Travel tip for travellers to India
-
Make sure you have all the required documents
A valid passport for returning Indians. For foreigners a Valid passport with Indian Visa stamped. Citizens from Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives don't need the Visa. It is important to carry your passport with you at all times. Visas can be obtained from the Indian Embassy or High Commission in traveller's home country. Multiple-entry visa is required in case you want to make a trip to a neighboring country.
Visas are usually issued without much difficulty if you meet the application requirements. Usually the requirements to satisfy are, sufficient funds for the duration of your stay, a valid passport, ID photos, and a company letter for business travelers. The length of visas varies, allowing visitors to stay in India for anything from 15 days to six months.
In addition to a visa, a special permit may be needed to visit certain protected or restricted parts of the country, such as areas in Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman Islands, Lakshadweep and some northeastern hill states. Permits are available at foreign registration offices, immigration offices, and Indian Embassies, Consulates and High Commissions. For Sikkim you will need a trekking permit. If you have a visa for Bhutan, you'll also need a transit permit to cross the border. This permit is available from the Ministry of External Affairs.
-
Be aware of peak tourist season
The peak tourist season is from mid-September through to March, as the cooler winter months are from November to February.There are always crowds at popular tourist spots and so be sure to make reservations well in advance.
For plains and southern regions September to March is the best time to plan your visit. If you want to visit the northern Himalayan region, rather plan your trip between April and August . Monsoon is at its heaviest during July and August. June is the best time to travell if you are planning trekking in the northern parts of the country
The telephone system is usually quite good. Local and international calls can be made from STD/ISD phone booths. These can be found in shops or other businesses. They are quick and easy to use, and are sometimes open all day. Your bill must be paid on completion of your call/s. Many of these booths also have fax machines for public use.Telephone calls made from hotels are often quite expensive.
The postal service in India is good. Mail to destinations in Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand takes about 10 to 14 days. A Speed Post service is also available, which usually takes just a few days.
Post offices are open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, and on Saturday morning. Private courier companies are also available to mail parcels.Have it packed by a postal packing service before sending it. There's a much cheaper rate for posting books and magazines, and these items do not have to be wrapped in cloth.
-
Looking after your health
Although medical facilities available in th ecountry are relatively cheap than the wester countries still having a travell insurance is advisable. Medical tourism is becoming popular in India as many tourist come here especially for treatment of medical conditions that are costly abroad.
Most doctors in India speak English. Ask your hotel to help you get a doctor in a medical emergency. Some of the bigger hotels have their own doctor on call. In case of minor medical problems, a pharmacy will usually be able to help you. Pharmacies are easy to locate as almost every market has one. Most medicines can be obtained without prescription, but make sure you check the sell-by date.
No vaccinations are legally required. However, it is recommended to have meningitis, typhoid and hepatitis A injections before visiting India. You can visit www.masta.org for further information on recommended vaccinations for the particular region you are visiting.
Take an ample supply of prescribed medication, as well as a copy of your prescription. Keep the packaging of your medication showing the generic name. This will make it easier to fill prescriptions, especially if the specific brand name is not available.
Make sure not to drink local tap water not even the ice. Unless you're absolutely sure, always assume that the water is untreated. Use water from containers with a proper seal, or purify it by boiling or treating it chemically.
The standard electricvoltage is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles. Although electricity is widely available throughout the country, breakdowns and blackouts are common. Be sure to pack a torch. Sockets usually have three round pins. European plugs will fit loosely into the sockets.
Although travelling through train is the cheapest but it involves lot of hassles. Trains can usually be late as well. But the train network is very good even it is world's largest rail network. Air travell is also becoming cheap with lot of new airlines coming up. Always look out for deals, these companies to compete with each other have good deals from time to time.
The local indian currency is the rupee (INR), which is divided into 100 paise. Notes are available in denominations of INR1.00, 2.00, 5.00, 10.00, 20.00, 50.00, 100.00 and 500.00. Coins come in 5, 10, 20, 25 and 50 paise, and INR1.00, 2.00 and 5.00 .All popular credit cards are easily accepted in most metropolitans of India.
Visitors are not allowed to bring Indian currency into India or take it out of the country. However, you may bring an unlimited amount of foreign currency or traveler's cheques with you. Note that any amount exceeding USD2,500.00 must be declared on arrival in India.
Government organisations and private businesses are usually open Monday to Friday from 09:30 to 17:30. Some of them may be open on Saturday, but all are closed on Sunday. Shopping hours are generally Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to late evening. It varies from region to region. Post offices are open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, and on Saturday morning until about 12:00. The main post offices may have longer hours. Banks are usually open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 14:00, and 10:00 to 12:30 on Saturday. Restaurants are usually open until 23:00, with nightclubs and discos closing much later.