India travel info

General information for the traveller new to India.

Visas
All visitors to India require a passport that is valid for 6 months. Visas must be obtained prior to arrival from an Indian Embassy or Consulate abroad and are issued for stays of varying lengths depending on the needs of the visitor.

Certain areas, such as the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Lakshadweep Island and Sikkim, have restricted access and special visas are required. Current information should be confirmed with your nearest Indian Embassy or Consulate.

Customs
The import and export of local currency is prohibited and local currency can only be converted back into foreign currency if exchange receipts are produced. Foreign currency cash amounts in excess of US$2,500 must be declared on arrival and the completed declaration forms must be kept for display on departure.

Visitors can take the following into India duty free.

Alcohol - 1 litre
Tobacco - 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco

Penalties for carrying or trafficking illegal drugs are severe.

Time
Indian time: GMT + 5 hours

Currency
Indian Rupee (Rs) - Check current exchange rates
100 paisa (p) = 1 Rupee (Rs)
Notes issued: Rs500, Rs100, Rs50, Rs20, Rs10, Rs5, Rs2, Rs1
Coins issued: Rs5, Rs2, Rs1 and 50p, 25p, 10p, 5p

Tipping
Tipping remains optional but is common practice. There are two kinds of tipping in India: the usual optional leaving of a 10% tip for service provided and the form referred to as "baksheesh". In the latter case, a tip is given beforehand in order to ensure good service.

Banking Hours
Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 2.00 pm

Language
The national language of India is Hindi but there are also approximately 17 other regional languages including Punjabi, Bengali, Gujerati and Oriya (which are widely used in the north); Tamil and Telegu are common in the south and Urdu is largely spoken by the Muslim population. English is widely understood in major cities and tourist areas.

Telephone
The international dialling code for India is 91
When making international telephone calls from India, first dial 00 + country code + area code + telephone number

Local Telephone Codes

Agra 0562

Ahmedabad 079

Ahmedabad 079

Ajmer 0145

Alleppey 0477

Amritsar 0183

Bangalore 080

Bhopal 0755

Bogmalo 0830

Calcutta 033

Hyderabad 040

Jaipur 0141

Jodhpur 0291

Madras 044

Manali 01902

Mumbai (Bombay) 022

Mysore 081

New Delhi 011

Ootacamund 0423

Pune (Poona) 020

Shimla 0177

Surat 0261

Tirupathi 08574

Udaipur 0294

Varanassi 0542

Electricity
220-240V AC at 50Hz.
Standard sockets are small rounded 2 or 3 pin, therefore a universal adapter is an important travel item.

Water
Do not drink the water and avoid using ice cubes. Stick to bottled water and ensure that the seal is intact.

Health
Be aware that once outside major cities in India the standard of health care is low. Make sure that your health insurance is comprehensive and covers evacuation. Think seriously about being inoculated against, hepatitis A, polio and typhoid and also consider a pre-exposure rabies vaccination and anti-malarials.

It is essential that you check the current situation with respect to all potential health hazards and any vaccination requirements with your doctor when planning your trip.

International Airports

Calcutta
Cochin
Delhi - Indira Gandhi
Madras - Chennai
Mumbai (Bombay)

International Airport Tax
Rs150 on flights to neighbouring countries (i.e. Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka)
Rs500 to all other international destinations

Domestic Airports
India has over 80 domestic airports linking all regions around the country; some of the more popular destinations include those listed above plus the following:

Ahmedabad
Amritsar
Bangalore
Bhopal
Dehradun
Hyderabad
Jaipur
Madurai
Mysore
Pondicherry
Raipur
Shimla
Udaipur
Varanassi

Domestic Airport Departure Tax
None

Etiquette/Dress Code
Dress in India is mostly casual except in business circles. Women should dress with particular care and avoid wearing revealing clothes. Shoes should be removed before entering a place of worship or a home.

A handshake is an acceptable form of greeting in most circles, although Indian women prefer not to shake hands. A traditional way to greet someone in India is to say "namaste" - hands are placed in front of the body with palms pressed together as if in prayer and the head is bowed forward.

Diplomatic Missions
Many countries have representative offices and consulates in India.

Useful Sources of Information
Further information on Indian culture and tourist attractions: