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India 
About India
Visa
Climate
Health Precautions
Time Zone
Language & Communication
Clothing
Social Interaction - do's & don'ts
Food and Drink
Shopping
About
India
India's amazing diversity
offers you everything you could
ever want in a holiday. From the
moment that you set foot in India
to be greeted by a graceful Namaste, a gesture that denotes
both welcome and respect, you are
on the way to one of the most
rewarding experiences of your
life.
Bounded by the majestic Himalayan
ranges in the north and edged by a
spectacular coastline surrounded
by three seas, India is a vivid
kaleidoscope of landscapes,
magnificent historical sites and
royal cities, golden beaches,
misty mountain retreats, colorful
people, rich cultures and
festivities.
VISA
Specific Visas are granted for a
variety of purposes. The principal
types of Visa issued are mentioned
below. Please contact the High
Commission of India for further
details if you are visiting India
for purposes other than tourism,
such as journalism, conferences,
yoga, voluntary work,
mountaineering or other
expeditions. The visa application
form is, however, the same.
Separate forms are available for
Pakistani and Bangladeshi
Nationals.
Requirements for Visa
-
Original passport valid for at
least 6 months
-
Correct visa fee
-
Two passport size photographs (5
photographs in case of Pakistani
Nationals).
-
Supporting documents, where
necessary.
-
Duly completed application form
(Pakistani and Bangladeshi
Nationals need to apply on special
application forms).
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Additional requirements for
different types of Visa are given
below.
Tourist Visa: Tourists
wishing to visit India will
normally be granted tourist Visa,
effective from the date of issue.
Tourist Visa are non-extendible
and non-convertible. Travel Agents
who have to visit India frequently
may be granted tourist Visa for a
longer duration.
Business Visa: Business
Visa are normally granted for 3 or
6 months. However, multiple-entry
Business Visa for up to 2 years
validity may be granted to
technicians/experts going to India
in pursuance of bilateral
agreements or joint venture
projects having government
approval.
Student and Employment Visa:
Student Visa can be obtained on
furnishing proof of admission to
recognized
Universities/Institutions in
India. Employment Visa can also be
obtained on furnishing of proof of
employment with companies in
India.
Transit Visa: Transit Visa
are valid for halts of up to 72
hours in India within 15 days from
the date of issue of the visa and
must be obtained before departure.
Transit Visa cannot be obtained
from immigration counters at ports
of entry in India. Evidence of
onward travel to a destination
outside India is required.
Entry Visa: Entry Visa are
issued to persons of Indian origin
for a duration of up to 5 years.
These can be obtained, depending
on the purpose of visit and
eligibility, on a case by case
basis.
Please Note : Persons
holding long term Visa (having
validity exceeding 6 months) are
normally not expected to stay in
India more than 6 months during
each visit. Please refer to the
boxed note further down for
requirement to register with the
Foreigners Registration Office
(FRO)/Foreigners Regional
Registration Office (FRRO).
Visa Exemption Letters for
Minors
Visa Exemption Letters
previously granted to children of
Indian origin (for a maximum
validity of 90 days from the date
of issue) have been discontinued
since 1 July 1999. Visa Exemption
Letters issued in the past are
hence no longer valid. All
children holding separate
passports are now required to
obtain regular Visa.
Climate
Indian climate is very
tropical in most of the parts.
Southern India will be very hot
with temperatures touching over
42°C during April and May months.
While North and north-east India
is relatively pleasant during
summer months. November to
February is the ideal time to plan
your India vacation.
Health Precautions:
-
Always drink bottled water.
-
Eat fruit you can peel.
-
Always wash fruit well before eating it.
-
Wash your hands before and after eating.
-
Always keep a tube of mosquito repellent with you.
-
Always carry a kit of the basic emergency medicines.
-
Also band aids and an antiseptic ointment.
-
If you do catch a bug, do not panic.
but try the following tips to keep
it down:
-
Drink lassi - a yoghurt drink.
-
Drink plenty of coconut water. It's cooling, and naturally sterilized!
-
Eat plain rice, or try a simple khichdi - an easily digestible mixture of
rice and lentils.
-
Drink plenty of fluids and take some electrolyte salts if the bug
persists.
Time Zone
: (UTC + 5.30) Note that
UTC is also known as GMT, or
Greenwich Mean Time.
Indians joke about the concept of
"Indian Stretchable Time" (IST).
Certainly, if you're a
super-punctual sort. can be
frustrating. Make allowances for
this.
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Language & Communication
English is widely spoken in
cities. Most of the tourist
guides, tour operators and hotel
staff speak English fluently.
Knowing a little bit of Hindi will
get you some good discounts at
local flea markets. 18 languages
are officially recognized in India
of which Sanskrit and Tamil share
a long history of more than 5,000
and 3,000 years respectively.
Clothing
Travel as light as possible.
Clothing and laundry are both
quite inexpensive.
Its better for women to avoid tank
tops or short skirts / shorts. The
best outfit, especially during the
hot summers, is a T-shirt worn
with loose cotton trousers. You
can purchase them anywhere in
India, at very reasonable rates,
at any of the shops. Adventurous
ladies can try wearing the Indian
'salwar-kameez'. It is comfortable
and free sized.
Social Interaction
If you give the impression of
being from a different country,
chances are that you might be
stared at, especially in the
smaller towns. Don't be offended -
they mean no harm, it is just
curiosity.
Do’s &
Don’ts
In mosques and temples it is
obligatory to take off your shoes.
It may also be customary to take
off your footwear while entering
into homes, follow other people's
lead.
Whereas Indian men can be really
eager to talk to travelers, women
in India often refrain from
contact with western men. It's not
disrespectful for a woman to tell
a man eager to talk to her that
she doesn't want to talk - so if a
man's behaviour makes you
uncomfortable, say so firmly.
Travellers should be aware of the
fact that Indians generally dress
conservatively and should do the
same. Shorts, short skirts
(knee-length or above) and
sleeveless shirts are not
appropriate off the beach.
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Beggars: Do not let them hassle you,
and do not encourage them by
giving them money.
Food
And Drink
Drink only bottled water. Many
popular brands are available. In
restaurants insist that they bring
a sealed bottle to your table.
Beef is not served in many parts
of India. Pork is also not easily
available. Eat non-vegetarian food
only in good restaurants. The meat
in cheaper and smaller places can
be of dubious quality. Good
quality vegetarian food is easily
available. Curd or yoghurt is
served with most meals. It is a
natural aid to digestion and helps
temper the spicy food.
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 in most
places 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.
What to Look For/Buy:
Wood Carvings: India produces a
striking variety of carved wood
products that can be bought at
very low prices. Examples include
decorative wooden plates, bowls,
artwork, furniture, and
miscellaneous items that will
surprise you.
Clothing: Women's salwar kameez,
saris. Traditional men's clothing
such as kurta and pyjama.
Brilliantly patterned scarves and
shawls can be bought for less than
Rs. 100. On the other hand, it may
be worth spending more for a soft
and warm 100% silk shawl. You can
also find more modern style
clothing at low cost. Modern
clothing tends to have loud
patterns. You will probably need
clothing one size larger than
would fit you in a Western country
Paintings: Paintings come on a
wide variety of media, such as
cotton, silk, or with frame
included. Gemstone paintings
incorporate semi-precious stone
dust, so they have a glittering
appearance to them.
Marble & Stone Carvings: Common
carved items include elephants
gods/goddesses, etc.
Jewelry: Beaded necklaces,
bracelets, and other jewelry are
very inexpensive in India.
Furnishings: Striking
and rich designs are common for
pillows and bed covers.
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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.
get away, your way!
destination guide
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