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TRAVEL TIPS
HEALTH REGULATION
Yellow fever : Any person (including infants) arriving by air or sea without a certificate
is detained in insulation for a period up to 6 days if arriving within 6 days of departing
from an infected area.
Malaria risk exists throughout the year in the whole country excluding parts of the States of
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Sikkim. No certificate required, but a course of
anti-malaria pills is recommended.
Drinking water: Bottled water is available and usually provided in flasks in hotel rooms.
For people with delicate digestive systems. It is advisable to use bottled mineral water,
this is widely available.
Facilities: It is advisable to bring specific medicines. There are state operated facilities
in all towns and cities and private consultants and specialists in urban areas..
LANGUAGE
The official language is Hindi but English is widely spoken, understandable & used in day to
day work. Even most of the government, bank, airport, procedures & forms are in English &
Hindi both. The States are free to decide their own regional languages for internal
administration and education, so there are 18 official languages spoken throughout the country.
Tip
It is usual to tip waiters, porters, guides and drivers. Tips are not included in the bill.
GUIDES
Trained English speaking guides are available at fixed charges at all important tourist centers.
The Govt. of India Tourist Offices can be contacted by tourists for the services of approved
guides. French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian and Japanese speaking guides are available at
some cities. Please consult the nearest Govt. of India Tourist Office. Unapproved guides are not
permitted to enter protected monuments, and tourists are, therefore, advised to ask the guides
for the identity card issued by the Department of Tourism, Govt. of India.
Opening hours
These may vary from region to region. All international Hotels have a 24 hours money changing facility.
Banks: 10.00 to 14.00 (Mo. to Fr.), and 10.00 to 12.00 (Sat.).
Post Offices: 10.00 to 17.00 (Mo. to Fr.) and Sat. mornings, In big cities often longer.
Shops: 09.30 to 18.00 (Mo. to Sat.).
Time
GMT + 5 1/2 hours.
TIME DIFFERENCE
The standard time for India is calculated from Allahabad and is common to all cities. Indian
Standard Time (IST) is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of London, 4 hours and 30 minutes ahead of
Paris, about 10 hours 30 minutes behind New York, 3 hours and 30 minutes behind Tokyo and 4 hours
and 30 minutes behind Sydney.
CREDIT CARDS
American Express, Master Charge, Visa and Diners Club credit cards are generally accepted by
large establishments including hotels, shops, and airlines.
Electricity
Voltage in most places is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles, although some areas also have DC supplies.
Photography
Travelers to India find ample themes with varied subjects for photography from faces to monuments,
wildlife, festivities, scenic beauty, etc. However, formalities in respect to protected monuments
and the wildlife sanctuaries are:
Special permission of the Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi, is required for use of tripod
and artificial light.
Photography in the wildlife sanctuaries is allowed on payment of a prescribed fee. Photography
is prohibited in tribal areas.
Communications
Fax/Telex/Telegram: International 24-hours service from large hotels and telegraph offices in
major cities.
Telephone: Telephone calls to most countries are now direct. There are telephone facilities
between the most cities and towns.
Internet: Internet facilities are available in most hotels otherwise every city has cyber cafes
and cyber clubs which charge less than $1 per hour.
The international direct dialing code for India is +91 plus city code.
Money
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.
Currency Regulations
Foreign Currency. There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travelers’
cheques a tourist may import, provided a Declaration Form is completed on arrival, This will
facilitate the exchange of imported currency as well as the export of unspent currency on
departure. Cash, bank notes and travelers’ cheques up to US$2.500 or equivalent need not be
declared at the time of entry. Any money in the form of traveler cheques, drafts, bills, cheques,
etc. which tourists wish to convent into Indian currency should be exchanged only through
authorized money changers.
Tourists are warned that changing money through unauthorized persons is not only illegal but
also involves the risk of receiving counterfeit currency. To exchange foreign money other
than through banks or authorized money changers is an offence. Please note that no Indian
currency what so-ever can be imported or exported, except for Rupee traveler cheques. Banks
abroad do keep Rupee balances with their agents in India and are able to draw upon these
balances to issue Rupee traveler cheques to intending tourists.
There are 24 hour exchange facilities available at all big cites and international airports.
Custom Regulations
All personal objects which are required in India are free from duty. Under this heading fall
personal jewelry, 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 traveler 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 need to be declared, can walk through Green Channel.
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.
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.
Public Holidays
There are many festivals and special events in India, but only a few of these are full public
holidays. These are: 26 Jan Republic Day, 15 Aug. Independence Day, 2 Oct. Mahatma Gandhi’s
Birthday. For dates of other holidays and festival please contact Tourist Offices in
India.
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