Visas Except for nationals of Bhutan and Nepal, all foreigners need to possess a valid Passport and obtain a Visa for visiting India. A Tourist Visa is valid for 6 months from the date of issue and is usually a 90-day visa. A Tourist Visa does not permit the holder to do business or research work in India. An extension of tourist visa may be granted by the Foreign Registration Officer. Tourists staying for more than 90 days have to register themselves with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer or the Superintendent of Police of the district within a period of one week from their arrival. They also have to report changes of address and any intended absence from the given address for 15 days or more. Foreigners in India need to get special permits to visit various restricted and protected areas in some states.

Visa Rules for Trekking and Mountaineering Where a tour includes any point above 6000 meters, visas may be given only after receiving the formal clearance from the Indian Mountaineering Federation. Where a proposed tour is for areas below 6000 meters the visa applications should be accompanied by an itinerary indicating days and places to be visited along with their height, a map of the proposed area with the distinct markings of the places to be visited and a copy of the brochure outlining the tour highlights. These details are required to ensure that the proposed tour does not violate the mandatory conditions laid down by the IMF. Note: Certain parts of the country need special permits before they can be visited.

Visas for Yoga Tourists Visas for the study of Yoga, Vedic Culture, dance, music etc. Foreigners wishing to come to India to study these subjects are required to apply well in advance with all necessary particulars. The Indian Embassies may grant visas for a period of one year which may be extended on an annual basis in India.

Climate This varies greatly, from the arid deserts of Rajasthan to the cool highlands of Assam, allegedly the wettest place on earth. But basically India has a three-season year - the hot, the wet and the cool. The heat starts to build up on the northern plains around April and cools off by September. The monsoon rains begin around June and end August. India's northern cities start getting cool by October and become crisp at night in December. In the far south, it never gets very cold and the temperatures are comfortably warm rather than hot.

Clothing Travel as light as possible so that you can go home with lots of souvenirs. Women should dress conservatively. Avoid tank tops or short skirts/shorts. The best outfit, especially` during the hot summers, is a T-shirt worn with loose cotton trousers. These are comfortable, cool and easily washable. You can purchase them anywhere in India, at very reasonable rates, at any of the street shops. If you are adventurous, wear the Indian 'salwar-kameez'. It is comfortable and free sized, and you will be amazed at the change of attitude among the shopkeepers, pedestrians and taxicab drivers…suddenly you will be respected! Note: Do not forget to remove your footwear when visiting a place of worship or mausoleum.

Food and Drink Drink only bottled water ("Bisleri" mineral water) and always check the seal that can be bought anywhere but best bought from a respectable or known outlet. In restaurants insist that they bring a sealed bottle to your table. Try Indian beer - it is quite drinkable. Eat non-vegetarian food which is of excellent quality only as the meat (particularly in cheaper and smaller places) is generally of dubious quality. Beef is not served in India. Pork is also not easily available. Curd or yoghurt is served with most meals. It is a natural aid to digestion and helps temper the spicy food. Eat fruit you can peel. If you can put up with spicy food, you can try almost most of the south Indian foods. But approach with caution: some Andhra variety of mutton masala "fries" can "burn" your tongue off. For the uninitiated, it would be better to stick to idlies, parothas, plain rice with rasam in the case of vegetarians. For non-vegetarians, approach only City-level hotels for biryani. Most of the tourist spots offer crude, ill-cooked food at unearthly prices. In some of the distant regions food usually remains a problem. Bread, eggs and plantains which are available anywhere are always safe. For a western palate, the above mentioned suggestion would hold good too. Most cities have Chinese restaurants which offer comparatively "milder" food. Wash your hands before and after eating as India can be a pretty dirty place generally.

Health Purchase some insurance if at all possible! Whilst hospitals in some parts of India are good, the coverage is sparse in comparison to countries in the west and the facilities in most Indian hospitals don't compare favourably with those in the west. If you go down with dysentery or malaria, or if you have a minor accident treatment in India is adequate and affordable. If however you contract a more serious disease or are involved in a major road/rail accident you may find yourself wishing you had forked out for that insurance especially if it involves you being airlifted back home!! No vaccinations are essential for foreign tourists entering India, except Yellow Fever vaccination for tourists coming from African or South American countries. Tourist are requested to get themselves vaccinated against Hebetates - B & C.

Diarrhoea though often treated lightly is at best very uncomfortable and at worst life threatening if left untreated. A fact of life is that it is pretty much unavoidable on an extended trip to India. If you do catch a tummy bug, do not panic. It will go away in a few days - but try the following tips to keep it down:

• Drink lassi - a yoghurt drink. It will help tone down the bacteria.
• Eat plain rice, or try a simple khichdi - an easily digestible mixture of rice and lentils.
• Drink plenty of coconut water. It's cooling, and naturally sterilized!
• Drink plenty of fluids and take some electrolyte salts if the bug persists or you may suffer from dehydration.

Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes. The big debate in India is should you use anti malarial drugs or not. There are many different drugs to choose from and each one has its uses and its drawbacks. One thing to bear in mind about all anti-malarial drugs is that none of them prevent you from contracting malaria; they simply tone done the symptoms should you contract malaria (a point worth considering if you trip takes you away from hospital facilities e.g. Trekking) Balance that against the long term effects of taking these drugs and you can decide if you need to be taking them. Inform yourself properly about the risks where you will be travelling (in the north eastern states malaria is more prevalent) before making a decision. If you are pregnant, it’s advised not to take any prophylactics.

Other Ailments There are vaccinations available for the various afflictions you may come across in India e.g. Typhoid, Cholera, Yellow Fever rabies etc. Once again inform yourself well about these before making what can be an expensive decision, not all of these are effective as the manufacturer would have you believe, something to bear in mind when shelling out money for an expensive vaccination! Always keep a tube of mosquito repellent with you and carry a kit of the basic emergency medicines you might need for diarrhoea, fever, etc. as well as band-aids and an antiseptic ointment. Look after your self properly; wash all cuts grazes bites etc. with clean water and clean with an antiseptic cream/solution and keep clean with a bandage or plaster. Wounds fester fast in the warm climate and can quickly get infected if left untreated.

Sand fly bites in India are particularly prone to infection; use a powder antiseptic instead of a cream /solution this will keep the wound dry and prevent the ulceration that comes with many infected sand fly bites. Eat plenty fruit to replace lost vitamins.

IMPORTANT Health Tips: Wash your hands before you eat anything, and carry moist towelettes (readily available in India) for times when soap and water are not available. Immodium A-D (loperamide) or Pepto-Bismol, both available over the counter, will treat mild stomach disorders. Paregoric, another anti- diarrhoeal agent, requires a doctor's prescription in India. Drink plenty of purified water or tea, chamomile is a good folk remedy for diarrhoea. In severe cases, re-hydrate yourself with a salt-sugar solution (½ tsp. salt and 4 tbsp. sugar per litre of water).  

Money Maters Currency: Rupee = 100 Paise. Coins are in denominations of 10, 25 & 50 Paise & l, 2 & 5 Rupees. Notes are in denominations of Rs 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000. Foreign currency above US$10,000 brought into the country needs to be declared in a Currency Declaration Form. Currency should be changed only at the authorised dealers. Airports, most banks and many hotels fall under this category. They will issue an encashment certificate which is later required to reconvert local currency into foreign currency. Local currency cannot be legally be taken out of the country due to exchange regulations. Banks at International Airports, as well as some authorised money changers, are open 24 hours a day. Traveller’s cheques in the local currency are a safer option than cash. Credit cards like Visa and Master cards, as well as Amercian Express and Diners, are accepted in many establishments in the major towns and cities. All foreign nationals have to pay their hotel bills in foreign currency only, in cash or by traveller’s cheques. (However Indian rupees are accepted if supported by proof of certificate of encashment in India of foreign currency or traveller’s cheques). Exchange money through authorized channels only; do not be tempted to use the black market channels. Take traveller’s cheques, Sterling or Dollars (or a combination and change whichever has the best rate at the time).

ATMs There are very few cash machines in India. If you expect to want cash advances from your credit-card account, make sure that your credit cards are programmed for ATM use in India before you leave home. Note that American Express is not widely accepted in India, and Discover is not even worth bringing. Local bank cards often do not work overseas, or may access only your checking account; ask your bank about a MasterCard/Cirrus or Visa debit card, which can be used at any ATM displaying a MasterCard/Cirrus or Visa logo. These cards, too, may tap only your checking account - ask your bank before departure.

Social Interaction If you are fair-complexioned, blonde or red-haired - and especially if you are female - chances are that you will be stared at continuously, especially in the smaller towns. Don't be offended - they mean no harm, it is just curiosity. However at times the looks can turn to touching and women particularly are advised to avoid crowds and if you do experience problems get in touch with the local police or just move away politely, if possible. Try to avoid shaking hands. Greet people with a 'namaste' (hands pressed together at chest level as if in prayer). You will be appreciated for using the Indian style of greeting.

Shopping Try to shop only in government handicraft shops. There the prices are fixed and the quality is certified. If that is not an option, check the prices at a few shops before making a choice. Bargaining is standard and is enjoyed by all. Get used to the fact that you will probably be charged more than the locals. If possible, take a local along when you go shopping as the prices will often be reduced.

Photography is prohibited in some areas including certain government buildings, bridges, railway platforms and some monuments. VCR equipment is allowed at most monuments provided you are not filming for commercial purpose. Do not photograph defence and police personnel in uniform.

Time India is 5 hrs 30 minutes ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) in the winter months India is 4 hrs 30 minutes ahead of GMT.

Local Time Everything in India takes time, so always give yourself extra time for whatever you may have to do - even it is just a visit to the Post Office or changing money. Indians joke about the concept of "Indian Stretchable Time" (IST). Certainly, if you're a super-punctual sort, India can be frustrating. Make allowances for this.

Toilets In India, public toilet facilities are few and far between and those that are there should not be ventured into unless you have a blocked nose and are half blind as they tend to be disgustingly filthy by Western standards. Take every opportunity you can to use a clean a toilet in places such as hotels and restaurants.

Tipping In hotels and restaurants, tips are not normally included in the bill. Some hotels include service charges on their bills. In such cases tipping is not necessary. The standard tip is 10%. In hotels, porters and room service attendants are normally tipped at the end of the stay, though an early tip is likely to get you better service. Tipping of taxi drivers is not customary.

Safety of Personal Goods As in any location, there are those who steal from others, so follow the same rules of safety that you follow travelling anywhere else with respect to using hotel lock boxes and keeping travel documents safe. When in public places, keep them in your hotel or with you all the time when moving about. Don't carry a traditional wallet with you, the kind you put in your pocket (front or back) and avoid keeping valuables in a purse, which can be easily snatched off your shoulder. Consider using an "interior wallet", the kind that is either fastened around your neck, draped from a belt loop or worn, with a velcro fastener, around the calf or ankle. All three kinds are concealed underneath clothing and less likely to be snatched.

General theft tips